ULSTER HAVE CONFIRMED the signing of Wallabies and Brumbies second row Sam Carter.
Following reports linking the 29-year-old to a deal with the province in The Canberra Times and The42, Carter is now set to join Dan McFarland’s side this summer.
Carter, who is out of contract at the end of the 2019 Super Rugby campaign, has won 14 caps for Australia after making his debut in 2014.
The son of former Wallaby David Carter will be an experienced second row option for Ulster, with Iain Henderson often away on Ireland duty or sometimes being rested under the IRFU’s player management programme.
Carter made his debut for the Brumbies in 2011 and he became just the twelfth player to make 100 appearances for the club in 2018. To date, he has earned 105 Super Rugby caps.
He was made co-captain of the team in 2017 alongside Christian Leali’ifano, who himself enjoyed a successful four-month stint at Ulster last season.
After signing for the Irish province, a delighted Carter said:
“I look forward to joining Ulster later in the year and I’m excited by the prospect of playing with the team at Kingspan Stadium.
“The opportunity to compete within the Northern Hemisphere tournaments represents a new challenge for me and is something I feel ready for.”
Head coach McFarland added:
“We’re really happy that Sam has chosen to come to Ulster Rugby and we look forward to welcoming him to the club and the Province.
“In addition to his undoubted quality on the field, Sam is renowned for his leadership, having shared the captaincy of the Brumbies over the past couple of seasons.
“Sam has an excellent work ethic and a strong set piece game, where he has led one of Super Rugby’s top lineouts over the past five years.
“He will add another level of experience and leadership to our forward pack and will significantly enhance competition for places within our squad.”
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Nice signing. Ulster are building up a nice relationship with the brumbies. A sneaky move for Pocock after the World Cup wouldn’t be the worst thing.
@Jim Demps: I’m sure your saying that tongue in cheek (the move for Pocock). Already 2 NIQ no.8′s (Botha Munster, Coetzee Ulster) and not sure about J.Butler (is he a project player), so one would have to go. Of course Munster might be accommodated… different rules apply ;-)
@Michael Kiernan: I know Coetzee plays 8 for ulster a lot but I’d say he was signed as a 6. Certainly he played most of his South African rugby at 6 and 7. As for butler I’m unsure.
@Michael Kiernan: and yes it was tongue in cheek, I can’t see Pocock going anywhere.
@Michael Kiernan: Those rules don’t apply anymore. Signings made on a case by case basis
@Eddie Hekenui: was unaware of that. Source?. I highly doubt Nucifora/IRFU will allow more than 2 signings of NIE in any position. Say if Munster sign a NIE 8 Ulster have one, then no more NIE 8s would be allowed.
@Michael Kiernan: There’s no direct source. But if you look at what the rules were, signings since Nucifora took over and everything he has said in interviews about signings it’s pretty clear. Everything they do is done on a case by case basis. There’s no point tying yourself down to arbitrary rules and that’s why Irish rugby has been successful since he joined. They look at the broader picture and go from there.
There are already a host of NIQ backrows in Ireland. Munster have Cloete and Botha, Ulster have Coetzee and had Deysel while Connacht have Bulter and Fainga’a. Under the old rules Leinster couldn’t sign an outside back when they had Nacewa but they signed Lowe.
@Michael Kiernan: There’s no direct source. But if you look at what the rules were, signings since Nucifora took over and everything he has said in interviews about signings it’s pretty clear. Everything they do is done on a case by case basis. There’s no point tying yourself down to arbitrary rules and that’s why Irish rugby has been successful since he joined. They look at the broader picture and go from there.
There are already a host of NIQ backrows in Ireland. Munster have Cloete and Botha, Ulster have Coetzee and had Deysel while Connacht have Bulter and Fainga’a. Under the old rules Leinster couldn’t sign an outside back when they had Nacewa but they signed Lowe.
Great News! He will be a great addition to the squad.
Great addition, Faddes as well, just need a LH and retain Coetzee and thats us set for next season.
@Kingshu: another backrow aswell, but never going to happen
@Kingshu: I heard that coetzee is not staying
@Patrick Corrigan: i heard its still in talks. He respects the way Ulster stood by him with the injuries, but is two caps off the SA limit for picking overseas players. Think if Rassie says he’s ok he will say, but have his agent use it to get the best contact he can. If Rassie says he needs the caps and its WC year who knows.
I hope he has some thermals !
Not great for Leinsters chances of retaining Fardy; whom I’m assuming Leinster would like to keep. Screwed over before by the IRFU with Hines. Could it be happening again.
@Michael Kiernan: really dont see the rational for blocking Fardy though. Irish rugby has the best stock of second rows we’ve ever had and ultimately he isnt overly blocking that development woth each Province supplying!
@Zealot: Ya, I agree. Plus, I dont think Botha will be still here when his contract at Munster is up. Hes here to cover WC absence and post WC rest periods.