ULSTER ARE SET to sign Wallabies and Brumbies second row Sam Carter next season.
The 29-year-old is out of contract after the 2019 Super Rugby campaign and it’s understood he is close to finalising a move to Ulster.
The transfer was first reported by The Canberra Times in Australia and sources in Ireland have confirmed to The42 that a deal is close.
Carter, who stands 6ft 7ins tall and weighs over 115kg, has won 14 caps for Australia, having debuted in 2014. His most recent caps came in 2017 and with Michael Cheika favouring other locks, a move abroad this year has looked likely.
Ulster have been on the lookout for an experienced second row to bolster their squad, with the talismanic Iain Henderson regularly away on Ireland duty and sometimes rested due to the IRFU’s player management programme.
Moving to Ireland would rule Carter out of any recall to the Wallabies, meaning Ulster would be signing a player who would always be available for selection if fit.
Ulster currently also have Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Ian Nagle, Alan O’Connor and Alex Thompson on the books in the locking department, while Matthew Dalton and Jack Regan are in the academy.
Ulster head coach Dan McFarland is in the process of attempting to strengthen the northern province’s squad following several disappointing results when their Ireland internationals have been unavailable.
McFarland has already released unwanted props Rodney Ah You and Schalk van der Merwe mid-season, while Peter Browne, Chris Henry and Jean Deysel have all retired during this campaign too.
Ulster have exposed many youngsters and academy players to first-team action this season and McFarland will hope that a handful of more experienced new additions will leave the province with stronger squad depth in 2019/20.
The northern province have also been linked with a move for versatile Highlanders outside back Matt Faddes, a lightning-quick New Zealander who the Belfast Telegraph report is close to finalising a deal to join Ulster.
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Has captained or co captained the Brumbies over the last few seasons. Ulster will need that leadership with Bests retirement in the next 12 to 18 months.
@RabidHorizon: that’s has been the problem over the last few years. In the not so distant past, we were blessed to have Best, Muller and Henry in the ranks to provide that consistent leadership we now crave. Since Muller and Henry retired and with Best being carefully managed, we have suffered unless Henderson has been playing.
Great signing for Ulster. He’s exactly what they need. A real grafter of a player with a massive engine. Won’t do anything spectacular but he consistently plays at a very high standard and is strong in all aspects of what you’d want from a lock. Captained the Brumbies too so he’ll add some leadership to what’s a pretty young squad.
@Eddie Hekenui: sounds like a perfect foil for henderson.
The building continues, good to see.
Wonder if Lealiifano’s positive experience at Ulster helped him choose to go there over elsewhere. Great to see a good reputation developed up North resulting in players wanting to play there.
@Conor Matthews: Both co-Captain the brumbies so fair chance that they had a wird and he revieved positive feedback about Ulster
Nice recruitment for Ulster
Hope this doesn’t have anything to do with the IRFU’s rumoured block on a new contract for Fardy tho.
If Nagle stays put Leinster will have 2 senior locks at the start of next season
@Kendo90: Have heard rumours that Fardy’s been given the green light to stay. Just needs to sort out the numbers, which should be fairly straightforward. Gotta love rumours, eh!
@Conor Matthews: ha, that’s great if that’s the case! I’ve heard rumours going both ways now. Zero clarification!
@Kendo90: Will just have to wait with fingers, and toes, crossed.
Dont know if its a great signing , never been that impressed anytime iv seen him certainly not half the player of a fardy calibre nice to see them move away from lumpy journeyman saffas tho , faddes looks v exciting pkayer tho but hard to see where he would fit in especially with some good young backs coming through