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Forgotten Ireland wing among 3 contract extensions at Ulster

Craig Gilroy /Getty

Former Ireland winger Craig Gilroy is among three players to agree contract extensions at Ulster, the province have confirmed.

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Gilroy joins back-row Marcus Rea and Angus Curtis on agreeing on a new one-year deal with the Beflast based PRO14 side.

One of Ulster’s most-capped players, Belfast-born Craig Gilroy has played a big part in the province’s success since his debut season in 2010/11.

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Gilroy won 10 caps for Ireland, but never quite found a foothold in the team. He last featured for the men in green under former head coach Joe Schmidt in the 2016 tour of South Africa.

“I’m very grateful to have secured another contract with my home province, and to play for this great club. I am hopeful about what we can achieve together as a squad in the season ahead,” said Gilroy upon resigning today.

Ulster Rugby Head Coach, Dan McFarland, said: “Craig is one of our longest-serving players, and as such, he adds a huge amount of experience and expertise to the squad. A talented winger with the ability to score from just about anywhere on the field, Craig continues to give a huge amount both on and off the field.”

Ballymena native, Marcus Rea, has also penned a one year deal after impressing for Ulster since making his debut in 2018 against Leinster.

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“I’m happy to be able to move up the ranks to earn a full pro contract. It’s been a few years in the making, but the work very much doesn’t stop here. The competition in the back row is fierce so I will have to look at earning my place in the squad with consistent performances.”

Meanwhile 22-year old back Angus Curtis will be looking to make his mark in the season ahead “following time away from the squad due to injury”. Since entering the Ulster Academy system in 2016 the former Irish U20 international has proven his trademark versatility in both the fly-half and centre position, the province said in a statement.

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G
GrahamVF 1 hour ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

"has SA actually EVER helped to develop another union to maturity like NZ has with Japan," yes - Argentina. You obviously don't know the history of Argentinian rugby. SA were touring there on long development tours in the 1950's

We continued the Junior Bok tours to the Argentine through to the early 70's

My coach at Grey High was Giepie Wentzel who toured Argentine as a fly half. He told me about how every Argentinian rugby club has pictures of Van Heerden and Danie Craven on prominent display. Yes we have developed a nation far more than NZ has done for Japan. And BTW Sa players were playing and coaching in Japan long before the Kiwis arrived. Fourie du Preez and many others were playing there 15 years ago.


"Isaac Van Heerden's reputation as an innovative coach had spread to Argentina, and he was invited to Buenos Aires to help the Pumas prepare for their first visit to South Africa in 1965.[1][2] Despite Argentina faring badly in this tour,[2] it was the start of a long and happy relationship between Van Heerden and the Pumas. Izak van Heerden took leave from his teaching post in Durban, relocated to Argentina, learnt fluent Spanish, and would revolutionise Argentine play in the late 1960s, laying the way open for great players such as Hugo Porta.[1][2] Van Heerden virtually invented the "tight loose" form of play, an area in which the Argentines would come to excel, and which would become a hallmark of their playing style. The Pumas repaid the initial debt, by beating the Junior Springboks at Ellis Park, and emerged as one of the better modern rugby nations, thanks largely to the talents of this Durban schoolmaster.[1]"


After the promise made by Junior Springbok manager JF Louw at the end of a 12-game tour to Argentina in 1959 – ‘I will do everything to ensure we invite you to tour our country’ – there were concerns about the strength of Argentinian rugby. South African Rugby Board president Danie Craven sent coach Izak van Heerden to help the Pumas prepare and they repaid the favour by beating the Junior Springboks at Ellis Park.

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