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Jack McGrath's controversial switch to Ravenhill now a done deal

Ulster and Ireland prop Jack McGrath.

British and Irish Lions Lions prop Jack McGrath’s much-debated move from his home province of Leinster northward to Ravenhill is set to go ahead.

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The move was first reported at the start of the year, with the IRFU eager to get the loosehead prop more regular game time.

McGrath has started just six times for Leinster this season, having fallen behind Cian Healy at Leinster and both Healy and Munster’s David Kilcoyne in the Ireland pecking order.

It’s been quite a fall for McGrath who played in all three British and Irish Lions test matches against New Zealand just two years ago, albeit coming on as a substitute in each one.

RugbyPass now understands that the deal has been agreed and that it is set to be confirmed publically.

The 54-times capped Irish international has found playing time hard to come by this season, with Cian Healy enjoying a renaissance in his playing career, just a year or two after it was thought injuries could see the dynamic prop forced into an early retirement.

McGrath, 29, is under contract with Leinster and the IRFU until the summer of 2020, but according to previous reports, both he and the IRFU are frustrated at his lack of opportunities in the capital and that a move north to Ulster could solve the problem.

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Ulster have found themselves undermanned in the front row at times this season and the addition of McGrath would come as welcome relief to their stock of looseheads.

The prop has spent his entire professional career with Leinster to date and he played a crucial role in many of the province’s successes since he joined in 2010, including helping guide the side to the Guinness PRO14 and European Rugby Champions Cup double in 2018.

Hip surgery in November has impacted McGrath’s season with Leinster and Ireland, although he was used as a replacement in Ireland’s 26-16 victory over Italy in Rome.

If McGrath makes the move to Belfast, he will join Worcester Warriors‘ Gareth Milasinovich in calling the Kingspan Stadium home next season.

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J
JW 2 hours ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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