Ulster dubbed 'Leinster North' by fans as rumours spread of McGrath signing

After rumours have emerged that Leinster and Ireland prop Jack McGrath is in talks to join Ulster ahead of next season, fans have been giving their opinion of Twitter.

Initially this looks like a very good deal for the Northern Irish province, as, after all, McGrath is a Grand Slam winner and a British and Irish Lions tourist. Domestically, he has won multiple European and Pro 14 titles with Leinster.

Many fans have welcomed the 29-year-old McGrath’s potential arrival at Ravenhill, particularly given the influence he could have on emerging loosehead prop Eric O’Sullivan.

However, there is also a large segment of fans that think a signing like this has negative connotations. Some think that this is a sign that Ulster are unable to produce talent good enough to compete in the higher echelons of Europe, and therefore need to look to Leinster players to bolster their squad.

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McGrath has by and large been behind Cian Healy in the big games this season for Leinster this season, and Ulster could be seen as an option to get more game time. Jordi Murphy also arrived from Leinster at the beginning of the season in fairly similar circumstances, and this latest rumour is only fueling the feeling that Ulster are becoming a team for struggling Leinster players, dubbing the club ‘Leinster North’.

This is what the fans have said:

https://twitter.com/Fornenest/status/1100663556280909824
https://twitter.com/pastybro/status/1100675008265928707
https://twitter.com/peadarmcnair/status/1100670591579947008
https://twitter.com/spendango1/status/1100625476329050112
https://twitter.com/Best6Analysis/status/1100640290627407872
https://twitter.com/peadarmcnair/status/1100672928235040768
https://twitter.com/dempseyred/status/1100644081955471360
https://twitter.com/NiMhaoilmhiaigh/status/1100666133022212097

Of course, this is not the view of a lot of fans, who would clearly welcome McGrath to Ulster, but it is another side to this possible deal nonetheless.

Some fans also disagree with the notion that it shows how weak Ulster’s academy is, saying that the club still produces international players, but it is rather Leinster’s academy that is abnormally strong.

This is clear though that a deal like this may not please every fan, and it unearths some varying opinions about the state of Ulster.

I really hope these McGrath rumours are true ?#rugbytransfers #rugbygossip #ulster

— Matthew Trouton (@MatthewTrouton1) February 27, 2019

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