Ulster have confirmed that three of their up-and-coming prospects have agreed new deals to extend their stays at Ravenhill, while former lock Matthew Dalton has signed a contract after impressing on trial.
Development fly-half James Humphreys has been bumped up onto a senior deal until the summer of 2026, while Academy locks Joe Hopes and Charlie Irvine have progressed onto development deals that will become senior deals until 2027.
And they will be joined in the squad by Dalton, who came through the Ulster Academy before departing the province in 2019 but has now returned on a one-year deal until next summer having been in on a trial basis in recent months.
It is another piece of shrewd business from the province to tie down their young talent as they continue to build their squad for the future, with Humphreys in particular featuring frequently under Richie Murphy this season.
The out-half, the son of Ulster legend David, made his senior debut earlier this season against the Vodacom Bulls and would go on to feature in their Champions Cup loss to Bordeaux, two of four appearances this campaign.
Similarly, Academy lock Irvine made his senior debut in that game against the Bulls and is highly thought of within the province and at club level with Queen’s University, where the former Ireland Under-20s star – who played under head coach Murphy at international level – is club captain.
Meanwhile, fellow Academy second rower Hopes first came onto the radar as the Schools’ Player of the Year in 2022 as part of an impressive Campbell College side and also as part of the Ireland Under-20s set-up, the 20-year-old making his senior debut under Dan McFarland last season against Connacht.
And they will be joined on a permanent basis by 26-year-old Dalton who, after several years away playing for the likes of the Utah Warriors, Newcastle Falcons and Pro D2 outfit Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente in a globe-trotting career, returns on a one-year deal.
The former Belfast Royal Academy student made ten appearances for Ulster in his first spell with the club and, having caught the eye of the coaches during a trial period at Ravenhill, he now progresses onto a full-time deal.
“It’s been great to secure these exciting prospects for the future, and they are a key part of shaping our squad going forward,” commented general manager Bryn Cunningham.
“In Charlie and Joe, we have two young and talented second row players who we are very excited to see develop. They have both had a taste of senior action and know the standards that they must reach to consistently feature at that level.
“James is really benefitting from time on the training pitch and has impressed on a few cameos already this season.
“James is part of a group of young fly-halves here, so his challenge is to take every opportunity that comes his way over the coming months.”
“With Matty, there was an opportunity that arose for him to come back home, and we wanted to have a look at him and assess where he was at.
“During this trial period he has impressed the coaching staff with his attitude, and he still has those explosive athletic qualities that are a point of difference in the modern game. We think he can be a valuable member of the squad going forward.”