Ulster target Wallaby star
NEWS: Ulster seem to have identified a perfect replacement for All Black Charles Piutau.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, the Pro14 side have set their sights on Wallaby international Henry Speight
.
The paper reported that Speight would sign on a short-term deal similar to the one that Christian Lealiifano took up with the province last season before returning to the Brumbies.
In March Speight signed an extension to his existing Brumbies contract that would theoretically keep him with the club until the completion of the 2019 Super Rugby season.
A proud Fijian, Speight was a star at Sevens where his electric pace, step and bravado caught the imagination of the rugby public.
The arrival of Speight could just be what the province need after a tumultuous season on and off the pitch.
Piutau become rugby’s highest player when he was signed by the Bristol Bears on a salary reported to be in the region of £1,000,000 per annum, a fee that puts him ahead of Dan Carter following his move to Japan post Racing.
The loss of Piutau is also not the only back three player that Ulster will have to do without this season. Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble both called time on their careers this season, while Jared Payne has been forced to retire due to a concussion, and has taken up a coaching role.
This has left Ulster effectively down four back three players.
While the addition of former Sale Shark Will Adison has filled the berth left by Stuart Olding; and this week’s signing of Billy Burns from Gloucester has replaced the slot left by Paddy Jackson, the back three is an area where the province lack significant depth.
