Ulster captain Iain Henderson is on track to be fit for the start of the new BKT United Rugby Championship season, while head coach Richie Murphy has revealed his ambitious plans to try convert Ireland Sevens star Zac Ward to the wing.
The 25-year-old, who is the son of former Ulster and Ireland flanker Andy Ward, recently joined the province on a trial until the end of November, having impressed for the Ireland Sevens team in recent seasons.
The Ballynahinch man was the standout Irish player at the Olympic Sevens in Paris this summer, particularly with his ball-carrying, while he was also voted men's Sevens player of the year at the Rugby Player Ireland awards earlier in the summer.
Ward previously played in the back row when he lined out for Hinch in the Energia All-Ireland League, but the Ulster coach says they’re considering a switch to see how he’s suited to playing in wider channels.
The province welcome Benetton to Belfast for their first pre-season game this Saturday, and Murphy has suggested the trialist could see some game time.
"We’re thinking about trying to transform him into a winger and there’s quite a lot of learning in that in a short space of time," Murphy said.
"Zac has always had an interest in getting back into the XV’s game. He’s obviously done extremely well in the Sevens.
"The Sevens and XV’s is different. Zac was a back rower before he went to Sevens.
"We’re hoping to get a look at him on Saturday evening, albeit he’s only been in with us for four training sessions, so it’s a tight time frame but in order to get a look in before the start of the season we have to get him out there, so it will be interesting to see how he goes."
Murphy, who was given the Ulster job on a permanent basis in May after impressing as interim head coach in the second half of last season, confirmed that his captain Henderson is progressing well in his recovery from a toe injury and will hopefully be available for their URC opener against champions Glasgow Warriors on Saturday 21 September.
The 32-year-old missed their final games of the 2023/24 season due to surgery, which also ruled him out of Ireland’s Test series against South Africa.
New out-half Aidan Morgan could also see his first action in an Ulster shirt on Saturday evening.
The 23-year-old Irish-qualified New Zealander joined the province from the Hurricanes this summer as a replacement for Billy Burns following his move to Munster.
"Our game over here is quite different to theirs at Super Rugby level, so he [Morgan] has adjusted pretty quickly and fitted in very well," Murphy added.
"He's very much part of the team, great attitude, works really hard and his skill set is very good.
"[He’s] very quick, very sharp on his feet, good passer, sees the space well, so there’s things that he’s working on in his game but he’s shown us plenty so far."
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