Ulster Rugby announce Academy squad including five new arrivals

Ulster Rugby have confirmed next season's Academy squad. It includes five new faces. Joe Hopes, Lorcan McLoughlin, James McNabney, Rory Telfer and Scott Wilson have been inducted as Year One players. The team is looking forward to supporting the development of the Academy players and their integration with the senior squad and coaches.

Joe Hopes is a second row who played rugby for Donaghadee RFC and Regent House. He was a finalist in the Danske Bank Schools’ Cup this year. In April he was selected for the Ireland U18 Men's Schools' squad and started all three games in U 18 Six Nations Festival.

Ulster Rugby announce Academy squad including five new arrivals. Business Economics student at Queen's University, Lorcan McLoughlin was identified through the IQ Rugby programme. He was part of the Grand-Slam winning Ireland U20s squad in the 2022 U 20 Six Nations.

Ulster Rugby announce Academy squad including five new arrivals. James McNabney played schools' rugby for Cambridge House Grammar School. He was selected for the Ireland U20s Six Nations Grand-Slam winning squad earlier this year.

Ulster Rugby announce Academy squad including five new arrivals. Rory Telfer was a key player for Coleraine Grammar in the 2021-22 Danske Bank Schools’ campaign. He represented Ulster and Ireland at Age-grade level and most recently played France in an U19 double-header with Ireland in April.

Scott Wilson came through the Wallace High School rugby programme. He helped them to the Danske Bank Schools’ Cup final in 2020. Scott represented Ireland at Age-grade level, including the 2022 Ireland U20s Grand-Slam team. In the U 20 Summer Series, Scott was selected in the team of the tournament.

Year 1 is Joe Hopes, Year 2 is James Humphreys, Conor McKee, George Saunderson, Harry Sheridan, and Year 3 is Ben Carson, Reuben Crothers, James McCormick.