Simon Easterby To Provide Interim Coaching Support At Ulster

Ireland forwards coach Simon Easterby will provide coaching support at Ulster in the interim period before the arrival of the province’s new head coach, Dan McFarland. 

Simon Easterby will commence work with the Ulster coaching staff this week. The former Ireland flanker and captain has been national forwards coach since 2014 and has been part of two Six Nations title successes, including this year’s Grand Slam, and historic wins over New Zealand in Chicago, South Africa in Cape Town, and Australia in both Melbourne and Sydney.

Easterby, who was head coach of Llanelli Scarlets between 2012 and 2014, joins an Ulster coaching set-up that includes his former Llanelli team-mate Dwayne Peel as assistant coach, scrum coach Aaron Dundon, recently-appointed defence coach Jared Payne and skills coach Daniel Soper, as well as head analyst Niall Malone.

The Ulstermen’s incoming head coach Dan McFarland was appointed on a three-year deal in April. He said: “I am really excited that I will be taking on the Ulster head coach role. I know firsthand from my years visiting with Connacht and Glasgow the passion and fervour that makes playing in front of Ulster fans so special. It’s a province with a great history and I welcome the challenge of being a part of their future.”

Ulster have pencilled in pre-season matches against English Premiership sides Gloucester (home) and Wasps (away) next month, with the Gloucester fixture at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday, August 18 (kick-off 5.30pm) marking the first event in Ulster legend Chris Henry’s testimonial year.