The Irish Rugby Football Union and Scottish Rugby have reached an agreement to allow Ulster’s incoming head coach Dan McFarland to begin working with the province tomorrow (Monday).
The parties reached a mutual agreement this weekend on terms to allow Dan McFarland, who was Scotland assistant coach in 2017/18, to take up his new role with Ulster Rugby immediately.
The news comes as a big boost to Ulster ahead of this season’s GUINNESS PRO14 which kicks off for them with a home clash with the Scarlets, last season’s runners-up, on Saturday, September 1. This coming week sees them on their travels to the Ricoh Arena in Coventry to face Wasps in their second and final pre-season outing.
McFarland’s arrival in Belfast brings together the new-look Ulster coaching set-up for the first time, following on from Ireland forwards coach Simon Easterby providing interim coaching support. McFarland links up with assistant coach Dwayne Peel, scrum coach Aaron Dundon, defence coach Jared Payne, skills coach Daniel Soper and head analyst Niall Malone at Kingspan Stadium.
The former Connacht prop, who was also the westerners’ assistant coach and had coaching spells with the Ireland Under-20s, Emerging Ireland, Ireland Wolfhounds and Glasgow Warriors, was confirmed for the Ulster role in April, replacing Jono Gibbes on a three-year contract.
Speaking at the time of his appointment, Dan 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.”
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