As Ulster prepare to head to France for the first game of their European Champions Cup campaign on Sunday, head coach Richie Murphy is hoping that two of his players don’t head there permanently next season.
According to reports in Midi Olympique, John Cooney and Jacob Stockdale are being lined up for big-money moves by French giants when their contracts expire at the end of the campaign.
Winger Stockdale in particular would be a significant loss for the province given his recent resurgence that has seen him called back into the Ireland squad and, at 28, he is still in his prime, while Cooney has been a reliable and experienced head in the back line since he joined in 2017.
Racing 92 and Lyon are believed to be chasing Stockdale, who has played his entire career for Ulster, while Bordeaux-Begles, who the province play next weekend in their second Champions Cup pool game, are after Cooney.
“They’ve both been brilliant players,” said Murphy, who will have neither available for Sunday’s game against Toulouse at the Stade Ernest-Wallon due to injury.
“At this time of year, with players off contract, there’s always going to be conversations about those things.
“We don’t want to see them go. It’s like anything, if people decide to move on, well, the group here will move on without them.
“We’re trying to build something here going forward over the next number of years. Hopefully, the guys might want to be a part of that.”
Hlungwani shares exciting Dan du Plessis update and new break out star
SPOTLIGHT: Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani hinted on Monday that promising centre Jonathan Roche might make his debut for the Cape franchise – possibly as soon as this weekend in the Champions Cup opener against Toulon.
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Speaking at an online press conference on Monday, Hlungwani confirmed that new season captain Dan du Plessis is doubtful for this weekend’s clash.
Hlungwani also confirmed that Sasha Feinburg-Mngomezulu will miss the Toulon clash after suffering a head injury against the Sharks this past weekend.
“I think the other concern [apart from Feinburg-Mngomezul] would be Dan du Plessis,” Hlungwani told @rugby365com
“He limped off towards the end of the game, were still waiting on feedback, but those two at the moment are probably doubtful.”
The good news is that Deon Fourie would most likely be ready for the URC clash against the Lions at Cape Town Stadium on December 21 Hlungwani confirmed.
Hlungwani hinted that they’ll give one or two younger centres a shot in the near future, despite their lack of experience – one of them being a standout in the 2024 Currie Cup before he got injured.
“Ruhan Nel covers outside [centre], Suleiman [Hartzenberg] , JL [Jean Luc] du Plessis is around, Wandi [Wandisile] Simelane, Johnny [Jonathan] Roche was pretty good in the Currie Cup, Josh Boulle SA U20 is pretty decent.
“It might also be a nice time to give a youngster who shows potential a run, so we’ve got quite a bit in terms of inside centre.”
Hlungwani hinted that Roche’s time might be sooner than many would anticipate and like the other youngsters mentioned, would be in line for a possible Stormers debut this season.
“I think he’s ready, it’s just a matter of us being brave and giving him an opportunity.
“We can’t wait until the kid is 23/24, I think when a good opportunity present itself we have to give him a run…decent player and a very good player.”
In this episode of Walk the Talk, Jim Hamilton chats with double World Cup winner Damian de Allende about all things Springbok rugby, including RWC2023 and the upcoming Ireland series. Watch now for free on RugbyPass TV
