Ulster No10 Billy Burns signs for Irish rivals

Munster have signed Ulster No10 Billy Burns ahead of next season, who will arrive at Thomond Park on a one-year deal, as reported by RugbyPass.

The 29-year-old has spent the last six seasons at Ulster, having arrived from Gloucester in 2018, and has made 107 appearances to date.

Since making his Ulster debut, he has gone on to represent Ireland seven times, qualifying through his paternal grandfather. He was handed his first cap by Andy Farrell against Wales in the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup.

Burns will replace Joey Carbery at Munster, who is set to join the Top 14's Bordeaux-Begles at the end of the season. He will compete with incumbent Ireland fly-half Jack Crowley for the red No10 jersey.

Elsewhere in the Munster squad, prop John Ryan and lock Cian Hurley have both signed one-year contract extensions with the United Rugby Championship winners.

The tighthead prop Ryan, 35, made his Munster debut in 2011, and has gone on to make 217 appearances while also enjoying stints in England and New Zealand.

Academy product Hurley is at the other end of his Munster career at the age of 23, and has only made five appearances so far.

The announcement of Burns' departure comes just days after Ulster confirmed the signing of versatile South Africa Sevens veteran Werner Kok from the Sharks.