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Ulster part ways with coach just days before preseason starts

Ulster forwards coach Roddy Grant, right, and Duane Vermeulen of Ulster before the United Rugby Championship match between Ulster and Ospreys at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Ulster have announced that forwards coach Roddy Grant has left the club after five years.

The announcement comes just days before the Ulster squad are due to reassemble for preseason training on Monday July 23.

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The former Scotland 7s international was brought on board by former Ulster head coach Dan McFarland in 2019 and helped transform Ulster’s maul into a rich source of points.

Grant worked under current Ulster head coach Richie Murphy for the denouement of last season, who said he “really enjoyed” working with the former Edinburgh flanker.

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    The Botswana-born coach’s next move has not been announced.

    “Roddy has given a lot to the club over the past five years, and we would like to thank him for all his hard work that is set to stand by us as a squad in the seasons ahead,” Murphy said.

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    “From a personal perspective, I really enjoyed working together at the end of last season. Roddy is a coach that gives it his all, and I know how much maintaining the highest standards means to him.

    “On behalf of everyone at the club, I would like to wish Roddy every success for the future.”

    Grant added: “I’m extremely proud of our work as forwards over the past five years. I feel that I leave with the pack in a better place than when I arrived, with the guys having built a very strong reputation as a forward pack.

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    “I gave it my all, and I went all in. Thank you to all the players who gave everything, and went all in for me too.”

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    Comments

    1 Comment
    J
    JW 369 days ago

    Didn’t they just get beat not a month ago? Bugger playing rugby for a European team.

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    J
    Jfp123 14 minutes ago
    Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

    It will be great if Jalibert improves in defence, but unless and until he improves substantially, I think he should be out of the running for the national team. If you look at the French A side, attack is not usually so much of a problem - they scored 200 points in the last 6 nations without MJ on the pitch. Defence however can be an issue, Penaud isn’t the greatest in that area for a start. So a 10 who is solid in defence is badly needed. And given his poor defence record, MJ would be bound to be targeted by shrewd coaches like Rassi and Razor, so he needs to be able to withstand that.

    Also, given sufficient improvement in defence, there are still factors which tell against MJ. I think the 7/1 bench has been a very successful experiment, and for that you need flexible backs who can play in more than one position in case of injury. Then there’s how well the 10 plays with France’s best 9, Dupont. And even if you think MJ is better when there’s no Dupont or 7/1 split, stability in a test team is important, so it’s better not to go chopping and changing the 10 needlessly. There’s also the question of temperament - MJ doesn’t shine at his brightest when it really matters, eg WC quarters and Top14 finals, and look at his test record over the past 2 years.

    I see Ntamack as by far the best option at 10. Rugby is a team game, and apart from his excellent defence, there’s his partnership with Dupont, his versatility, and all the other skills that go to making a great team player and a great 10. He’s excellent under the high ball, an area where France tend to have a weakness, and has fine strategic and team management skills, great handling skills and so on.

    While having star quality is important, it’s not the be all and end all, as illustrated by UBB this season. Imo, though undoubtedly very good, they underperformed. With best wings, best 9, as Dupont barely played in the Top14, with Jalibert and leading centres and 15, plus a strengthened forward pack, they couldn’t match ST in points scored, despite the latter’s huge injury list which left some positions seriously weakened, at least on paper.

    For next season, I hope ST are back to their scintillating best with injuries healed, that LBB is back to rude health for UBB, that the exciting promise of La Rochelle’s and Toulon’s new recruits bears fruit, Bayonne continue to defy their budget and we have a cracking, highly competitive Top14 and Les Bleus triumphant in the autumn internationals and six nations!

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