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Ex-Championship prop handed an on-trial match start for Ulster

Corrie Barrett in action for Doncaster in September 2023 (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Ulster coach Richie Murphy has handed triallist Corrie Barrett a start at tighthead in Saturday’s pre-season friendly versus Benetton in Belfast. The 26-year-old former classroom assistant, who featured for the province’s age-grade teams, had been playing in the English Championship since 2020, initially at Bedford and then last season at Doncaster Knights.

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Barrett linked up with his native Ulster for pre-season training and he now gets an opportunity to prove his worth just two weeks before Murphy’s squad begins its URC campaign at home to defending champions Glasgow on September 21.

Barrett won’t be the only triallist player on show as Zac Ward, who featured for the Ireland 7s team as the recent Olympic Games in Paris, has also been named as a backline replacement. The friendly against the Italians heralds a club debut for Aidan Morgan, the Super Rugby Pacific No10 signed from the Hurricanes.

A statement read:Full-back Mike Lowry captains the Ulster team for Saturday’s pre-season opener. Eric O’Sullivan and John Andrew start in the front row alongside tighthead prop Corrie Barrett, who has been training with the senior men’s squad over pre-season on a trial basis.

 The 26-year-old has previously been involved in Ulster age-grade teams and spent last season playing for Doncaster Knights in the RFU Championship… Triallist and Ireland 7s star Zac Ward will be hoping to make an appearance after joining the squad earlier this summer.”

Ulster (vs Benetton, Saturday): 15. Mike Lowry (capt); 14. Rory Telfer, 13. Stewart Moore, 12. Jude Postlethwaite, 11. Aaron Sexton; 10. Aidan Morgan, 9. Nathan Doak; 1. Eric O’Sullivan, 2. John Andrew, 3. Corrie Barrett, 4. Harry Sheridan, 5. Kieran Treadwell, 6. James McNabney, 7. Sean Reffell, 8. David McCann. Replacements: Forwards – James McCormick, Henry Walker, Callum Reid, Scott Wilson, Charlie Irvine, James McKillop, Alan O’Connor, Tom Brigg, Marcus Rea; Backs – David Shanahan, Conor McKee, Zac Ward, James Humphreys, Ben Carson, Jack Murphy.

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fl 3 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


“The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


“Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


“The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

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