Ulster sign unnamed 'primary' target for headcoach job and it's one of two men

Ulster rugby revealed this weekend that they have signed a new headcoach for next season, but are currently refusing to say who it is.

The club say that they were successful in acquiring their “primary” candidate for the job in what is a rare piece of good news for the embattled club.

Current Head Coach Jono Gibbes will leave Ulster at the end of the season to return to New Zealand.

Operations director Bryn Cunningham said: “It’s signed and sealed. We’re not in a position to announce it just yet but it was the primary candidate so we are happy.”

Speculation is rife as to who landed the job, with two firm favourites emerging according to the BBC: Jim Mallinder and Glenn Moore.

Many believe that former Northampton Saints Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder is set to be announced, with the Rugby Pod’s Andy Goode and Jim Hamilton tipping him for the position all of two weeks ago on the podcast.

Moore on the other hand is something of an unknown. Having coached the New Zealand Women’s team to the Rugby World Cup victory last year, he recently extended his contract with the NZR and is contracted to helm the Black Ferns’ until the end of 2019. A theoretical move to Ulster suggests a buy out of a contract or at the very least, the NZR releasing him from said contract.

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Ulster’s hopes of playing in Europe next season also remain firmly alive.

Having finished fourth in Conference B of the Guinness PRO14, Ulster now look likely to take on Ospreys in a play-off match for Champions Cup qualification, although it’s still possible that they could qualify automatically.

The most likely scenario at this stage is that Ulster would have to play Ospreys in a play-off match for the 7th PRO14 place in the competition. This would be played at Kingspan Stadium on the weekend of 18-20th May.

However, there is a possibility that Ulster could qualify for the Champions Cup without having to play the play-off match, based on the criteria outlined above.

For this to happen, Ulster would need PRO14 Rugby to earn an eighth spot in the Champions Cup. This is possible if Leinster win the Champions Cup and all of the Challenge Cup semi-finalists qualify for the Champions Cup on merit by finishing in the top six of their respective leagues.

Cardiff and Newcastle have already qualified, while Gloucester currently occupy sixth place in the Aviva Premiership and Pau sit in seventh in the TOP 14. Gloucester travel to Saracens next week and Pau host Toulon.

Were PRO14 Rugby to have an eighth place, Benetton Rugby would play Ospreys in a play-off match.