ULSTER are likely to bring in a successor to Brian McLaughlin from the southern hemisphere, thereby ruling out several Irish candidates such as Eddie O’Sullivan, Mark McCall and Jeremy Davidson.

The province are expected to make an announcement sooner in this Six Nations window rather than later.

It is understood that the Ulster hierarchy is keen to follow Leinster’s lead by identifying a Joe Schmidt- type replacement for McLaughlin, who formally severed his ties as a teacher with Belfast Institute at the end of last season after completing his leave of absence by signing a one-year extension. McLaughlin will remain within the Ulster set-up after completing his three years at the helm at the end of this season, most probably as a coach in the province’s expanded academy along with manager Gary Longwell, and Neil Doak and Niall Malone.

Although Ulster are looking to the southern hemisphere, they are unlikely to hire a high-profile name such as John Kirwan, who had stints as coach to Italy and Japan, while the likes of Wayne Smith is probably out of their range.