McCall gets call to coach Ulster

RUGBY: Mark McCall has been confirmed as successor to Alan Solomons as director of rugby and head coach to Ulster.

Solomons, who leaves Ulster for English Premiership side Northampton Saints at the end of the Celtic League campaign, had championed McCall to succeed.

The South African knows first-hand McCall's promise, as the latter has been his assistant throughout his tenure with Ulster.

The 36-year-old Bangor native is a former Ireland centre, winning 13 caps. He captained Ulster during the early part of their European Cup-winning campaign in 1999 before a neck injury forced him to the sidelines. It didn't directly end his career, but because he couldn't get insurance he had to retire early.

He immediately chose coaching and assisted Ulster coach Harry Williams during the rest of the 1998-99 season and throughout 1999-2000. He also coached the Ballynahinch club. When Solomons took over from Williams, McCall remained to assist the South African. During that time he was also part of the coaching set-up at Ireland A, alongside Matt Williams.

This season McCall was named as coach to the Ireland under-21 team in succession to Michael Bradley. He enjoyed wins over Wales and Italy and saw his charges draw with France and lose 27-19 to England. He will take charge of the Ireland team for Friday's final Six Nations under-21 game, against Scotland at Stradbrook, but is unlikely to lead the team when they go to the under-21 World Cup in Scotland during the summer.

Ulster Rugby offered McCall a three-year deal that starts on July 1st, having plumped for him ahead of a short list that included Declan Kidney, Willie Anderson, John McKee and Brian McLaughlin.

Ulster Rugby chief executive Michael Reid said: "We are delighted to have got our man. Mark McCall has been involved with the Ulster set-up with Solly (Alan Solomons) and we believe he is the ideal man to finish the job we have started and to continue to bring young local players through.

"For sheer dedication, hard work and detailed planning and organisation I have met no one better and I am very pleased he has agreed to take on the job."

McCall was delighted to have been chosen and is expected to include former Ireland hooker Allen Clarke in his coaching team.

"I will be working out my management team and looking over the squad of players. Then it will be a matter of pulling back and letting the boys get on with hopefully winning the Celtic League.

"'I have been very lucky to have served under both Harry Williams and Alan Solomons. I have learned a tremendous amount from them. The province has made tremendous progress over the past three years under Alan Solomons. We have a good structure and systems in place. I know where we have come from, know where we are now and consequently feel well placed to take Ulster forward to meet the challenges that lie ahead."

Kidney's desire to stay involved in coaching may see him look at the Leicester and Gwent Dragons jobs. Ironically, a third one that has become available is the Ireland under-21 position.

Whether the IRFU would consider offering Kidney the job of under-21 coach, possibly amalgamating that role with the role they offered him last month of performance manager - age grade rugby, remains to be seen.

Whether he'd want it is quite another matter.

For the moment, though, Kidney's priorities lie with Ireland's bid for a Six Nations Championship Triple Crown tilt against Scotland at Lansdowne Road on Saturday and his duties as assistant coach to Eddie O'Sullivan. The team will be announced at lunchtime today.

Management have invited 11 players to join the 22-strong squad that was on duty against Italy last Saturday, with the exception of flanker Keith Gleeson, who broke an arm and will undergo surgery this week. The additional players are forwards Simon Best, Bernard Jackman, Neil McMillan, Paul O'Connell, David Wallace and Roger Wilson, and backs Gavin Duffy, Tyrone Howe, Anthony Horgan, John Kelly and Paddy Wallace.

EXTENDED IRELAND SQUAD: Simon Best (Ulster), Shane Byrne (Leinster), Reggie Corrigan (Leinster), Victor Costello (Leinster), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Anthony Foley (Munster), John Hayes (Munster), Marcus Horan (Munster), Bernard Jackman (Connacht), Gary Longwell (Ulster), Neil McMillan (Ulster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), Paul O'Connell (Munster), Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster), Frank Sheahan (Munster), David Wallace (Munster), Roger Wilson (Ulster). Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster), Gavin Duffy (Harlequins), Guy Easterby (Rotherham), Shane Horgan (Leinster), Anthony Horgan (Munster), Tyrone Howe (Ulster), David Humphreys (Ulster), John Kelly (Munster), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster), Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Peter Stringer (Munster), Paddy Wallace (Ulster).

Not considered due to injury: Justin Fitzpatrick (Castres), Denis Hickie (Leinster), Rob Henderson (Munster), Eric Miller (Leinster), Mike Mullins (Munster), Alan Quinlan (Munster), David Quinlan (Leinster).