Rugby:Ulster outhalf Ian Humphreys has agreed a move to English Premiership side London Irish. The 30-year-old, who still has a year to run on his Ulster contract, will join the Exiles on a three-year deal.
Humphreys has been inconsistent this season and failed to make the starting line-up for the Heineken Cup semi-final win over Edinburgh last weekend. Coach Brian McLaughlin and Director of Rugby David Humphreys selected 20-year-old Paddy Jackson in the outhalf starting position.
Humphreys returned to Ulster from Leicester Tigers in 2008 after three seasons playing at Welford Road. In the four years since his return, he made 81 appearances and scored 617 points.
He scored 72 points in the Heineken Cup last season to help guide Ulster into quarter-finals for the first time in 12 years and was again involved in this season’s European campaign, scoring all 16 points in the 16-11 home win over French giants Clermont Auvergne.
He was among the replacements as Ulster beat Edinburgh in the semi-final last weekend to book a place in their second ever European Cup Final, to be played at Twickenham on 19th May.
“Playing for my home Province has been the pinnacle of my career and I have savoured every moment,” said Humphreys. “However, after discussions with Brian Smith I have decided to join London Irish on a long-term deal, and be part of a group that aims to re-establish London Irish as a force in the Premiership, with a strong Irish identity.
“With my family's future now secure, the next three weeks will be concentrated fully on the Ulster team where we will be doing everything possible to achieve our ambition of winning the Heineken Cup. I would like to thank everyone linked to Ulster Rugby for all the support they have given me over the last four years.”
Head Coach Brian McLaughlin, who will also step down as coach at the end of this season, thanked his player for his involvement over the past four years:
"Everyone at the club would like to that Ian for the role he has played in helping to turn the fortunes of the club around. He has been an excellent servant since he returned to play in the Province four years ago and his performances have contributed to Ulster enjoying one of the most successful periods in their recent history.
“The squad depth has improved considerably in the time that Ian has been with us and we are fortunate to have a number of contenders for the number 10 shirt. Paddy Jackson is a prodigious talent who has played very well this season, while Stuart Olding and Ruan Pienaar are also options for us.
“I am keen to stress that the job is not yet finished for Ian and he is still very much in contention to play in the Heineken Cup Final in two weeks time. There would be no better way for Ian to finish his Ulster career than with a Heineken Cup winner’s medal," concluded McLaughlin.
Ulster Rugby are hoping to finalise their squad for 2012-13 in the coming weeks.
London Irish have also announced the return of their former outhalf Shane Geraghty on a two-year contract. Geraghty, a product of the Exiles' academy, left the club for Northampton amid acrimony in 2009. The 27-year-old spent two seasons at Franklin's Gardens before then moving to France to play for Brive.
"Shane is an outstanding ball player and one of the best game-breakers in English rugby," Exiles director of rugby Brian Smith told BBC Berkshire. Smith, who also believes Geraghty can play for England again, added: "He has matured over the past couple of seasons.
Geraghty has six caps for England, the last of those coming in November 2009, and his return will be viewed with some surprise by Exiles supporters. The club and head coach Toby Booth were known to be unhappy with his decision to leave in 2009 and previous suggestions that Geraghty might return were immediately dismissed.
But Smith does not believe there will be any issue with his return to the club and revealed he has taken a huge pay cut to come back.
"I don't think there is any baggage," said Smith. A week is a long time in sport, we all move on and grow and mature. I'm sure Brive will be very upset we have pinched him. Shane is coming back for all the right reasons and is taking a big pay cut to return. That shows how much he wants to prove to the club that he wants to play for London Irish and it also proves to England that he is returning for all the right reasons.
