Rory Best says Joe Schmidt's arrival gives Ulster a 'lift'

Rory Best said the arrival of Joe Schmidt has given Ulster a "lift" after Schmidt attended an open training session in Banbridge on Friday as the province prepared for the 2026-27 season. Schmidt was appointed Ulster's coach development adviser last month following the end of his two-year spell as Australia head coach.

Schmidt, 60, takes a newly created role focused on Ulster's coaching pathway after a career that included leading Ireland to three Six Nations titles, including the 2018 Grand Slam during a six-year spell, and winning two European Cups with Leinster. "I don't want to just be successful this season or in a year or two, it has to be a continuous process and to do that we need continuity of what's coming behind it and that's why Joe is here," said Ulster general manager Rory Best, who was appointed Ireland captain by Schmidt in 2016. "Joe was the best coach I worked under as a head coach. Since then, he's went on, he's coached the All Blacks, Australia. He's across the New Zealand underage system, the Australian underage system, from his time in Leinster the Irish underage system. "So to bring all the best practices together, ultimately what you want to do is to create a conveyor belt. The lift it gives everyone around the place is brilliant. We're delighted to have him. "Obviously the next step is to get him head to toe in Ulster gear, but it's small steps."

Head coach Dan Murphy, who worked with Schmidt at Leinster and Ireland, welcomed the appointment and described Best's decision as a "genius idea". "Myself and Joe go back a long time. Besty, I thought it was a genius idea bringing him over," Murphy said. "He's helping through the pathway and having a look at that area and making sure we have a supply of players to feed this Ulster senior team. "He's here today to have a look at training and we'd be crazy not to use a person like that in relation in giving us a bit of feedback about how we go about our business."

Irish-qualified back-three Chay Mullins is among several new additions being integrated into the Ulster squad as Murphy works to reintegrate the province's Ireland internationals following their Nations Championship exertions in July. Ulster's promising 2025-26 campaign ended without Investec Champions Cup qualification after a ninth-place finish in the United Rugby Championship and a defeat to Montpellier in the Challenge Cup final.

Ulster's summer of recruitment included the signings of forwards Eli Snyman, Ben Donnell and Keynan Knox and backs Chay Mullins, Matthew Devine and Jamie Benson, while the squad saw departures such as Werner Kok and Angus Bell. "I think our squad depth has improved, especially in key positions," Murphy said.

Murphy outlined how the arrivals increase competition across positions: "Ben Donnell can play in back row and second row, Eli in the second row gives us more experience in that area. Two tight-heads knocking around in Keynan Knox and Eduardo Bello creates pressure and competition for places which is really positive. "Tom O'Toole, Scotty Wilson and Tom McAllister were there last year, those lads have to fight it out now to get themselves on the pitch, which is great. "Our two half-backs that have come in, Matty Devine and young Benson, they've both fitted in really well and upped the level of competition to get your name on the sheet, so that's been really positive."

Ulster will play pre-season friendlies against Edinburgh and Ospreys before opening their United Rugby Championship campaign at home to Edinburgh on 25 September.