Ian Humphreys to leave Ulster – Rugby News Update
The 30-year-old fly-half, Ian Humphreys, is going to leave Ulster at the end of the season and join the London Irish club in the Aviva Premiership.
Humphreys will make a return to the Premiership previously playing for the Leicester Tigers between 2005 and 2008. The Exiles head coach, Brian Smith, was excited that the fly-half has signed a three-year contract.
"It is fantastic to have Ian on board for the next three seasons," Exiles boss Brian Smith said. "He will bring with him a wealth of experience and leadership qualities.”
The Fly-half has never made the Irish national team but he has represented the Ireland A team, along with playing for them at the junior levels. He was part of the Under-19 and Under-21 teams. However, he did captain Ireland at the Rugby World Cup Sevens
tournament in Hong Kong in March 2005. He has a wealth of experience and that will be beneficial to the London Irish.
Brian Smith was commenting on Humphreys’ ability as a player, and he also mentioned that they had previously tried to sign the fly-half. He said, "He is a constant threat with ball in hand and has a great ability to create space for his outside backs. He
also has a fantastic kicking game. When I was previously at the club we tried to recruit Ian and Tomás O'Leary, now we have a pair of Irish halfbacks as good as any in Europe joining our current talent."
However, before he joins his new team ahead of the new season, Humphreys has to play in the final of the Heineken Cup against Leinster at Twickenham on 19th May.
London Irish will be boosted by his signature as a few players are leaving the club. The most notable departure will be of Delon Armitage, who is set to join Toulon for the new season, after signing a two-year contract with the French side.
Another notable exit from the Exiles has been that of Mike Catt, the attack coach of the London side. He has joined the England setup under Stuart Lancaster, and will not be joining the club after his interim contract with England ends.
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