Jared Payne SIGNS!!!

[WhiteKnightoftheWeld]

anything confirmed about him being a project?
i'm assuming he's not irish qualified thru a granny from ballyhalbert as the press release would have made this clear...

[Cornerfleg]

If he's not ... we have a problem!

[backawaygoonahead]

I've only 28

Afoa, Barker, Best, Black,Brady, Cave, Court, Dannielli, Diack, Faloon, Ferris, Fitzpatrick, Henry, Humphreys, Kyriacou, Marshall, McAllister, McComish, Muller, Payne, Pienaar, Spence, Stevenson, Trimble, Tuohy, Wallace, Wanneburg, Whitten.

Who's missing?

plus McComb is 29 - Young, D'Arcy and Smith would bring it up to 32... I'd say they must also be giving serious consideration to leap-frogging L. Marshall and Gilroy to full contracts, to avoid other teams sniffing around them

There were 6 on development contracts last year, McAllister and Spence have been bumped to full contracts, Seymour is leaving, which leaves Macklin, Shiels and Porter. Macklin in fairness would probably have featured more this year had it not been for his injury, but the other two have been pretty much totally over-looked.

After all the good work it would be gross negligence it we don't secure the young and future 1st choice players. Gilroy with his immediate success must be a cert for a contract, D'Arcy obviously assuming he is prepared to be in the mix with Payne. Marshall looks worth investing in but things aren't as clear cut for the likes of Macklin & Gaston.

[Cornerfleg]

Personally I can see gaston making it at this level - in fact I'm pretty confident he'll be a star. Can't say I have much hope for Macklin - just a gut feeling.

[ColinM]

[D'Arcy obviously assuming he is prepared to be in the mix with Payne.

I'd have thought D'Arcy would be happier to be in the mix with Payne than someone who is an out and out specialist fullback. An injury elsewhere in the backline and Payne would be shifted allowing D'Arcy gametime. Same way small gets a game when iHumph isnt playing.

[Cap'n Grumpy]

[D'Arcy obviously assuming he is prepared to be in the mix with Payne.

I'd have thought D'Arcy would be happier to be in the mix with Payne than someone who is an out and out specialist fullback. An injury elsewhere in the backline and Payne would be shifted allowing D'Arcy gametime. Same way small gets a game when iHumph isnt playing.

You might think that - I might even think that, but does D'Arcy think that? The boy recognises that he needs to improve if he is to fulfill his international aspirations - will he do that best by learning from someone like Payne, but getting limited game time, or will he do it by moving on to somewhere he would hope to get substantial game time and learn "on the job"?

I don't know which route is best for him, maybe he doesn't either, but it is possibly what will be on his mind and his decision to make if offered a contract.

One thing is sure is that he won't be thinking of what's best for Ulster (and until he signs a new contract, why should he?) - oh yes, Ulster need me for depth in the squad; no - he'll be thinking of what's best for Adam D'Arcy, which is entirely understandable.

[ColinM]

[D'Arcy obviously assuming he is prepared to be in the mix with Payne.

I'd have thought D'Arcy would be happier to be in the mix with Payne than someone who is an out and out specialist fullback. An injury elsewhere in the backline and Payne would be shifted allowing D'Arcy gametime. Same way small gets a game when iHumph isnt playing.

You might think that - I might even think that, but does D'Arcy think that? The boy recognises that he needs to improve if he is to fulfill his international aspirations - will he do that best by learning from someone like Payne, but getting limited game time, or will he do it by moving on to somewhere he would hope to get substantial game time and learn "on the job"?

I don't know which route is best for him, maybe he doesn't either, but it is possibly what will be on his mind and his decision to make if offered a contract.

One thing is sure is that he won't be thinking of what's best for Ulster (and until he signs a new contract, why should he?) - oh yes, Ulster need me for depth in the squad; no - he'll be thinking of what's best for Adam D'Arcy, which is entirely understandable.

Agreed Cap'n, but, one wonders how many clubs D'Arcy would both be first choice fullback and be playing in the HEC. Bearing in mind that his Ireland international aspirations will be next to shot if he goes to England. Hell, he would likely be behind Duffy at Connacht.

On the other hand, if D'Arcy proves to be good enough to challenge Payne at 15, then he knows Payne will be able to slot in elsewhere and wont get picked at 15 just because of his reputation.

The more i think of it, the more I think Ulster & D'Arcy need each other

[Starsky]

Having read most of the comments on the Kiwi forum I have to say, what a bunch of sooks.

[King Ding]

Looks to be a great signing indeed and he seems like he was very highly rated in NZ.

Only slight concern for me is that he has played all this season and excelled at 13, not 15, plus the people on that forum see him as an AB 13.

Hopefully he is as good a fullback as he is centre, if so we have got a real gem here.

[cjp]

At 25 there is now way he could be a contract player (26 in October) and only becoming Irish Qualified at 28/29?

[ColinM]

So, if he hasnt represented his country how does he get a work permit. Filo couldnt.

Has he some form of European passport?

[bootlaced]

wonder if rory mclroy putting any money forward for this like the ruan move otherwise david musta found oil under ravenhill

Lot of money floating around,who needs oil? check the ports http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 32934.html

[SparkyClarky]

Found it interesting that he spoke to AB's coaching before leaving, states may play when returning to NZ for AB's. It would just suprise me that the IRFU went with him as a project if there is no intent on his part to play for ireland in the long run?

Irish eyes will be smiling when the 2011-2012 Magners League season starts, with Ulster Rugby securing a three-year deal with Northland captain and Blues centre Jared Payne.

The 25-year-old is set to join the Belfast club in September after his fourth ITM Cup season with Northland, having initially played for the province in 2008.

Payne's Super 15 season with his new Blues franchise has been outstanding, and talk was beginning to circulate about whether the versatile back, who plays wing, centre or fullback, should be in the national frame.

But having spoken with the All Blacks coaching staff, Payne said the Irish club's offer was an opportunity too good to pass up.

"I had a bit of feedback from the All Black coaches who said I was playing reasonably well.

"But I can't really rely on that [making the All Blacks] to happen and I didn't want to miss out on this chance. I guess it puts me out of the picture but you never know, I will see when I come back to New Zealand.

"Playing overseas might make me a better player - or it could make me worse," Payne quipped.

His decision to leave New Zealand was not made lightly. While the money on offer in Belfast was good, Payne said that was not the deciding factor."Ulster director of rugby David Humphries got in touch with me after the second round of Super 15, and it was a bloody tough decision to leave, but I had been thinking about it for a while.

"I have always wanted to play overseas but I didn't think it would happen so soon.

It is an awesome opportunity and one that might not come again so I'm taking it while it's there."

Payne admitted not knowing too much about Ulster rugby or Belfast but said it was reassuring that teammate John Afoa, who has just signed a two and a half year deal with Ulster Rugby, would be heading to the club at the same time.

"I've watched a couple of games, and I do know they are a young team who are trying to improve. They use the ball well for a Northern Hemisphere team and hopefully I will fit in well."

Ulster finished third???? - one spot higher than the previous season - in the 2010-2011 Magners League competition, behind Irish heavyweights Munster and Leinster, teams that also boast many Kiwi imports.

Although he has been to France to represent the NZ Under-21 side, the trip in September will be his first to the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Payne was a national age group representative and schools sevens star, along with a NZ Under-21 representative before making his provincial debut for Waikato in 2006. After spending two seasons there and one with the Chiefs in 2007, Payne moved to Northland in 2008 and captained the side from 2009. In that same year, the dynamic back took up an offer from the Crusaders to play Super 14 Rugby and spent two years with the franchise before signing with the Blues for the 2011 season.

His decision was a bit of a surprise to Blues coaches Pat Lam and Bryce Woodward but they were supportive of Payne.

"I think Bryce and Pat were a bit disappointed but they understand the opportunity I have and why I am going," Payne said.

In the meantime, Payne's focus remained with his current team - the Blues, who face the Cheetahs at Toll Stadium today at 5.30pm. "The Cheetahs are a pretty good team and they have shown they can knock off some good teams.

"We will need to be on our game if we want to win. I'm looking forward to it and it will be awesome to get a good crowd along and make it a bit of a home game for the Northland guys."

[Rooster]

Perhaps he qualifys for either an Irish or UK passport, he may have some relatives about.

[backawaygoonahead]

They use the ball well for a Northern Hemisphere team and hopefully I will fit in well."

Looks like we've signed a potential diplomat of the future - cheeky git. Damned with faint praise.