AFTER A TUMULTUOUS summer in the Ulster backroom, the northern province have promoted from within and installed Allen Clarke as their new forwards coach.
The exit of Mark Anscombe in June left Ulster without a forwards specialist among their coaching staff.
In his wake, Les Kiss was made interim director of rugby with Neil Doak and Jonny Bell continuing to marshal backs and defence.
Ex-international hooker Clarke has been well-respected figure throughout Irish coaching circles for some years. His previous senior coaching role was as assistant to Mark McCall with Ulster before he took up a job as the IRFU’s high performance manager, where he also coached Ireland A and Emerging teams.
Clarke comes into the role having been Ulster’s elite performance manager since 2012 and he will continue to oversee the academy prospect “pathway” in his new capacity.
“I’m immensely passionate and proud to be involved with my home province once again,” Clarke said in a statement released by the province today.
“The player movement in the pack has been well documented, however, the players that we have brought in together with those already here have shown a real focus in training and respect for work.”
