Ulster cancel Stephen Donald move after All Blacks fly-half fails medical to suffer nightmare 24 hours after European exit
Rugby World Cup winner suffered injury in his final match in Japan, with the news coming fewer than 24 hours after Ulster's European Champions Cup defeat by Wasps
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Your support makes all the difference.Ulster’s remaining Pro14 campaign has suffered a major blow after Rugby World Cup winner Stephen Donald’s proposed move to the province collapsed at the last minute, leaving the side without a recognised international fly-half.
New Zealand No 10 Donald had agreed a deal to join Ulster and replace Christian Lealiifano, whose short-term deal ended at the weekend resulting in the Australia international moving back home to re-join the Brumbies.
But 34-year-old Donald, who kicked the winning penalty that won the All Blacks the 2011 Rugby World Cup final, has failed a medical with Ulster and, as such, has seen his move from Japanese side Suntory Sungoliath cancelled.
“Unfortunately, Ulster Rugby is not in a position to proceed with the signing of Stephen Donald, after receiving a medical report on the player yesterday [Sunday],” and Ulster statement read.
“Stephen had agreed a short-term deal to join the province, but he sustained an injury while representing his club in the final game of the Japanese season, which will rule him out for four-plus weeks.”
Losing Donald is a bitter blow for Ulster, and comes just one day after their European Champions Cup defeat ended in a disappointing defeat by Wasps that cost them their place in the quarter-finals.
The matter is made all the more worse as Ulster are not blessed with options at fly-half following Lealiifano’s return to Australia, given that Ireland international Paddy Jackson is currently unavailable for selection. The 25-year-old Irishman is unavailable after being charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault, and both the Irish Rugby Football Union [IRFU] and Ulster confirmed that he would not be picked until the court process concludes. Jackson has denied the charges, with the trial scheduled to begin on Monday.
The loss of Donald and unavailability of Jackson leaves Ulster head coach, Jono Gibbes, and director of rugby, Les Kiss, extremely short on options at fly-half, with Newcastle-born Johnny McPhillips the only other option.
“The timeline now makes it very difficult to find a suitable replacement, but we will continue to monitor the market,” the statement added.
McPhillips represented England Under-18s before joining Ulster in 2015 and switching allegiance to Ireland when called up to the Under-20s squad, with the 20-year-old eligible through his Irish parents. He has made just four appearances for Ulster since making his debut against Connacht just before Christmas, and came off the bench on Sunday during the 26-7 defeat by Wasps at the Ricoh Arena.
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