Ulster sign Ireland-qualified Kiwi playmaker to ease fly-half woes
Aidan Morgan of the Hurricanes in action during the Super Rugby Pacific.
Ulster have announced just their second signing ahead of the 2024/25 season with Aidan Morgan joining from the Hurricanes.
The former New Zealand U20s pivot has signed a two-year deal with Ulster and will link up with the squad after the Super Rugby Pacific season.
Ireland-qualified fly-half
The 22-year-old fly-half qualifies for Ireland through his Belfast-born grandfather and joins the side in desperate need of another option in the number 10 jumper.
Ulster’s Billy Burns will join Munster ahead of next season while there were suggestions that scrum-half Nathan Doak would be tested in the playmaker role going forward. However, Morgan’s signing eases the concerns at fly-half.
The ex-New Zealand U20s star impressed at schoolboy level in 2019 when Kings College secured its first Auckland Schools championship title in over a decade.
He went on to join the Hurricanes academy and has gone on to earn 23 caps for the Wellington-based side in his first three seasons in Super Rugby while being a standout for the Wellington Lions in the NPC.
“I’m really looking forward to making the move to Belfast this summer, and getting the opportunity to represent Ulster and the birthplace of my grandfather,” Morgan said.
“I know that Ulster is steeped in history, and I’m looking forward to being a part of the atmosphere at Kingspan Stadium. I’m really excited for the opportunity to be a part of a talented team, and to play in front of the club’s passionate supporters.
“It’s a great time to be joining Ulster. I’m excited to play alongside a very skilful squad under Richie and the coaching team’s vision for the future.”
United Rugby Championship Ins and outs: The complete list of the 2024/25 player transfers
Ulster’s ins and outs
Morgan’s signing follows that of Werner Kok, who will link up with Ulster from the Durban-based Sharks.
The Irish province will bid a host of players farewell this season with Steven Kitshoff returning to the Stormers while James French, Dave Ewers, Greg Jones, Will Addison and Shea O’Brien have all been released.
Finally, Luke Marshall has announced his retirement.
“As part of our recruitment process, we explored a number of options around what would work best for the club in terms of our short-term needs versus our longer-term, wider ambitions as a club for the years ahead,” head of rugby operations and recruitment at Ulster Rugby, Bryn Cunningham, said.
“While Aidan will bring a mix of youth, competitiveness and high energy – key qualities that directly align to our strategic objectives over the coming years – he also, importantly as a 10, exudes a maturity beyond his years. Being Irish-Qualified with roots to Ulster is undoubtedly an added bonus.”
