Ulster Rugby v Munster

NAGLE EMBRACING PROVINCIAL TRANSITION It’s never easy making the transition from one team to another midway through a season, but so far Ian Nagle has embraced it wholeheartedly.

"At the end of the day, all you want to do is be competing for trophies and there seems to be a great buzz around the club, and everyone is on the same page about wanting to win trophies." And how about a stay beyond the end of the season? "I definitely wouldn't rule it out," he smiles. "I have a fiancee living in London, so I'd need to weigh that into the equation but I could maybe twist her arm and see! "So far I'm loving my time here, so I wouldn't rule anything out. I'd never say never to anything and right now I'm very happy."

The Munster native has joined until the end of the season from Leinster after the retirements of Peter Browne, Jean Deysel and Chris Henry and came off the bench against both the Scarlets and Cardiff Blues since making the switch. Nagle, a former Ireland Under-20s cap, will provide plenty of experience in the young Ulster squad having played for the two other provinces, as well as spending time with Newcastle Falcons and London Irish in England. And the 30-year-old says he's already settled in nicely at the surrounds of Kingspan Stadium thanks to some familiar faces within the squad. "An opportunity came up here, with a bit more game time available, so it was a good fit to get game time at a great club," says the Cork-born second row. "It was an opportunity I was excited by and an opportunity to work with Dan (McFarland), so it was an easy decision really. "So far so good, it's been an easy enough transition. I know Dan quite well from before as coach of the Ireland Under-20s and I know some of the boys from having played against them or having toured with them in the past, so in that respect it's been quite easy. "In terms of structure and facilities it's as good as it gets." Nagle's gotten stuck in so far too, providing some impetus off the bench in Llanelli against the Scarlets and then playing a key role in the win over Cardiff having been called into action late in the first half. Particularly against the Blues he was impressive, coming on for the injured Alan O'Connor and adding some physicality both in the loose and tight, as well as sticking up for his team-mates when the game got a bit heated. "When you join a new squad you want to prove you have a right to be here, from that you have a bit more energy to fit in and buy into the culture and impress the coaches, and I think that's only a positive thing. It's been great to get a couple of run-outs so far," he says.

45

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM