Reports naming Frans Ludeke as new Ulster boss premature, with two big names still in frame

While 56-year-old Ludeke is understood to be one of the candidates being considered for the role, the Kubota Spears boss has just signed a new three-year deal with the Japan Rugby League One side that would seemingly exclude him from the running.

While it is likely that the IRFU would be the ones shouldering the burden of paying out the former Lions, Bulls and Fiji coach’s contract, it is highly unlikely they would do so, while Ulster could not afford it given their precarious financial position.

Instead, the Belfast Telegraph is under the impression that the front-runners to replace Dan McFarland in the permanent position are current interim head coach Richie Murphy and former Ulster, Ireland and British and Irish Lions star Jared Payne.

The former appears to have the inside track having already been in the job for just over a month, with initial reports suggesting he has established a strong rapport with the squad, but the latter is highly thought of both within the IRFU and Ulster, and it would be no surprise to see them keen to get Payne back within the fold.

Payne, who made 20 appearances for Ireland and went on the 2017 Lions tour to his native New Zealand, was formerly defence coach at Ulster after he retired in May 2018 and is currently assistant coach to Dwayne Peel at the Scarlets following a brief stint with French side Clermont.

The 38-year-old was heavily linked with the assistant job at Leinster that was eventually given to Tyler Bleyendaal but could yet make his return to Ireland if he is handed the Ulster job.

Murphy, meanwhile, has guided Ulster to just two wins in his first five games, but there is a realisation that the job he has inherited is one that will require a long-term fix, one that he has strongly indicated he would be keen to take on.