RUGBY:TRAFFIC BETWEEN provinces is becoming more commonplace and the trend continued yesterday when Connacht confirmed Ulster backrower TJ Anderson, son of former Ulster and Ireland player and coach Willie Anderson, is to jump aboard the Eric Elwood revolution in the west next season. Meanwhile, fellow backrower Mike McComish is travelling in the opposite direction.
The 24-year-old Anderson has been capped 18 times in the Magners League in his three years with Ulster and has been a regular in their British and Irish Cup team, captaining the Ulster Ravens.
The 6ft 4in, 98kg Magherafelt-born player was part of the Ireland under-20 team that won the Grand Slam in 2007 in a side that included current Connacht players Andrew Browne, Jamie Hagan and Shane Monahan, and was coached by Elwood.
Furthermore, one of Connacht’s most senior players, Brett Wilkinson, has signed a contract extension that will see the loosehead prop stay at the Sportsground until the end of the 2012-13 season.
Originally from Grahamstown, South Africa, the 6ft, 119kg 27-year-old prop qualifies to play for Ireland through residency (he has played over 100 times for the province), and has won four A caps with the Irish Wolfhounds.
“Connacht has been my home for the last five years and it’s great to be able to commit for another two years,” said Wilkinson.
“I’m delighted to have played for Ireland Wolfhounds and I would love to make the next step and represent Ireland at senior level, but at the moment I am concentrating on being the best rugby player I can be and helping Connacht make their mark in the Magners League.”
Connacht stage the only Magners League game of the weekend next Friday when they entertain Aironi (kick-off 7.35). A fifth home win in a row (and sixth win in their last six matches in all competitions) would propel Connacht above the Dragons and into seventh place in the table.
In addition to McComish, Ulster yesterday confirmed that Callum Black will join from next season.
Black (25), is an Ireland-qualified prop who has played over 50 times for Championship side Worcester Warriors. Born in the US and raised in England, where he attended Hartpury College, Black is qualified through his paternal grandfather, who was from Belfast, and has represented Ireland at Under-18, 19 and 21.
He joined the Worcester Academy straight from college and broke into the senior team towards the end of the 2008-09 season.
McComish returns to his native province after two years with Connacht. A former Campbell College product and Ulster development player, who played for the Ireland under-21s and won an AIL medal with Ballymena in 2004, the 27-year-old also had spells with Rotherham and Otley in England before joining Connacht.
