Mark Sexton and Willie Faloon added to coaching ticket at Ulster

Mark Sexton and Willie Faloon will join the Ulster coaching set-up for the 2025-26 season.

Both coaches will form a key part of the team alongside head coach Richie Murphy, forwards coach Jimmy Duffy, and Dan Soper, in his new role as development and transition coach. Indeed, it is the same coaching ticket that guided the Ireland U-20s to a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2022.

Sexton joins the province to lead the attack after many years with Connacht, where he started off in the academy before working with Murphy as skills and assistant attack coach for the aforementioned U-20s.

The Dubliner has over a decade of coaching experience, firstly working with St Mary's College and Leinster U19s before pursuing his badges.

Faloon joins the ticket on a permanent basis as the province’s new defence and contact skills coach.

The Co Armagh native played for the province and later worked with the academy. He also has coaching experience with City of Armagh RFC and Ireland U20s.

In his new role, Soper's main objective will be maximising the individual development of all players with a particular focus on the younger talent already in the senior squad and the successful transition of academy graduates.

On the appointments, Richie Murphy, said: "Mark and Willie will be great additions to the coaching team here at Ulster Rugby. Knowing Mark from our time together in the Irish U-20 setup, I could see first-hand that he is a talented young coach who knows how to drive an attack.

"He has built up a great reputation at Connacht and we are getting a hungry coach who is excited to work with the talent we have here.

"Willie Faloon is also a very talented coach with a growing reputation in the game. He’s a good example of someone coming up through the