Scarlets coach and former Ireland international Jared Payne looking forward to Ulster reunion

The week Jared Payne has had pencilled into his diary since the start of the season has finally arrived, as he prepares to take on his former team.

Payne spent more than a decade with Ulster as player and coach, winning 20 caps for Ireland along the way.

After spending a year in France working at Clermont Auvergne, he moved to west Wales last summer to join the coaching staff at the Scarlets.

It's in that role he now finds himself going up against Ulster who are the visitors to Llanelli this Saturday (3.05pm) for a BKT URC clash.

"When I first came here, I did check out when the Ulster fixture was," said the 38-year-old.

"It’s like anything in nature, you want to check that one off in the book and see when it is.

"I still keep in touch with a few of those guys and I will catch up with them before and after the game.

"I was there for ten, 11 years and I’ve got lots of fond memories. I can’t fault anything that happened. It was a good time there."

Payne joined Ulster in 2011 having had Super Rugby spells with the Chiefs, Crusaders and Blues in his native New Zealand.

He soon made a mark in Belfast, both with his assured displays and his versatility, being able to slot in at centre, full-back and wing.

After qualifying for Ireland on residency, Payne (above) established himself on the Test stage and in 2017 he was selected for the Lions tour of the land where he was born.

"It was a great thing going back to New Zealand," he said.

"I never thought I would get to play rugby down there again."

Yet that trip was to end up being his final chapter as a player. Towards the end of a try-scoring outing against the Chiefs in Hamilton, he suffered a head injury which was to ultimately force his retirement.

"The interesting point is I played my