Ulster eyeing up wing switch for Sevens star Zac Ward

Ulster captain Iain Henderson is on track to be fit for the start of the new BKT United Rugby Championship season, while head coach Richie Murphy has revealed his ambitious plans to try convert Ireland Sevens star Zac Ward to the wing.

The 25-year-old, who is the son of former Ulster and Ireland flanker Andy Ward, recently joined the province on a trial until the end of November, having impressed for the Ireland Sevens team in recent seasons.

The Ballynahinch man was the standout Irish player at the Olympic Sevens in Paris this summer, particularly with his ball-carrying, while he was also voted men's Sevens player of the year at the Rugby Player Ireland awards earlier in the summer.

Ward previously played in the back row when he lined out for Hinch in the Energia All-Ireland League, but the Ulster coach says they’re considering a switch to see how he’s suited to playing in wider channels.

The province welcome Benetton to Belfast for their first pre-season game this Saturday, and Murphy has suggested the trialist could see some game time.

"We’re thinking about trying to transform him into a winger and there’s quite a lot of learning in that in a short space of time," Murphy said.

"Zac has always had an interest in getting back into the XV’s game. He’s obviously done extremely well in the Sevens.

"The Sevens and XV’s is different. Zac was a back rower before he went to Sevens.

"We’re hoping to get a look at him on Saturday evening, albeit he’s only been in with us for four training sessions, so it’s a tight time frame but in order to get a look in before the start of the season we have to get him out there, so it will be interesting to see how he goes."

Murphy, who was given the Ulster job on a permanent basis in May after