Ulster Rugby Sign Daniel Hawkshaw and Martin Moloney Ahead of New URC Season
Ulster Rugby have bolstered their squad ahead of the 2026-27 United Rugby Championship season with the signings of centre Daniel Hawkshaw from Connacht and back row Martin Moloney from Exeter Chiefs on one-year deals, as the province prepares to open their campaign against Edinburgh at Kingspan Stadium on September 25 — with head coach Richie Murphy targeting a significant improvement on last season's disappointing campaign.
Background
Ulster's 2025-26 URC season was one of the most injury-disrupted in the province's recent history, with a succession of key players sidelined for extended periods that severely limited Murphy's ability to field his strongest team consistently. Captain Iain Henderson missed significant portions of the season following hip surgery, while Bryn Ward, Juarno Augustus, and Jude Postlethwaite also spent time on the treatment table. The province's young players gained valuable experience filling in for their absent seniors, but the results were inconsistent and Ulster failed to reach the URC play-offs for the second consecutive season.
The province has been active in the transfer market this summer, seeking to add depth and experience to a squad that Murphy believes has the quality to compete at the top of the URC when fully fit. The signings of Eduardo Bello, Keynan Knox, and Chay Mullins were announced in June, and the additions of Hawkshaw and Moloney represent further investment in the areas of the squad that were most exposed by last season's injury crisis.
Daniel Hawkshaw is a former Ireland Under-20 Grand Slam winner who has developed his game in the Connacht academy and senior squad over the past three seasons. The centre is regarded as one of the most promising young backs in Irish rugby, combining strong defensive qualities with an ability to create opportunities for those around him. His move to Ulster represents a significant step up in his career and an opportunity to establish himself as a regular starter in a competitive URC environment.
Key Developments
Martin Moloney arrives at Kingspan Stadium following a two-year stint with the Exeter Chiefs in the English Premiership, where he developed his game under the guidance of one of the most experienced coaching teams in European rugby. The back row brings physicality, work rate, and experience of high-pressure European competition that will add valuable depth to Ulster's loose forward options. His arrival is particularly timely given the injury concerns surrounding several of Ulster's established back row players.
Ulster's 2026-27 URC fixtures have been confirmed, with the province opening their campaign at home against Edinburgh on Friday, September 25, before an away trip to Glasgow Warriors in Round 2 and a home interprovincial derby against Munster on October 10. The fixture list provides an early test of the province's ambitions, with three of their first five matches against sides that finished in the top half of last season's URC table.
Henderson is expected to be fit for the start of the season following his hip surgery, and Murphy has indicated that the captain's return will be a significant boost to the province's prospects. The coach has spoken about the importance of building a consistent squad culture that can sustain performance levels throughout a long and demanding season, rather than relying on individual brilliance to compensate for structural weaknesses.
Why It Matters
Ulster's ability to compete consistently at the top of the URC is important not just for the province but for Irish rugby as a whole. The four Irish provinces — Ulster, Munster, Leinster, and Connacht — have been the dominant force in European club rugby for the past two decades, and their continued success at the highest level is a key driver of the depth and quality of the Ireland national team. Ulster's failure to reach the URC play-offs in consecutive seasons has been a source of concern for the IRFU, which has invested significantly in the province's infrastructure and player development.
The signings of Hawkshaw and Moloney reflect a recognition within Ulster that the squad needs to be deeper and more resilient to injury if the province is to compete consistently over the course of a 18-round URC season. The province has historically been vulnerable to injury crises that have derailed promising campaigns, and the investment in squad depth this summer is an attempt to address that vulnerability.
Local Impact
For Ulster rugby supporters across the province — from the Kingspan Stadium faithful in Belfast to the clubs in Antrim, Down, Armagh, Tyrone, Fermanagh, and Londonderry that feed players into the provincial system — the summer signings will be welcomed as evidence that the province is serious about returning to the top of the URC. The opening home fixture against Edinburgh on September 25 will provide an early opportunity to assess the new-look squad, and a strong start to the season will be crucial to building the momentum and confidence that Murphy's side needs to sustain a play-off challenge.
What's Next
Ulster's pre-season programme includes a series of warm-up matches against English Premiership and URC opposition in August and early September, providing Murphy with the opportunity to assess his new signings and to develop the combinations and patterns of play that he wants to use in the competitive season. The province's full squad for the 2026-27 season will be announced in early September, ahead of the opening URC fixture against Edinburgh on September 25.
