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Australia prop Bell to Ulster on short-term deal

Angus Bell runs with the ball during Australia's November Test against Scotland in 2024Getty Images

Angus Bell has been Australia's starting loose-head prop in recent years

Ulster have made a serious statement of intent by g Australia prop Angus Bell on a short-term deal from Waratahs.

The 24-year-old loose-head will the Irish province on a sabbatical in December until the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

Before that, Bell is expected to play a key role for Joe Schmidt's Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions in this summer's Test series in Australia.

Bell has earned 36 Australia caps since making his debut in 2020. He started his country's November Tests against England, Wales and Scotland, but missed out on facing Ireland in Dublin because of illness.

"I'm very excited to be ing Ulster Rugby later this year and experiencing the game in a different hemisphere," he told Ulster's website.

"A big motivation for me was wanting to develop my game in a brand-new environment and be out of my comfort zone. My conversations with [Ulster general manager] Bryn Cunningham about that only made me more excited to such a historic club."

Cunningham added: "We have always said that we would look for opportunities in the market to add players who can make a big impact in our team and Angus definitely fits that bill.

"He is at an excellent age profile and is currently one of the most exciting loose-head props in world rugby.

"Richie [Murphy] has been working hard to improve the competitiveness within the squad and Angus will add to the standards and help drive that competition for minutes next season."

Angus Bell in action for WatarahsGetty Images

Bell will return to Watarahs after his sabbatical with Ulster, with his contract running until 2027

Bell will return to Waratahs after his sabbatical, with his contract running through to the end of 2027.

Waratahs head coach Dan McKellar said the club were "ive" of his decision to Ulster to continue his "personal growth".

"He's a young man, who came straight out of school into the Waratahs system, and we think the time at Ulster will be good for his development on and off the field, which ultimately will help the Waratahs long term," he said.

Bell's arrival later this year will continue the trend of southern-hemisphere players ing Irish provinces on short-term deals.

New Zealand international Jordie Barrett is nearing the end of his stint with Leinster having ed in December, with his All Blacks team-mate Rieko Ioane set to arrive at the end of 2025.

The announcement of Bell's short-term deal comes on the same day Ulster confirmed the departure of New Zealand-born fly-half Aidan Morgan by "mutual consent".

Ulster have already signed South African back row Juarno Augustus from Northampton Saints before next season, while loose-head Andy Warwick was among several departures at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.

The province pulled off a major coup in 2022 when they landed South Africa's World Cup-winning loose-head Steven Kitshoff, but he left after just one season.

Murphy's side are hoping to bounce back after a miserable season in which they missed out on the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-offs and qualification for next season's Investec Champions Cup.

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