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9th January 2026
02:58pm GMT
In light of the news that Ciarán Frawley is on his way to Connacht, here are five more interprovincial transfers we would like the IRFU and provinces to push through.
While Leo Cullen and Leinster would not be on board with this transfer, it would revitalise Boyle after losing his place in the Ireland and Leinster 23 to Paddy McCarthy, and help with Ulster's ongoing rise.
Head coach Richie Murphy has transformed the northern province into Ireland's 'It' team, where players will now be taken more seriously and have a better opportunity at putting their hand up for international honours.
It would also see the talented Alex Usanov move up the loosehead ranks at Leinster and assist his development.
A short-term loan move would make the most sense in this scenario; the scrum-half has found consistent game time difficult to come by given the presence of both Ben Murphy and Caolin Blade, but he would also be too big of a loss to Connacht in a permanent move.
He excels off the bench with 20-30 minutes remaining, and has picked off tired defences on numerous occasions.
With the pace and power of Ulster's backline to play with, it's a salivating thought.
This is the least likely of all these moves, but a loan spell isn't beyond the realms of possibility.
The most talked-about prospect in the country is currently stuck behind three international out-halves at his province, but this has afforded him the space to hone his craft with Terenure in the less pressurised environment of the AIL.
Ciarán Frawley is moving west next season, with Leinster looking likely to re-sign Joey Carbery as a replacement.
While Carbery is likely to mainly play at fullback, there is every chance he'd be picked ahead of Gabriel if Harry Byrne and Sam Prendergast were unavailable.
With the 20-year-old chomping at the bit and eager to kickstart his pro career, this would not be ideal.
At 25, it is time for the hooker to push his game to the next level, something which won't happen as fourth-choice at Leinster.
With Stephen Smyth also coming through, it is unlikely that his bosses would have much of a problem with this transfer.
Tom Stewart has possession of the No. 2 jersey up north, but with his backup - a 35-year-old Rob Herring - in the last few seasons of his career, McKee could make a push for the first-choice 23.
The versatile backrower's career has stalled somewhat, and he finds himself behind John Hodnett, Jack O'Donoghue and Ruadhán Quinn in the battle for the openside spot.
He excelled at Champions Cup level in his younger days, and a change of scenery could reinvigorate the 24-year-old.
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