Tommy Bowe’s exciting new role could completely transform Ireland’s backline

Ulster and Ireland fans will like the sounds of this.

Many feared that Tommy Bowe's Ireland career would end on the back of a medical cart at the Millennium Stadium. A new plan unfolding up at Ulster could see his provincial and international career revived in thrilling fashion. Bowe played outside centre on several occasions during his time with Ospreys but has only fleetingly appeared there since his return to Ulster in 2012. All that is about to change heading into 2017/18 and the Monaghan man has been absolutely flying in pre-season. "I'm really happy to see where Tommy is," said Ulster director or rugby Les Kiss. "Probably the real difficult times last season were when he seemed to be there but wasn't quite there. He's certainly got a real purpose out him this year. He looks more comfortable. I like the way way he looks." As for Bowe's re-imagined role, Kiss says:

"We used him at 13 last week and we'll use him again at 13 this week [against Northampton] and see how it goes there. It's going to be good; try to build that flexibility with him there again. He's in a good place. "He has not [played there for a while] but he's enjoying playing there - on the wing and then centre as well." "That's what I've liked," Kiss continued. "He's done session, on session, on session. He has trained at wing and centre. He has natural leadership ability and he is a statesman in the place now. A good, wise head for the young lads around him and I'm really happy with how he's been going."

Switching Bowe to No.13 could give Ireland a completely new look in the coming months. The 33-year-old could well link up with the likes of Rory Scannell [Munster], Bundee Aki [Connacht] or Robbie Henshaw, if the Leinster man returns to full fitness in time for the November Series. Provincial teammates Stuart McCloskey and Luke Marshall are other midfield options. Bowe got involved in some video and opposition analysis last season, as he coped with injury issues, and Kiss was impressed with his contribution. He said:

"It's interesting, when you are locked into the game from a playing mode, you look at things from one or two dimensions. But you look at things from the edge, you see what else you can do. We talked about that - how you find another angle of the game you can engage with. I think that has been helpful for him. "Tommy has always been a resource for us within the team but he's a wiser player now, for sure. We rely on him, mentally, to help some of those outside backs."

Elsewhere in the Ulster squad, Kiss expects to have returning Lions Rory Best, Iain Henderson and Jared Payne back in PRO14 action around round four or five [late Septembe/early October]. Payne suffered from migraines that saw him sit out the final few games of the Lions tour to New Zealand but Kiss believes all such issues have been addressed. The versatile back has been fully cleared to play again. "For Jared, it was a big year for him. The kidney [damage] and the recent thing with the Lions, so he is looking forward to getting back into some consistency of practice, preparation and getting back out there. Because he's pretty important to us when he is at his best." "It [the medical reason for his tour ending early] wasn't sinister," Kiss added. "It was just around migraines so he's just getting his head around what that is and whether it can repeat itself in the future, which it can. But he's in a place now where he can work away and see how he goes."