Time heals

Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding could return to Ulster at some stage down the line, with the northern province leaving the door open for a sensational return.

Both Jackson and Olding has their contracts revoked by the IRFU earlier this year after a hugely publicised rape trial in Belfast that ultimately cost them their careers in Ireland.

Jackson has since signed for Perpignan in the Top 14, while Olding is now plying his trade with French PRO D2 side Brive. But a return to Ulster could be on the cards for the pair according to Operations Director Bryn Cunningham.

“I think the one thing about that is that everybody appreciates that time can be a healer and, ultimately, we were dealing with a situation where two guys and the other two members of the group were acquitted of all charges, so I suppose there is nothing to say that down the line at some point then maybe those guys come back and play in the white of Ulster.” Cunningham told the Telegraph

“It is probably just too early and too raw for many people to probably to make any firm judgment on that.”