Long-term solution.

Christian Lealiifano played his final game in front of the Ulster faithful at Kingspan yesterday, as he gets set to say his final goodbyes against Wasps at the Ricoh next week.

The Wallaby international has become an instant favourite with the northern province, with many hoping he could have stayed on, at least until the end of the season.

Sadly that won’t be happening however, as he already promised the Brumbies he would be back in time for the 2018 Super Rugby season. They’ve even named him co-captain. Instead New Zealander Stephen Donald will come in as cover until the end of the season.

Donald however, is only a short-term solution, and with Paddy Jackson’s legal problems off the pitch set to continue, Ulster need a long-term solution at outhalf and they may have found it.

The northern province have made an official approach to another Wallaby outhalf in Quade Cooper, according to a report in The Rugby Paper this morning.

Cooper is without a club since being let go by the Queensland Reds, and has been training with Sonny Bill Williams in Auckland to keep himself fit for his eventual new club.

The deal would see Cooper move to the PRO14 next season, so perhaps we could see him sign on for a Super Rugby team for a season before making the move. Ulster via the Blues perhaps?