Henderson Considering Offers Overseas

Ulster & Ireland international forward Iain Henderson is considering offers from abroad with his current Ulster contract expiring at the end of this season.

The Ireland coaching set-up will be on alert to prevent another high profile departure from the playing staff. The 25-year old is in line to earn a centralised contract with the IRFU in the coming months but he revealed yesterday that he is the subject of interest from a handful of overseas clubs.

"Initially all you want to do is play for Ulster," said Henderson. "Your goals are slightly realigned once you've been able to do that and then Ireland becomes the next thing.

"When you're growing up you aspire to being in those shoes. "Simon's been in there playing for six or seven seasons now and I can understand why he'd want to move on given that opportunity in France.

"When that time to review comes up, it's definitely down to a player by player basis. "You can definitely tell which players are more settled at your province and which players are willing to give something else a go."

Henderson admitted: "After the summer tour and stuff there has been some interest from other clubs and places. "But Simon leaving and not being selected - it's done on a player by player basis, form and a few other factors.

"So at the end of the day I will just sit down and have a chat with Joe, and maybe sit down with (IRFU performance director) David Nucifora and see before making any serious decisions.

"But those kind of chats and decisions about where to move to all come in to (play) probably a wee bit further down the year. "It is kind of up for grabs at the same time - you've got to remember that it's players' livelihoods, their jobs.

"If they're offering something like what I've read with Simon - a relatively lucrative amount that he mightn't have been offered the same amount by Ireland - it's a financial decision for him as well as a rugby decision."