IRFU want Byrne or Carbery at Ulster

According to a report in The Sunday Times, Joe Schmidt and IRFU performance director David Nucifora both visited the Leinster training centre last Sunday to inform Leo Cullen that he needed to make a choice between retaining either Ross Byrne or Joey Carbery.

The IRFU are eager to send one of the fly-halves to Ulster next season as the Irish province continue their search to accompany playmaker Johnny McPhillips for cover in the No. 10 shirt.

Ulster have endured a difficult campaign after exiting the Champions Cup in the pool stages and coach Les Kiss was sacked in January. The northern province need clarity as to who will fill the out-half position next season and it appears the IRFU want to develop one of their home-grown players instead of drafting in an overseas replacement.

Leinster were understandably unhappy about the timing of the intervention as they prepared to face Scarlets in the Champions Cup but the IRFU are determined to send one of the players to Ulster.

Joe Schmidt wants to ensure that Carbery gets regular game-time at out-half next season, ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. The Auckland-born talent is regularly used as a full-back for Leinster while Byrne served as the club's primary back-up to Johnny Sexton.

There has been intense speculation over the last few months that Carbery could make the switch to Ulster, however, the 22-year-old has repeatedly said he is happy at the club despite the lack of game time in his favoured position.

He said earlier this year: "I’m happy in Leinster, I always will be happy in Leinster and things aren’t that bad that I’m not starting or anything when I’m not injured. I haven’t paid too much attention to it."