The powerful and pacey youngster David McIlwaine signs for Bristol.
The latest transfer news to hit FRU headquarters is the transfer of David McIlwaine who moves from Doncaster to Bristol at the end of the season.
McIlwaine, who wasn’t offered a contract at Ulster last season, has proved to be “literally” a big hit with Doncaster fans and the young Larne man has received due reward with the offer of a year’s contract with Premier League bound Bristol.
An accomplish full back with plenty of power and pace McIlwaine always looked capable of playing at the highest level but during his time with Ulster he was constantly played out of position. You can’t help but think, however, that he would have been the ideal candidate to study under Terblanche and Payne, though I suspect we’ll be seeing him back at Ravenhill in future seasons.
Whether he’ll be joined by Niall Annett and James McKinney remains to be seen with Annett now likely to stay with Ulster following Andi Kyriacou’s shock move to Cadiff Blues.
2 Responses to “McIlwaine moves on.”
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I think he was tried a year to soon at Ulster which was a level above Doncaster but Doncaster are a level or two above AIL and there would have been the likelyhood that is the level he would have been playing at this last year if he hadn’t moved.
Sometimes it maybe better to make the move than sit in hope on the Ulster bench and possibly mark time in the Academy.
Best of luck to him hope it works out.
Congrats to young ‘Maccie’ for his move to Bristol. I’ve watched a couple of his games for the Doncaster Knights and they will certainly miss him next season. His running lines in attack have been good and his defence sound, not to mention the odd point or so when given the kicking duties. Hopefully this next season at Bristol will be even more successful for him, and thus a return to his home province.