McCloskey Commits to Ulster for Another Year
Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey has signed a one-year contract extension with Ulster, securing his stay at the province until the conclusion of the 2027-28 season.
The 33-year-old had an outstanding 2025-26 season, with his commanding midfield performances playing a crucial role in Ireland's capture of the Triple Crown during this year's Six Nations.
McCloskey's impressive displays earned widespread acclaim and led to his shortlisting for the Six Nations Player of the Championship award.
Throughout the 2025-26 campaign, he was a consistent contributor for Ulster, featuring in 13 matches and aiding the team in reaching the final of the European Challenge Cup.
Following a strong performance in the semi-final victory over Exeter Chiefs, McCloskey sustained a hamstring injury in the second half, which prematurely ended his season and caused him to miss the final, where Ulster were defeated by Montpellier.
With 217 appearances for Ulster, McCloskey is approaching the milestone of equalling Rory Best's record for the third most senior appearances at the province, which stands at 218.
Now fully recovered, McCloskey is preparing to focus on Ireland's inaugural Nations Championship this summer, which includes Test matches against Australia, Japan, and New Zealand in July.
McCloskey Reflects on His Commitment and Future
"Ulster is my home and after a whirlwind season, I feel confident," McCloskey said.
"I feel we are developing well as a team and showed last season that we can really compete against strong sides by getting to a European Final.
There is some strong talent coming through here and playing with the lads on the international stage has given everyone a big lift.
I'm really enjoying my rugby and feel very motivated to achieve more over the next couple of seasons for both Ulster and Ireland."
Ulster's Perspective on McCloskey's Role
Rory Best, Ulster's general manager, emphasized the importance of retaining McCloskey, describing the contract extension as a "vital piece of business for us going forward."
"He is one of the top international centres in the world right now and he brings a very consistent level of performance each time he plays, with the ability to break the gain line and play others into space with his unique passing range.
For our young centres coming through, he is someone that they can learn so much from."
