Dan McFarland has no sympathy for Leinster 'player drain'

Ulster coach Dan McFarland has no sympathy for Leinster boss Leo Cullen over the number of players who have left the Dublin-based side to join other provinces.

McFarland was asked if he has any sympathy for Cullen with a number of former Leinster players such as John Cooney and Jordi Murphy returning to the RDS for the top of Pro14 Conference A clash on Friday.

"Do I feel sorry for him? I mean are you joking?" laughed Ulster head coach McFarland.

"Of course I don't. He's sat in amongst 10 or 12 of the wealthiest schools in the country, plying people from rich families through those schools, churning out bursaries to the best prospects."

"I love it up here, as Andy Friend loves it in Connacht, doing the hard yards," McFarland said.

"When guys like Nick Timoney, Dave Shanahan and Alan O'Connor or Jordi Murphy, when they run out with the white shirt on they're Ulstermen, plain and simple."