Fly-half, James Humphreys, has agreed terms on a new one-year senior deal, that keeps him playing for the province until at least 2026.

23-year-old Humphreys has enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2024/25, making his senior debut against Vodacom Bulls in the BKT United Rugby Championship and making his Champions Cup debut against Bordeaux at Kingspan Stadium.

Academy locks, Irvine and Hopes, have signed new development deals that will transfer onto a senior contract, keeping the young forwards in an Ulster jersey until at least 2027.

21-year-old Irvine also made his senior men’s debut earlier this season against Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

The physical second rower has captained Queen’s University in the All-Ireland League this season at club level.

20-year-old Hopes progresses onto a development deal after finishing up three years in the Ulster Rugby Academy.

Hopes made his senior men’s debut in the 2023/24 campaign, coming on in an interprovincial derby against Connacht in Galway.

He was previously named the 2022 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Player of the Year after impressing for Campbell College.

Both Hopes and Irvine have played in the green jersey under current Ulster Rugby Head coach Richie Murphy at U20 level, in the U20 Six Nations Grand Slam winning side and representing Ireland at the 2023 U20 World Championship in South Africa.

Lock, Dalton, has signed a one-year contract until 2026, following a successful trial period this season.

The 26-year-old forward is a former pupil of Belfast Royal Academy and played for Ulster Rugby’s age-grade teams as a schoolboy, before joining the Ulster Rugby Academy.

He would go onto make his senior debut in the then PRO14 in 2017 and made ten appearances in the Ulster jersey.

Dalton then pursued opportunities outside the province, playing for Utah Warriors in the MLR, Newcastle Falcons in the Premiership, and most recently, for French side Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente, in the Pro D2.

Commenting on the four new deals, Ulster Rugby’s General Manager, Bryn Cunningham said:

“It’s been great to secure these exciting prospects for the future, and they are a key part of shaping our squad going forward.

“In Charlie and Joe, we have two young and talented second row players who we are very excited to see develop. They have both had a taste of senior action and know the standards that they must reach to consistently feature at that level.

“James is really benefitting from time on the training pitch and has impressed on a few cameos already this season.

“James is part of a group of young fly-halves here, so his challenge is to take every opportunity that comes his way over the coming months.”

“With Matty, there was an opportunity that arose for him to come back home, and we wanted to have a look at him and assess where he was at.

“During this trial period he has impressed the coaching staff with his attitude, and he still has those explosive athletic qualities that are a point of difference in the modern game. We think he can be a valuable member of the squad going forward.”