Ireland International set to return home next season - report

Former Ireland and Leinster standoff Ian Madigan could be returning to Ireland from the Bristol Bears next season, with Ulster keen to snap up the former Leinster out-half this summer.

According to a Belfast Telegraph report, the northern province are closing in on a deal to sign the Dubliner at the end of the season. Madigan left Leinster in 2016 to join Top14 side Union Bordeaux Begles before spending the last two years at Bristol.

The 31-year-old has fell down the pecking order at Bristol with Callum Sheddy dominating the starting pivot role and his current deal with Pat Lam's side is up at the end of the current campaign and Ulster are seeking back-up for Billy Burns.

Burns has been in the Ireland squad during the Six Nations but is yet to win his first Ireland cap. Madigan would be linking up with his former Leinster teammates John Cooney, Jordi Murphy, Jack McGrath and Marty Moore at Kingspan Stadium and he's previously indicated an openness to join any of the Irish provinces:

"I'm going through that process at the moment and maybe potentially looking at coming back home, all the Irish provinces are going as strong as ever and you would love to be involved there again, but you just have to wait and see.