Ulster Rugby have moved quickly in the transfer market, with Eduardo Bello joining on a one-year deal in one of the more notable updates in sports ireland this week. The 30-year-old Argentina tighthead prop arrives with 26 international caps and a strong CV built across the Rugby Championship, Rugby World Cup, Saracens, Zebre Parma and Newcastle.
For Ulster, this is a clear squad call. Bello adds proven depth, scrummaging power and senior know-how to a front-row group that still has young talent developing. In ireland rugby terms, it is the kind of signing that says plenty about where the province wants to improve next season: up front, in contact, and in the big moments.
What Eduardo Bello brings to Ulster and sports ireland
Bello’s recent spell at Newcastle was disrupted by an ACL injury suffered on Argentina duty during the 2024 Rugby Championship, but Ulster are backing his quality and experience. Rory Best said the province wanted more “leadership and physicality” in the pack, and Bello fits that brief exactly.
- 26 caps for Argentina
- World Cup and Rugby Championship experience
- Premiership title winner with Saracens in 2023
- Long run of club rugby with Zebre Parma
Bello said he was excited by the move and by the chance to play for a young, ambitious side after watching Ulster in the URC and Challenge Cup last season. That matters. Ulster are not just adding cover; they are bringing in a player expected to raise standards in training and help younger props push on.
There was also an outgoing confirmed, with back rower Lorcan McLoughlin leaving at the end of his contract. The former Ireland Under-20 Grand Slam winner made five senior appearances after coming through the IRFU IQ Rugby pathway.
For readers following sports ireland, this is a practical, important Ulster move rather than a flashy one. Watch now for how Bello settles physically after injury and whether Ulster make further additions before the new campaign. Read More: latest sports coverage on DailyDigest.ie
Image Courtesy: Irish Rugby
