Hurricanes Lose Prized Prospect Aidan Morgan to Ireland’s Ulster
The Hurricanes have bid farewell to their talented young first-five Aidan Morgan, who has signed a two-year deal with Irish club Ulster. While New Zealand fans expressed resignation, the reaction in Ireland has been one of excitement over the prospect of adding another promising Kiwi talent to their ranks.
At just 22 years old, the Auckland-born, Irish-qualified Morgan has already amassed 25 Super Rugby caps over three seasons with the Hurricanes. Despite flashes of his playmaking ability, elusive running, and reliable goal-kicking, the young fly-half often found himself playing second fiddle to the likes of Jackson Garden-Bachop and Brett Cameron.
“The Hurricanes’ faithful lamented the ‘big loss’ of a player they had touted as a future All Black, with one fan even dubbing him ‘our next Dan Carter.'”
While the lack of consistent game time contributed to his decision to seek opportunities abroad, the Hurricanes recently secured Cameron on a long-term deal, further complicating Morgan’s path to the starting lineup.
In contrast, the Irish reaction has been one of jubilation. After the successful integration of New Zealand exports like James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park, and Bundee Aki, Ulster and Ireland will be hoping Morgan can follow a similar trajectory. Described as a “huge” and “great signing,” the young fly-half’s experience at the Super Rugby level has fueled high expectations that he could challenge the likes of Jack Crowley for the Ireland No. 10 jersey.
The loss of Morgan is the second young fly-half from New Zealand to pursue opportunities overseas, with Crusaders’ Fergus Burke inking a deal with Saracens. However, the Hurricanes have maintained their depth, securing a new contract for the standout Brett Cameron through 2026, as well as the signing of promising New Zealand U20s fullback Harry Godfrey.
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