Castres snap up Ulster lock

Ulster announced that lock Tim Barker is set to leave to the club and transfer to Castres with immediate effect on Monday.

The move will see 26-year-old Barker link up with his former club coach Jeremy Davidson who, having cut his teeth in the All-Ireland League with Dungannon, was installed in a senior coaching position at Castres during the summer.

Davidson, who like Barker, played in the second row, is currently working alongside head coach Ugo Mola, the former French full-back.

He spent three seasons playing at Castres, captaining the club in 2000 before returning to Ulster to see out his playing career, which was cut short through injury.

“Tim has been a wonderful servant to Ulster Rugby and I have no doubt that his move to France will be a thoroughly enriching experience both in terms of his rugby career and the opportunity to immerse himself in a new way of life,” said Ulster Chief Executive Michael Reid.

“He takes with him our very best wishes for his future.”

Barker returned to Ulster Rugby at the start of the 2006-07 after a stint with the Glasgow Warriors and his current Ulster contract was set to expire at the end of this season.