Carter: There Is Sam-Thing Special Here

Having made just 15 starts and 22 appearances in total in 596 days as an Ulster player, it’s fair to say Sam Carter is eager to make up for lost time.

- Darren Fullerton

Two lengthy spells on the sidelines in his first two seasons at the Kingspan Stadium have limited the former Australian lock’s game time in Belfast.

The 31-year-old underwent surgery on a painful shoulder injury last season, while he returned from a four month head injury in last week’s Rainbow Cup defeat at Munster.

Beset by misfortune and frustration during his time here, you would think Carter might harbour a few pangs of regret at his decision to set sail for the Kingspan in 2019.