Ian Madigan looking to turn past experiences into Ulster progress

The pre-lockdown deal marked a return for Ireland international Madigan following time in France and England over the past few years.

And Madigan feels he is back on familiar shores bolstered by the ups and downs of lining out at Bordeaux and Bristol after leaving Leinster.

“I probably think my way around a lot more, if you think back to 2015, 2014, you could play a lot flatter to the line, defences didn’t come (up) as hard, the game has evolved, you can’t play as flat to the line consistently,” said Madigan. “You have to vary your depth, you need to sit back a bit at times, then come onto the ball.

“I feel that’s a big area that I’ve adjusted - when to play flat, when to hang back a bit and give those forwards outside you a bit more time on the ball.

“When you’re exiting out of your own area, it wasn’t something I’d have thought a lot about when you’re a bit more carefree but as I’ve grown older, I’ve realised how important that is, I’m spending more time on that.

“I’m a lot stronger so better defensively and hopefully we’ll see that coming through once the games begin.”

While Bordeaux and Bristol weren’t the dream moves Madigan hoped for he was happy to experience different leagues.

“I don’t look back with any regrets, I made the decision to go to Bordeaux, it didn’t quite work out but if I’d made the decision again, I’d have gone with it,” he said. “I weighed it up, I talked to the people whose advice I valued and, ultimately, I made the decision and I’ll stand by that, I still learnt a huge amount from it.

“The move to Bristol, it didn’t finish great but I’m still very proud of what we achieved as a team and what I achieved personally over that three years.

“There was always an ambition to come back home.

“I like to think I train hard anyway but once I’d signed (for Ulster), it was like I was finding an extra 10 or 15 per cent in sessions purely because that goal was motivating me so strongly, that motivation of getting into the team here and then into Ireland camps.

“Obviously the (Ulster) supporters, I haven’t had the joy of having them behind me but they’re a very enjoyable crowd to play in front of, I’ve huge respect for that and nothing but fond memories of the games I’ve played here, I can’t wait to have that support behind me.”

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