Canterbury hooker Matt Sexton is back on the agenda for Ulster.

In their continuing search for a hooker to fill their remaining overseas contract, Ulster are believed to have re-opened negotiations with the Canterbury player.

Sexton was being hunted by Ulster after their initial choice, Springbok hooker Charl Marias, had problems with his release from Western Province.

Ironically that problem has now been resolved with the 12-times capped South African signing for Sale Sharks on Monday.

Unfortunately Sexton also ran into problems with his Super 12 masters and there were reports Ulster had signed Mark Crick, a 26-year-old from the New South Wales Waratahs.

Australian Barbarians

However, it appears that talks have re-opened with Sexton, a tough Kiwi who would add a bit of hardness to the Ulster pack.

Crick, meanwhile, has followed a classic path through NSW and Australian Under 19 and Under 21 teams.

He is at present with the Gordon club, winning a premiership title with the Sydney side in 1998.

A native of Dubbo in rural NSW, Crick played against Scotland for the Australian Barbarians three seasons ago.