Boss to start for Ulster A

Boss was in no doubt that after his first visit to Belfast a few years back, he always hankered to return.

"I've been to Belfast before when my brother Brad played in Dublin," said Boss, a Super 12 scrum-half.

"I came up for a few days and had a look around and basically I got the bug then."

It was also a chance meeting with Ulster's assistant coach Allan Clarke that started the process of getting competitive Boss to come to the province.

"I met him when I was on a coaching trip to Waikato and Welington two years ago," said Clarke.

"He gave me his e-mail address, and it all started to fall into place after that."

At 25, Boss, whose grandmother was born in the Co Antrim coastal town of Glenarm, is determined to give his new life in Ireland a real go after a glowing report from his brother who played rugby in Ulster.

"I've always wanted to come to Ireland and ply my trade here. So I thought I would come over and give it a crack," said Boss, who has extensive experience with the Chiefs and the Hurricanes.

"Brad played with Ards a few years ago in the Division Three of the All-Ireland League, and he gave me tips and I've kept in touch with things here.

I like to see myself primarily as a half-back Isaac Boss

"Hopefully, if everything turns out, I will be here for a while longer. Indeed I have other younger brothers and sisters who want to come over as well," said Boss who was anxious to get down to business immediately.

"I just cannot wait to get playing. I said to Mark McCall that I would like a club game or something this weekend, just to get a trot around the park.

"Now I'm keen to get out there and have a bit of a go. I'll give it a good crack, but I know it is going to be hard to break in due to the way Kieran Campbell is playing at present."

With an Irish passport and his eligibility to play for Eddie O'Sullivan's side, Boss has a long-term objective.

"I would love to play for Ireland," he said with enthusiasm. "My goal is to get into an Irish squad for the next World Cup.

"But that's a long way ahead. I've got to try and do well enough for Ulster first, and that could be bit difficult."

Boss is also noted a very talented full-back, but he says that first and foremost he is a number nine.

"Playing club rugby back home, I moved to full-back to allow my two brothers to turn out at half-back.

"I had a couple of trots out at full-back for the Hurricanes last season and also Waikato, but I like to see myself primarily as a half-back."