Willie Faloon returns to Irish province Ulster ahead of PRO12

Willie Faloon has returned to Ulster after three years at interprovincial rivals Connacht.

The openside flanker made 63 appearances for the Ulstermen before moving to Galway in 2012 and is confident that his experience in the west of Ireland can help him win many more caps for his home province.

“It is great to be back at Ulster,” says Armagh-born Faloon, who signed an initial one-year deal. “I was away for three years and it was great for me but I am very excited to be back. I am closer to family, closer to friends and back in the fold with guys I have played with before.”

Chris Henry has been selected in Ireland's World Cup training squad so Faloon, 28, admitted he was looking forward to making his mark early in the domestic season in the PRO12.

Faloon added: “Wherever you go there is going to be competition for places, if there wasn’t it probably wouldn’t drive you as hard so I am excited at the opportunity to come up against the other guys to challenge my game and keep learning.

“I have moved back into the same house where I stayed before, back into the same bedroom, so you could say it’s like I’ve never been away.

"It’s good to see friendly faces, I am not coming in completely raw. I know a lot of the guys but there are some new faces as well so I am looking forward to meeting and getting to know those guys. It will be great to pull on an Ulster jersey again and get involved in what should be a really exciting time for the province.”