Stuart McCloskey: The Ireland center has agreed a contract extension with Ulster

Ireland center Stuart McCloskey has agreed a one-year contract extension with Ulster, which will keep him in the province until the end of the 2027-28 season.

The 33-year-old enjoyed a superb 2025-26 season as his dominant midfield performances helped Ireland secure the Triple Crown in this year’s Six Nations.

McCloskey’s display earned him rave reviews and he was eventually selected for the Six Nations Player of the Championship.

He was also a consistent performer for Ulster in the 2025–26 campaign, making 13 appearances for the province and helping them reach the final of the European Challenge Cup.

After an impressive display in the semi-final win over Exeter Chiefs, McCloskey suffered a hamstring injury in the second half of that game which ended his season and he missed the final defeat to Montpellier.

With 217 appearances for Ulster, he is on the verge of amassing 218, the third most senior Ulster appearances, alongside Rory Best.

Fit again, McCloskey will turn his attention to Ireland’s inaugural Nations Championship this summer, with Tests against Australia, Japan and New Zealand in July.

McCloskey said Ulster was his “home” and he was feeling confident after a “whirlwind season”.

“I think we are developing well as a team and showed last season that we can really compete against strong teams by reaching a European final.

“There’s some strong talent coming through and playing with the boys on the international stage has given everyone a big lift.

“I’m really enjoying my rugby and feel very motivated to achieve more over the next few seasons for both Ulster and Ireland.”

Ulster general manager Rory Best said extending McCloskey’s contract was “an important piece for us moving forward”.

“He is one of the top international centers in the world at the moment and brings a very consistent level of performance every time he plays, with the ability to break the gain line and play others into space with his unique passing range.

“For our young centers, he’s someone they can learn a lot from.”