Under-fire head coach Dan McFarland is reportedly set to step down from his role at Ulster Rugby after a recent string of poor results.
It is understood that news of his departure will be shared with the playing squad and staff at a meeting on Wednesday morning, with assistant coach Dan Soper rumoured to be stepping up as interim head coach.
After six seasons with the province - making McFarland the longest serving Ulster head coach of the professional era - pressure has been mounting on the coaching staff recently after defeats to Ospreys in the United Rugby Championship and Toulouse and Harlequins in the Champions Cup.
With his contract set to run until 2025, the head-coach’s departure in the middle of the season is a relatively rare occurrence in rugby and may be reflective of the position becoming untenable after recent results.
Ulster’s most recent defeat to the Ospreys saw the side slip down to eighth in the league standings.
The next challenge that awaits them after a week off is an important home match against the Dragons in the URC followed by an away trip to Montpellier in the Challenge Cup.