Bell delighted to broaden horizons with switch to new Glasgow role
western province’s visit to Kingspan Stadium resulted in their first victory in Belfast since 1960.
That one still smarts with McFarland, who both played and coached at Connacht, and, as it happens, was the last time Ulster were beaten at home.
“That was very disappointing last year,” McFarland said with instant recall on how the match evolved.
Indeed, Connacht did the double over McFarland’s men by following up that October reverse in Belfast by winning again when the sides met in Galway just under a year ago.
As McFarland commented: “When you play against a team you’ve been at before, you don’t want to lose to them.
“You don’t want to lose to anybody, but it seems just a fraction more hurtful when it’s them.”
And referring directly to the Belfast clash from 14 months ago, he said: “More so, when it’s an interprovincial game at home in front of your fans.
“It’s painful for the lads to lose those games and I think we all feel that, and I don’t want it to happen again.”
Ulster did get their revenge in last May’s Guinness PRO14 playoff, but nothing can be taken for granted against Andy Friend’s squad who, as with Ulster, are second in their Conference.
Though, unlike the northern province, who are 12 behind Leinster, Connacht are within striking distance of their group’s leaders, Munster.
So there is much more than mere bragging rights at stake come Friday evening.
FORMER Ulster assistant coach Jonny Bell will be moving north next season as he is leaving Gloucester to link up with Glasgow Warriors.
Bell, who left Ulster to join Davd Humphreys at Gloucester back in 2015, will be heading to Scotstoun to take on an entirely new role as he moves from defence coach to spearheading the Warriors’ attack.
The 45-year-old, who as a player was a key part of Ulster’s European Cup winning side of 1999, will move to Glasgow on a twoyear contract and work with incoming head coach Danny Wilson, who will also be a new arrival in the summer after Dave Rennie leaves the club to take over as head coach of Australia.
During Bell’s time at Kingsholm, he acted as interim head coach during the 2016-17 season and his more regular work as a defence coach bore fruit when the club finished a highly commendable third in the Premiership last season.
Prior to working at Gloucester, Bell was an assistant coach at Ulster between 2011 and his departure four years later, during which time they made the Heineken Cup final only to lose heavily to Leinster.
As a player, the hard-running centre togged out 96 times for his home province in an excellent career and also had a spell at Franklin’s Gardens with Northampton Saints.
The former Coleraine Inst pupil also won 36 caps for Ireland and featured at two Rugby World Cups.
“I’ve really enjoyed the last five seasons at Gloucester,” Bell said after agreeing the move to the Scottish club.
“However the opportunity at Glasgow to develop my coaching experience beyond a purely defensive role was something I couldn’t turn down.
“Glasgow are a club I know well from my time with Ulster and they are blessed with a talented and also hard-working playing group and excellent coaches.
“I look forward to adding considerable value to this great environment.
“Danny (Wilson) is a coach I have known and respected for a number of years now.
“He has a proven track record of getting the best out of his players and staff.
“When we sat down to discuss the role, it was quickly evident that we were very aligned in our philosophy on the game.
“But that is for next season. From now until the end of this season, I remain totally focused and committed to giving my best to a great playing and coaching group at Gloucester.”