Billy Burns among the top players who could be on the move from cost-cutting Ulster

With purse-strings tightened, Ulster are believed to be planning to trim their squad further ahead of next season.

The northern province said goodbye to a number of high-profile players last summer including Craig Gilroy, Jordi Murphy and Ian Madigan.

Imported players Duane Vermeulen and Sam Carter also departed, replaced in the squad by Steven Kitshoff and Dave Ewers.

But no side in the URC has used more players so far this season, even if Greg McGrath has already departed, while Angus Curtis was forced into early retirement.

But a further clear out remains on the cards as the organisation attempt to recover from losses of 900,000ドル last year.

Starting out-half Billy Burns is believed to be among those not to be renewed amid reports of a subsequent switch to Munster.

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The seven-times capped Irish international joined Ulster from Gloucester in 2018 following Paddy Jackson’s departure and has been the starter for the past six years, although Jake Flannery has featured more this year.

Although there would appear to be surplus in the position at Leinster, rather than bringing in a like-for-like replacement, Nathan Doak could see more time in the 10 jersey.

Burns is not expected to be the only player capped by Ireland to depart either with a few more senior players thought to be in their last months at Ravenhill.

While Burns could yet be calling Thomomd Park home next year, it is not expected however that Tom O’Toole will be making a similar inter-provincial switch.

The Belfast Telegraph understands that Leinster had looked at the Irish international tighthead but IRFU rules dictate that a province cannot outbid their neighbours for their own player.