John Kirwan is one name in the frame to replace Brian McLaughlin © Getty Images

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Ex-Japan coach John Kirwan has admitted he would be interested in taking on the vacant Ulster head coach spot if approached.

Kirwan was one of the names in the frame to replace Martin Johnson as England boss but the Rugby Football Union opted to name Stuart Lancaster as interim coach for the Six Nations. But with Ulster declaring on Tuesday that current boss Brian McLaughlin will step aside at the end of the current campaign, Kirwan has conceded that the Ulster job would interest him if the province matched his own ambitions.

"All the Irish clubs are looking to win the Heineken Cup. I'd look at any offers," Kirwan told the Irish Independent. "But I haven't had any contact from anyone there. If Ulster are keen on winning the Heineken Cup or the PRO12 League, I'd be keen to get involved.

"It's not something that I'll pursue. If I'm on their list, that would be okay. If not, I'm not going to worry about it."

And Ulster's RaboDirect PRO12 rivals Edinburgh have announced the signing of eight-cap Pumas prop Ulises Gamboa until the end of the season. Michael Bradley's side are currently coping without their array of Scottish internationals and Lewis Niven is also sidelined.

"He'll provide valuable support for the squad until the end of the season when we'll reassess his place at the club," said Bradley. "Ulises is a prop of considerable experience, having been capped for one of the set-piece powerhouses of world rugby."