PULLING on the Ulster jersey for the first time in 2009 was a proud day for me and my family. To be able to do what my dad did, in the 80s, was pretty cool because it was all I wanted to do growing up. Rugby played a big part in the upbringing of me and my brothers. On Saturdays, we’d run on oranges at half-time or be ball boys for the Instonians RFC 3rds, who were coached by my dad.
Although I played for Ireland U19s at a Junior World Cup, I was overlooked for the U20s when they changed the age groups. But I was captain of Queen’s University and the coach there ended up being the Ulster academy coach so I kind of got in through the back door rather than down the more conventional schools’ route.
I had great memories of the Heineken Cup as a fan. As a family we went to the quarter-final, semi-final and the final, which we won against Colomiers in 1999. I did miss David Humphreys’ match-winner against Stade Francais in the semi-final though because I ignored my dad’s advice to go for a wee behind the stand and ended up in a big queue for the toilets instead.
It’s incredible to think that it was also against Stade, some 10 years later, that I made my Ulster debut. I was playing club rugby, for Queens or Ballymena, the week before, and then all of a sudden, there I was in Paris with the pink posts and all the razzmatazz ready to face some of the best players in the world. I don’t mind admitting that I have never been as nervous before a game as I was then. I remember walking out onto the pitch thinking, ‘What the hell am I doing here?’. It was a dead rubber for us so the coach, Matt Williams, decided to throw a few of us youngsters in. I’ll always be grateful to him for giving me that opportunity.
Denne historien er fra July 02, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 02, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.
