UR-2021.22-Programme-Benetton

able to have those milestones in our lives. I
have a different perspective on things now
and the support from my wife and family
has been brilliant. All the players and staff
throughout the time I’ve been at Ulster, I’m
also really grateful for their support as well.
You must have a lot of proud moments
in the Ulster jersey – can you share what
some of those are?
There have been so many good memories.
My first cap against Glasgow was obviously
one. I remember Mark Anscombe calling
my name out and I was a bit shocked to
be picked. I think back to European games
like Clermont at home, Toulon at home;
those big European nights when the crowd
is really buzzing. It’s just an atmosphere
you don’t get anywhere else. The Inter-
Pros over Christmas always stand out for
me as well. At Christmas, I have my family
come over and to have them in the stands
for the game I’ve really enjoyed and been
really proud to represent them.
My Ireland debut was in Argentina, and it
took three-and-a-half years between cap
one and cap two and I thought I might be
a one-cap wonder! My second cap was at
Aviva Stadium against South Africa and my
family flew over for the game. I managed
to score a try so that was almost a fullcircle
moment, leaving South Africa with
not many rugby opportunities and coming
over to Ireland to make it my home and
that passion to play for Ulster and Ireland.
That second cap was very memorable for
me. There are obviously many more proud
moments, but I could go on forever!
Looking to the future, what are your
ambitions as part of this Ulster squad?
First and foremost, I want to contribute to
a winning Ulster side and play my part in
bringing some silverware to Ulster. Like I
said, there have been so many times when
we’ve come up short and that’s something
which drives me massively; to go and win
something with the group of boys we have
at the moment. I want to keep playing
international rugby and I’ve got to play a
bigger part over the last couple of years.
I’m really driven to keep playing at that
level and pushing myself to be one of the
best hookers in Ireland and hopefully go
to the next World Cup. That’s a long time
away and there are smaller things I need to
put in place before then.
How special will it be for you to run out at
Kingspan Stadium – with supporters – for
your 200th appearance?
I’ve tried not to think about it too much!
It’s going to be very special and to be able
to do it at home in front of the support
that has been there for the last nine years
I’ve been at Ulster is like nothing else in
the world. We really are privileged to have
the support we do and to be able to get
my 200th cap and represent this playing
group is fantastic. I’ll have some family at
the game – my mum and dad are coming
over and my wife will be there too. I’ve a
few friends coming over and it’ll create
another memory for our little family. It’s
going to be great.
UlsterRugby.com
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