Ulster Rugby, Heineken Champions Cup Match Day Programme - v Northampton Saints

Louis Ludik
Former Ulster back three, Louis Ludik will
make his return to Kingspan Stadium on
Friday evening to get a proper send-off
from Ulster supporters, having retired last
season when there were no fans in the
terraces. Ulster Rugby caught up with Louis
this week to hear how he’s been getting on
in retirement.
First of all, Louis, how are you and how is life
after rugby?
It’s very good! We’re still in Belfast and are
busy building our business, Hellbent – I’m
really enjoying it! It’s very different to playing,
having to make my own plans, and scheduling
my own meetings for the first time in fifteen
years! Not having kit to wear every day is new
to me as well, but I’m really enjoying it.
If you can cast your mind back to when you
retired last season, it wasn’t really how you
planned to retire?
No, definitely not! My last game was 2
November in 2020, so last month it was a
year since I played against Cardiff Rugby
when I got injured. Unfortunately, since then I
couldn’t play and it was not the way I wanted
to end my career, especially at Ulster. It would
have been awesome to have a couple of
games with a capacity crowd with a bit of a
send-off, but unfortunately it didn’t pan out
that way.
Can you tell us a little about what you have
been up to since retiring?
I was fortunate that we have the business for
me to get stuck into. While I was still playing,
we started to build the company. When I
retired, I jumped into in to help my wife,
Chamé, and Schalk van der Merwe and his
wife, to continue to build the business. That
is taking up most of my time – we’re very
busy with that! I’m also Assistant Coach
with Instonians for their Firsts team. Those
two things are keeping me quite busy at
the moment!
What made you want to stay in Belfast?
We had the option to do something beyond
rugby with our business – a lot of guys aren’t
fortunate to have a business to get their teeth
stuck into and aren’t able to stay. With the
help of Ulster and my time here, we qualified
for our passports and were eligible to stay.
Having that option made all the difference.
We decided to stay in Belfast quite a while
back, so we bought a house here and really
enjoy it. The people are so friendly, and we’ve
felt so welcome. Our son is very happy at
school as well, so everything just made the
decision an easy one!
How have you found following Ulster as a
supporter since retiring?
It’s been going incredibly well for the guys!
That win away to Leinster was amazing, and
last week’s win against Clermont was just as
fantastic, especially in Stade Marcel-Michelin.
Both stadiums are hostile and it’s so difficult
to play there, and to win is incredible. The guys
are doing so well. As a supporter, I’m loving
it and really looking forward to being there
on Friday. With the number of youngsters
coming through, I just knew the team would
keep improving. Hopefully, we’ll win some
trophies soon! I’m not surprised at all at how
well they’re doing, and I’m so happy for them.
What will it mean to you to step out at
Kingspan Stadium on Friday?
It will be awesome. It’s going to feel a little
bizarre not playing but I really appreciate
Ulster giving me that opportunity for a
send-off. I must say the video Ulster put
together for my retirement was incredible
and very humbling. They made it as special
as they could, which made all the difference
to my family and me, considering I couldn’t
share my retirement with the fans. It will feel
like a send-off at the stadium on Friday, so
it will be awesome and I’m really looking
forward to it.
UlsterRugby.com
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