BKT-URC Ulster Rugby Match Day Programme v Dragons

DAVID McCANN
From Club T
Origins Interview
So Aahead Kieran, of 150 our caps Origin for Round Ulster, this how weekend, does that tell make us you a bit feel? about
It your fills junior me with club pride. journey? When I came here I didn’t know how long I
would be here, I left home, moved to a different country, had ups
I started playing mini rugby at Cooke RFC at Shaw’s Bridge,
and downs but it’s gone pretty well! To get to 150 is massive for
I think I must have been six or seven until I went to school
me, my family and my wife.
at RBAI and would go on to play with Instonians RFC. When
I got to school obviously my main focus was on schools’
And rugby what which better helped opponent me to to evolve do it and against play than a number Connacht? of
Yes! positions. Having I moved an Interpro from around playing Christmas centre into are the the back games
you row want which to helped be involved me feel in. very Especially rounded after and a massive I kicked
game on from against there. Racing 92, we did things in that game
that we want to take forward and improve on.
What are your memories about playing at
Cooke RFC?
Tgame I remember and hopefully we went we on can a rugby come tour out on to top.
England, I must have been in P7 and played
How in festival, important we lost are in the a final fans so in matches it was heartbreaking
as a kid but I am still friends with
like
this?
It
the
makes
people
a massive
I played
difference
with all those
in line-out
years ago.
calls
as It’s you special can’t when hear you them! think It’s of those unbelievable, days as I
remember it was all about at the having weekend, fun John and Cooney I’m still chased pals
a with conversion them now. after a try and they missed, it was
like the try was forgotten about! After the effort
he put in, it gives you a lot of energy. For me,
especially That experience in those of defensive playing sets, at a club sometimes like
when Cooke you – how are in important the depths are of clubs it, the to fans the can
give professional you a big journey? boost of energy.
I think when you start your minis it shapes
the way you see rugby. One of my best
friend’s dad was a coach at Cooke and
at the time I’d probably have played more
football and he encouraged me to come along
and play with my friends.
My memories of rugby are
all positive, I kept playing,
enjoying it and formed a
positive mindset
about rugby.
Cooke
RFC
Onto Dragons - we are back at home,
how are you feeling ahead of it?
There has been a shift in the organisation recently and that’s
something that we have addressed as a squad, there is no
revolutionary change to the way we prepare for this week
but we know that we have to respond. Dragons are
dangerous if you let them get going, so we have to
try to dominate and put our game out there.
A win could push us higher up the table,
how excited are the players for the rest
of the season?
We know that as long as you are in the top
8 of the URC, you’ll be playing knock-out
rugby. We have shown that we can compete
and we want to do better than last year.
How has training been this week?
It’s been good, we all know we have
a responsibility to get back on track.
Everyone appreciates Dan McFarland’s
contribution over the years but as players
we have responsibility to move things
forward for the fans, the organisation, and
the history of the club.
How important are the fans this weekend?
We have been on the road the past few games
and being back at home, putting in a good
performance at home, getting them behind us is
so important. The players have a responsibility to
put in a good performance for the fans at
Kingspan Stadium.
Back Row
13/06/2000
193cm
109.5kg
35
43