BKT-URC Ulster Rugby Match Day Programme v Cardiff

Ulster stalwart, Luke Marshall, recently
announced his retirement from the
professional game at the end of the
season, following a 15-year career with
his home club.
In the 2012/13 season, Luke won the Pro12
Young Player of the Year award.
Ballymena RFC was the first call for Luke,
playing mini-rugby at Eaton Park.
He attended Ballymena Academy, where
again rugby was a consistent feature
alongside his academic life, playing mostly
in the centre position.
After his A-levels, Luke went straight into
the Ulster Rugby Academy set-up, where
he joined players including Nevin Spence
and Ricky Andrew for the 2009/10 season.
Luke played for Ireland at Under-20s
level in the 2011 Six Nations Under 20s
Championship and the 2011 IRB Junior
World Championship.
He earned his first Senior international
cap on 24 February 2013, starting
against Scotland in the 2013 Six Nations
Championship.
Luke featured a total of eleven times for
Ireland, lining-up against teams such as
Australia, Argentina, USA and Japan.
Luke enjoyed a meteoric rise to Senior team
contention, making his debut in a home
clash with Munster at the end of October
2010, when he came on early for Mark
McCrea to play the final three quarters of
the match.
Luke’s first try followed in February 2011,
when he touched-down between the posts
against Cardiff at home, in the days before
the stadium was redeveloped.
Luke is certainly an ambassador for the
game, and has shown great resilience to
overcome some long-term injuries recently.
The Ulster man continues to give back,
and this season joined the coaching staff
for his old school, Ballymena Academy,
throughout their Danske Bank Schools’
Cup campaign, where they reached the
Final this year.
Thank you, Luke, for all you have given to
the Ulster jersey.
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