Ulster Rugby Lad Podcast: Recent Episodes
Peter
The dust has settled on another season and it's time to look back, hand out the awards and look into the middle-distance to try and work out what lies ahead for Ulster.
With the rugby season now over, it’s time to pause and reflect on the season just past and look forward to a building project at Ulster Rugby.To help me and Dan do this, we’re joined by a former prop who started off his career with Ulster before going on to play for Connacht and premiership teams such as Worcester and Northampton, Conor Carey, and rugby coach, analyst and expert Nathan Moore.
It’s a big week for Ulster rugby.After a spirited performance in defeat against Munster at Thomond Park, Ulster now face a formidable task of heading down the road to face a fully-stacked Leinster team in the quarter finals.Can we complete the hat-trick over Leo Cullen’s side OR is next week’s Red Hand podcast going to be the end of season special?To discuss all things Ulster rugby, I’m joined by Dan and special guests to the pod, rugby commentator Graham Jewhurst and Jonny McCormick better known as Opta Jonny who deals in rugby statistics.
Plenty to chat about as always!Ulster’s whipping boys Leinster fall at the final hurdle in the Champions Cup Final once again - what does this mean for Irish Rugby - does it create room for another province to rise like a phoenix from the flames to take their place?I’m maybe being a bit tongue in cheek about Leinster, but we will be talking about the ways in which the IRFU may seek to change things to level the playing field with the other provincesIn other news, Ulster have secured the services of a new 10 - 22 year old Aidan Morgan is the chosen one. He looks impressive in the miserable weather in Wellington, New Zealand, but the question is, can he do it in similarly cold, wet and windy conditions at Ravenhill.Ulster Rugby leadership met with fans this week at Ravenhill where they were grilled by the Jeremy Paxman of the rugby world, Cool FM’s Pete Snodden about the state of the club.We’ll talk about all of that plus the small matter of the final game of the regular season against our provincial rivals, Munster this Saturday.To discuss all of the above I’m joined by a balanced panel - Nathan and Fergus as well as Munster Rugby fan royalty - writer and host of the Red Army Podcast, Caolan Scully and podcaster with the Provincial State of Mind Rugby Podcast and creator of Three Red Kings - Tom Savage.
The Red Hand pod panel is joined by an unbelievable panel this week - former Leinster, Connacht, Sales Sharks and Ireland hooker and now one of the top pundits in the country, Bernard Jackman, and former Connacht, Leinster, Zebre and Ulster second-row and pundit Mick Kearney.We discuss all things Ulster Rugby including questions such as: how will the season finish up? What comes next for Richie Murphy’s young and streamlined squad? Indeed, what hopes and expectations can we hold for the province over the next number of seasons?Enjoy.
Life’s never boring as an Ulster fan.Big news this week as Richie Murphy is now permanently at the wheel after successfully getting his feet under the table during his temporary time in charge.Now, the question is whether he’ll be able to turn this ship around in choppy waters.Richie’s at the helm but a number of his crew have jumped or been pushed overboard - nine of them in fact.It will certainly lighten the load financially, but where does that leave the squad?There’s also the small matter of the match at the weekend and a massive clash with our provincial rivals coming up on Saturday as we continue the race to secure a play-off place.To discuss all things Ulster Rugby I’m joined by Nathan and Jack.
In this special bonus episode Dan and I are joined by legendary Exeter Chiefs out-half and Ulsterman, Gareth Steenson.Gareth chats about how rejection from Ulster spurred him on to better things.The European Cup winner also discusses why he is coming back to his native Norn Iron.One of rugby's most inspirational and interesting stories. Enjoy.
The gang are joined by top rugby journalist Brendan Fanning as we attempt to tackle some of the big issues facing Ulster Rugby.
The lads chat about the win over Ulster, who might be joining us from our feeder club in Dublin and what we need to do to salvage the season.To help us in our quest to answer all the big Ulster rugby related questions, rugby analyst and expert Jason Lear joins us.
Welcome to the Red Hand PodcastIt’s been another tough week to be an Ulster fan as our Challenge Cup hopes were crushed by Clermont.Richie Murphy’s men were demolished in the second half after a pretty decent first half showing leaving fans and players feeling a bit shell shocked.Richie’s still at the wheel though and he needs time. He’s been parachuted in to a difficult situation and our new head coach and his squad need the backing ofsupporters.Depending on who you listen to in the Ulster camp we were either wrong to have such high expectations of the lads or we’re actually not to far away from clicking and wejust need to fix a few things.Maybe we should just enjoy the last few games without hope or expectation and see how we get on?I’ve maybe lost all ambition for this season, but I am genuinely optimistic about the changes Ulster have made.Here to wrestle with some of the big Ulster rugby questions I’m joined by usual panelists Ian, Nathanand special guest this week is Cardiff fan and podcaster with the Wrap Podcast and Cardiff Central Podcast Harley Worthy.
A different and somewhat special episode this week as we zoom out and consider the bigger picture at Ulster Rugby. Don’t worry, we will discuss the weekend’s action as well of course!Ulster secured a 40-17 point win over Montpellier to book their place in the quarter finals of the Challenge Cup in a game that perfectly demonstrated the old adage ‘it’s a game of two halves’. More on that in a second.The usual panel have been given a break this week in line with rugby podcasters rest protocol. So, I’ve drafted in a couple of special guests to help give us an outside perspective on some big questions.One of the underlying complaints from fans in recent years has been Ulster Rugby’s loss of identity. There is a sense in the past number of seasons that the club has drifted away from the culture and the values that made many of us fans in the first place. It can be hard to articulate what defines us as a province but I think attempting a definition is a useful exercise as it can help determine our direction of travel as a club.To help wrestle with the big questions I’m incredibly honoured to be joined this week by Leinster Schools head coach and rugby analyst Brett Igoe and fellow podcaster with the mMunster based fan podcast Red Army Pod and rugby writer, Caolan Scully.
Have Ulster successfully weathered the storm?Everything seems better and brighter around Ulster Rugby at the minute.The coaching team look happier, fans are more positive, the team are battling for 80 minutes.I’m keen not to get carried away and talk of a transformation is certainly premature, but I think anyone who has been paying attention to ulster has noticed green shoots of progress in the most recent performances.It’s difficult to explain but even though we lost, everyone – myself included – was pretty happy with it.We’ll dig into why with Fergus, Ian and Dan.We’ll dig into why
I’m joined this week by a very special guest and a name that will be familiar to all Ulster Rugby fans.A combative and abrasive second-row who played 34 times for the Wallabies, Justin’s connection to Ulster came when he joined the province in 2005 and captained the side to the Celtic league - their last piece of silverware.Justin was a key player for Australia for several seasons, famously playing in memorable fixtures such as the third Lions test in 2001 and the Rugby World Cup final in 2003.I loved chatting to the legend that is Justin Harrison. Hope you enjoy listening.
The Ulster Rugby Soap opera continues. As we all know, following a recent plot-twist, one of the main characters was written out and the show has been revamped.New characters include understudy Dan Soper moving into the role of interim head coach and SPOILER ALERT he’s about to be reduced to a background character when Richie Murphy takes over the reins in the coming weeks.In Ulster, the script never seems to allow for a straightforward narrative, preferring to shake things up every few seasons and ‘refresh’ the ensemble cast to keep things interesting for fans.The start of the new series got off to an interesting start with the CEO’s address to LITERALLY dozens of fans failing to provide sufficient reassurance that there really is ‘nothing to see here’ with regard to rumours of a precarious financial situation and talk of an end of season exodus.A win at the weekend was a welcome interlude to the ongoing drama but fans are still left wondering what is going on. Anyway, in an effort to find out what is actually going on I am joined by the usual panel of Nathan, Ian, Fergus and Daniel and a special guest this week: Jonny Drennan - Sportswriter at the Sydney morning herald and Huge Ulster fan.
Slow news day for Ulster Rugby...After the most dramatic 24 hours this season for fans of Ulster which saw head coach Dan depart the province, ending his tenure as the longest serving Ulster coach of the professional era, the panel have plenty to talk about.Where do we go from here? Who's next? Was there a game at the weekend?Sit back, enjoy the chat and don't forget to like and subscribe!
Where to begin?The Red Hand is back to discuss Ulster crashing out of the Champions Cup and where we go from here.Consider it group therapy for Ulster fans.We will always back the players on the pitch but is it time for some new ideas to inspire this talented squad to fulfil their full potential?
Everything was in place for a famous home win…A packed Ravenhill on its 100 year anniversary, the 99 squad were watching on 25 years on from their famous European Cup win and momentum from a couple of big wins…In the end, we got absolutely minced by a team who looked to be on another level. Du Pont magic together with the quality of the players around him overwhelmed Ulster who were second best in every area of the game.On a more positive note, we finally got to see some fabulous attacking, running rugby on the plastic pitch… just unfortunate that it wasn’t from Ulster. The result has divided opinion: should we simply stand back and applaud a team who are much better than us or should be desperately searching for answers considering the manner of the defeat?To help us answer these questions I’m joined by Ian, Nathan, Daniel, Fergus and Jack.
This episode is from a while back - before Humphs was appointed head honcho of Irish Rugby.
Where to even start with David Humphreys?
Childhood hero, Ulster legend and one of the most significant figures in the history of Ulster Rugby.
This one is from the archive and I thought I would put it out there given the fact we are 25 years on from when Humphs helped Ulster get crowned Kings of Europe in '99.
What a legend.
Enjoy.
It's good to be back after a short Christmas break - hope you had a good one!Ulster have enjoyed an unbeaten run so far in 2024 and in the process of beating our provincial rivals, Ulster are now the number one province in Ireland. What a difference a few weeks makes.Ulster fans - is there anything better than beating Leinster at their place?The win was far from perfect but we still got the result. It was a heroic effort from the lads and it begs the question: what has galvanised the team of late? Are Dan's men performing because of him or in spite of him?What Ulster players have played their way into Ireland reckoning?What's next for Ulster? Is talk of the spirit of '99 premature?To discuss all of this and more I'm joined by a class panel: Nathan, Daniel, Ian, Jack and Fergus.
"Never in doubt" Those were the words I was repeating after Ulster's inevitable demolition of Racing at Fortress Kingspan.Christmas has come early. Ulster are class again.Having been luke-warm to tepid so far this season, have Ulster been bubbling away beneath the surface? Are they now ready to boil over following their best performance in over a year?If you missed his post match interview, Dan said that he and some senior members of the squad had been spending time conducting experiments - mostly what 'quick-tap' moves work the best. The results were released against the French side to devastating effect.Next up are poor Connacht (off the back of four straight defeats) are the next guests at the Kingspan and then it's down the road to face Leinster on new year's day.So much to talk about, so much excitement, so much uncertainty. To discuss it all I'm joined by an incredible and incredibly large panel.Nathan, Jack, Ian, Fergus, Daniel and Harry Jones.Harry Jones has his own podcast and you can find him on social media @haribaldijones.
Life as an Ulster fan is anything but boring and, as usual, there's plenty to discuss on the podcast this week.Let's start with the positives:Ulster Rugby have an incredibly large and loyal fanbase, a fancy new stadium and pitch and a talented squad with a number of really good prospects coming through.So, this begs the question why Dan McFarland's men are struggling on the pitch and why Ulster are in such a precarious position as an organisation.There's a saying that a fish rots from the head down. Something to think about....However, there's also a saying 'SUFTUM til I die'. Real fans support players on the pitch. Indeed, no proper fan could complain about their team when the players are giving 100%. That includes whether they win, lose or draw.There is no doubt about the effort of the current crop of players - they are a passionate and committed bunch.So, What's holding them back from achieving their potential as a squad?Is the issue that needs to be fixed with the Ulster Rugby management and head-coach or is it just a matter of time before everything starts to click on the pitch and everything is rosy once again?To discuss all this and talk about the games themselves I'm joined by Ian, Jack, Fergus and delighted to be joined by a name that will be familiar to Ulster fans: Humphreys... Daniel Humphreys.
Welcome to the Red Hand Podcast.
Are there dark clouds gathering at Ulster? Is a storm coming for the current head-coach?
Following defeat at the weekend, Dan McFarland slammed the standards in training and, by extension, his own ability to coach the team.
I’m not sure the words went down well with Ulster supporters, many of whom seemed not best pleased by the performance or Dan’s reaction.
It’s just a game at the end of the day – a frivolous game, a bit of fun – entertainment – so there’s no point in getting too worked up about it.
At the same time, Dan and the CEO of Ulster Rugby are paid vast sums of money to deliver results to fans who invest a lot of time and money into the team and want to see the team play to their potential.
It’s hardly been a disaster of a season, but an unexpected home loss has ruffled a few feathers. Maybe the winds of change haven’t yet started to blow, then there is a stiff breeze in the air.
We have Bath this weekend and, because of the fickle nature of professional sport, a win obviously means everything will be sunshine and light once again.
Or does it?
To discuss, I am joined by usual panel Ian, Nathan and Jack.
Dan McFarland’s men started like a steam train but ran out of track as Glasgow battled their way back into the game and won 33-20.
Two tries within 11 minutes from Tom Stewart and Cooney but Glasgow dominated the rest of the match.
Three away games and two losses for Ulster (which could have very easily been three losses)
Is it simply a case of ‘taking your lessons and moving on’ as Dan McFarland often says or are there more serious problems to be addressed?
To answer these questions and more, I’m joined by usual panel members Ian Frizzell and Nathan Johns and we’re delighted to be joined by Edinburgh fan and podcaster with the Scottish Rugby Pod, Craig Manson.
It was a miserable night and in many ways a pretty miserable game on Friday night against the Lions, but Ulster found a way to get the win so we’re going to stay positive!
Despite being down by seven points at halftime, Dan McFarland’s men went up a gear in the second half and ultimately held on for a 24-17 victory.
In horrendous conditions at fortress Ravenhill, it was not the most entertaining of games to put it lightly.
Tries from James Hume, Stockdale and Rob Herring allowed Ulster to claw their way back into the game but there is plenty to work on this week with a misfiring lineout, difficulty capitalizing on chances and some evidence that we haven’t yet nailed down the basics.
Ulster have now won four of their opening five URC games but there’s still a section of the fanbase who are not content with our performances so far this season, despite the relatively good win record. Do they have a point?
There’s also the matter of whether a certain ginger prop will be playing or Ulster this weekend. That’s right – Cameron Doak could be unleashed on the Warriors.
To discuss I’m joined by Jack, Ian special guest John Anderson – Glasgow Warriors fan and podcaster with the Scottish Rugby Podcast as we look ahead to the Glasgow game this weekend.
It’s two weeks after Halloween but Ulster have done the ‘Munster Mash’, defeating their provincial rivals 21-14 at Fortress Ravenhill.
Grave problems for Munster as, after the visitors drew first blood, they were guilty of coffin up the ball on too many occasions, allowing Ulster back into the game.
Dan McFarland’s men held off Munster in the dying stages with Munster pummelling their line, and secured a historic victory.
To discuss the game I’m joined by regular panelists Nathan, Jack, Patrick and Fergus and we’re delighted to be joinedthis evening by Cian McGibney – a Munster fan – who will give us some outside perspective.
If you're struggling to work out how to feel after the game at the weekend then you're not alone.We lost but... did we really win when you consider the performance exceeded all expectations?The answer, of course, is no. Your outlook on the game will depend on whether you're a glass-half-empty or glass-half-full type of person.Half of Ulster's fan-base has chosen to focus on the glass being partly full with several impressive individual performances, an early lead and a spirited effort from a heavily rotated Ulster side.The other half of Ulster's fan base is choosing to focus on what is missing from the glass: namely, the ability to hold a 17 point lead and the fact that we lost to a Connacht side who were there for the taking.Whatever your view of the game, we hope you enjoy listening to the podcast as we attempt to make sense of Ulster.Are the 'glass-half-full brigade' delusional? Are the 'glass-half-empty crew' simply world-weary keyboard warriors?There's only one way to find out and that's by discussing it with our panel and, hopefully, in the next 45 minute to an hour we will figure out what's going right or wrong with Ulster.I'm joined by regular panelists: Jack, Ian, Fergus and making a special guest appearance this week is Connacht fan and host of the excellent Master of None podcast Stephen Murphy. We also hope to be joined by Munster fan, Caolan Scully from the Caolan S Rugby podcast and Red Army Pod to give us an insight ahead of the Ulster Munster game on Friday night.
This week we're looking back at Ulster's battling win over the Bulls on Sunday and looking ahead to their clash with Connacht on Saturday.As always, there's plenty to discuss about the game which was a pretty entertaining watch (although I could have done without those nerve-racking few minutes at the end!)The new pitch is already paying for itself in terms of saving Ulster's laundry bills and, apart from that, we saw a more ambitious Ulster trying to keep the ball alive and bring our electric set of backs into the game a bit more than we're used to.There were plenty of mistakes and some stuff to work on, but there are a number of reasons to be more positive following our second win of the season.To discuss all things Ulster Rugby, I'm joined by yet another great panel: Nathan, Ian, Jack and Fergus.
Welcome back to the Red Hand Podcast. It has been a while.
Now that the side-show distraction of the World Cup is over, we are back to the main event - the URC - as Ulster prepare to face Zebre away in their opening game.
The dust has settled on yet another disappointing campaign as Ireland yet again crashed out in the quarters. We won't dwell on this - plenty has been said by others about their early departure. Suffice to say, we would have won if more Ulster men had been on the field.
I'm joking of course, but it's worth thinking about the Ulster contingent (or lack of) in the Ireland squad and look ahead to which players from the current Ulster squad will feature prominently for Ireland in the coming years.
It has been a summer of change at Ulster and we consider these changes - the powers that be have decided to rip up the hallowed turf at Ravenhill and replace it with a plastic one. We've also said farewell to a number of players in the off-season including the likes of fan favourites Craig Gilroy, Duane Vermeulen, Jeff Toomaga-Allen and Ian Madigan.
We're sad to see them go, but we'll also be welcoming new signings Dave Ewers, Steven Kitschoff as well as James French. We will look forward to watching some promising youngsters step up to hopefully fill the void.
Of course, there's also the small matter of our season opener against Zebre to talk about.
To discuss all of the above I'm joined by Nathan, Ian, Patrick and Paul.
I am delighted to be joined by Conor Carey. We have timed this podcast perfectly because Conor has just announced his retirement from professional rugby and is ready to reflect on a great career.
Rugby fans in Ulster will know Conor as he is one who slipped through the net. He played rugby in Ulster up the age-groups and Ireland under 20s and then went on to have along and successful career - just not in Ulster (although he nearly came full circle last season...)
Conor is also uniquely positioned to talk about the Championship, the Premiership and the top 14 as well as what it was like to come through rugby in Ulster but then take an alternative path. His retirement statement is hot off the press and it refers to both the good times and the challenges and hardships that face professional rugby players both during their playing days as they seek to transition out of the game. To find out more you'll have to listen to this fascinating chat with Conor.
I’m joined on this episode by Andrew Maxwell.
Ulster fans will remember Andrew from his successful time with the club playing on the wing between 03/04 and 07 before joining Edinburgh.
However, Andrew’s rugby career only forms part of his story: after hanging up his boots he transitioned seamlessly into the world of business, becoming co-owner of Irish Burrito chain, Boojum and now has another exciting and innovative venture which is set to revolutionise fast food in Belfast.
I really enjoyed speaking to Andrew and I hope you enjoy listening.
Mark Best came through the ranks with Ulster and Ireland before taking the 'road less travelled' of choosing an alternative path.
I chat to Mark about his journey, what it's like to transition back into real life and now enjoying club rugby with Ballynahinch where he was recently man of the match in their Senior Cup Final victory over Queens.
I really enjoyed chatting to Mark and I hope you enjoy listening.
ps. If you have a spare few moments type 'Mark Best Highlights' into YouTube and marvel at his skills.
Ulster season came to a shuddering halt against interprovincial rivals, Connacht, on Friday night in Belfast.
Ulster's season is over. But where does that leave us?
Is Dan still the man to take us forward? Should we be concerned that 10 players (at least) are leaving and only 2 are coming in? What went wrong on Friday night?
The panel wrestle with these questions.
I’m excited to be joined by former professional rugby player and agent, John Andress.
John’s an Ulsterman with a long and successful playing career. In fact he’s played over 200 professional games with the likes of Exeter Chiefs, London Harlequins, Worcester Warriors, Edinburgh Rugby, Munster and Connacht.
There are few more well-travelled and experienced players and he has used his extensive network of contacts to forge a career as a rugby agent.
He lifts the lid on life as an agent and reflects on his journey from age-grade star at Ulster to the road less travelled for Ulstermen - playing across the water.
If you didn’t see the game at the weekend, Ulster beat Edinburgh 28-14 to secure home advantage in URC play-offs. Ulster got the job done but, as some have commented, maybe not in the style that some fans would have wanted.
Tries from Jacob Stockdale, Nick Timoney and John Cooney and 13 points from Cooney’s boot secured the win.
It’s an interesting time for Ulster. There is talk of trouble in the camp, but the team continue to win on the pitch. A few big names have announced they are leaving and we await news on the status of others. The subject of ulster’s performances is dividing fans – are we playing at our potential? Is the atmosphere at the Kingspan flat? Are we good enough to potentially win something this year or is this another year of transition and building?
To discuss all these things and more, I’m joined by Nathan Johns, Jonny McCormick, Ross Barnett and Edinburgh fan, Craig Manson from the Scottish Rugby Podcast.
Job done. A mixed bag of a game but Ulster go into second place for the time being and their destiny is in their own hands.
A win this weekend will give them a home game in a prospective semi-final.
We chat about the performance and contracts as well as looking ahead to the remaining games as we continue in the business end of the season.
It’s the hope that kills you. Leinster swept Ulster aside on Saturday despite a good shift from Dan’s men. Leinster are now the only Irish side left inthe competition after overcoming Ulster 30-15 in an incredibly wet Aviva stadium.After the game Dan said: “I can’t change the demographics. They have way more rugby players, way more money. Nothing changesthat.”He also said, ‘It was a challenge” when playing Leinster. Which is a bit like a mountain climber comparing Everest to a molehill.Indeed, the gap has never looked wider as, despite a spirited effort, ulster didn’t come all that close to knocking the boys in blue off their perch.Dan McFarland was keen to talk up how Ulster never had a chance against the best team in the world.Full credit to Leinster, their pack monstered Ulster and were so quick and powerful that ulster kept coughing up penalties.Leinster, quite simply, were ahead in every facet of the game. Ulster deserve a huge amount of credit for a dogged and determined performance. Where does this leave Ulster? Can Dan get any more out of this team? What do we need to do to compete with the top teams in Europe? To answer these questions and more, I’m joined by Nathan, Ian, Jack and Jeff.
I'm joined by the Red Hand brains trust once again as we discuss Ulster's bonus point win over the Bulls at the weekend and look ahead to the main event: the clash with interprovincial rivals Leinster in Dublin this Saturday. For fans of Star Wars, listener discretion is advised.
I'm joined by two familiar voices of Ulster Rugby: Commentators Mark Robson and Graham Jewhurst.We discuss Ireland's 6 Nations success from an Ulster perspective,look ahead to the World Cup and discuss the business end to Ulster's season including the decisive clash with Leinster in the Champions Cup.
An in depth and free-wheeling chat with one of the best personalities from Ulster Rugby.Apart from being an Ulster and Ireland legend, Trimby is now a media personality and CEO and balances all this with a busy family life and outside interests.I loved talking to him, hope you enjoy listening.
My next guest is someone who has achieved something very rare – he’s played professionally in two sports.
Rugby for Ulster and Jersey Reds and cricket for Ireland (which is seriously impressive).
Ross has had a really interesting journey throughout his rugby career and has been hit with set-backs along the way. It’s a story which is quite inspiring – coming back from injury and playing high level sport again.
It was an absolute pleasure chatting to Ross.
Hope you enjoy listening.
Ulster with a bonus point win: it’s nice getting to say that two weeks in a row!
The win at the weekend means that Ulster have their sights set on 2nd place in the URC table.
Ulster currently sit third - 5 points behind the Stormers - but the last 3 games are all at home whereas Stormers have to travel to face unbeaten Leinster in the next round..
Finishing in the top two is of course the goal because it would secure home advantage right through to the Semi-finals of the URC playoffs.
A good win against a side who are going through a tough period for Welsh rugby – aggressive pay-cuts and the stuff going on in the background could not have helped their cause. They were not at the races.
But are Ulster back on track or did they simply beat a team in turmoil?
To discuss the game and all things Ulster Rugby, I am joined by Jack, Nathan and Simon.
Ulster may have turned a corner in their season with a bonus point win in South Africa in their rescheduled game against the Sharks. The score in the end was 31-24.
Granted, both sides were without certain key internationals and Sharks were missing a load of big names but credit where credit’s due for Ulster.
Two maul tries from Tom Stewart laid the foundation for the win. Stewart Moore scored a sneaky, opportunistic try and Harry Sheridan - who is quickly becoming a fan favourite – powered his way over to give Ulster the bonus point.
Supporting Ulster this season has been a rollercoaster ride even more than usual. We have discussed at various points whether Ulster are on the edge of a precipice or whether they are back on track…
Truthfully, it’s difficult to know but as, we have talked about before, we have been consistent in our inconsistency. Let's just enjoy the win and the hope we have at the minute as we enter the business end of the season.
As I often say on this podcast, the game at the weekend poses more questions than it answered which means there is plenty to discuss.
To help make sense of Ulster’s season so far, I’m joined by Jack Fogarty, Caolan Scully and Iestyn Thomas.
I had the honour of speaking to Ilse van Staden who has been playing rugby at a high level for over 21 years and has shown no signs of slowing down.
She is a rugby player, butcher, chef, language teacher and biltong maker from South Africa and living in Northern Ireland.
Since moving to Northern Ireland in 2011 she has played for Ulster Rugby, and represented Ireland in the Six Nations as prop.
It was a great pleasure speaking to Ilse and getting to sample some Biltong which she kindly brought along.
We recorded in SS Moores - the number one sports shop in Belfast.
Ulster’s recent revival came to a disappointing end as Glasgow Warriors came from behind at half time to snatch victory.
It was a game that divided fan opinion.
There are those who are talking about the start of another crisis and there’s another camp who think a bonus point loss is not too bad considering Glasgow’s recent run of form.
Whatever your opinion, we’ve see Ulster throw away half-time leads too many times this season – it has become a recurring theme!
Ulster lead at the break but did not score in the second half until the last kick of the game.
Glasgow’s maul was Ulster’s undoing – they scored three tries using this method.
Ulster remain ahead of Glasgow in the table but only by the slenderest of margins.
The result leaves them third in the URC but Glasgow are only a point back and Munster are now also in range of catching them.
The question remains over whether Ulster are regressing or whether we have been repeatedly unlucky.
Anyway, to discuss the game I’m joined by Jack, Simon on his Red Hand debut and John Anderson – podcaster and writer for the Scottish Rugby blog.
Ulster backed up their famous European win over Sale Sharks with a dominant bonus-point 35-5 win over the Stormers in the united rugby championship on Friday night in fortress Kingspan
Nathan Doak, Ben Moxham and Nick Timoney scored first-half tries and Jeff Toomaga-Allen and Mike Lowry scored in the second half.
It was a good win and certainly a performance to be happy with albeit the stormers weren’t at the races.
To discuss and dissect the game at the weekend I’m joined by regular panelists Nathan and Jack and our special guest this week is AP Cronje.
Well, it’s official… Ulster are back!
Or at least they are progressing to the next stage. I think we’re definitely right to celebrate as we haven’t had much to celebrate in a while!
There wasn’t a huge amount of optimism for this winner-takes it all pool match, having won just one in our last 7 matches.
Feelings of relief were palpable at the Kingspan.
Ulster were improved but not perfect.
We are certainly now moving in the right direction but whether this squad can get back to playing to its full potential remains to be seen.
Indeed, to progress any further in either competition, we will have to punch above our weight.
The Ulster squad and Dan seem to be relishing the challenge.
Today’s panel have the challenge of explaining ulster’s maddening inconsistency and reflecting on a game which will have mixed emotions for our guests.
I saw the La Rochelle Ulster game described as ‘a chess match played in a storm’ which is pretty accurate.
Ulster fell agonisingly short once again away from home to champions cup holders La Rochelle.
Ulster dominated in terms of possession but failed to capitalise in the dreadful conditions.
This makes it 6 losses in 7 matches however Dan McFarland and many Ulster fans were somewhat encouraged by the performance.
To discuss all things ulster at the minute I’m joined by an incredible panel: Nathan, Evan, Caolan, Donal and Jack.
As you may have seen, Ulster have suffered a deflating 31-29 defeat to Benetton in a dramatic game in Treviso to continue what has what has been a poor run for the province recently.
This defeat is Ulster’s fifth loss in six games and the first time the Treviso-based side have beaten an Irish province since 2017.
The panel discuss the potential causes of Ulster's loss of form and what they can do about it.
Brian Moylett is rugby's leading mindset & performance coach for young players, working with players 1:1, teams and coaching groups all over the world. He helps young players overcome setbacks, develop confidence and self belief, and play in the zone.
Brian played age grade rugby for Connacht Rugby, Leinster Rugby and Ireland, and having gone through the pathway systems himself, he saw that there is a real lack of mental and mindset support for young players.
His passion for motivating players and helping them overcome their limiting beliefs has received praise from people across the international landscape. He is the founder of www.offfieldrugby.com and hosts the #1 rated 'The Off-Field Rugby Pod'. He also shares mindset and performance content on Instagram & Tik Tok (@offfieldrugby) to help players achieve higher levels.
I was delighted to have Brian join me on the Red Hand Podcast for his insight, experience and wisdom discussing a complicated and niche sport like rugby.
Welcome to the Red Hand Podcast and happy new year!
I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who listen, read, contribute and join in the chat and debate about all things Ulster Rugby. It is hugely appreciated.
The Red Hand is the most popular and, in my humble opinion, the best Ulster Rugby podcast out there. We have another big year ahead so please join us!
Anyway, The Red Hand’s trajectory is an arrow pointing upwards but Ulster’s trajectory is currently uncertain to put it kindly… it has been a tough few weeks and Ulster are in the midst of a crisis.
The game on Sunday finished 15-14 as Munster sealed a dramatic win on New Year’s day in Belfast. A late Ben Healy try and conversion completed the remarkable comeback after Ulster went in at half time up 9-0.
Dan McFarland lambasted his side after the final whistle saying they were ‘we were terrible… it’s a big issue. I’m very concerned.’
Ulster basically stopped playing and, full credit to Munster, they took advantage.
Dan himself is now under some pressure. Dan has been an unbelievable coach for Ulster but he’s desperately searching for answers to questions that didn’t exist a month ago when Ulster were riding high and up at half-time to Leinster. Their world has come crashing down since.
On this episode we’ll be talking about Ulster’s capitulation on Sunday (and in the last few weeks) and what they can do to sort it out as we look ahead to Benetton and Champions Cup fixtures in the coming weeks.
I’m joined by Nathan Johns, Jack Fogarty, Caolan Scully and Paul Mcintyre to discuss.
My next guest is Ulster, Ireland and Northampton hooker Paul Shields.
Ulster fans will remember Paul well. He got over 100 caps for Ulster and won the Celtic league before moving on to Northampton where he finished his playing career.
This is a special podcast for me because Paul was my favourite Ulster player growing up!
It was great to meet a childhood hero and he didn't disappoint - really nice guy and great chat.
Hope you enjoy listening!
It felt like we had been flung back two years into the past as Ulster and La Rochelle took to the Aviva, completely devoid of a crowd save for an “official delegation” from La Rochelle.
The decision to move the game from Belfast to Dublin was contentious at best. The freezing of Ravenhill not only cost Ulster a critical home advantage against the European champions, but by Jonny Petrie’s estimation, will cost the organisation itself roughly £700,000.
Understandably, waves of frustration crashed over social media from Ulster supporters at EPCR’s handling of the fixture, compounded by the aforementioned travelling party and the fact that the Kingspan pitch appeared playable on Saturday morning.
But the game itself was, well, hard to digest. By half-time Ulster were behind 29-points to nil - an eerie and miserable repeat of Sale’s 39-0 drubbing of them a week before.
However, in the second-half, the qualities that make Ulster one of the URC’s most eminent attacking sides seemed to reappear out of thin air.
It’s a 40 minute showing that has the potential to reinvigorate a mentality which Leinster seemingly broke two weekends ago.
Ulster can head back to the URC with their enthusiasm reinstalled after getting the better of the reigning Champions Cup holders in the second half. Or can they?
To discuss and dissect all of the above, I’m joined by Nathan Johns, Caolan Scully and Nigel Quigley.
This is a very special episode of the podcast for a number of reasons. First of all, for the first time, I am joined by 3 great guests at the same time: former Ulster player Paddy McAllister, Pamela Gilpin of Rugby Players Ireland and Hannah Murtagh, owner and lead trainer/educator with Fithead.
We talk about personal and professional development for rugby players and how this has a broader application even to those outside the world of professional sport.
Fascinating insights from these three!
Hannah at Fithead supports the podcast. Here is a bit more about what Fithead do:
With a fresh approach to Personal & Professional Development, FitHead makes learning interesting, engaging and - more importantly - relevant.
FitHead offers a range of training programmes, workshops and support services that will allow individuals and teams to become more knowledgeable, confident and motivated.
With the focus on education and implementation, FitHead's aim is to train the brain - it's all in the name.
We’re finally ready to talk about what happened at the weekend...
That was a difficult watch. However, on the Red Hand podcast, we try and stay positive.
In brief summary, six tries and a clean sheet for sale and one of Ulster’s worst performances in recent memory.
Ulster looked jet-lagged in defence and attack. Indeed, preparation for the game was disrupted by the cold weather which meant the squad had to travel on the morning of the game after their flight on Saturday was cancelled.
Ulster arrived in England on the back of a 38-29 loss to Leinster in the URC eager to heal the psychological wounds of that game. This did nothing to help.
In fairness to Sale,they were utterly rampant and extremely impressive in victory. But for Ulster, huge questions need to be asked.
Whatever happens, as fans we back the players who are playing for the Ulster jersey.
I'm joined by Ian Frizzell, Jack Fogarty and Nigel Quigley to try and understand what happened…
SUFTUM
Fourteen-man Leinster produced an outstanding comeback to beat Ulster 38-29 in Dublin,
Cian Healy was shown a red card on 21 minutes and Ulster were up 22-3 after a good start with tries from Rob Herring, Kieran Treadwell and Ethan McIlroy.
Everything seemed to be going Ulster’s way and we #daredtodream as we approached the break.
The second half was a different story:
Leinster hit back with five tries and our dreams were dashed.
Ulster went down to 13 men in the second half when James Hume and Nick Timoney were shown yellow cards, with Leinster taking full advantage.
It is now nine wins from nine matches in this season's URC for Leinster, with Saturday night's victory stretching their lead at the top to nine points.
This was a really difficult one to take.
In this episode to discuss last night’s game I’m joined by Leinster fan Nathan Johns and Ulster fan Jack Fogarty.
I'm joined by Ulster super-fans Ross Barnett and Jack Fogarty as we discuss Ulster's bonus point win over Zebre.
After a short break, welcome back to the Red Hand Podcast.
I’m joined by Irish Times Journalist, Nathan Johns and rugby writer Caolan Scully.
We’re here to discuss Ireland’s autumn internationals and look ahead to Ulster’s game against Zebre this Friday Night.
My next guest on the podcast is former Ulster Rugby player Mike McComish.
You’ll remember Mike from his playing days – starting off on a development contract with Ulster then playing in England for Rotheram and Otley before coming back to Ireland to join Connacht and eventually found his way back to Ulster.
The episode title is derived from the fact we could all benefit from being a bit more like Mike: pursue your passions, find balance in your life and take your health and longevity seriously because, without it, there's nothing left.
You can find Mike on Instagram and facebook: you can search for him under 'Mike McComish Fitness'
Mike is the first guest in the Red Hand's new podcast recording area in the City Centre of Belfast above SS Moores.
Hope you enjoy listening.
I'm joined by rugby writer and Munster fan, Caolan Scully, and Ulster fan, Ross Barnett, as we discuss Ulster's first win in Thomond Park in over 8 years.
We also look ahead to a weekend of rugby featuring number one in the world, Ireland, take on the current World Cup holders, South Africa.
Welcome to a very special episode of the Red Hand Podcast.
Ian McKinley was an international out-half who played rugby at the top level in Ireland and then continued his career in Italy after a transformative experience which threatened to end his career before it had really got going.
His path has not been a straightforward one.
His story is among the most inspiring I’ve ever heard and was am lucky to be speaking to Ian just ahead of the launch of his book, Second Sight which is now out.
I have followed his career since becoming aware of the remarkable resilience and determination he has shown, inspiring so many along the way. The themes ‘never give up’ and always push forward despite being told that certain things will be impossible are central to Ian’s story.
I hope you enjoy this chat and are inspired by it as much as I was.
I'm joined by Ulster expert and regular contributor to the Red Hand, Ian Frizzell and South African Rugby journalist AP Cronje as we discuss Ulster's 39-37 win over the Lions.
We also look ahead to an even tougher test against the Sharks this weekend.
I am joined by rugby analyst and expert, Evan Kavanagh and Ulster fan and host of the Ulster Rugby Roundup monthly podcast, Nigel Quigley, as we look at Ulster's recent emphatic win over Ospreys in Belfast.
We discuss the key players for Ulster, where there is still some room for improvement and what we think of Ulster's season so far.
On a wet and windy night IN Belfast Leinster managed to ride out a late ulster storm with a 20 points to 13 win.
Having beaten Leinster at home and away last season ulster will be frustrated by the manner of the defeat – a few critical moments, high penalty count and high number of errors on a difficult evening ultimately cost us against a fully stacked Leinster team. Ulster did fight back, but it wasn't enough in the end.
I discuss the game with Ulster fan Ian Frizzell and, to even things out, Leinster fans Nathan Johns and Jeff Pagano.
I chat with Irish Times journalist and Leinster fan, Nathan Johns, about the upcoming interprovincial clash with Leinster.
We reflect on the Scarlets game, what Ulster did well and where Ulster need to improve if they hope to beat Leinster.
With both sides going full whip, this will be an old-school, feisty interprovincial derby and we can't wait to see how it plays out.
We also discuss the names to look out for the Emerging Ireland team tomorrow afternoon.
Hope you enjoy the chat!
SUFTUM
Ulster kicked off their BKT United Rugby Championship campaign with a bonus point win over their provincial rivals, Connacht, in Belfast on Saturday night.
With both sides afflicted by early season rustiness, it was ultimately the hosts who managed to click into gear and dominate in terms of territory and possession, chalking up five tries to the visitors’ one.
Stephen Murphy, Connacht fan and host of the Master of None Podcast and I look back on the game.
Delighted to be back!
In the first episode of the season, I’m joined by Ulster super-fan and regular contributor to the podcast, Ian Frizzell and rugby journalists Rhys Jones and Nathan Johns.
We take a look at last night’s friendly against Exeter, discuss the stand-out performances, new players and familiar faces returning this season.
We also discuss Ulster’s strengths and weaknesses and expectations for the season ahead.
Hope you enjoy!
Simon Mason is the definition of an Ulster legend. An unflappable presence at fullback and peerless goal-kicker, he hit a playing peak on the province's journey to European triumph in 1999.
Simon discusses his journey to playing for Ulster and Ireland, what made the legendary '99 squad so special and his obsession with kicking which made him one of the most faultless goal-kickers in Europe in his prime.
Really enjoyed this chat with Simon and I hope you enjoy listening.
Paddy McAllister has had a fascinating life and career.
In what is perhaps the most important podcast to date, Paddy discusses his remarkable life both on and off the field.
Following a rapid rise through the ranks with Ulster and Ireland under 20s, Paddy was then faced with difficult and tragic personal circumstances that would affect his career and life.
We discuss the highs, lows and relentless nature of professional rugby, dealing with grief, faith and family.
A really thoughtful conversation with a top player and person.
Hope you enjoy listening.
I chat to Mick Kearney who has just finished up a short spell with Ulster to cap off a great career, playing for 3 out of 4 Irish provinces as well as Italian side, Zebre.
The Dublin-born second-row announced his retirement at the end of this season, prompting an outpouring of affection from the rugby community.
Mick gives his opinion on what the current Ulster side is capable of, how the Ulster set-up compares to other provinces and looks back on his playing career with fresh perspective, imparting words of wisdom to any young or aspiring Ulster players.
Having chatted to Mick, I can see why he is universally popular - a love of the game and a great sense of perspective on what it's all about.
Hope you enjoy listening.
Irish Times journalist and honorary Ulsterman, Nathan Johns and I conduct the post-mortem of Ulster's chances of silverware this season.
Despite the initial disappointment, a couple of days have provided perspective. Ulster were tantalisingly close to a home final and the gut-wrenching feeling when they let their 5-point lead slip is made somewhat easier to take when you look at the future potential of this team.
We discuss the heroic effort and the coaching decisions that may have ultimately contributed to our downfall.
By the way, we forgot to give enough credit to the Stormers who, in the end, deserved the win. That hurt to say but it's true.
Enjoy the listen.
We preview what is set to be an epic clash between the Stormers and Ulster this Saturday.
I am joined by South African rugby writer and expert, AP Cronje and Irish Rugby guru, Evan Kavanagh.
We discuss how Ulster must play to beat the Stormers, strengths and weaknesses in both teams and, most importantly, have an educated guess at the result!
Enjoy and get ready for what is set to be an unbelievable game.
Justin Fitzpatrick: Ulster’s Globetrotter
In this episode I speak to the Ulster and Ireland legendary loosehead who won 26 caps for Ireland and also helped Ulster to a European Cup in 1999 and the Celtic League in 2006.
Justin has had a fascinating life and career, bursting onto the scene in the London Irish front row before joining Ulster (and Dungannon), moving to Castres Olympique and coming back to Ulster (to win yet another trophy).
Justin then accepted a role coaching the Pakistan nation team before moving to USA, where he coached the Seattle Saracens, was assistant coach of the United States national rugby union team and, most recently coached the Houston SaberCats.
Apart from everything else he’s achieved, Justin has been embedded in US rugby's exciting rise.
Justin is passionate about rugby and about collecting life experiences which makes this an interesting listen for rugby fans.
Harry Sheridan is a very promising member of Ulster's Academy - a second-row with a tireless work-ethic and engine to match.
For Harry, the journey began at Civil Service Rugby Club being coached by his Dad. Having already grown a passion for the game when he started at Sullivan Upper School, Harry kicked-on, helped by a growth spurt which provided him with a natural position in the team's engine room.
Having been ear-marked as 'one-to-watch', he then starred for Ireland at under 20s level and is currently enjoying life in the academy which he balances with his studies in Trinity College, Dublin.
It was a great pleasure to speak to Harry. His enthusiasm for his home-club of Civil Service and love of the game was evident and I have no doubt he'll go far. Remember the name!
Conor Joyce is a seriously inspiring person, passionate about rugby and promoting mental health in equal measure.
Conor excelled as a young rugby player, playing for Ireland under 18s, 19s and 20s and went on to have a successful career playing for Ulster, Jersey and Doncaster.
In his spare time, Conor and his brother grew a successful enterprise called Noggin which raises money for mental health charities across the UK and Ireland.
In this interview, Conor discusses becoming the youngest player to play in the league from any Irish province, what it was like to enter an Ulster squad packed with internationals and compete with Stephen Ferris for a place, what caused him to move on from Ulster to prove himself elsewhere, his thoughts on the current squad and much more.
Willie Anderson was an integral part of the Ulster team that dominated Irish rugby in the 1980’s winning 10 consecutive interprovincial titles, Anderson played 78 times for his province and 27 times for Ireland and was to skipper both sides.
He’s one of the biggest characters in Irish Rugby and he’s released his autobiography which is called Crossing the Line. The flag, the haka and facing my life.
I have read a lot of sports players autobiographies and this ranks right up there with the best of them. He talks about the current Ulster and Ireland team, stories from his book, resilience, setting goals and provides invaluable advice to young players.
What a legend. Enjoy.
This podcast is with one of the top rugby journalists in Ireland, Tom Savage – the man behind Three Red Kings, a website for Munster fans. Tom is funny, insightful and engaging. We talk about the problem with modern rugby coverage, where he thinks Ulster strongest and weakest (the answer will most likely shock you!) and the best young players coming out of Munster and Ulster. Really good chat and sure to cause a few debates!
Ryan Caldwell has had a fascinating journey. From playing rugby in Ulster, Exeter, Bath and with Ireland, to a difficult transition out of professional rugby, Ryan underwent a transformative experience after hanging up his boots and taking part in a ritual in the Colombian jungle.
Once an abrasive second-row who did not know what to do when injury forced him to quit rugby, Ryan is now content and on a journey of self-discovery,
Really interesting listen!
Thanks to Vivian at Hydro-ease for allowing us to record on the premises and for taking part in the podcast.
Tom Court had, by anyone’s standards, a ridiculously successful career.
Ulster fans will remember Tom as a powerful prop who was our nailed on starting loosehead in one of the best Ulster squad’s of the modern era.
He was part of Ireland’s Grand slam winning squad in 2009 and was called up to the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia in 2013.
This is all despite only taking up the game when he was at uni. He was also one of the best shotputters in Australia.
Tom’s a really interesting and insightful speaker and I could have talked to him about his life, career and rugby for hours. Really enjoyed talking to Tom and I hope you enjoy listening!
Glasgow v Ulster Post game. I was joined by Stephen Murphy of the Master of None podcast and we discussed initial reactions to the game, a bit more chat about Ulster generally and finally, we discuss why things aren’t clicking for Ireland and what they need to do about it.
Chris Henry tells his story of developing a passion for rugby at Malone and then reaching the peak of his playing career with Ulster and Ireland, what it was like to play in one of the greatest Ireland teams, one of the greatest Ulster teams of the professional era, suffering a stroke which could have ended his career, and the process of transitioning out of the game. I really enjoyed speaking to Chris - he was an unbelievably good player – an old school back row who put his body on the line for his team and also a great lad with some really interesting insights. It was a pleasure to speak to him and I hope you enjoy listening.
On this episode of the Ulster Rugby lad podcast I’m delighted to say that I’m joined by Ulster Rugby legend Andy Ward. Every Ulster fan will know Andy Ward – I remember watching him as a kid and thinking that he was hard as nails - I was, and still am, a huge fan of his. A rock solid and unflappable presence for Ulster, he was, like all good flankers, the heartbeat of the team and had the respect of his team-mates and fans. Andy was part of the legendary Ulster team that won the European Cup in 1999 and went on to captain Ulster and also got 28 caps for Ireland. After leaving Ulster he continued to play for Ballynahinch and coached Belfast Harlequins and Cooke, opened a successful chain of gyms and did punditry for BBC NI. He now has his own business doing gardening and landscaping called Silver Fern. I could have sat and spoken to him for ages, he has some class stories. Really enjoyed it and I hope you enjoy listening.
In this episode I’m speaking to Evan Kavanagh – a font of rugby knowledge and the man behind a twitter account called EK Rugby Analysis. He has really good insight and a huge amount of knowledge about rugby. Everyone these days has an opinion on rugby – who played well, who didn’t and why. Sometimes it’s hard to know exactly why teams win or lose, why teams can drop in performance or why certain players don’t seem to fit into teams. Evan sheds some light on this as we discuss Ireland and Ulster and how things have been going this season. Really interesting listen. Hope you enjoy it.
In this episode of the Ulster Rugby Lad Podcast I’m joined by the world’s most popular rugby youtuber – Squidge Rugby. He has over 130,000 YouTube subscribers and his videos have been watched millions and millions of times. Robbie Owen is the man behind Squidge Rugby. While still in his early 20s, he was looking for a way out of a job he hated. He quit and set about making funny YouTube videos about rugby which blended tactical analysis with humour, bringing a fresh and unique insight to rugby that proved so popular it has now become his full-time job. Squidge is a rugby obsessive and, as you’ll hear, spends hours watching and re-watching games, making notes and thinking of jokes for his videos. His video on South Africa’s World Cup win was retweeted and endorsed by none other than Rassie Erasmus. If you don’t know him already, I highly recommend you watch some of his videos on YouTube. In this episode we discuss the journey from boring office job to becoming the most popular and respected rugby YouTuber in the world, the insane amount of work that goes into every minute of his videos, his thoughts on the modern game, players to look out for, Irish rugby’s rise and fall, and we have a bit of Ulster rugby chat as well just to keep on point. I really enjoyed speaking to Squidge, hope you enjoy listening to it.
In this episode I speak to Old Belvedere, Ulster, and Ireland scrum-half, Kathryn Dane. Life in women’s rugby in Ireland is tough and a relentless cycle of training, playing and work. Kathy embraces the lifestyle and is positive about the future of women’s rugby in Ireland. It was an absolute pleasure to speak to Kathy and you’ll enjoy listening to her inspirational story of pursuing greatness on the field while juggling this with her job as a physio. I hope you enjoy it.
My next guest was an influential member of the history making Ulster team in 1999, who, as we all know became the first Irish side to win the European Cup. In this episode of the Ulster Rugby Lad Pod I’ll be talking to Mark Blair. Mark was one of a number of players brought back from the mainland to bolster the Ulster squad ahead of their European campaign. After a shaky start, Mark became a key member of the squad and was a huge character both on and off the field. Really enjoyed chatting to Mark. If you enjoy listening to our chat do me a favour and spread the word about the Ulster Rugby Lad Podcast.
My next guest was part of Ulster's European Cup-winning side in 1999. This was the greatest feat in Ulster rugby history — achieved by a squad made up of a mixture of full time and part time players. Indeed, his career straddled both amateurism and the professional era. Having been a key part of the squad that season, unfortunately, Jan’s memories of the final itself are not particularly pleasant for reasons he’ll explain. He played for Ulster to end of 2002/3 season and we discuss his transition out of the game, becoming a solicitor specialising in employment law with Millar McCall Wylie. My next guest is the legend Jan Cunningham. Really enjoyed speaking to Jan, hope you enjoy listening to it!
My next guest is Sammy Arnold. He spoke to me on his birthday which was at the start of lockdown. At the time he was still a Munster player but he has now moved to Connacht. You’ll remember Sammy Arnold because he played for Ulster, having chosen us over Harlequins because he wanted to play at centre for Ireland (which he did by the way). He made his debut for Ulster at the age of 18 and won the Academy player of the year award that season. After moving to Munster, his performances were so good they earned him an Ireland call up and he got his first cap against the USA. Sammy’s only 24 and I am sure he’ll tear it up for Connacht and win a load more Ireland caps before he’s done.
My next guest is a former Ulster, Ireland and Northampton Saints player. His career spanned over 15 years, earning over 350 professional appearances. He recently moved to Texas with his family which is where I caught up with him on zoom. You all know who it is. Roger Wilson. Hope you enjoy it. I spoke to him a few weeks into lockdown.
Ulster, Ireland and British and Irish Lions Legend, inventor of the Ferris Wheel pizza. I am joined this week by Stevie Ferris - legend on and off the field. Great lad, really interesting, straight-talking chat. Hope you enjoy!
Ulster Rugby enthusiasts Dave and Andrew join to chew over the recent Ulster Rugby Squad accouncement.
Two Northern Irish broadcasting legends, Stephen Watson and Mark Robson join me to talk about their careers, passion for sport and a bit of Ulster Rugby chat. Loved speaking to them. Hope you enjoy listening!
Jenny Murphy is an international rugby player for Ireland women’s team. She’s also a casual fill-in host for Baz and Andrew’s House of Rugby Podcast, an unbelievable rugby player and an incredibly nice person. Really enjoyed the chat with her. Hope you do too!
Great chat with former Ulster and Ireland second-row, Dan Tuohy. The 34-year-old played 136 times for Ulster before joining Bristol in 2016. He sustained the hand injury that ended his career at French club Vannes. Here, he talks about falling in and out of love with rugby and discusses his retirement twitter essay in which he said ‘rugby is now rotten from the core’ and how "the values that made me fall for rugby have nearly disappeared". Great discussion with a great lad. Enjoy!
Niall Annett spoke to the Ulster Rugby Lad Podcast about his life as a professional rugby player for Worcester Warriors, having previously played for Ulster Rugby. He started his own podcast, 'Wind yer neck in', recently, which is definitely worth a listen!
Bit of chat with rugby coach and analyst, Geraint Davies. We talk about Ulster's transition, the rise and fall of Ireland and modern rugby. Worth a listen!
Sports analyst Jason Lear joins me for the first ever episode of the Ulster Rugby Lad Pod. We discuss the season so far, reflect on Harlequins and look ahead to Leinster.