Abbey Insurance Ulster Academy 2019/20 Squad Announced

The 2019/20 Abbey Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy squad has been announced, which includes five new entrants. Flying back three sensation Aaron Sexton will make the full time switch from athletics to rugby, having recently broken the Irish Schools records for both the 100 and 200 metres. Sexton is also a familiar name in rugby circles, as he was Ulster A’s top try scorer in last year’s Celtic Cup, touching down seven times in six games. The Bangor Grammar School pupil also featured in Ulster’s pre-season friendly versus Gloucester and was the 2017 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Player of the Year. Another exciting back three prospect, Conor Rankin, will join the Academy from Campbell College, where he was a pivotal figure in the side that won the 2018 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. Recently awarded Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Player of the Year Tom Stewart is another player joining the Academy following a stellar schools career where the Belfast Royal Academy hooker captained Ulster at U18 level. Highly rated Irish qualified centre Hayden Hyde will make the move from English Premiership side Harlequins to Ulster, following in the footsteps of Kieran Treadwell and Sam Arnold. Hyde has already represented Ireland at U18 and U19 level. Following a year in the sub-Academy and a season’s experience in the All Ireland League with Banbridge RFC, prop Callum Reid has been awarded a full time place in the Academy. Reid represented Ulster A in the Celtic Cup last year and was part of the Ireland U20 Six Nations Grand Slam winning team. After an outstanding season last year which saw Ulster Academy players contribute no less than 111 appearances across the Guinness PRO14 and Heineken Champions Cup, nine players who started the year in the Academy have gone on to earn upgraded contracts; Robert Baloucoune, Angus Curtis, James Hume, Angus Kernohan, Michael Lowry, Zack McCall, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole and Marcus Rea. Commenting on the announcement of the squad, Abbey Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy Manager, Kieran Campbell said: “Last year was a really successful season in terms of the contribution Academy players made at senior level, which is ultimately what we are here to do – develop players of the requisite quality to represent Ulster and Ireland. “We still believe there is significant opportunity to grow again this year and we are excited about the new batch of players joining our programme. Each year we are driving increased standards so I congratulate those who have been awarded a place in the Academy and look forward to seeing how they develop into the future.” Trevor Shaw, CEO of Academy sponsors, Abbey Insurance Brokers said, “We are thrilled for every young player selected for the Ulster Rugby Academy for the upcoming season, opening the door to a world of sporting opportunities and an introduction to the very best in nutrition, skills and physical training at the highest level. Among these guys will be the stars of Ulster and Irish rugby of the future. We are delighted to play a part in supporting their development and we wish them every success as they begin their Academy training.” ABBEY INSURANCE ULSTER RUGBY ACADEMY 2019/20 Year 4: Aaron Hall Position: Back Row DOB: 26/06/1998 Height: 193cm Weight: 98kg Year 3: Graham Curtis Position: Scrum Half DOB: 12/09/1999 Height: 176cm Weight: 84kg Matthew Dalton Position: 2nd Row DOB: 16/11/1998 Height: 197cm Weight: 105kg Joe Dunleavy Position: Flanker DOB: 22/12/1998 Height: 190cm Weight: 101kg Jack Regan Position: 2nd Row DOB: 09/05/1997 Height: 197cm Weight: 108kg Year 2: Matthew Agnew Position: Back Row DOB: 20/11/1998 Height: 180cm Weight: 89kg Azur Allison Position: Back Row DOB: 19/04/1999 Height: 192cm Weight: 95kg Bruce Houston Position: Fly Half DOB: 16/08/1999 Height: 192cm Weight: 84kg Iwan Hughes Position: Back Three DOB: 06/04/1999 Height: 174cm Weight: 79kg David McCann Position: Back Row DOB: 13/06/2000 Height: 191cm Weight: 103kg Stewart Moore Position: Centre DOB: 08/08/1999 Height: 183cm Weight: 91kg Year 1: Hayden Hyde Position: Centre DOB: 15/09/2000 Conor Rankin Position: Back Three DOB: 27/05/2001 Height: 186cm Weight: 83kg Callum Reid Position: Prop DOB: 06/01/1999 Height: 183cm Weight: 111kg Aaron Sexton Position: Back Three DOB: 24/08/2000 Height: 188cm Weight: 88kg Tom Stewart Position: Hooker DOB: 11/01/2001 Height: 182cm Weight: 97kg