Three Abbey Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy players are on the verge of making their Ulster senior debuts on Friday night, as they have been included in the match-day squad to play Benetton Rugby at Kingspan Stadium.
Aaron Hall has been named to start at openside flanker, with Greg Jones and Matthew Dalton included among the replacements. Find out more about the three young forwards…
AARON HALL
Position: Flanker
Age: 19 (DOB 26/06/98)
Height: 192cm
Weight: 92kg
Club: Ballynahinch RFC
Former Ballyclare Secondary School pupil Aaron Hall joined the Ulster Academy in 2016, having earned his reputation in the club game with Ballyclare RFC, where he was awarded the Ulster Carpets Youth Player of the Year in 2015. A tenacious flanker, Hall now plays his club rugby at Ballynahinch and has also started for the Ulster A team in the opening two rounds of this year’s British & Irish Cup.
GREG JONES
Position: Back Row
Age: 21 (DOB 13/01/96)
Height: 196cm
Weight: 103kg
Club: Banbridge RFC
Dublin native Greg Jones joined the Ulster Academy this year from UCD, where he continues to study for a degree in Economics and Finance. Jones, an alumni of St Andrew's College Dublin, has represented Ireland at U18, U19 & U20 level, and was a member of the side that defeated New Zealand en route to the 2016 World Rugby U20 Championship Final. An athletic, mobile operator, Jones now plays for Banbridge in Division 1B of the Ulster Bank League.
MATTHEW DALTON
Position: Second Row / Flanker
Age: 19 (DOB 16/11/98)
Height: 196cm
Weight: 105kg
Club: Malone RFC
Like Jones, Matthew Dalton is in his first year at the Ulster Academy, where he joined off the back of a highly impressive Schools’ Cup season with Belfast Royal Academy. With his imposing physical presence, Dalton is a strong ball carrier who can play at lock or in the back row. He has represented Ulster and Ireland at age-grade level, and has featured in the British & Irish Cup for Ulster A this season.
Aaron Hall has been named to start at openside flanker, with Greg Jones and Matthew Dalton included among the replacements. Find out more about the three young forwards…
AARON HALL
Position: Flanker
Age: 19 (DOB 26/06/98)
Height: 192cm
Weight: 92kg
Club: Ballynahinch RFC
Former Ballyclare Secondary School pupil Aaron Hall joined the Ulster Academy in 2016, having earned his reputation in the club game with Ballyclare RFC, where he was awarded the Ulster Carpets Youth Player of the Year in 2015. A tenacious flanker, Hall now plays his club rugby at Ballynahinch and has also started for the Ulster A team in the opening two rounds of this year’s British & Irish Cup.
GREG JONES
Position: Back Row
Age: 21 (DOB 13/01/96)
Height: 196cm
Weight: 103kg
Club: Banbridge RFC
Dublin native Greg Jones joined the Ulster Academy this year from UCD, where he continues to study for a degree in Economics and Finance. Jones, an alumni of St Andrew's College Dublin, has represented Ireland at U18, U19 & U20 level, and was a member of the side that defeated New Zealand en route to the 2016 World Rugby U20 Championship Final. An athletic, mobile operator, Jones now plays for Banbridge in Division 1B of the Ulster Bank League.
MATTHEW DALTON
Position: Second Row / Flanker
Age: 19 (DOB 16/11/98)
Height: 196cm
Weight: 105kg
Club: Malone RFC
Like Jones, Matthew Dalton is in his first year at the Ulster Academy, where he joined off the back of a highly impressive Schools’ Cup season with Belfast Royal Academy. With his imposing physical presence, Dalton is a strong ball carrier who can play at lock or in the back row. He has represented Ulster and Ireland at age-grade level, and has featured in the British & Irish Cup for Ulster A this season.