Alan O’Connor discusses how pre-season has been going, what it’s like to have his brother join him at Ulster, and expectations for the season ahead.
How has pre-season been going?
It’s been really good. We’ve been building the first three weeks, so this is our regeneration week. We haven’t done it like this before. The guys who have struggled with injury and are trying to get back will be in doing a bit of training this week and everyone else will be away doing a few days of tough work by themselves. It’s good to have a mental break as well. With the length of the season it will be pretty taxing physically, mentally and emotionally. So, whenever we have a break you’ve got to make sure you take it and make the most of it to recover. The season will be a year to the day if we get to the final so it’s hopefully going to be a long season.
There’s been a bit of a change both in the playing squad and the management. How have the new guys been settling in so far?
Yeah, great. Roddy (Grant) has come in and really put down his marker in terms of the level of detail he requires. He’s been focusing on rugby conditioning and a bit of wrestling which keeps things interesting. He is really testing the boundaries of boys’ movements and flexibility.
Your brother David has come in this summer. What’s it like having him around?
Very good so far. He’s living with me as well, so it’s just like old times!
He’s earned it. He had been playing really well for Lansdowne last year and St. Mary’s the year before. It’s really good to see another guy who has been given a shot on the back of playing well in the club game.
David already knows a good few of the lads anyway from underage rugby and has played with and against a good few of the guys. He went to school with Nick (Timoney) as well. So I think it’s been pretty easy for him to settle in quickly.
There’s three years between us. We haven’t really had the opportunity to play together but we’ve played against each other when he was playing for St. Mary’s I was playing for Ballymena, so that was an interesting day out.
At school I played with my older brother who is just a year older than me. Playing with him through school was class. It would be great to line out with David at some stage this season.
What is the atmosphere like around the squad coming into pre-season after a pretty good season last year?
It's been good, a nice buzz around the place and everyone is keen to get back at it. We will take a lot from last year and we are happy we are building something. We’ve learnt a lot.
Your brother David has come in this summer. What’s it like having him around?
Very good so far. He’s living with me as well, so it’s just like old times!
He’s earned it. He had been playing really well for Lansdowne last year and St. Mary’s the year before. It’s really good to see another guy who has been given a shot on the back of playing well in the club game.
David already knows a good few of the lads anyway from underage rugby and has played with and against a good few of the guys. He went to school with Nick (Timoney) as well. So I think it’s been pretty easy for him to settle in quickly.
There’s three years between us. We haven’t really had the opportunity to play together but we’ve played against each other when he was playing for St. Mary’s I was playing for Ballymena, so that was an interesting day out.
At school I played with my older brother who is just a year older than me. Playing with him through school was class. It would be great to line out with David at some stage this season.
What is the atmosphere like around the squad coming into pre-season after a pretty good season last year?
It's been good, a nice buzz around the place and everyone is keen to get back at it. We will take a lot from last year and we are happy we are building something. We’ve learnt a lot.
We know where we want to go, and we are definitely going the right direction.The young guys coming through are not only talented but also seem to have a competitive edge that they’ve brought into the squad. Do you feel that competition in pre-season preparations? Every young guy who has come in is pushing the guys ahead of them and that’s exactly what we need. Guys can’t afford to get comfortable because if you get hurt for a week that could be your chance gone and someone else comes in. You have to be on the money with your recovery to train and play well so you can put yourself in the best possible position to start.