It has been a great few months for Hughes Insurance Academy winger Jacob Stockdale. The 19 year-old starred for Ireland U20s in the Junior World Championship in Italy and has been promoted to the senior Ulster squad for preseason training. Last week he travelled to Portugal for warm-weather training with the rest of the senior players. We caught up with the ex Wallace High School player as he prepares for the new season, to get his thoughts on the training camp, pre-season so far and his hopes for the campaign ahead: You're just back from a week's training in Portugal. How was camp? JS It was tough but enjoyable. We trained three times a day in the hot weather. I think the heat makes everything that bit harder in terms of fitness. You lose your breath quicker, it takes you longer to get your breath back, so you have to adapt to that. At the same time it gives you more chance to work on skills. It's easier to pass and kick. We are getting a lot of conditioning done but we are also able to run through plays a lot easier. The 24/7 nature of a camp like that is also important for training. It was also good in terms of getting to know guys. A few players come in and a number of young guys like myself have made the step up from the Academy, so it was good to spend time with the other members of the squad. If there was a question that popped up at 8pm at night you could find someone and ask them about it. How challenging is it to make the step up to the senior squad? JS The biggest part I have found is trying to learn the detail of each role. Having senior guys there that you can go to with questions, particularly Ian Humphreys, is a massive advantage. He knows everything about every play. He can tell where everyone should be and I have found him so helpful. If you have a question about what breakdown you should be at or what line you should be running, you can go to him and he will have the answer. However, I have found that all the senior players are really helpful and take time to help the younger members of the squad. What has your first pre-season with the senior squad been like and what are your aims for the season ahead? JS Last year playing for Ulster A and Ireland U20s helped a lot in terms of understanding what it takes to play at senior level. Last year I stuck in there but this season I want to push on and make an impact on the games. With the World Cup and a lot of the guys being away I have strong aspirations to get as much game time as possible at the start of the season. My aim is to play well enough then to be able to stay on with the senior team and play whenever I can during the year.
News
Jacob Stockdale: Ready to make the step-up
10th August 2015
It has been a great few months for Hughes Insurance Academy winger Jacob Stockdale. The 19 year-old starred for Ireland U20s in the Junior World Championship in Italy and has been promoted to the senior Ulster squad for preseason training. Last week he travelled to Portugal for warm-weather training with the rest of the senior players. We caught up with the ex Wallace High School player as he prepares for the new season, to get his thoughts on the training camp, pre-season so far and his hopes for the campaign ahead: You're just back from a week's training in Portugal. How was camp? JS It was tough but enjoyable. We trained three times a day in the hot weather. I think the heat makes everything that bit harder in terms of fitness. You lose your breath quicker, it takes you longer to get your breath back, so you have to adapt to that. At the same time it gives you more chance to work on skills. It's easier to pass and kick. We are getting a lot of conditioning done but we are also able to run through plays a lot easier. The 24/7 nature of a camp like that is also important for training. It was also good in terms of getting to know guys. A few players come in and a number of young guys like myself have made the step up from the Academy, so it was good to spend time with the other members of the squad. If there was a question that popped up at 8pm at night you could find someone and ask them about it. How challenging is it to make the step up to the senior squad? JS The biggest part I have found is trying to learn the detail of each role. Having senior guys there that you can go to with questions, particularly Ian Humphreys, is a massive advantage. He knows everything about every play. He can tell where everyone should be and I have found him so helpful. If you have a question about what breakdown you should be at or what line you should be running, you can go to him and he will have the answer. However, I have found that all the senior players are really helpful and take time to help the younger members of the squad. What has your first pre-season with the senior squad been like and what are your aims for the season ahead? JS Last year playing for Ulster A and Ireland U20s helped a lot in terms of understanding what it takes to play at senior level. Last year I stuck in there but this season I want to push on and make an impact on the games. With the World Cup and a lot of the guys being away I have strong aspirations to get as much game time as possible at the start of the season. My aim is to play well enough then to be able to stay on with the senior team and play whenever I can during the year.