Jude showed glimpses of his potential across 2024/25, becoming a bright spark in a tough season for the province. He made 18 appearances across the URC and Champions Cup, starting in some massive games against top opposition.
He has also been involved with the Ireland national set-up, playing a key role in Emerging Ireland's South Africa Tour back in October as they claimed the Toyota Challenge Cup.
After the season concluded, the Lisburn man was called up as a training panellist to the Ireland Summer Tour against Georgia and Portugal.
Now, after putting in the hard yards after pre-season, Jude tells Ulster Rugby about his experience over the summer and his eagerness to get back out on the pitch for his province.
Jude, how has your summer been as we approach the new season?
It’s been good, we have had a lot of time to reflect on last year. Personally, I feel good, fresh and ready to go this year.
You were away with the Ireland international team in the summer, as a Development player - how did you find that experience?
It was a great experience; it’s definitely the level I want to get to and play at. Obviously, I was slightly disappointed to not be in the playing squad, but it was still a great opportunity to be in there as a Development player and see what the level is like.
Centres are such a competitive position in Ireland. It was good to be around the coaches, see what they are looking for selection wise and bring those things back into pre-season to try put together.
What did you learn on that tour?
More about the style of play with Irish Rugby, how involved a centre needs to be. You can see that modern centres are becoming more of a second ten and your ball- playing ability needs to be right up there, along with the physical side.
You look at the likes of Bundee Aki and our own Stuart McCloskey – they are very physical but can also distribute the ball so well. You are chasing both.
Coming back to Ulster after a few weeks break, how has the pre-season been?
It’s been going really well. We are buying into what the coaches are looking us to do, Mark Sexton has come in and we have bought into his ideas. We feel we are seeing progress in training.
What are your first impressions of Mark?
I had Mark at Ireland U20s and I always thought he was a great coach. He enhanced my game with how he sees things and how he wants us to play. I feel he’s going to be great for us and he’s good at taking the time to do 1on1s and talk things through.
This pre-season has been a bit different in having a panel of centres all fit again like Stuart McCloskey and James Hume, how beneficial has that been as we begin the season?
It’s great to have everyone back that way, it helps to make that competitive edge in training and good to learn from them on the pitch because they have good experience. It keeps the standard high.
It feels like every season you are progressing and playing more for Ulster, how do you look back at last season from your own personal point of view?
I feel that because I did get a good bit of game time, I did feel myself grow a lot, even though we didn’t get the results we wanted. I felt aspects of my game got better and I felt a lot more confident going into this pre-season.
I’m grateful for the opportunities I got last year, and it feels like it has made me a better player.
Edinburgh this Friday, how much are you looking forward to getting back out there and playing in front of Ulster fans again?
I can’t wait! It feels like ages since I’ve played at home so can’t wait to get out there and see all the supporters again. I also feel like we owe Edinburgh one after last season!
You can read more from Jude's interview in our FREE exclusive matchday programme ahead of Edinburgh.