Ulster A, sponsored by CD Group, kick off their season on Saturday afternoon with a clash against Connacht Eagles at Deramore Park, Belfast (kick off 5pm). The match is free to attend and will serve as a warm up ahead of the British & Irish Cup which starts next month.
One player who is looking to make a big impression is Hughes Insurance Academy outhalf Johnny McPhillips. Just 18, the ex Sedbergh School back is viewed as one of the most exciting prospects at Ulster and he is relishing the challenge of playing inter-pro opposition on Saturday:
“There isn’t a better platform to prove myself on,” he says. “I have really enjoyed training with the A team and a lot of the senior guys have been really helpful – especially with getting to know the calls and patterns. They have been patient with me and with all the Academy guys coming in - players like Rob Lyttle and Alex Kane. Ian Humphreys, Louis Ludik and Paul Marshall have been really helpful and have given us the best chance of doing well.”
McPhillips was identified as a gifted player from an early age. At school he played a lot of his rugby at fullback but at Ulster he has been encouraged to wear ten instead of fifteen. He’s enjoyed the transition, although it has had its challenges.
He says: “It has probably been a bit tougher than I expected. I was normally covering the back-field and counter attacking. Now I am leading the line, taking control and learning patterns from a different perspective. I now have to organise guys around me, but I have had great help from Sam Arnold and Mark Best outside me who have made that transition as easy as possible.
“I have been trying to watch Pete (Nelson) and Ian (Humphreys) as much as I can and see how they play and try and mirror those guys,” continues Johnny. “What their movements are when they are not getting the ball. Their attention to detail and their animation – things like that. Those guys are top end and someone like Humph is fantastic to have around as he gives great advice.
“He’s a class kicker and he has proven it on the big stage. It’s all right to knock them over in training but it’s during a match when you really have to prove yourself. However, kicking is something that I look forward to. I had a good kicking coach at school – it’s about your processes – blocking everything out, not worrying about the outcome and trusting your technique.”
Johnny may not have been brought up in Ulster but he says that he will be as motivated as any player when it comes to playing another province:
“Coming from England and watching the inter-pros I have really learned how passionate the guys are about it. I have really wanted to adopt that passion and to be as up for it as the other Ulster players are. We have to give Connacht a lot of respect. They are renowned for throwing the ball around and they can be very dangerous in open play. We will have to keep on our toes, but we will back ourselves as well.”
Saturday’s game might be the start of Johnny’s career at Ulster but he has big goals for the months ahead:
He says: “I want to set my aims as high as possible. I would love to play in the Ireland U20s squad and try to get as much senior exposure as possible. I am just going to take each game as it comes, play well in these Ulster A games, build myself into the season and knock off those targets as they come along. There is nothing that I would love more than to be involved in the senior side before the end of the season. I just have to keep training hard and keep trying to impress and if I get an opportunity hopefully then I can take it.”
One player who is looking to make a big impression is Hughes Insurance Academy outhalf Johnny McPhillips. Just 18, the ex Sedbergh School back is viewed as one of the most exciting prospects at Ulster and he is relishing the challenge of playing inter-pro opposition on Saturday:
“There isn’t a better platform to prove myself on,” he says. “I have really enjoyed training with the A team and a lot of the senior guys have been really helpful – especially with getting to know the calls and patterns. They have been patient with me and with all the Academy guys coming in - players like Rob Lyttle and Alex Kane. Ian Humphreys, Louis Ludik and Paul Marshall have been really helpful and have given us the best chance of doing well.”
McPhillips was identified as a gifted player from an early age. At school he played a lot of his rugby at fullback but at Ulster he has been encouraged to wear ten instead of fifteen. He’s enjoyed the transition, although it has had its challenges.
He says: “It has probably been a bit tougher than I expected. I was normally covering the back-field and counter attacking. Now I am leading the line, taking control and learning patterns from a different perspective. I now have to organise guys around me, but I have had great help from Sam Arnold and Mark Best outside me who have made that transition as easy as possible.
“I have been trying to watch Pete (Nelson) and Ian (Humphreys) as much as I can and see how they play and try and mirror those guys,” continues Johnny. “What their movements are when they are not getting the ball. Their attention to detail and their animation – things like that. Those guys are top end and someone like Humph is fantastic to have around as he gives great advice.
“He’s a class kicker and he has proven it on the big stage. It’s all right to knock them over in training but it’s during a match when you really have to prove yourself. However, kicking is something that I look forward to. I had a good kicking coach at school – it’s about your processes – blocking everything out, not worrying about the outcome and trusting your technique.”
Johnny may not have been brought up in Ulster but he says that he will be as motivated as any player when it comes to playing another province:
“Coming from England and watching the inter-pros I have really learned how passionate the guys are about it. I have really wanted to adopt that passion and to be as up for it as the other Ulster players are. We have to give Connacht a lot of respect. They are renowned for throwing the ball around and they can be very dangerous in open play. We will have to keep on our toes, but we will back ourselves as well.”
Saturday’s game might be the start of Johnny’s career at Ulster but he has big goals for the months ahead:
He says: “I want to set my aims as high as possible. I would love to play in the Ireland U20s squad and try to get as much senior exposure as possible. I am just going to take each game as it comes, play well in these Ulster A games, build myself into the season and knock off those targets as they come along. There is nothing that I would love more than to be involved in the senior side before the end of the season. I just have to keep training hard and keep trying to impress and if I get an opportunity hopefully then I can take it.”