Smith enjoying preparations for Ireland Club XV fixtures

Callum Smith is hopeful of making an impact in the 2019 Club International Series. The-20-year old Malone RFC man the squad’s youngest member and is named among the replacements for Friday’s trip to take on Scottish Clubs for the Dalriada Cup. The young out-half is just the second Malone player to make a match-day squad at this level and was still at Coleraine AI when club-mate Glenn Moore donned an Ireland Club XV jersey in 2013. Smith went on to be capped at Ulster Schools level, play for Ulster ‘A’ in the 2016/2017 season and feature for the Province against a star-studded Barbarians squad in June 2017. “Coming out of the Ulster setup after my first year, my sole focus was just Malone,” said Smith, who is employed by Ulster Rugby as a Club Community Rugby Officer. “The standard is obviously really good, but you can see how the club international players are at a different level. It’s a great feeling to come into camp and see how I get on. “My coach Paddy Armstrong said that he had put me forward, but that I should just see how it goes. Then I got an email through to say I’d been picked for selection. It’s a good feeling. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting it but I’m glad I got on and hopefully I can show the coaches why they picked me.” Ballymena, Ballynahinch, Banbridge, Dungannon, Malone and Queen’s University have sent a combined 16 players to play for the Ireland Club XV over the past 13 years. Michael Cromie is the most recent Ulsterman and only Banbridge player to contest a Club International. He also had stints with Rotherham Titans and Rodez. Current Ulster prop Eric O’Sullivan was in Dublin University colours when he received the Club International call-up. Five Ballymena players have worn the Club XV jersey, including Stephen Mulholland and Simon Shawe who both played for Ulster in what is now the Guinness PRO14. Shawe also played for Leinster and lined out against current Assistant Coach Johne Murphy when Leinster beat Munster in the first interprovincial to be played at the newly redeveloped Aviva Stadium in 2010. Paul Pritchard, Stuart Morrow and James Thompson are Ballynahinch’s capped trio while Ritchie McMaster is the sole representative from Queen’s University. All five of Dungannon’s representatives in Club International were also capped for Ireland at underage level. Richard McCarter and Brett McNamee contested the IRB U19 World Championship in 2003. McNamee played against England Counties in 2009 and went on to play for them in 2015. Glen Telford, Oisin Hennessy and Gareth Steenson all reached an U21 World Championship final in 2004. Steenson started the first ever Club International in 2006 before going on to become a golden boot kicker and Premiership winner with Exeter Chiefs. Smith would do well to emulate the traits of such a successful Ulster man. “The key advice I’ve been given is to go into it with no fear and be as loud as I can at 10. It’s about showing them that I can take control. If I get on, I’ll just be trying to make an impact and do what I can for the team.” The Ireland Club XV play Scottish Clubs on Friday February 1st in Edinburgh, before the deciding leg in Energia Park on Friday 9th February 9th. Tickets are available for the Dublin leg on ticketmaster.ie.