The former Ballymena Academy 1st XV captain and Ireland U20s flanker has quickly risen through the Ulster ranks. He captained Ulster A during the 2018 and 2019 Celtic Cups, and made a try-scoring contribution in a Man of the Match display on his senior debut versus Leinster in April 2019. Younger brother of Matty Rea, Marcus is another prospect graduated from the Ulster Academy, and has become a mainstay in Ulster match-day squads in the URC and Heineken Champions Cup.