RUGBY: Brady happy with Ireland call-up
THE frustration is finally over for Ulster and Dungannon hooker, Nigel Brady.
Having been surprisingly passed over for a number of years, the 30-year-old, will finally get the chance to get international recognition having been included in the match 22 for Friday night's Ireland Wolfhounds game against Scotland 'A' at Ravenhill.
Brady will find out today if he will be wearing the starting No Two shirt or the replacement No 16 shirt.
Last month, in an interview with the News Letter during Ulster's Heineken Cup, Brady admitted that is was a goal of his to play in the green shirt of Ireland and he had found it frustrating.
However, two huge performances again by the hooker against Edinburgh and Bath, finally saw him get on the right track.
Having just finished unpacking his bags on the Sunday after returning from Ulster's historic 28-10 win over Bath in the Heineken Cup, Brady got the call to attend the Irish training camp in Limerick with the preliminary Six Nations squad named a week earlier.
It was the first time he had ever been called to the senior training panel and he was delighted.
A week later, he was named as one of 20 players on the Ireland Wolfhounds panel to face Scotland 'A' on Friday night, and that ensured him at the very least a place on the bench.
Brady said: "The call last week to join the Irish camp came out of the blue, but it was a pleasant surprise.
"It was my first time down with the Irish squad and I was really, really happy to get the call. I really enjoyed it.
"For me it was a case of waiting to see what comes my way. I just got the work done, kept the head down in Limerick and we will see what happens.
"I think it will be a case of one step at a time and you know if I get an 'A' cap then I would certainly take it."
Brady, who signed a new two-year deal with Ulster recently, said the experience of playing with a squad who were Six Nations champions and a side who had recently beaten the World champions was tremendous.
"Training with players of that calibre definitely makes you hungry for more."
- Tickets are still available for the debut of the Ireland Wolfhounds on Friday night at Ravenhill (kick-off 7.30pm). Tickets are available from; the Ravenhill Ticket Office (Wed-Fri, 9am to 5pm,) the Ticket Hotline 028 90 493 222 Option 2 (Wed-Fri, 10am to 12noon,) SS Mores (6 Chichester Street Belfast, 90 322966) or www.ulsterrugby.com
Prices: Pre-Purchase Tickets: Main Stand: Adult 15 / Child 10 Grounds: Adult 10 / Child 7. Match Night Tickets: Main Stand: 20 (no child concession on gate) Ground: Adult 15 / Child 10
Meanwhile the Ireland A team is to be renamed the Ireland Wolfhounds, resurrecting a name that has been synonymous with Irish Rugby over a period of nearly 50 years. The Wolfhounds was initially the brainchild of Irish Rugby legends Karl Mullen and Jack Kyle.
Created in 1956 as an invitational side to spread the rugby gospel among the towns and villages of Ireland, over the years Irish internationals such as Brendan Mullin, Willie John McBride and Sir Anthony O'Reilly all represented the Wolfhounds in their distinctive green and white hooped jerseys.
The Wolfhounds played games all over Ireland and provincial towns such as Athlone, Westport and Waterford have all entertained the nomadic Wolfhounds team, who like the Barbarians had no home ground of their own.
The Wolfhounds also toured in Scotland, Wales, France and England during their lifetime as well as playing all four provinces as part of the IRFU Centenary celebrations.
The final recorded appearance of the Wolfhounds was in 1987 when they played against Greystones RFC in Dr. Hickey Park to celebrate the club's golden Jubilee.
The Ireland Wolfhounds was selected as the new name for the Ireland A team following a competition among members of the Irish Rugby Supporters club.
Conor Smyth, from Carrickmines in Dublin was the lucky supporter who suggested the use of the Wolfhounds identity, linking the past and future of Irish Rugby.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
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