Louis Ludik and Ballyclare 'perfect fit' as ex-Ulster full back attempts to extend perfect start as head coach

The South African took over the Ballyclare top job in the close season and the Cloughan club have a maximum 15 points from their opening three games across the All Ireland League to sit top of Division 2B North ahead of they away trip to basement club Navan.

“My time at Instonians ended and Ballyclare reached out and asked if I was keen to come and they explained what the plans were for the club,” said Ludik. “The gym had just opened and the club is getting a 4G pitch installed for training...I could see there was a load of passion and support.

“Meeting with a couple of the players and talking to a few people, there is so much potential in the club...you can just feel the family vibe and the passion around the town, it was quite an easy decision in the end.

“The vision and attitude for the growth of the whole club was aligned so I thought it would be a perfect fit.”

The playing squad has basically remained the same.

“There are a few guys from school that joined, the majority of the group is the same," he said. “There's a few guys obviously that retired or who had a few injuries.

“We got a few guys in just to increase the squad and obviously it's a long season and you get injuries and stuff so it's important to have a strong squad.

“The squad that we have is very strong, there's a lot of competition...which is ideal to push the standard and just for the players to push each other.”

Ballyclare are the top scorers in 2B North, racking up 130 points over opening three games.

“It’s been a very good start, Mike (Orchin-Mckeever, previous head coach) did incredibly well with the team,” said Ludik. “I think he was there for 12 years, there's a good foundation and just trying to build on that is vitally important.

“They’ve been used to certain things for a long time, so coming in I wanted to put my own stamp on things, and we changed quite a few in terms of systems and stuff.

“It's all credit to the team...adapted really, really quickly and it's really good to see, so the way that we want to play a nice, quick expansive game is ideal.

“That's what kind of suits the team and with the players that we have, it's all credit to them to have adapted so quickly and a good start.

“If you change a lot of things, it can take a bit of time to get used to it...so they've adapted really well and it's been an ideal start.”

Navan have lost all three games and sit with the worst defence in the competition.

“Navan are a really good side, it’s going to be a tough game,” said Ludik. “Even when we played them at Instonians I always thought they were really good...good players and they can play some really good rugby.

“One thing that we wanted to really focus on is going away from home and try and play the same standard, so you don't get complacent.

"But you really attack the games...it doesn't matter if home or away.”

Second-placed Enniskillen have maximum points and travel to Rifle Park for an Ulster derby with a Banbridge team looking for their first win. There is also an Ulster derby at Hatrick Park as Malone put their perfect start on the line against Rainey, as Clogher Valley visit Skerries.