Ulster’s Stewart Moore highlights All-Ireland League debt of gratitude

The 21-year-old former Ballymena Academy player has had his fair share of injuries since leaving school and believes playing club rugby for Malone in the All Ireland League has made him battle-hardened for the professional game.

“AIL is great coming out of school and a really good jump for physicality, maybe not so much pace for the younger lads, they maybe outdo the older lads, but certainly physicality you have to be up to that level and it does take that toll on your body as well,” said Moore. “It’s definitely a complete stepping stone, and it’s something you definitely have to do, you do see players coming in from club rugby, so that does tell you it is a great standard, maybe not weather-wise, but you make your trade there.

“In the first year (out of school) especially it was tough, I did my MCL but I came into that preseason and was really looking forward to it but then got pushed back a bit, then my concussions.

“So the next goal was the Six Nations but I missed that through injury as well which was a tough period, especially because they went on to win the Grand Slam.

“It was a tough pill to swallow.

“Then my next aim...it was kind of just aims after aims, target after target.

“Luckily, I got on the plane to the Junior World Cup in Argentina but it was short and sweet, back on the plane again with my shoulder, it’s part and parcel, injuries in rugby, but I’ve learnt early and I’m sure there’ll be plenty more to go.”

Moore feels the lessons he is learning from Ulster defence coach Jared Payne are invaluable. Payne, also a centre, won 20 Ireland caps and was selected for the 2017 British Lions.

“It’s priceless, to be honest, my first year out of school especially, I remember him taking me under his wing,” said Moore. “He’s a British and Irish Lion, you can’t get better than that, especially from the centre aspect, and he can cover the backfield as well.

“He’s second-to-none, outstanding, he’s not been out of the game that long so he understands the modern era, what to look for, and he understands any situations you might be in, he’s been class.

“Even in training in the wee drills we do, and the drills Jared does between the training, they’re very match-specific.

“So even on that front he’s been priceless, and for all the other boys, even from forwards or backs, he really does nail it.

“He’s taken me under his wing and we always have those one-on-one feedbacks after games, or after training sessions I’ll send him a few clips and get him to help me, he’s been class that way.”

Coach Dan McFarland makes seven changes to the matchday 23 from the one that was on duty last weekend.

Matt Faddes and Ian Magian come into the back line, with Craig Gilroy and Michael Lowry omitted.

Alan O’Connor comes into the second row at the expense of Same Carter while flanker Marcus Rea makes his first start for Ulster - beside older brother Matty in the backrow.

There are changes on the bench - with Greg Jones, Kieran Treadwell coming onto the bench, David O’Connor, David McCann and Alby Mathewson dropping out.

The Ulster team to play Ospreys Rugby in the Guinness PRO14 Round 2 tonight at Liberty Stadium (kick-off 5.15pm, live on Premier Sports) is as follows:

(15-9) Jacob Stockdale, Matt Faddes, James Hume, Stewart Moore, Rob Lyttle, Ian Madigan, John Cooney.

(1-8) Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Iain Henderson (captain), Matthew Rea, Marcus Rea, Marcell Coetzee.

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Gareth Milasinovich, Kieran Treadwell, Greg Jones, David Shanahan, Louis Ludik, Sean Reidy.

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