Height: 6 ft / Weight: 19 stone
Appearances In AIL: 101
Clubs: Portadown, UUC, Dungannon
Victories: Senior Cup Winners / Ulster League Winners with Dungannon
When did rugby begin for you?
It began aged 4 and a half at Portadown Minis. For some reason I went straight into the front row. Must have been a lack of props when I joined!
Who were the best Props you played against?
Tim Morton (because I work with him!), Lewis Johnston, and Tony Buckley
Most Memorable Prop Story?
I suppose would be my first senior start for Portadown in the beatie Cup. I had just left school and had only played one senior game the week before for the 2nds. I was thrown into the Dungannon game against the experienced and youthful Gary Leslie. Lesson learnt. It was a baptism of fire but one that stood me in good
stead. I then went on to destroy everyone else over the years.
What does propping mean to you?
Propping is one of those positions that is either for you or not. I was lucky due to diet (I had many a sweet tooth) to have the opportunity to play all my rugby career in the front row. Rugby
is a team sport but the front row allows you to express yourself individually in a separate battle on the pitch. As a prop you are judged on your scrummaging which for me was my main focus
for me during A game. The rest was a bonus if my scrums went well.
Who was the biggest bandit on the Ulster Squad?
That’s a hard one. It’s a toss-up between John McGuckin/Nigel Brady at the time. Too close to call.
What’s your Ulster top 15?
Gary Leslie / Nigel Brady / Robbie Kempson / Jeremy Davidson / Willie John McBride / Andy Ward / Willie Faloon / Warren Brosnahan / Andy Matchett / Davy Humpheys / Shelly Coulter / Paul Magee / Ryan Constable / Tommy Bowe / John McGuckin.
Shaved or Un-shaved?
Shaved.
Beers Wine or Spirits?
All, in that order!
