Rory – congratulations on your call up to the British and Irish Lions. After the disappointment of a few weeks ago, how good is it now, to be called up to the squad?
It was hard when I didn’t make the initial squad, because it is everyone’s ambition, it is everyone’s ultimate goal to qualify to play for them. To now be selected is a massive honour.
Has it sunk in that you will be leaving with the squad tomorrow?
It hasn’t fully sunk in yet, it is hard to describe because it is the ultimate for a rugby player. To finally be selected makes playing professional rugby worthwhile. All the lows that you get and the knocks and bumps, it more than makes up for them and for a few weeks ago when I thought that the chance had gone.
Being called into the Lions squad must have been a great high after the lows of losing the RaboDirect PRO12 Final yesterday.
Yesterday was bitterly disappointing from a team point of view. Today from a personal view it has lifted me out of a bit of despair after the game and it was great to get the news.
You have had huge support over the past few weeks. How encouraging has that support been?
When you don’t make squads, you doubt your ability and the way that you are playing. I was fairly happy with the way that I was playing, but the support that I have had over the past number of weeks, not just from friends and family but also from the Ulster Rugby players and Management and from the fans and general public has meant a lot to me. Now, to finally be there, it’s hard to put into words, it makes it all worthwhile. The past few weeks, with the receptions at Ravenhill, everywhere I go, everyone wants to wish me well. Now, to finally be there, it is great.
Now that you are in the squad, is the next goal is to make the Test Team?
Yes definitely there will be 37 players getting on a plane to Hong Kong tomorrow aiming to make the test squad and I am no different. I am as ambitious as everyone else. To be on the tour is unbelievable, but you have to go there and play your best rugby, put your hand up and see where that takes you.
