The Lesser Celebrated Heroes of Ulster.

In lieu of a game this week for reasons I’m not yet ready to talk about (I think I’m probably in the depression/reflection stage still), I decided to take a look at a few of the Ulster players who have been integral for different reasons this season but have been talked about less. We’ve heard plenty about Lowry, Hume, Baloucoune and Timoney. These young players have made a splash, worked their way into the Ireland squad (even if they didn’t get a cap) and have rightfully earned articles and praise. But there are a few who haven’t been lauded quite so much who deserve to be spoken about.

I think it’s only right that we start with Marcus Rea. Rea only really found his starting spot in the back row this season, having upgraded to a senior contract last year for a one year deal. I’d be stunned if he didn’t sign a more long-term contract for next season. After a couple of tough years due to covid, he has been given an opportunity and truly grasped it tightly with both hands. Rea wasn’t even featured in the Ulster squad until their 20-10 win over Leinster in at the RDS when he was chosen on the bench. Even then he didn’t make it onto the pitch with Greg Jones playing the full 80 minutes. At the time, any Ulster fan would have said the battle for the starting position at 6 was between Jones, Reidy or Marcus’ older brother, Matty. However, come December 11th 2021, Marcus Rea would get his first action of the season against Clermont, starting the match alongside Timoney at 7 and Vermeulen at 8; a backrow we’ve become very acquainted with. Rea would get a majority of the game under his belt, only being subbed off at 62 minutes for his Kiwi competitor who has largely fallen out of the squad since, Sean Reidy. Since his first appearance of the season, he’s played 13 games, scoring against the Dragons and one of his missed matches being the second game of the South Africa tour when almost the entire team was being rotated to have fresh legs for the following week visit to Toulouse which was successful but ultimately didn’t matter as Toulouse won on aggregate at Kingspan.

Over those 13 games, Rea has formed quite the formidable back row with the young Nick Timoney, under the guidance of South African world cup winner, Duane Vermeulen. Timoney, at the start of the season, began to be known as the turnover expert who would step up in the big moments and win the ball back. Whilst this has not changed at all, and Timoney still steps up in the big moments, Rea has overshadowed both Timoney and Vermeulen, who are on 11 turnovers each this season, by racking up a monstrous 17 turnovers in 13 appearances. Rea finds himself 3rd in the URC for this stat. Not only his turnovers in defence are impressive however, with a successful tackle percentage of 85% over 103 tackles. In attack Rea’s work rate shines as he’s made 67 carries and beaten 8 defenders, not bad for a 17 stone flanker I would say. But as always in rugby, the stats only tell half the story. Rea is an imposing figure who adds an edge to Ulster’s game, not afraid to get a bit gritty and often riling up opposition with his aggression and abrasiveness. Players like this, however, often find themselves at the receiving end of cards more often than others, but Rea hasn’t even seen a yellow this season, keeping his discipline in check. At the age of 24 (same age as me, it only hurts a little bit don’t worry) he has plenty of rugby left to play, and at this rate Andy Farrell will no doubt be keeping a keen eye on his progression. I know that every province feels each one of their players should be turning out in green, but Rea really has the potential to be something special, particularly if he keeps hold of that starting spot, he’s only going to get better and better. It’s tough to think that Rea has only made 22 appearances for Ulster, his younger teammates in Lowry and Hume making 66 and 59 caps respectively, almost tripling his count. I’d stake my limited reputation on Rea having a huge 22/23 season.

Next on the list is the young Ethan McIlroy. He has been talked about a little more than Rea, but for what he has done, his consistency and his commitment, I think he deserves a paragraph or two in this article. McIlroy only signed his first senior contract for the 21/22 season, having played limited senior rugby prior to this but making appearance for Ulster A and having signed a development contract just the year before. This season, McIlroy has been Mr. Consistent, only missing one game due to an ankle injury sustained against Connacht (a game I attended and watched McIlroy grimace through the injury for some time until he was forced off, making a few skilful runs even whilst struggling), starting 18 games, with four games played at fullback. McIlroy has proven himself a handy winger with an uncanny ability to fit in seamlessly at the back as though he was a 15 by trade. He may not be a try scoring machine the same way Baloucoune is, but to me McIlroy plays a different role. Baloucoune often switches wings for try scoring opportunities using his searing pace, but McIlroy has been instrumental in setting up tries, and has certainly scored a few of his own racking up two braces this season (one against Toulouse in the second leg) and one try against Saints in Belfast, credited to a deft chip over the defensive line from Hume and an ankle breaking step on Skosan.

McIlroy certainly didn’t just walk into the team either, whilst Craig Gilroy found some form at the start of the season, McIlroy plied his trade once or twice at fullback, filling in for the unfortunate Addison and Stockdale before Lowry cemented his spot at 15. McIlroy has also upped his defence and, like his wing partner Baloucoune has made some huge momentum swinging and try saving tackles, including a huge hit in the game against Clermont on the number 13 which lives in my head, playing on repeat. McIlroy is 11th in the URC competition for meters gained with 617m, showing just how handy he can be on the ball, with his score count somewhat betraying this statistic. With another season or two experience those finishing skills will begin to be polished and no doubt the try count will increase exponentially.

It’s important to note the context, also, that McIlroy only signed his senior contract this year. He’s a very, very fresh player who is by all accounts still raw. That should indicate to his potential even beyond the fantastic performances he’s put in this year. Whilst it feels like he’s been part of the squad forever now, he only has 34 appearances with many more to come.

Ben Moxham is the newest player I’m going to talk about, at only 20 years only and still not on a full Senior contract, this development player has shown his potential, though he’s had limited gametime. The 6”3, 15 stone winger has proven himself to be flexible in his positions as he’s taken up left and right wing, as well as outside centre when Hume was unavailable due to international duty. He’s been noticed for his big defensive hits, throwing caution to the wind to make tackles when it matters. 40 tackles with an 83% tackle success rate isn’t bad given his youth and three turnovers to boot. In just 10 games in the URC this season he’s managed a great work rate of 28 carried and 127 meters gain, making it about 2.8 carrier per game. With only 5 starts, and 10 caps this season, one cut severely short by being taken out in the air, it’s hard to argue with those stats. Being such a big player for his position, he is granted a unique opportunity to add strings to his bow that not a lot of wingers are able to. Improving his running and learning to use his size and weight can see him run over players, not just around. For Moxham, I’d look to James Lowe, being bigger for his position but finding balance to take massive advantage of his frame. The Larne man only has 17 total caps to his name, so there’s massive potential for improvement through experience and just time. He has plenty of competition In Baloucoune, Gilroy, McIlroy and Hume for both of his positions, but we all know competition only makes players better. Moxham is the definition of one to watch, with so much career ahead of him and already looking like a handful to play against.

Sam Carter is a bit different than the others on this list. He’s not home-grown Ulster talent, at 32 he’s an experienced Aussie lock with 16 international caps under his belt. Carter has been around the block and is hopefully looking to finish his career as an Ulster man. Carter is battling in a tough second row with some top quality international Irish locks. Competing with the likes of Henderson, O’Connor (who is somehow not an internationally capped player) and Treadwell. Carter has been a workhorse who has done some great work and doesn’t get much attention. Whilst Henderson was injured he was a mainstay in the squad, linking up with both Treadwell and O’Connor in the engine room, keeping the scrum solid. He also held down the fort with O’Connor while Henderson and Treadwell travelled for the six nations, Mick Kearney often taking the backup role for second row. Carter has started 9 games this season, making a total of 12 caps and during these 12 caps has gotten over the whitewash twice, putting 10 points to his name. Combine that with a 93% tackle success rate, Carter has shown himself to be a well rounded player, stepping up when it matters. Much like Rea however, the numbers are not the whole story. Rea and Carter, for my money, are alike in their attitude and ability to niggle at the opponents. Carter has had his share of scuffles at the breakdown, asserting himself as you would expect from a 6”7, 18+ stone lock. You get the feeling when he plays that he really embodies the mantra “Fight For Every Inch”. Carter also brings some fantastic leadership skills that can really be felt in coordination with O’Connor or Henderson. Not unfamiliar with leadership roles, Carter co-captained alongside previous Ulster player, Christian Leali’ifano. I can only hope that Carter spends what is likely the last few years of his career in Belfast and sees some silverware for his efforts.

Ulster rightly have their often-lauded players, but some that don’t get as much attention are still doing the work or are just building their careers and performing phenomenally considering how new they are to the professional game, which I can only imagine is quite a step up from any other level they’ve played at. Other players are nearing the far end of their career, and whilst they may not be the flashiest players, they do the job without fuss, but with consistency and add massively to the experience and leadership a team needs to succeed.

Note: All stats are correct to the best of my ability. If any need amended, please do get in touch.