Ulster Rugby v Benetton Rugby

There are not many men who can claim to have captained Ulster at Kingspan Stadium against international opposition. Adam McBurney is one of these men, having lead Ulster into battle versus Rugby World Cup bound Uruguay, at the age of only 22. ADAM McBURNEY VIEW FROM THE CAVE

“It worked out well though from a rugby development point of view because in what would have been my Upper 6th Year, I was allowed to play senior rugby at Ballymena (he had turned 18 that September) and play Ireland U20s a year early. I wouldn’t have been able to if I was playing in the Schools’ Cup.” He fondly recalls playing alongside James Ryan, Andrew Porter, Max Deegan and our very own Jacob Stockdale in an Ireland U20 team which reached the World Championship Final in 2016, beating New Zealand along the way. It wasn’t long after this he was catching the eye of the senior Ulster management in training. Ulster Defence Coach Jared Payne named him ‘McGregor’ after one Conor, highly appropriate given Adam’s ability to start a fight in an empty house. Coming into the 18/19 season, his expectations weren’t too high: “No hooker ever seems to have a bad game but thankfully Dan gave me a shot at the start of the year to show what I can do. We’ve got two Ireland internationals in Rory (Best) and Rob (Herring), and John (Andrew) is a great player as well so there’s loads of talent there. I try to learn from those boys in training, then when you get the opportunity it’s about always having to play well because it’s so competitive.”

A product of the club game, McBurney learned his trade at Randalstown RFC where he was spotted and selected for Ulster U16… “When I was about 7, my uncle suggested to my mum that I should go down to Ballymena Rugby Club to play. I wasn’t able to get in there as they had too many numbers, so I went to Randalstown and played there until I was about to turn 18.” McBurney left Ballee High School after his GCSEs and turned down the opportunity to complete his A Levels and compete in the Danske Bank Schools’ Cup. Instead, he chose to study at Belfast Met and continue his rugby at Randalstown and with Ireland U18s. “When I was picked up by the Ulster Academy from the Ireland U18s, we agreed I needed to play senior rugby so I had to move on from Randalstown to Ballymena. Randalstown was massive for me as a player, but more so as a person; there were some hard times off the pitch and they always stuck by me. The support I’ve received from everyone there, even since I moved away, is something that’s very special.” In the 2015/16 season, McBurney juggled completing his B-Techs at Belfast Met, Ulster Academy training, playing senior rugby at Ballymena, representing Ireland U20s, all the while working at the Tullyglass Hotel in Ballymena.

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