Ulster Rugby vs Oyonnax

Rory insists the facilities and personnel in the Ulster set-up are second-to-none, and he particularly singles out the work of the Strength and Conditioning team for his own, and others’ development in physical terms. “I suppose because I did a whole range of sports as a youngster, and was a decent sprinter, I had natural pace, but I honestly believe that under the S&C regime – particularly the work I do with Jonny Davis, himself a former sprinter – I have actually got faster! “The training is all tailored specifically to each player, and in my case that has meant working with people like Matt Maguire and Kevin Geary, to develop what attributes I may have and improve other things. “It’s a fine balance, for instance, to put on the weight I need for the physical side of the game without losing speed. I just feel so fortunate to be in such good hands, to have access to the fantastic facilities at Kingspan, and to be working with such a wonderful set of coaches and players,” he says with a winning, mature confidence. And he admits that he would like to think his future with Ulster lies in the No.15 shirt, and it is something that he has discussed with Kiss, Neil Doak - “who has such great creative ideas if you’re a back!” - Clarke and Niall Malone. “I love the way you can always be part of the game at fullback, how you can influence things and I hope that, in the future, that’s where I’ll make a real case to be selected. “I always remember that Leigh Halfpenny came to prominence at the very top level as a winger, and he developed into one of the great fullbacks in the sport.” Scholes was a prolific points-scorer with the boot, and his kicking is something he works on a lot. “We’re always encouraged to improve our core skills, and kicking – from the tee or from hand – is an important part of my skillset, it adds something to my game now and for the future, I hope.” A very focussed young man, Rory Scholes has his feet very much on the ground – except, of course, when he’s speeding through opposition defences – and sees each game as a new challenge, when he can add to his experience and develop into the frontline player to which he aspires to be. For the moment his attention is firmly fixed on putting Oyonnax to the sword in what promises to be a thrilling return leg of the Champions Cup, with the prize a place in the quarter-finals. “As a group of players and coaches we have shown what we are capable of, and we’d just love to put on a show for the supporters at Kingspan Stadium. It will mean we need to be patient, do the basics well, back ourselves, take our opportunities and then we’ll have done all we can.” For Scholes a glittering future surely lies ahead, and in whatever position he makes his own in the backline there’ll be fewer who have worked harder and who will deserve the success he craves to share with Ulster.

RORY SCHOLES

“RORY IS JUST SO GOODWITH THE WORDS HE USES, YOU LISTEN TO SOMEONE LIKE HIM BECAUSE HE HAS SOMUCH RESPECT AND HE GIVES SO MUCH AS A PLAYER”

45