Ulster Rugby vs Newport Dragons

KYLE TAKES THE STEPPING STONES TO SUCCESS

Les Kiss has described his contribution this season as ‘remarkable’, and he has quickly become a favourite with the fans as he put in a series of ‘man-of-the-match’ displays.

At just 24, Kyle McCall has become an integral part of Ulster’s front-row, a loose-head prop who allies technical excellence to astonishing mobility and work rate. Not that the modest young man who learned his rugby at Wallace High School would make claim to any of those attributes, for he is steadfast in believing that he has still much work to do to achieve his ambition of establishing himself in the one team he has always aspired to play for: Ulster. And he shrugs off compliments, preferring not to comment on his Director of Rugby’s praise as one of the great discoveries of this season. He feels he’s just one of a new crop of younger players who’ve stepped up and positively answered questions

“Gary Longwell was Head of the Academy and it was such a boost for me when he invited me to join, and I saw it as a great chance to build my fitness, improve my strength and to develop the technique a prop forward needs. “Technique is key, and if people thought I was small then I wanted to show them that having the right skills, and learning from the best coaches we have in the Ulster set-up, could get me a career in the game. It feels as if it’s only started, but the signs are good and I don’t hear too much now about my height, and I know I’m as fit – if not fitter – than many others in my position,” he says. He gives a lot of credit for his physical development to Kevin Geary, David Drake and the Strength and Conditioning staff at Ulster Rugby, and with the state-of-the-art

KYLE McCALL

about their readiness for the grind, the hard yards, the physicality, the application and then the rewards of producing skilful, thoughtful, entertaining rugby. And though he admits to being flattered by some recent speculation that he might have even been a ‘wild card’ for Ireland’s Six Nations campaign, he is determinedly focussed on ensuring the next six weeks plunders wins and points in the pursuit of a top four place in the Guinness PRO12 league.

facilities at Kingspan Stadium he sees himself developing further, his regime tailored specifically for him so that the qualities he brings to his play are not diluted, rather enriched. Kyle’s determination, and his performances, earned him Ulster and Ireland Under 18 and U19 recognition, and when he graduated to the Ulster U20s he was in the company he now keeps in the senior set-up.

“To me it’s all about stepping stones, to grow into the best I can be, and I certainly want to do that in an Ulster jersey,” says McCall, instinctively shy, but who proves amusing, wry and enjoyable company. There was a point, he once said, when he thought that a Schools’ Cup semi-final defeat by BRA might be the highlight of his rugby career, though he was very keen to prove those who doubted if he had the size and strength to flourish at the coalface of forward play. “I do accept and find it a bit surprising that in November I was seen as third-choice at loose-head, and I definitely don’t want to feel comfortable that I am the first name in that position, that way lies complacency and I honestly believe I have so much more to learn about the skillsets required at prop,” he says with real conviction. “I’ve been fortunate, I got an opportunity and I’ve tried to take it, but I’ve only got 14 Ulster ‘caps’, there are players around me with over 200!

“Yes, Luke Marshall, Paul Jackson and Iain Henderson were all part of that team, and they haven’t done too badly! “At Under 20 level I was actually more often selected at tight-head - and to be honest to this day I don’t mind as long as I am picked! – but I do feel more comfortable on the loose-head side, and Allen Clarke was involved with the Irish U20s and he was very involved in the transition from tight-head,” he reveals. Mind you, though Kyle made his debut for the Ulster ‘A’ side, at tight-head, so he might be excused for wondering where he’d end up! “No, I knew the position I wanted to play, the one where I thought I brought most to the side, whatever side, I was playing for, and it’s worked out very well so far. Rugby runs in the family, his father was a stalwart member of the Lisburn front-row for many years, and

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