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SEAN REIDY
REIDY DETERMINED TO LEAD AT THE FRONT
Tousle-haired and tanned, Sean Reidy may have a somewhat ragamuffin
look as he relaxes after a tough training session at Kingspan Stadium.
But the New Zealand-born 26-year-old is very
serious about his rugby, and is currently relishing
the confidence shown in his abilities by signing a
two-year extension to his deal with Ulster.
“It was an easy decision for me, for since arriving in
Belfast two years ago I’ve really enjoyed my rugby,
learned a lot and this season in particular I’ve had a
bit of a run in the side and I hope put my hand up.”
In the three weeks before the side returned to
action in Glasgow last weekend he’d managed a
quick trip to Lanzorote, the perfect tonic after an
exhausting 16-week ‘block’ of games which had
seen the strength in the squad tested.
“I was craving some sun, and I just spent a few
days lying on a beach, doing a little jogging, but
getting a bit of a breather and came back refreshed
for what’s going to be a crucial part of the season.
“I really love Belfast, and its people, and although
the weather isn’t always what I’d like, that’s not
what’s important. Anyway,” he
smiles, “I’m told summer is just
around the corner!”
Turning to rugby, and to this
critical stage of the Ulster
season, the flanker becomes
deadly earnest.
“We went to Glasgow and
played some great stuff at
times, we were smart, we were
in control at Scotstoun for so
long that it was hard to take
losing that game, and not even
getting a losing bonus point when Stuart Hogg
kicked that last-minute penalty.
“The feeling in the dressing room was not one I
want to experience again, that’s for sure. Obviously
we felt we were harshly treated around the
breakdown when we were in great positions, but we
did make mistakes and against opposition of such
quality you get punished,” he says.
“But there were huge ‘plusses’ in Scotland. Iain
Henderson’s return to the side after a really serious
injury was great, and the try he scored was good
for him but showed us as a team at our slickest,
and that try came after some great build-up from
the whole side, playing the sort of rugby Les
Kiss and Neil Doak always encourage us to play,
backing ourselves. Just look at Craig Gilroy’s quick
thinking and the alertness of Stuart McCloskey for
our second try,” says Reidy.
“That was the Ulster the fans deserve to see every
week, and now that we’re on the run-in we’ve got to
produce that sort of game consistently.”
“It means that the game with Connacht this week is
massive, but the boys are ‘up’ for it and know that
each of our four remaining games in the PRO12
have become even more important.”
Reidy’s rugby pedigree is unquestioned, his family
is steeped in the game and his uncle entered a
very special category by becoming an All Black,
something that means he’s part of a revered breed
in New Zealand.
“I’ve been playing the game since I was four or five,
it’s in the family blood, and it’s always been what I
want to do.”
For Sean Reidy his sights in
the short and mid-terms are
on fastening down a starting
place with Ulster, but he relishes
the competition he faces to do
that. His high regard for Chris
Henry is clearly heartfelt, and he
regards the Irish flanker as both
an outstanding player and a
generous team-mate.
“I really got a chance when Chris
was away at the World Cup, and
he then got a shoulder injury
and I got the opportunity to get a run in the team,”
said the Irish-qualified open-side flanker. “That was
great for my confidence, and I think I developed as
a player in many aspects of my game.
“When he was injured, and even now, Chris
is always someone who will offer advice and
encouragement. We’ve played together a bit more
recently since he’s back fit and his work rate is
astonishing, you soon realise the amount of ground
he covers, the tackles he makes, and why he’s won
so many caps.”
“I’m really happy to have signed a new contract, I
really enjoy here, Belfast is a really cool place and
I’ve made a lot of friends through rugby.