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private moments, but he’s anxious that he’s not just
seen as a joker, a prankster.
“It’s been a bit of fun, and it’s very important to me
that there is more than rugby to life, and having a
laugh can break up routine at the right time. But, no,
we’re into the serious business end of the season
with Ulster and with Ireland and I don’t think I’ll be
‘posting’ too much soon,” he says, looking up with a
wry twinkle in his eyes.
And there is a serious side to Paddy Jackson, which
might prove a little surprising. “Modern professional
sport means you must rest and relax properly, and
I do like to ‘switch off’ completely, spend time with
friends, listen to some music.
“And at school I was always interested in Art and
recently I’ve started drawing again, and that I do find
is something which is relaxing.”
So the creative urge isn’t confined to the rugby
pitch? “Well, I don’t know about that. But I also like
my music, and I’m a big fan of Mumford and Sons,
and I’m into a guy called Jack Garrett, who I saw
supporting them in concert, a really talented musician
and songwriter.
“And Fleetwood Mac, really like them. I listened to
one of my dad’s CDs and became ‘hooked’! And it’s
always great to be in Iain Henderson’s car, he’s got all
these great 70s and 80s songs, love it!”
He tries not to watch too much television, and for a
surprising reason, given the amusement he’s given
through modern devices.
“I really do think technology is taking over the world, I
don’t want to be numbed by it all. I live in the moment,
and I play my rugby in the moment, it’s real, it’s
something I can do something about,” he explains.
But as he prepares to lace up his boots for that extra
kicking practice Paddy Jackson again says that the
little boy running around in an Ireland jersey in Sutton
Coldfield still has much the same ambitions.
“I want to get more games for Ulster, more games
for Ireland, to make my mark, to be the best I can be,
and who knows where than can take me.
“This weekend I want to help Ulster get through to the
quarter-finals of the Champions Cup. We know what
Oyonnax are all about now, we’ve got to be patient
and build, and we’re confident the tries we need will
come if we keep to the game plan and do the things
we can do well.
“We’ll have to wait until Sunday to see if we’ve done
enough, maybe, but this Ulster side is going to win
things and I want to be very much at the heart of that.”
His farewell is direct, friendly and sincere, but talking
about himself isn’t his subject of choice and the lure
of the pitch and kicking a rugby ball is already lighting
up his eyes.