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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”
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.