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6
KYLE TAKES THE STEPPING
STONES TO SUCCESS
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
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.
“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!
“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
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.
“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
KYLE McCALL
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.