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What have been your highlights?
My highlights are picking up two pieces of
silverware – winning the Celtic Cup in my first
season and then in 2006 winning the Celtic
League. Other small highlights include those big,
difficult European games like when you travel to
Welford Road and win, that is certainly up there as
well.
How would you
compare your 200th
cap to your 100th?
Achieving 100 caps and
now 200 – is a great
milestone to reach and
it’s a great memory to
look back on. To be
involved and to get that
many caps with a team
like Ulster, who have
been ranked among
the best competitors in
Europe, is not an easy
thing to do. So to achieve
that is something I am
very proud of.
How have you kept
your enthusiasm for the
game?
I have kept my hunger and enthusiasm for the
game because I have a competitive edge about
me, like most sports people. I feel like I still have a
lot to offer, as long as the body feels good and the
mind feels good. I feel extremely fortunate to be in
this position, and we are all very privileged to be
wearing the white jersey, so I think pride keeps you
going too.
How has the game changed?
The game has changed quite a lot between
now and when I started 14 odd years ago. The
players have increased in size and there is a lot
more emphasis put on the physical conditioning
of the squad, so the impacts are higher and
there’s more of them. But on the flip side of
that everything outside the game - the medical
staff, the S&C coaches - all that has improved.
The obvious changes are that players are more
educated in terms of nutrition and well being. From
when I started everything is just so much more
professional.
You have been playing for so long, reasonably
unscathed, what’s your secret?
People talk about being
durable, but I think it’s
down to luck. I wouldn’t
classify myself as being
the most powerful of
athletes compared to the
likes of Stephen Ferris,
whose sheer size can
lead to pressure on the
body. But I know when
to push myself and when
not to, that comes with
experience. I pick my
training groups wisely – I
know not to go with the
massive guys or young
guys who want to knock
lumps out of each other!
What are your future
goals?
My goals don’t focus on caps – obviously getting
to 200 will be a great achievement to look back
on but I think when you come towards the end
of your career – you want to look back at what
you achieved as a team and not as an individual.
Ulster has failed to deliver as much silverware as
they probably should have, but I believe this year
is a massive opportunity for us. Getting some
silverware this season is the ultimate goal.
What advice would you give to young players?
Just to try and enjoy it. I would say, don’t get too
uptight. Try to relax, have a bit of banter with the
lads but work hard. If you want it bad enough – you
have to work for it – and sometimes for years, so
stick at it and I am sure you will get there in the end.
WILSON REACHES 200 CAPS FOR ULSTER
ROGER WILSON
Roger Wilson earned his first Ulster cap in 2003 against Neath-Swansea
Ospreys and tonight he will feature for the 200th time against fellow Welsh
side, Scarlets. Having been around the block for 13 years, we caught up
with Roger to reflect on his double century innings…