8 / 68
6
Q&A WITH
CALLUM BLACK
When you signed for Ulster back in 2011, did
you ever think that you would reach 100 caps so
quickly?
Probably not actually. When I first joined Ulster I got
quite a serious injury in my first year, a prolapsed
disc in my neck - so I only played a handful of
games. That was the year we got to the final of
Europe and I was actually in the stands watching
so no I didn’t think I’d be here so soon.
It must be even more special to win your 100th
cap in front of home fans against the current
PRO12 Champions?
Yeah definitely, it will be really special in front of the
home crowd and with my family there watching.
And obviously against Glasgow
we’ve got a bit of history,
losing to them in the semis last
season, so it’s a big game that
we are determined to win.
Do you have a favourite
memory from your time at
Ulster?
We’ve had a lot of big games
and some good victories in
Europe. I think as a whole,
probably the season where we
had a 13 game winning streak
at the beginning of the season,
that was a good time to be involved. Also when
we won six out of six in our group in Europe and,
Munster away, where I think we were written off in
the quarter-final. We went down with what people
thought was a second string young side and
managed to get a victory at Thomond Park, that
was a big occasion personally.
Have you had any particularly challenging
points through your time playing for Ulster?
Not particularly. It comes with being a professional
rugby player, just the frustration when you’re not
involved. In my first year I was struggling with an
injury and it’s hard to properly fit in when you’re
injured joining somewhere new. Obviously the
boys doing so well to get to the European final
and having to watch that from the stands was a bit
disappointing. I wanted to be a part of those big
occasions and luckily I have been involved in some
big games since then.
How has Ulster changed and evolved over the
last five years?
Massively. I think the support that we get now is
huge and even just the development of the ground
and the new stands and all the facilities that we
have in place, including our new gym. It’s first class
and I think it’s helped us build as a team and year
on year we’re now competing for silverware.
You have been close to winning silverware with
Ulster over the past few seasons, do you think
that’s far away?
I think we are very close and I think as a squad
we’re very determined to get some silverware under
our belt. We have lost in the latter stages for the
past couple of years.
Last season losing to Glasgow in
the semi-final and then missing
out on being in front of our home
crowd in the final of the PRO12,
which you would have thought was
certain, was very disappointing. But
we are determined to put that right
and I think the squad has plenty
of young lads coming through
and we obviously have some top
class internationals – so we have a
squad to compete with anyone and
hopefully this is our year!
You started a family here, does Belfast now feel
like home?
Yes definitely, we are very settled here and this is
my fifth season. I got married to my wife Lucy here
and my daughter Orla, who is now three, turning
four in July, is at pre-school. She is loving it and
as a family we are very settled here. We enjoy our
time, it’s a great place to live.
On a lighter note can you tell us an interesting
fact about yourself?
I was actually born in America and I do qualify for
the USA, which a few people give me a bit of stick
about. Also I can play the guitar but don’t bring that
up very often.
How do you plan to celebrate getting your
100th cap?
My family will fly over from England so i’ll hopefully
go out for a meal and celebrate over the weekend.
CALLUM BLACK
Callum Black on celebrating his 100th appearance for Ulster
this evening…