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RICKY LUTTON
You have been a part of Ulster for so long
now, you must be sad to say goodbye?
Yeah, of course. I grew up coming to watch
the boys and it’s been five years that I’ve been
involved here now. So it’ll be tough to say
goodbye, but I guess everything has to come to
an end at some point.
What are your favourite memories on and
off the field?
I’d say some of the things off the field I probably
can’t talk about! But on the field, it would
definitely be my first start down in the RDS
in 2013 when we beat Leinster. It was a big
moment for me and to get the win down there
was pretty special. Also to beat Toulouse back-
to-back last year both at home and away was a
really good achievement for the team, so they
would be two highlights for me on the field.
Off the field, it has to be the friendships. I’ve
seen a lot of my good mates come and go like
Neil McComb and Niall Annett and boys like that
who I came up through Harlequins with, but new
guys come in, and the squad grows and you
make good mates along the way so I’ll be sad to
say goodbye but I wish the boys all the best.
What will you miss the most about playing
for Ulster?
I’ll miss the camaraderie and the pride you get
from turning up every Monday morning to do
something that you’ve dreamt of since you were
a kid. Being a player for my home Province has
been a dream come true for me, and to do it
for so long has been an honour. It’s made me
immensely proud wearing the Ulster badge.
You have seen a lot of changes here too?
Yeah, there has been a massive transition.
When I first turned up at Newforge we were
eating our lunches in our cars in the car park,
so there have been massive changes in terms
of professionalism. I think all the new facilities
here are brilliant and there can be no excuses
now to get some silverware in the cupboard over
the next couple of years. Unfortunately, I’ll not
be here but I’m sure the boys will go on to do
something great.
What does the future hold for you?
I’m not too sure yet. I’ve got a couple of options
across the water or I might end up playing
and coaching club rugby locally. I also have
my Sports Law Degree to finish off around
Christmas time. So there are a few doors open,
but it will be a difficult enough transition moving
away from life at Kingspan. But at some point
we all have to move on and I will embrace the
change.
Good Luck Ricky!
FAREWELL RICKY