Ulster Rugby vs Llanelli Scarlets

IAN HUMPHREYS: 100TH CAP FOR ULSTER

Tonight Ian Humphreys celebrates winning his 100th cap for his province.

is wearing Ulster kits and everyone knows wheat is going on and it is brilliant that way. How did you change as a player? IH: I think when I went to London I realsied that I have to be more vocal and take the lead more. When I was here before it was the international boys that led everything whereas when I have come back I have been a bit more vocal. I suppose I am a bit older and a bit more mature. What are the toughest teams that you have faced? IH: I think any time you play Leinster or Munster away its always tough. I have never won at the RDS. The game I enjoyed most was Clermont away. It was the first time that I have played in a big, big French game. The atmosphere was phenomenal and they hadn’t lost in in 40 odd games at home and we should have won the game. The atmosphere was brilliant and I enjoyed it although it was frustrating and disappointing as well. Other than that, the Heineken Cup Final was very disappointing. We had done well that season and unfortunately we just couldn’t get over the line. What is the best atmosphere you have experienced? IH: Toulon away this year was amazing. Clermont is really intimidating because the stadium is right on top of you. I would say that they are the best two atmospheres - outside of Kingspan Stadium of course! What are the biggest challenges being a professional rugby player? IH: I suppose any time that you are dropped; it is hard to come back from that. I was dropped for the Heineken Cup semi final in 2012 and subsequently ended up moving to London. That was hard both emotionally and mentally. However, that is just sport. You have to deal with it and move on quickly. The emotions of selection, bad performances or missed kicks are the hardest things to deal with. Who have been your biggest influences? IH: My brother David as he obviously played in my position and was a bit older. At Leicester there was a guy Leon Lloyd. He was experienced (he played 266 times for the Tigers) and I remember we were playing a game against the Dragons in the LV Cup and I threw an intercept. He came over and put his arm around me and talked to me and gave me great advice. He advised me on how to manage other players and coaches. He was a great influence on me. How are you enjoying being back at Ulster? IH: My wife Jenny and I went to school together. We are both from Ballymena and we now have two young girls, Anna and Zoe. My family is my most important thing to me. Living where we grew up is great and I feel that I have integrated back into the squad really well. I knew most of the fellas anyway and I knew the coaches. I am loving being back and hopefully I can play for a few more years.

Following three years with Leicester Tigers he returned to Belfast in 2008 and made his debut for Ulster against Newport Gwent Dragons. He came on as a replacement and scored a try in a narrow defeat. He left Ulster Rugby in 2012 and spent two seasons at London Irish, before coming back to the province in the summer. He is now just nine points short of 500 points in the PRO12 for Ulster and now, in his third spell with his home province is aiming to do what his brother David did so memorably in the Liberty Stadium in 2006, to help Ulster win a league title. In fact, when it comes to milestones, last weekend’s game against Edinburgh was significant in terms of Humphreys family bragging rights. At Murrayfield he played his 69th game in the PRO12 meaning that he has now played one more match in the competition than David. We caught up with the Ulster outhalf to ask him about his debut, his favourite memories playing for Ulster and his biggest influences: What have been your favourite matches for Ulster so far? IH: Four European Cup games stand out. The home matches against Biarritz, Clermont and Stade Francais were three good wins and when we played Bath away. I think it was a back-to-back fixture. That game is remembered for Nevin Spence’s try when he landed on his head and we won that game which helped us qualify for the quarter final that year. What are your memories from your debut? IH: My first game was Dragons at home. It was good, I came off the bench. I scored a try and that was nice. I grew up here watching Ulster when there weren’t many people in the ground so to actually get the chance to run out at the stadium was pretty special. What did you learn when you were playing in England? IH: I have realised how big a deal it is playing for Ulster, how important it is and how much it means to the fans. When I was at Leicester Tigers, I didn’t really appreciate it because they were my first club. However, when I went away to London Irish I realised that not every club has the support that we have here and that it is totally phenomenal. When I went over there, I really enjoyed it but I almost instantaneously regretted having left and to get the chance to come home was great. I had no hesitation at all coming home. Leicester had great fans and because it was my first experience of professional rugby I just loved every aspect of it. When I got here to Ulster, it was my home province and I just thought every set-up was like it. The London Irish fans were great but there were only a few thousand of them and with London being such a big city you don’t see a lot of London Irish tops about. Whereas here everyone

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