Ulster Rugby vs Oyonnax

PADDY HITCHED TO ULSTER’S WAGON HE just checked who’d been listed in Joe Schmidt’s Ireland squad, quietly pleased to see that he was, inevitably, included.

was just part of a group who were successful and got noticed a bit,” he says modestly. The cascade of representative honours followed, apparently inevitably, with Ulster Under 20s, a Junior World Cup with Ireland in 2011, and it was in that year, at just 19, that he made his senior Ulster debut in a win over Scarlets. The next year would see Paddy Jackson’s talents being nurtured carefully by the Ulster management, and he was very clearly ‘one to watch’, but in April, 2012, he says being thrust into the European Cup spotlight came as a shock. “There hadn’t been any indication I’d play in the Heineken ‘semi’ against Edinburgh, and when my name ‘popped’ up in a squad meeting my heart gave a jump! Obviously I was pleased, and the whole group was so supportive, especially Ian Humphreys who would have been frustrated to lose out, but he and I get on really well and he backed me. “We got to the final in London and came up against a very good Leinster side, and on the day we weren’t good enough, but it was a huge experience.” Nine months later he was in an Ireland jersey, a defeat by Scotland, and he admits it wasn’t his finest hour as a player. “There was a bit of negativity at the time, around the team and around me. I’m human, I don’t like criticism, but I try to find the positives in everything, to learn all the time, and I know I’m still very much on that curve,” he says. Paddy Jackson is a player fans of the game love to watch, he’s attack-minded and positive, and it’s the same with his approach to life. Les Kiss’ arrival at the Kingspan he feels has galvanised the squad and the mood, and though he’d toured with Ireland in America under Kiss, and been involved with him at Ireland level, Jackson is ever more impressed by the Director of Rugby’s attitude. “He’s one of the most positive people I’ve ever met, and I really think that Ulster Rugby, and its fans, are very lucky to have him here.” And of Head Coach Neil Doak he could not be more enthusiastic. “Doaky has always backed me, since I was 17 he’s been there to put an arm around me, to offer the right advice at the right time, I owe him so much. And with Les he’s always encouraged me to be more attacking, they have got me reading the game so much better.” Jackson’s sense of humour and comedic gifts have entertained thousands on social media, and in more

He scours the sheet full of familiar names, and he’s happy that Stuart McCloskey has received his first senior call-up, and believes the choice of Rory Best as skipper is the right one by far. For Paddy Jackson, 24 just a couple of weeks ago, rugby has been a lifelong passion, something to be enjoyed but to be worked at to really fulfil potential. After a lunchtime chat about today’s game against Oyonnax, his ambitions for himself with Ulster and with Ireland, he’s heading back to the training ground for some kicking practice. “In the game today you really do have to give everything to improving and developing the skills you might have, to maintain the standards you hope you’ve set for yourself,” he says. “I just love playing. I really enjoy making things happen at No.10, and I want to do that for as long as I can, but it means putting in the hours, learning patterns, going through the phases. “Here at Ulster we’ve got a great coaching group of Les Kiss, Neil Doak, Allen Clarke, Joe Barakat and Niall Malone, and you learn something from them all,” says the engaging Jackson, a young man who’s already achieved so much but has longevity in mind. Born in Northern Ireland, his father’s work took the sporting Jackson family to England, and it was at the Sutton Coldfield club that Paddy first showed his prowess – and ambitions – at rugby, aged just eight. “The stories are trues, I’m afraid, I was playing mini- rugby and the Sutton Coldfield jersey had green squares on it, but I insisted always on playing in my replica Ireland top! I played a lot of football, and cricket, but I really enjoyed the rugby, and as Dad and my brother played I got really involved.” Returning to the Province, Jackson the youngster, as a student at Methody, was a regular at Belfast Harlequins age-group sessions, and he remembers fondly the encouragement and coaching he received from his friend’s father, former Ulster prop Arthur Campbell. “Those were good times, it was always so enjoyable, and to honest rugby became a big ‘thing’ for me. “At Methody, of course, I was lucky enough to play with good players and in good sides, and we won a Medallion Shield, and then I went on to win two Schools’ Cup Finals, and those are things that always remain with you. “The legendary David Wells had created such a winning mentality at the school - carried on by his successors - which continues today of course, and I

PADDY JACKSON

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