Ulster Rugby vs Oyonnax

private moments, but he’s anxious that he’s not just seen as a joker, a prankster. “It’s been a bit of fun, and it’s very important to me that there is more than rugby to life, and having a laugh can break up routine at the right time. But, no, we’re into the serious business end of the season with Ulster and with Ireland and I don’t think I’ll be ‘posting’ too much soon,” he says, looking up with a wry twinkle in his eyes. And there is a serious side to Paddy Jackson, which might prove a little surprising. “Modern professional sport means you must rest and relax properly, and I do like to ‘switch off’ completely, spend time with friends, listen to some music. “And at school I was always interested in Art and recently I’ve started drawing again, and that I do find is something which is relaxing.” So the creative urge isn’t confined to the rugby pitch? “Well, I don’t know about that. But I also like my music, and I’m a big fan of Mumford and Sons, and I’m into a guy called Jack Garrett, who I saw supporting them in concert, a really talented musician and songwriter. “And Fleetwood Mac, really like them. I listened to one of my dad’s CDs and became ‘hooked’! And it’s always great to be in Iain Henderson’s car, he’s got all these great 70s and 80s songs, love it!” He tries not to watch too much television, and for a surprising reason, given the amusement he’s given through modern devices. “I really do think technology is taking over the world, I don’t want to be numbed by it all. I live in the moment, and I play my rugby in the moment, it’s real, it’s something I can do something about,” he explains. But as he prepares to lace up his boots for that extra kicking practice Paddy Jackson again says that the little boy running around in an Ireland jersey in Sutton Coldfield still has much the same ambitions. “I want to get more games for Ulster, more games for Ireland, to make my mark, to be the best I can be, and who knows where than can take me. “This weekend I want to help Ulster get through to the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup. We know what Oyonnax are all about now, we’ve got to be patient and build, and we’re confident the tries we need will come if we keep to the game plan and do the things we can do well. “We’ll have to wait until Sunday to see if we’ve done enough, maybe, but this Ulster side is going to win things and I want to be very much at the heart of that.” His farewell is direct, friendly and sincere, but talking about himself isn’t his subject of choice and the lure of the pitch and kicking a rugby ball is already lighting up his eyes.

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