THE THICK CUMBRIA accent aside, Will Addison’s Ulster connection runs strong.
“My mum’s from Enniskillen… she went to Trinity University at 21, met a farmer and got stuck in England.”
The 25-year-old returned to his mother’s native province this summer thanks to a clause agreed in his two-year-old Sale Sharks contract that allowed him an early exit if one of this island’s four professional teams sought out his services.
As Ulster’s once-stacked back-line became depleted with the departure of Charles Piutau and retirements of Jared Payne, Tommy Bowe and record try-scorer Andrew Trimble, Addison’s luck was in. A phone call from his former team-mate Dwayne Peel stoked a once hypothetical interest in moving out of the Premiership.
“I loved my time a Sale,” says Addison, who cut the cord after almost a decade with the club, “Steve Diamond – who was a mentor and a kind of a father figure for me – he made sure there was a clause in the contract that if an Irish team came calling, and I felt it was the right time for me to make a move, it was in there.”
“I was captain at Sale, it was a club that I loved and was invested in. But the opportunity to come to Ulster was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down — it was a now or never moment. I didn’t want to end my career in 10 years thinking ‘what if?’
It just fell at the right time in my career for a change. I’ve been at Sale for the best part of 10 years, I decided I’d push myself to become a better player. So far I think that’s happening. I’m really enjoying it so far.”
Crossing the Irish Sea, of course, means Addison hopes to win senior international caps to frame above his England U20 honours. In June, he was invited to train with Joe Schmidt’s squad as they prepared to travel to Australia. Having seen and felt the standard at close quarters, he’s under no illusions that Schmidt’s hand will be easily swayed his way.
“First things first I’ve got to get in the team in Ulster. I’m enjoying JP (Jared Payne) and Peely, they’re pushing me every week. If I keep doing that I can fulfil my potential and, I’d like to think, that would push me to those international standards.
“I’m excited about just becoming a better player with Ulster and I think the challenge we’ve got here with a young group is an exciting one.”
Fuelling that ambition brings Addison right back under his family tree. He has beaten a path to Fermanagh where his mother’s sisters ensure he hasn’t been left wanting for calories during a tough pre-season.
“I have a good strong family connection in Enniskillen, my aunties have been giving me some good home cooking every weekend so far, I’m being well looked after in Fermanagh and I’m loving Belfast as well.”
Addison is eagerly awaiting some food for thought with his first taste of the Pro14 too. He will meet relatively familiar faces when Gloucester (who he will debut against on Saturday) and Wasps provide pre-season opposition, but the start of the new campaign is coming down the track fast for Ulster.
The northern province look set to be without a head coach for the first half of the season and an early run of fixtures pitting them against Scarlets and Edinburgh before two rounds in South Africa would be a challenge with all hands on deck.
“Myself and Billy Burns are really excited about a new competition,” says Addison, who prefers centre out of the range of positions he covers as utility back, “the two weeks in South Africa is a really good chance for some team-building which is important for the young squad that we have got. We’re just going to take it week in, week out and see how we attack the season.”
We have a tough start. I think the way the Pro14 is now… it’s tough every week and it was never going to be an easy start to the season but it is a good opportunity for us.”
“We have a huge amount of young players that are going to get some time in pre-season which is exciting and giving them a sense of what men’s rugby is about, myself, Billy and Marty (Moore) will get a taste of what the Kingspan is about on Saturday and I’m really excited about that.”
“We just want to build on what Peely and JP have been doing this pre-season they have done some tremendous work and the platform is there and we want to put our best foot forward.”
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If he gets back into the Irish setup without others getting injured I’d be very surprised. Saying that if he does merit a recall then he’ll be playing fantastic rugby so for Ireland sake I hope he does.
@Chris Mc: It’s all about him I reckon cause he’s definitely got the talent/ability. As someone else pointed out here he looked in bad shape for a lot of his time at Wasps, if he really focuses on that he could challenge for a place on the squad no problem.
@The Irish Pain: wasps wanted him heavier, to be a different prop than the mobile less effective scrumager cooper wolley
Ireland now have 5 reliable TH props available . Furlong , Porter , Bealham , Ryan and Moore : all under 30 . That’s an incredible turnaround .
@Limón Madrugada: Maybe you could include Archer on that list as he seems to be first choice in Munster.
@Tom Reilly: but reliable for Ireland ?? I’m not convinced , he is capped though for sure ..
Someone on here yesterday said that Leinster made a ‘poor decision’ letting Marty Moore go.
I think the opposite, Marty Moore made a poor decision to leave Leinster.
When he left he was in the Irish 23, primed to replace Ross. He moved to Wasps and ended up not even starting for them. He also looked unfit.
In that time Leinster developed Furlong and Porter, Ireland brought in Bealham and Ryan and a few years later he’s back fighting for 3rd/4th in the Irish pecking order.
A shame because he is some prop on his day. Possibly a better scrummager than any of the above.
@Oval Digest: The word was that Moore was excited to play under Dai Young, a well capped Welsh and Lions prop. Maybe it was the 2 year deal offered by Leinster vs the 3 year Wasps deal (undoubtedly for more money) that was the real reason. Or maybe he saw Tadgh Furlong coming through and thought now’s the time to cash in. Or perhaps he thought Leinster are not gonna be challenging any more. If it was the Young factor that helped him go, the renowned Young had no impact on him other than gaining weight. The move might have been good for his bank balance but it was a disaster for his career. Thus far. Still, a big season and he could play his way in.
@grandslamkbo The word was also that Moore signed a contract without realising that he couldn’t get out of it in an effort to bargain with the IRFU, and then got stuck.
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/leinster-admit-defeat-in-bid-to-retain-marty-moore-s-services-1.2510136
Marty is good on his day when fit, the problem is there just isn’t enough of those days.
He will have to buck up his ideas if he is to have a sniff of being anywhere near the Irish squad.
Yes squad not team
His whole career and how people will view his achievements relies on his application for the next two years
Be interesting to see how Nathan Hughes goes this season, he should be pushing for a place in the English team.
@Ruairi O’Bric: He is a super club player but I’m not sure about his workrate apart from ball carrying. If Billy V stays fits there’s no comparison…
Looked very unfit at Wasps as when he was playing previously for Leinster he had great mobility/work-rate and could force a few turnovers too.
He was overweight when he last played for Leinster and Ireland and things have only gotten worse since, needs to go on a serious shred if he is to make Ireland contention again.