Northern Ireland’s Chris Brunt on Ulster’s Quarter Final.

As part of our build up to Ulster’s Heineken Cup Quarter final against Northampton we’ve been finding out if some of our provinces stars from other sports will be following the big match!

This week we catch up with Northern Ireland’s who’s currently plying his trade in the English Premiership for West Bromwich Albion where he captains the Baggies from midfield.

A Wellington College old boy, Chris is kept up to date with Ulster Rugby by his dad Colin, who alternates his weekends between following Ulster and watching Chris play for West Brom. Colin knew that Chris wouldn’t make it as a rugby player early in his rugby career when he slide tackled the opposing winger when a pupil at Wellington!

Mandatory Credit Pic Darren Kidd © PressEye.Com 10-9-08 World Cup 2010 Qualifying Group Eight – Northern Ireland v Czech Republic, Windsor Park, Belfast. Northern Ireland’s Chris Brunt during Wednesday night’s World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park, Belfast.

Read on to find out what Chris will be doing on the 10th April…

Do you follow Ulster Rugby?

I would always follow how Ulster get on in the Heineken Cup, not so much in the Magners League though my dad goes to a lot of the games at Ravenhill so I would always hear the results!

What is your favourite memory of Ulster Rugby?

My stand out memory is from 1999 when Ulster won the European Cup. I didn’t go to the game in Dublin as I had a football match on the Saturday morning but I watched on the TV.

What aspects of rugby remind you of your own sport?

Probably the whole team ethic, needing everyone to do their jobs properly in order to succeed and knowing that if you make a mistake your teammates will be there to help you out and vice versa. I think this applies more to rugby as football can be affected more by individual players but still the same principals apply.

What will you be doing on Sunday 10th April when Ulster play their Heineken Cup Quarter Final against Northampton?

I’ll hopefully be at the game with my dad as long as my wife doesn’t go into labour a week early!! My parents are over for the weekend and Milton Keynes isn’t too far away from where I live in Birmingham so we are going to drive down on the Sunday morning.

Have you a message for the Ulster Rugby Team?

Good luck and I’m sure if they play with same heart and passion as all Ulster teams do they will have a great chance of getting to the Semi Finals.


Chris Brunt Profile

Club: West Bromwich Albion
Position: Midfield
Date of birth: 14/12/1984
Place of birth: Belfast

School: Attended Newtownbreda Primary School and Wellington College, Belfast. Early football played with St Andrews Boys club, Belfast. Teammates included Steve Davis.

Middlesborough: [6th July 2002 trainee] 0 apps 0 goals.
Sheffield Wednesday: [2nd March 2004,loan] 6 apps 2 goals.
Sheffield Wednesday: [21st April 2004,free] 147 apps 23 goals.
West Bromwich Albion: [15th August 2007, £3 million] 134 apps 27 goals.

Club Honours

West Bromwich Albion: Championship winner 2007/08; 2008/09 top goalscorer
Sheffield Wednesday: League One winner 2004/05; 2005/06 top goalscorer
Middlesborough: FA Youth Cup final 2001/02

International Career

Début on 18th August 2004 against Switzerland away [0-0]
Currently has 30 Full Caps scoring 1 goal on February 2009 against San Marino away [0-3]

3 responses to “Northern Ireland’s Chris Brunt on Ulster’s Quarter Final.”

  1. Raging Raven

    Yes GC, it’s a pity his Dad didn’t have Chris’s left peg! 🙂

  2. glynncommando

    Good lad Chris – A chip off the old block!

  3. Raging Raven

    Well done Chris. Lets hope the Baggies stay up! 🙂

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