The FRONT ROW UNION caught up with two of our 4 2 Follow candidates after the Queen’s v Malone match last Saturday to find out how they have enjoyed their first season in senior rugby and what life is like at the Ulster Academy.

Wing forward Dave McGuigan has had a mixed year. Having featured strongly in the combined provinces match at the Aviva opener, McGuigan unfortunately picked up an an injury in the U20’s Interpros in September  which saw him miss out on selection for the Ireland U20’s. Since recovering he has made his way back into an exciting Queen’s side and has played regularly for the Ulster Ravens throughout the season.

Fellow Queen’s player Iain Henderson also featured in the Aviva opener and his performances for Ulster in the U20’s Interpros saw him called up into the Ireland U20’s set up where he took part in four games in the recent RBS Six Nations series. Henderson has also turned out for the Ravens throughout the season and is pushing hard for a spot in the Ireland side for this summers U20’s World Cup in Italy.

Having watched the boys last season while they were turning out for their schools the main difference this season is how they’ve developed physically as I hardly recognised them as they ambled across the pitch at the end of the game. 6’6” Henderson now weighs in at an impressive 17 stone and the powerfully built, 6’1”, McGuigan isn’t far behind.

It’s you first season in Senior rugby how have you found it so far?

It’s definitely a lot more physical and faster than schools rugby. Training is a lot harder, there’s night time training and training with the Academy in the morning. It’s a lot tougher and you have to stay more focused and put in the big hits!

Iain Henderson

Collisions are a lot bigger and they’re a lot harder to get used to. It’s a big step up and you’re constantly trying to find some form at such a high level. It’s a lot more intense, especially when we are trying to get promotion in our fist year at Queen’s. As Hendy says, training first thing in the morning with the Academy and then at night with Queen’s, it’s tough.

Dave McGuigan

How have you found the Ulster Academy?

It’s absolutely brilliant, we’ve got David Drake and Kevin Geary helping us every morning, making sure our schedules are up to date and taking our body weights to make sure that everything’s on performance. They certainly keep us up to scratch with things!

Iain Henderson

Are you training much with the Senior Ulster side?

Not really, no. Over the summer you’ll train pre-season with the seniors and during the Autumn Internationals and the Six Nations some of the boys will get called up when the squad is a bit barren. It’s not an awful lot, but when you do it’s a really great experience and you learn a lot of the finer points of the game from the senior players.

Dave McGuigan

Iain, you’ve been playing with Ireland U20’s this year how have you found that?

It’s been very rewarding. It always is tough when you’re down there for a full week before the match, training all week and then resting the day before the match. It’s hard when you’re put in with a new bunch of guys but we’ve got to know each other having gone down from September/October time and I think we had a good campaign.

Iain Henderson

Have they started pulling the team together for the U20’s World Cup?

I think the world cup squad will be mainly based on the six nations squad, maybe a few boys that were injured coming back into it, but I’m sure they have a fair idea. There will be a few more camps before it and hopefully I’ll make the cut.

Iain Henderson

Anyone given you a nod yet on that Dave?

No I don’t think I’m going to get the nod this year but it’s probably better for me not to go. I’ll be able to put in a full pre-season at Ulster and while all these boys are away in Italy losing weight I’ll be in the gym putting on weight. I plan to get a good pre-season in and then come back stronger for next season.

Dave McGuigan

The interview breaks up with a bit of a shoving match on how they’ll be spending their summers. It’s good to see they are still enjoying themselves despite all the hard work!