Most Ulster players on an Ireland XV?

denishurley

Anyone know when this was, and how many players Ulster had?

durkadurka

I think there was a time in the 80s when they had 8 of the 15

GerM

Late 80s they made up the backbone of the side. David Irwin, Willie Anderson, Keith Crossan, Steve Smith, JJ McCoy, Phil Matthews, Denis McBride, Trevor Ringland were all regular enough starters.

durkadurka

David irwin was absolutely brutal

denishurley

GerM wrote: »

Late 80s they made up the backbone of the side. David Irwin, Willie Anderson, Keith Crossan, Steve Smith, JJ McCoy, Phil Matthews, Denis McBride, Trevor Ringland were all regular enough starters.

Cheers Ger, gives me something to go on!

denishurley

Eight Ulstermen started against New Zealand in 1989 - Philip Rainey, Kenneth Hooks, David Irwin, Keith Crossan, Steve Smith, JJ McCoy, Willie Anderson and Philip Matthews

Mr.SlumDuck

Would they not of had a fair few guys around the time they won the Heineken Cup? Hump, Maggs, j Fitzpatrick, topping?, howe?, Davidson, Dawson, Ward, O Cuinnegan?, Bell

Not sure if all of those played for ulster but im sure they were all on the RWC Squad in 99

GerM

Mr.SlumDuck wrote: »

Would they not of had a fair few guys around the time they won the Heineken Cup? Hump, Maggs, j Fitzpatrick, topping?, howe?, Davidson, Dawson, Ward, O Cuinnegan?, Bell

Not sure if all of those played for ulster but im sure they were all on the RWC Squad in 99

Good shout. Paddy Johns too. They wouldn't have had as many in the side as the late 80s I reckon though. Maggs and Dawson weren't with Ulster for the majority of their careers and only finished there (Dawson started there too). O'Cuinneagain only had one year with Ulster. Wouldn't have thought there were ever more than 5 of them in the side together. Topping only ever got a few caps.

jacothelad

In the late 60s and early 70s there were frequent sides that had up tp 8 Ulster players starting. The whole of the 69/70 season had 8 Ulster starters v S.Af. France, Eng, Wales, Scotland. It wasn't unusual to have 6 or 7 Ulster players in the starting lineup in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Snickers Man

There was one occasion when nine Ulstermen started against Scotland.

They were:
J. Johnston, Belfast Academy;
J. Pedlow, Bessbrook;
J.A. MacDonald, Methodist College;
W. Finlay, R.W. Hughes, J.W. Taylor, R.B. Walkington, all NIFC;
J.W.R. Morrow and R. Nelson, both Queen's University Belfast.

But that was back in 1882. Not sure if it was repeated since. Not sure if I could be arsed to look it up either.

denishurley

Not to worry SnickersMan, having the exact occasion was actually not all that important, finding that eight played against NZ in 89 was enough for what I was looking for, cheers for that though!

Dangerous Man

Paddy Johns. Just a big feckin' lump - in a good way though.

profitius

I think there'll be a few more Ulster players involved in the next few years. Luke Marshall, Spence, Paddy McAlister, Gilroy and a few others all look decent prospects.