Promising Ulster hooker Tom Stewart can’t wait for more opportunities after crowning his first start for Dan McFarland’s side with a try in a man-of-the-match display.
The 21-year-old Belfast man, who has been included in the Emerging Ireland squad going to South Africa after impressing for the Irish U-20s, is keen to push on from his superb display in Ulster ’s 36-10 mauling of Connacht at the weekend.
“It was a brilliant first start .- game at home, an inter-pro, a pretty special one to start with and especially to get man-of- the-match,” he said.
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“A bit of nerves got me, first game of the season and my first start, but preseason was very good. And as a young player, you get a lot of experience from being in the squad and Ulster obviously have a lot of Irish boys involved.
“Seeing how those boys go about things and what they bring to the table with their professionalism is special for a young player coming up.”
He made his debut off the bench last season and did enough for McFarland to upgrade his development deal to a full senior contract.
Now Stewart wants to get more game-time and knows opportunities will be there for players who produce on the field.
“Ulster pride themselves on the competition in the squad and it doesn’t just drive young players like me, it also drives the players who are up at the top of the chain and I think that’s what Ulster are pretty happy with," he added.
"Everyone is striving for a place and no one is set to start."
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