Friends’ pupil David McGuigan has recently been selected to participate in the summer training programme with the Ulster Under 20s Squad. This involves three training sessions a week that carry on throughout the summer. This is in preparation for warm up games in August against Instonians 1sts, Ballynahinch 1sts, Midland Countries U20 XV at Ravenhill and also Irish Exiles U20XV. These matches will help determine the final squad of 22 to participate in the Inter-provincial Championship held at the beginning of September. Along with this David has been given the opportunity to attend extra training sessions at the base of Ulster Rugby at Newforge Country Club. This entails 7am gym sessions 3 times a week that don’t allow for much of a lie in but are a great opportunity to improve his rugby career.
David has also received the honour of being selected for the match day squad for the opening game at the new Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The game will be a combined Ulster and Leinster Under 20 side to take on a Munster and Connaught team on the 31st of July. This is a fantastic achievement for David who is really looking forward to this occasion as well as playing in front of an expected crowd of 25,000.