Ireland sevens star Zac Ward has signed a three-year deal with Ulster Rugby.
The Olympian was invited to trial with the side at the start of the season after impressing for his nation at the Paris Olympics, where Ireland finished sixth, losing out to eventual silver medallists Fiji in the quarter-finals.
Ward, the son of former Ulster flanker Andy, made an appearance early on against Benetton in a pre-season friendly and recently debuted for the senior side in their defeat to Union Bordeaux-Begles.
“After the summer Olympics in Paris, I was ready for a change after some amazing experiences with the Ireland Sevens programme,” said Ward, who comes from good stock, with his father Andy an integral part of the 1999 European Cup winning team and his younger brother, Bryn, currently in the Ulster Rugby Academy.
“I always dreamed of playing for my home province as a boy, as I watched my dad play in an Ulster jersey growing up.
“I’m also mates with a few of the guys who were already in the side and the others were fantastic in welcoming me into the set-up.
“With the help of the coaches, players and staff here, I want to kick on and hopefully make plenty of good memories playing for Ulster.”
Ward will make his URC debut against Munster on Friday night in the last home game of 2024 for the Ulstermen.
During the season, Ward got some minutes for Ireland under his belt when he featured for Simon Easterby’s Emerging Ireland sie during their tour in South Africa.
A talented player in the sevens game, he was named the Guinness Rugby Writers' Men’s Sevens Player of the Year and the Tritonlake Men’s Seven’s Players' Player of the Year.
Ulster Rugby General Manager Bryn Cunningham voiced also voiced his enthusiasm having secured the services of the winger for the next three years.
“Watching his performances in the Sevens game, we felt that he showcased a number of transferable skills for the XVs game,” said Cunningham.
“His strengths in ball-carrying, his speed, aerial skills, and try-scoring ability are all strong attributes for playing in the backfield.
“It’s also a great example of someone who hasn’t come through the traditional route into the senior men’s side, so credit to Zac and the journey he has been on.
“We feel Zac can make a real impact for us in the seasons to come.”
