Stephen Ferris is one of the most respected back-rowers in the game today, but 15 years ago Ulster had another formidable player that was instrumental in their Heineken Cup success.
By Declan Whooley
Ulster’s march to the final and that glorious day in Dublin in 1999 where they beat French outfit Colomiers was characterised by a close team bond and strong work ethic, which no-one demonstrated better than their openside flanker Andy Ward.
In modern rugby there seems to be an almost obsession for a ground-hog number seven, exacerbated in recent years by Ireland’s failure to produce someone that fitted that description.
Ward was certainly in that mould and built a strong reputation at Ravenhill before he was chosen for his international debut against France in 1998. Funnily enough his three-year, and 28-cap, international career finished at the hands of the same opposition.
Andy Ward fends off Ronan O’Gara in 2000
The flanker was a tackling machine and always a distinctive player on the pitch with his scrum-hat. 1999 was the pinnacle of his career as Ulster achieved their solitary success in Europe’s premier competition and the contribution of Ward was significant.
He quickly left the field of play after the win over French giants Toulouse at the quarter-final stage to attend the birth of his child, while in the final itself he took a heavy knock to his knee. Modern day medics would most likely remove a player from the field of play, but Ward had the knee heavily strapped and played a full part in that epic win at Lansdowne Road.
Ward played an integral part in the Ulster set-up until he retired at the end of the 2004/05 season. Ulster never scaled the same heights again in Europe but the Ballynahinch flanker was never found wanting and remains one of the most popular players to have donned the white jersey.
Ward has since gone on to play and coach Belfast Harlequins while also opening his own gym.
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