Ulster Forward McNabney Joins Ireland Squad After Injury Recovery

Ulster backrower James McNabney has been named in Ireland’s 36-man squad for the upcoming Nations Championship matches.

McNabney is the sole uncapped player in the group to emerge from the under-20 cohort that reached the World Cup final in 2023. That group includes Sam Prendergast, who is the only full international from that era currently in the squad. Paddy McCarthy and Gus McCarthy are also absent from this selection.

The 23-year-old’s path to the senior team was interrupted by an anterior cruciate ligament injury. He suffered the tear while in training, a moment he described as hearing a pop after planting a leg hard during a sidestep. The injury kept him out after he had been named as a training panellist for the summer Tests in Georgia and Portugal. It also ended his previous season at Ulster, where he had become a first-choice player.

McNabney’s return to the Ireland setup comes after injuries to Caelan Doris and Jack Conan opened a position. He has started only one of his four matches for Ulster this season. His physical profile stands out in Irish rugby, as he stands 6ft 5in and weighs 19 stone. That build earned him the nickname “Horse” from former Ulster head coach Dan McFarland. McFarland noted the forward’s high-kneed running style during a match against Glasgow, where McNabney caught a ball over the top of the lineout and ran up the pitch.

Before focusing on rugby, McNabney represented Northern Ireland and Great Britain in mounted games. He played at Cambridge House Grammar School in Ballymena, County Antrim, where he also competed in the under-18 interprovincial competitions. He balanced those commitments with work on his family’s dairy and sheep farm, north of Ballymena. McNabney stated that he would one day take over the farm as the third generation, following his father Howard and his grandfather James. He first touched a rugby ball at age 11 at Cambridge House, where his uncle had captained the first team.

McNabney admitted that the pace of training in the senior squad has been a shock to the system. He noted that the speed and attention to detail differ from provincial rugby, even though he had been aware of the standards previously. He described the transition as a process where two steps forward can be followed by a speed bump that pushes one back. However, he said he has overcome that setback and is back in contention.

The forward is aware that his inclusion does not guarantee a Test match appearance. He said he must work hard to earn an opportunity, viewing a senior cap as a dream come true. McNabney acknowledged that at 23, the timeline for achieving that goal remains uncertain. He expressed hope that his presence in the squad signals a step closer to that stage, without making definitive claims about his future role.