Latest news with #ZacWard
Belfast Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Sevens rugby made me as a player... the IRFU's call to axe Men's team is a disgrace, blasts Ulster winger
Zac Ward has branded the IRFU's decision to axe the Men's Sevens team as a 'disgrace' after the governing body delivered the stunning news that it would be discontinuing the programme. The Ulster winger, who was part of the Ireland squad that competed at the Paris Olympics last year, has added his voice to the criticism levelled at the governing body after its shock announcement.
RNZ News
14-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Final whistle for Ireland men's sevens as IRFU tackles budget woes
Ireland's Zac Ward scores against New Zealand. Photo: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan, ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan The Irish Men's Sevens team will be disbanded at the end of the 2024/25 season as part of a significant shift in strategic priorities, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) said. The announcement comes in the wake of the IRFU's financial results released last November, which revealed a $34 million deficit for the 2023/24 season. IRFU's internal review also concluded that the men's sevens programme does not serve as a meaningful development pathway for the 15-a-side game. "While the decision to end the men's sevens programme is a difficult one, it is necessary in order to ensure that our resources are focused on the areas that will have the greatest impact on the future of the game in Ireland," IRFU high performance director David Humphreys said in a statement. The IRFU also confirmed that the women's sevens programme will continue to operate as a progression route for the women's 15s. - Reuters
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ward's inclusion among Ulster changes for Bordeaux
Zac Ward's inclusion for injured wing Robert Baloucoune is among three Ulster changes from last weekend's comeback win over the Stormers for Sunday's Investec Champions Cup last-16 game against Bordeaux at Stade was forced off because of another hamstring injury after earlier scoring a try as he made his first appearance of the season for Ulster last Hume returns at centre in place of Ben Carson after being a late withdrawal from the Stormers game because of other change is in the back row where James McNabney takes over from Matty hooker Rob Herring's inclusion means he will become the first player to make 250 appearances for sides met in the group stages of the competition in December when the in-form French side scored 26 unanswered points to win 40-19 at Kingspan Lowry; Ward, Hume, McCloskey, Stockdale; Murphy, Cooney; Warwick, Herring, O'Toole; O'Connor (capt), Treadwell; McNabney, Timoney, McCannReplacements: Stewart, Reid, Wilson, Dalton, Matty Rea, Doak, Morgan, Moore.
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Playing best wings in the world excites me
Ulster's Zac Ward says facing up against Bordeaux-Begles duo Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud, considered two of the best wings in rugby, "definitely excited me".Bordeaux host Ulster in the last 16 of the Investec Champions Cup on Sunday and Bielle-Biarrey and Penaud, who both helped France to the Six Nations title, are expected to was the top try scorer in the Six Nations and was named player of the 26, won his first cap for Ulster in the Pool One match between the sides in December, which Bordeaux won 40-19 in Belfast."I want to compete against the best in the business," said Ward, who made the switch from sevens rugby after the Paris Olympics. "It was my first cap here playing against those two guys. I was a bit nervous beforehand, but a friend of mine said they were just two guys with two arms and two legs, so just to try and think of it like that. "It's easier said than done but I'll try and do the same this weekend." 'Dream come true' Bordeaux are heavy favourites to progress against Ulster after Yannick Bru's side finished as top seeds after the pool stages. After a disappointing first half of the season, Ulster have now won their last three matches in the United Rugby Championship and Ward believes that momentum will help his side in France."We know going into this weekend that it's a huge ask and a huge task, but we want to give a good account of ourselves for 80 minutes," added Ward."We showed the last time we played them here, we were ahead after 60 or 65 minutes. If we can carry that through for 80 minutes, then we will be in a nice spot." After taking the long road to Ulster's first team through Ireland's rugby sevens programme, Ward, who is the son of former back row Andy, says playing for his home province "was always a dream"."For that now to be a reality is really special. "It was a dream come true getting my first cap, and now I've got a taste for it I really don't want it to end anytime soon."
