'Character is vital' legend Anderson advice for Ulster's young future stars

The former Irish lock is now working in elite player development at the Kingspan

Willie Anderson
Author: Nigel GouldPublished 6th Nov 2018

Ulster and Ireland rugby legend Willie Anderson says “character” is one of most important qualities in a player.

The famous lock, who won 27 caps for Ireland, was appointed Ulster’s Elite Player Development Officer earlier this year.

In an exclusive interview with Downtown & Cool FM, he says it’s rewarding to help produce some of the young stars of the future.

“It’s not just the competence of the player – the player has to have the character as well which is significant,” he reveals.

“As the All Blacks say, a good person is a good player.

“You are the support man, you change them you try to banter them into submission, as it were.

“Sometimes you have to break them down like they do in the Army and build them back up again.

“To see them come out the other end and produce the performances like they have, it is absolutely fantastic."