How rising star Scott Wilson has found a way to deal with pressure at Ulster

The then-Academy prop made his debut off the bench in November 2023 against Munster due to an injury crisis and not only looked comfortable having been thrown into the heat of his first professional game but, since then, the 21-year-old prospect has thrived in this most unforgiving of environments.

Friday night will be the Stranmillis College student’s 12th game of the 2023/24 season and his third start, with Marty Moore’s continuing absence bringing Wilson firmly in the frame for game time in what has been quite the few months for the Maghaberry native with the distinctive hairstyle.

For a rise that has been as swift as it was unexpected, there have, naturally, been issues to deal with along the way. The mental challenge has been especially marked, and for one so young, Wilson has found a way of coping alongside his on-field ability to operate at this level.

“Those first few games I had, I beat myself up coming up to the game and struggled a wee bit with how I was going to cope with that stress and panic before the game,” he explains.

“But as I’ve come along and spoken to different players and coaches, I’ve found out how I can go about my pre-match rituals, how I can prep when I’m not thinking too much about the game, and when it’s time to switch on, I can get my head in the right mindset.”

But it’s not all been smooth going, and as his rugby career has taken flight with some obvious propulsion behind it – prior to the 2023/24 campaign, he would be found turning out for Queen’s University in Division 1B of the AIL – his studies for a degree in Health, Physical Activity and Sport have had to be fitted in around the increasing demands of Wilson’s rugby timetable.

A case in point was in Durban in March when he and room-mate Harry Sheridan both had to catch up on college work when not on the training field.

For Wilson, there is a dissertation to be completed, and in May, he will be clear of the academic work and able to fully focus on his primary role now that he is being upgraded to a development contract.

“I was sharing (a room) with Harry, who’s also studying at university, so we were both on the computer at the same time and able to bounce off each other,” explains Wilson.

“One of the chapters of my dissertation was completed in South Africa, which also gave me something to do in the evening, and it was something I could use to keep my mind off the rugby.

“It’s difficult giving 100 per cent to both, and unfortunately, the university stuff has had to take the backlash, but I’m nearly there now.

“I’m coming into the crunch time of year with exams coming up, but by the end of May, I’ll be done, and that will be three years and some sort of backup in place.”

Though he has much to still learn when it comes to the expansion of his rugby knowledge, Wilson has already made an encouraging start through his ball-carrying, defensive work and the bread and butter of scrummaging.

Just on the scrum work, in Durban, his head-to-head with World Cup winner Ox Nche in March was attention-grabbing.

Wilson came on shortly after Tom O’Toole had been put in orbit, and the signs weren’t promising that the rookie would fare an awful lot better at the next scrum.

As it turned out, the youngster held his own.

“I was a wee bit nervous,” he admitted, “but we’d had a good week with Fogs (Ireland scrum coach John Fogarty) and we’d done a session with him.

“The biggest thing for me was that pressure, keeping my chest down. I know Ox is a short fellow, but he’s obviously very strong, so I knew I had to put everything into that next scrum.

“That next scrum was the most important one to make sure I could keep him down.”

He got the job done but also singles out insight provided by Steven Kitshoff who, of course, is departing Ulster.

“Having Kitsy definitely helped, and he was able to bring a vast amount of experience,” Wilson insists.

“When I was scrummaging against him during that week, he gave me a lot of pointers, things I can improve on because he was feeling what I was trying to give against him.

“He was able to give us what he thought Ox would go after for that week, and I was able to have a think about that for the game.”

“Kitsy has been someone I have really relished, and he has given me an opportunity to take my scrummaging which wasn’t at a sufficiently high level last year to the next step, so, yes, he’s been massive.”

He also gives credit to others who have helped or are now assisting him and makes sure to list Dan McFarland, who first handed him his shot, John Fogarty and Richie Murphy, who he has known since Ireland Under-20s.

“Being a young guy and maybe feeling a bit out of my depth, Richie takes time each week and sits down and asks how I’m getting on,” Wilson reveals.

“He says that I have got all his faith and that he believes in what I’m capable of doing.”

His family and friends also merit special mention as there have been tough periods prior to this breakthrough 2023/24 season.

“There are times when I have probably thought about giving up both,” Wilson admits over the punishing combination of professional rugby and study.

“Times when I’ve had injuries (when in the Academy) and thought this isn’t the right space with the rugby, and times when I’ve thought, ‘The rugby is getting too much here, I don’t know if I can do university as well’, but family and friends have told me to stay at it.

“Dad has been there since day one, and he’s been everywhere with me.

“My family are there at your highest point and your lowest.”

As is family friend Stephen Ferris.

“He’s given me advice on where to go from here and not to get ahead of myself,” Wilson adds.

So far, all is working well.