Ulster go into Friday’s final round of the URC regular season game against Edinburgh in Belfast knowing that a win will guarantee them a sought after second place finish and a prospective home semi-final in the play-offs.
Edinburgh have nothing to play for after a disappointing season, but will be high on confidence after they ran in seven tries against the Ospreys last week and keen to cause an upset.
One familiar face who will be ruing the missed opportunity to face his old team-mates is Edinburgh hooker Adam McBurney. The hooker is not named in the match squad for the clash, but the abrasive front-rower has benefitted from the move across the water from his home province in 2021 – a brave move at the time given the easier option would have been to take another contract at Ulster and sit down the pecking order of hookers.
Patience has proved to have been a virtue for McBurney, who recently agreed terms with Edinburgh on a one-year extension to his current contract and, despite being hampered by injury this season, has made an impression at the Scottish club.
“I’ve absolutely loved my time at Edinburgh so far,” said McBurney.
“I’m glad to have had an opportunity to sign a new deal.
“The squad have made me feel right at home since making the move nearly two years ago. It’s a brilliant group to be part of and I take great pride every time I pull on the jersey and represent the club.”
Having been in competition with Rory Best and Rob Herring at Ulster, McBurney faces a similar battle for the number two jersey in Edinburgh with Dave Cherry and Stuart McInally – a challenge he embraces.
““We’ve got a really exciting squad in place here with a hooker group that continually drives each other on. I’m delighted to be playing my rugby in Edinburgh for another season yet.”
McBurney’s path into professional rugby has been less than orthodox, starting with Randalstown RFC and Belfast Metropolitan’s Rugby Academy rather than the well-worn pathway from one of the traditional rugby playing schools into the Ulster set-up.
Working his way through the youth and club systems, the hooker had to fight harder than most to secure a place in the Ulster academy which eventually came on the back of being part of the Ireland U20s squad which made it to 2016's Junior World Cup Final.
“I suppose I had a bit of a rough road but I was determined to make it. Going through school my only real interest was rugby so I really put all my eggs into one basket with it and hoped for the world it worked out," he said.
“I remember when I was playing at my club Randalstown getting a text from the coach Nigel Gilbert to say I’d been called to a regional development squad trial in Coleraine. That was a big moment for me.
“Then later, playing for the Ireland U20s was a big stepping-stone to showcase myself playing with some incredible players like Jacob Stockdale and James Ryan and getting continuous game-time. From there that finally got me into the academy.”
McBurney made his debut for Ulster off the bench against Zebre in 2017 and went on to make 35 appearances for the northern province in the face of some stiff competition for the number two jersey from Ireland hookers Rory Best and Rob Herring – an experience he says developed him as a player.
“I learnt a lot just watching these guys. Obviously, with Rory being the Irish captain he was busy enough and I didn’t want to go up to him and say I needed help with x, y and z and put pressure on them. Just training with them, you pick up some of the stuff they do. Rory especially with his leadership and the fact he played the same position. You pick up some of the small things he does and says.
“That was one of the things I noticed about Rory, he can be quiet at times, but when he speaks everyone was listening because the points he’s making are always going to be valid, that’s how you get respect from your team-mates. As a young player, you just listen to them and watch the way they act, and you hope in a number of years’ time that can be you.”
The Ballymena native who qualifies to play for Scotland through his grandmother, made the decision to switch to Edinburgh in search of a new challenge and more playing time.
“I was in that position where I was bouncing between second and third choice for a number of years. I love the place, I don’t have a bad word to say about it, but I’d much rather have gone whenever I had the opportunity to test myself, get out of that comfort zone and see what new things can appear.
“Coming to a different club, away from the only place and only system that I’d ever known, it opened my eyes and broadened the way that I think about the game. Looking over it, I’m extremely grateful to have come through that system. Without that system, I don’t think I’d be where I am today.”
