Andrew Warwick is an Irish rugby union player who plays loosehead prop for Ulster Rugby.
| Birth name | Andrew Warwick | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 12 March 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Ballymena, Northern Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 116 kg (18 st 4 lb; 256 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Ballymena Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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He started out playing for Ballymena in the All-Ireland League, while working as a lorry driver for his father's engineering firm. He was involved with Ulster's sub-academy, representing the province at under-19 and under-20 level before being brought into the academy by elite performance director Allen Clarke.[4] He played for Ulster "A", and was named on the bench for the senior team during the 2012–13 season, before signing an academy contract.[5] He made his senior debut in February 2014 against the Cardiff Blues,[6] and was pressed into action at tighthead in place of the injured John Afoa, earning praise from coach Mark Anscombe for his doggedness.[7] He signed a 2-year developmental contract with Ulster in December 2014.[8] He made his 100th appearance for the province in a Pro14 match against Munster in 2018.[9]
In the summer of 2019 he developed a problem with his sciatic nerve, which eventually required surgery in August 2020.[10] On his return he was Ulster's fourth-choice loosehead prop, but after he came off the bench and stabilised Ulster's shaky scrum against Connacht in only his fourth game back, he underlined his importance to the team. In the 2021-22 season, he competes with Eric O'Sullivan to be Ulster's first choice loosehead prop, starting most of their Champions Cup matches.[11] He made his 150th appearance in a United Rugby Championship match against the Bulls in 2022.[12] He was nominated for Ulster's men's player of the year award.[13]
Ulster head coach Dan McFarland describes him as "a quality scrummager and hard worker in the loose", and notes his "experience and technical excellence".[14] He praises him for being "a really good scrummager, his mauling is excellent, his maul defence is excellent. He’s where he needs to be when he needs to be there ... The more experience that he’s got in terms of scrummaging at the Champions Cup level, he’s demonstrated that he’s well able for that ... he’s pushed himself where he maybe sat a little lower in the depth chart to one who is battling it out to be the first-choice loosehead in our club".[11] He made his 200th appearance for Ulster against Connacht in October 2024.[15]
As of November 2021, he is also coaching the forwards at Ballymena rugby club.[16]
References
edit- ^ Ulster Rugby player profile
- ^ "Andrew Warwick". Ulster Rugby. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ Playing stats at ItsRugby.co.uk
- ^ "Ballymena man Andrew Warwick making powerful impression at Ulster", The42, 23 October 2014
- ^ Jonathan Bradley, "Andy Warwick set to earn 100th Ulster cap and he's done it the hard way", Belfast Telegraph, 26 September 2018
- ^ ""Andrew Warwick on his first appearance for Ulster", Ulster Rugby, 30 March 2014". Archived from the original on 20 April 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
- ^ David Blair, "RaboDirect PRO12 Semi-finals: four key battles", The Rugby Blog, 16 May 2014
- ^ "Ulster Academy prop Andrew Warwick signs pro contract with province". BBC Sport. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "Warwick Joins Ulster’s 100-Cap Club", Irish Rugby, 28 September 2018
- ^ Michael Sadlier, "Warwick delighted to overcome injury problems and start to show his true potential in Ulster jersey", Belfast Telegraph, 4 March 2021
- ^ a b Jonathan Bradley, "How Ulster's Andrew Warwick has defied the odds throughout his career to become top of the props", Belfast Telegraph, 6 April 2022
- ^ Adam McKendry, "Andrew Warwick to make milestone 150th appearance as Ulster make 10 changes for Bulls clash", Belfast Telegraph, 1 April 2022
- ^ "Vote for your player of the year in the 2021/22 Heineken Ulster Rugby Awards", Ulster Rugby, 15 June 2022
- ^ "Andrew, Treadwell, Warwick and Doak to remain at Ulster", Ulster Rugby, 26 January 2021
- ^ "Match Report | Ulster 32-27 Connacht", Ulster Rugby, 12 October 2025
- ^ Adam McKendry, "Ulster prop Andrew Warwick happy to give something back to hometown club Ballymena", Belfast Telegraph, 26 November 2021
