Tony McWhirter
Birth nameTony McWhirter
SchoolDalriada School
UniversityUniversity of Dundee
Rugby union career
Position(s) Number 8, lock
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Dundee HSFP ()
1997-1999 Ballymena R.F.C. ()
1999-2004 Dungannon RFC ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1997-2004 Ulster 94 ()
Correct as of 19 November 2022

Tony McWhirter is an Irish former rugby union player, who played number eight and lock for Ulster.

A native of Ballymoney, County Antrim,[1] he attended Dalriada School, where he was part of the team that made the 1993 Ulster Schools' Cup final.[2][3] He studied dentistry at the University of Dundee, while playing rugby for Dundee HSFP, and represented Ulster at under-20 and under-21 levels,[1] and captained the Ireland under-21 side that won the Triple Crown in 1995-96.[4]

Returning to Northern Ireland, he joined Ballymena R.F.C. and signed a part-time contract with Ulster for the 1997-98 season.[5] Under coach Tony Russ, he played in the second row.[1] He signed a full-time contract for the 1998–99 season,[4] and under coach Harry Williams he moved to his preferred position, number 8. He was part of the Ulster team who won the 1998–99 Heineken Cup.[1] The following season, he moved to Dungannon RFC,[6] and was named Ulster's player of the year.[7] He was called up to the Ireland training squad ahead of the 2001 Six Nations Championship,[8] and was part of the Dungannon team that became the first Ulster club to win the All-Ireland League in 2001.[9] He retired due to a hand injury at the end of the 2003-04 season,[10] having made 94 appearances for Ulster.[4] After retiring, he resumed his career as a dentist, while coaching rugby at Dalriada School.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Bruce McKendry, Champions: The Players' Story, IRFU (Ulster Branch), 1999, pp. 90-111
  2. "Absent friends will be missed", Belfast Telegraph, 13 January 2000
  3. Jim Stokes, "Tony knows Ulster drill", Belfast Telegraph, 4 September 1998
  4. 1 2 3 "Ulster's McWhirter announces retirement", ESPN Rugby, 8 April 2004
  5. "Irish provincial contracts on offer to players", Irish Examiner, 18 July 1997
  6. Jim Stokes, "Dungannon's table is set", Belfast Telegraph, 18 August 1999
  7. Jim Stokes, "Humphreys is 'Mr Personality'", Belfast Telegraph, 19 May 2000
  8. Jim Stokes, "McWhirter trains his sights on Ireland slot", Belfast Telegraph, 9 January 2001
  9. "Brilliant Dungannon crowned All-Ireland champions", Ulster Herald, 31 May 2001
  10. "McWhirter out and Clarke in", Belfast Telegraph, 9 April 2004
  11. Frank Brownlow, "Ulster 1999: Where are they now?", Belfast Telegraph, 29 January 2009
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