Emerging Ireland tour: Ulster trialist Zac Ward revelling in South Africa experience

After the faith that Ulster coach Murphy has placed in him, Ward is now delighted to be learning from Emerging Ireland coaches Simon Easterby and Paul O’Connell.

“I’m just taking every day as a learning curve.

“It’s a great environment to be in. Simon and Paulie have been fantastic in helping everyone develop as players so it’s exciting.”

Ward’s Paris Olympics team-mate Chay Mullins was also a late inclusion in the Emerging Ireland squad and the Ulster man believes the skills they’ve learnt in the Sevens code can be applied to XVs rugby.

“Sevens has helped me develop as a player massively. Now that I’m in the XVs game, it’s just trying to apply all the skills I’ve learned in Sevens,” added Ward.

“Myself and Chay are both relatively new to it. We’ve both slowly getting into it but it’s been great.”

Ward added that friendships have been quickly forged on the tour and morale should now be high going into Sunday’s second tour match against Western Force.

“We were a bit new and fresh on day one but we pretty quickly gelled as a squad.

“I think that even showed on the pitch. We’re playing real cohesive rugby after a week.”