Another young SA talent heads to Ireland
SPOTLIGHT: Ulster scooped up two promising age-grade stars from South Africa and Australia, respectively.
Ulster confirmed that Irish-qualified talents Paddy Woods and Rynard Gordon have joined the academy as first-year players.
The 18-year-old lock Woods is from Perth, Australia, playing junior rugby with Cottesloe RFC and is Irish-qualified with family from Newtownards and Bangor.
The second rower studied at Campbell College, Belfast, last year and represented Ulster Under-19s in the age-grade interprovincial series before representing Western Force U19s in Australian Super Rugby Men’s U19s.
The forward has recently played club rugby for Queens University Belfast in the All-Ireland-League 1B Division.
South African-born Gordon (18) is a versatile backline player, capable of playing in centre or the back three positions.
Like Woods, Gordon is Irish-qualified with family from Belfast.
Gordon has represented Cape Town-based Bishops Rugby through age-grade levels and played with the 1st XV last season.
Gordon recently completed a trial period and has played for Ulster U19s.
Ulster Rugby’s Academy Manager, Gavin Hogg, commented:
“We are delighted to welcome both Paddy and Rynard into our Academy system.
“Paddy is a promising young lock with good physical presence, and Rynard is an exciting backline player with the ability to beat defenders.
“Both players have shown us their clear potential, and we are pleased to be welcoming them into the Academy to progress.
“With both being Irish-Qualified through family, we hope that we can help both players develop in our Academy programme and become ones for the future.”
Gordon isn’t the only South African schoolboy who took up an opportunity in Ireland recently.
Former Rondebosch High flanker Josh Neill joined the Leinster Academy in 2025.
The former SA Under-18 player and recently represented Ireland in the Under-20s Six Nations against France, scoring a try in a 21-50 defeat.
