John Andrew

Ulster Rugby hooker John Andrew has built a long career as a dependable front-row option for the province. Born on 26 May 1993, he came through the Ulster academy and made his senior debut for the province in 2014, before steadily accumulating appearances across successive Pro12, Pro14 and United Rugby Championship seasons. Andrew's game is rooted in the traditional virtues of the number two shirt: a technically sound scrummage, consistent lineout throwing and an honest appetite for the collision work around the breakdown. Over the course of his career he has offered Ulster reliable depth behind the province's more senior hookers, a role that has also seen him lead the pack in fixtures ranging from regular-season URC rounds to European knockout rugby. Coaches have routinely highlighted his understanding of the province's set-piece structures, a product of the long apprenticeship he has served at Kingspan Stadium. Within the Ulster dressing room he is regarded as a senior, team-first presence, the sort of professional whose influence extends beyond his match-day contribution into the day-to-day running of the forward pack.