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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