‘He was the GOAT.’– Stuart McCloskey reveals greatest rugby influence after Six Nations success.

Ireland and Ulster's Stuart McCloskey spoke to the media during Thursday’s successful open training session at the Aviva Stadium. During this press conference, the Ulster star revealed his greatest rugby influence following his success during this year's Six Nations tournament.

Following his viral try assist against Italy, as well as his trending tackle on Marcus Smith against England at Twickenham, Stuart McCloskey is currently one of the most popular stars in rugby. After returning to the Ireland squad, the Ulsterman currently has three try assists in the 2026 Six Nations.

"I’ve always found off-loading not an easy skill, but just something I’ve picked up quite well over the years. It’s always come quite naturally to me. Sonny Bill Williams. He was the GOAT, wasn’t he? He was unbelievable. I probably grew up watching him. He was probably the most influential in terms of that side of the game."

“Because he’s probably not that much older than me. He’s probably 42 but you know your teenage years when you’re quite impressionable? That’s probably who I was watching.”

After earning his second start in the 2026 Six Nations, the Irish center went viral following an NFL-style try assist to his Ulster teammate against Italy. A week later, McCloskey was front and center on the internet again after hunting down the England substitute for a try-saving tackle.

“Yeah, I’ve had bits and pieces, but I haven’t gone that viral. It was crazy. It felt like every time I opened Instagram for two or three days, it was just my face. My missus was laughing. I was taking the kids to school on Monday and there were people genuinely stopping cars at the side of the road to say well done. She was like: What is going on here?”

Despite his current success in the Ireland setup, the Ulsterman has had his fair share of struggles at the international level. Before the beginning of the 2023 World Cup, the Irish center believed he had the ability to start at 12, sitting behind Connacht's Bundee Aki.

“Ehh, I dunno. I felt like I was always good enough. I’ve actually been on the bench a few times since then, but back then, it wasn’t really the done thing to put a 12 on the bench. To be fair to Bundee,in that World Cup cycle, that year, he was unbelievable. He was nominated for World Player of the Year. "

“So I kinda... not resigned myself to it, but even if I thought I was as good as Bundee back then, he was playing so well in the slot that it was hard to get into the team. To get ahead of him, you’d have to be by far the best player in the world. I didn’t think I was that."

Before going into the World Cup that year, during the 2023 Six Nations, McCloskey started in each of Ireland's first three games that year. Going on to win the Grand Slam, the Ulster center would be forced to sit out for half of the campaign after suffering a calf injury against Italy in Rome.

After coming in to replace the Ulster center, Aki contributed heavily to Ireland's Grand Slam campaign, finishing the tournament with the most post-contact metres and second-highest dominant contacts for Ireland. Following that, the Connacht center would go on to be nominated for player of the year.

Going into this year's Six Nations campaign, McCloskey would find the roles switched after Bundee Aki was served a suspension. The 35-year-old was handed the suspension for verbal abuse towards match officials in Connacht's URC loss to Leinster in January. Aki missed Ireland's opening three Six Nations games and Connacht's win over Zebre.

"So it was a low point in some ways, but there's not much you can do about it. I did my job, I did well. I think the coaches were happy with what I did, and for Bundee to come in and do what he did for the next probably guts of 18 months, there probably wasn't a great deal I could have done."

"To be fair to Faz and all the coaches, the management team, they did a photo of us all afterwards, Grand Slam winners, all out on the pitch. It's really nice, all the management, all the players that were part of it. It's up in the attic, but I'm sure I'll hang it up at some stage."

Falling out of the Ireland team in 2023 was also not the first challenge McCloskey faced in contending for a spot in the Ireland 2023. Making his Ireland debut in the 2016 Six Nations, the Ulster center was dropped from the side by Joe Schmidt, which McCloskey disputes now.

"I remember it as a great day, and it's amazing to get your first cap, but I probably look back on it with a tinge of... I'm trying to think of the right word. It's not anger, but it's tainted for me. I had to wait another 18 months to get another game, and I wasn't sure 100 per cent why."

"Ah, I don't know what the craic was with Joe. I don't think we saw eye to eye.... listen I'm glad he not coaching here now, but he's done some amazing things as a coach. Sometimes coaches and players are not on the same page. I don't know what it was, but I wasn't for him."

Almost a decade on from that moment, Stuart McCloskey has once again found himself back in the starting 12 role for Ireland despite all the tribulations. Additionally, the Ulster center has brought that form into his club, which had zero players in 2024's Six Nations opening squad.

After finishing 14th in the United Rugby Championship last year, Ulster head coach Richie Murphy and attack coach Mark Sexton have transformed the province. Currently, Ulster sit at sixth in the URC table. Additionally, they are also guaranteed home advantage in the European Challenge Cup after topping their pool.

"I think with Mark coming in and Richie, it has just given everyone a boost. "Playing good rugby up there. Speaking for the backs, especially the backline, has been playing unbelievably well: the Cat, with how good he’s been here, Jacob, Zac Ward – I know he’s not been in here, but he’s shown glimpses of being world-class."

“All those guys have been knocking on the door and I think when you see one guy go well and you’re playing with him all the time, you probably think you’re as good as him: Jeez, if I can get in there, I can do the same as he’s done. So yeah, just a boost all round and I think that’s down to Richie and Mark.”

After all the trials and tribulations he has faced over the last ten years, McCloskey has finally found himself in a good place at the moment, for both province and country. The Ulster center will turn 34 in the summer and will be 35 going into the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

"Yeah, like it's nice to hear. I probably feel somewhat vindicated for all the years of slogging it out and not getting too much love, so it's been nice, but you've got to enjoy it while it lasts. These like these things don't last forever. I'm 33 years of age, hopefully playing another two or three years, but I'm just enjoying the moment and hopefully enjoying this good bit of form for that wee bit longer."