"It's Pretty Crazy" - Ulster back row Bryn Ward reveals 'surreal' first Ireland Camp and Test Debut Hopes for Six Nations

Farrell is scheduled to unveil his picks for the Valentine's Day clash in Dublin later this afternoon, with Ward showcasing great promise to make his Test debut. The young back row was called up for Ireland's initial tournament training camp out in Portugal, as he rubbed shoulders with experienced internationals Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan. Ward spoke in the week about how he has taken on an abundance of leanings from the training camp, in what was quite the surreal experience for the back row.

"It's been a really surreal couple of months." Ward said, at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Dublin. "It's something I've really cherished and I've tried to just look at each week. I don't want to get ahead of myself, the goal would be to play a match obviously, but I've really enjoyed the last couple of months, and just taking each step as it comes. I'm trying not to get ahead of myself too much!"

"It's been class" Ward added. "I've learned so much off of all the boys, especially the back row guys like Josh [van der Flier], Nick [Timoney], Caelan [Doris], Jack [Conan], the sort of guys in my position, the people I'd have looked up to over the years. So yes, it's really surreal being in camp with them and seeing how they operate and go around their business day to day. It's pretty cool."

"It was an unreal week [at the Portugal camp]. Everything came pretty quick and fast on me trying to learn new calls and within the new system. It was a really cool experience, and something I'll always remember."

Ward has had to stop and pinch himself upon a couple of occasions, as he integrated into the Ireland squad with players that he at one time idolised off the pitch. Ward revealed how the down-time after a training session has brought about some experiences with the Ireland stars that he couldn't quite believe.

"I've only been in the group now for just over a week and a half, probably. The way the guys make you feel, you feel like you've been here for months. Everyone treats you as equal, there's no egos within the squad or anything like that. So, it's really cool to be sitting having a cup of coffee with Caelan Doris and stuff like that. It's pretty surreal for me!

"Yesterday, we were sitting here, and the lads were going to the putting green. Josh [van der Flier] walked past me and was like, 'do you want to go and hit a few putts'. I was just thinking 'that's crazy', for me to think, a year ago, I was playing for Ballynahinch and I'm going to go hit a few putts with Josh van der Flier It's pretty crazy."

"The training week in Portugal, I was a training panelist., but I have been brought back into the squad, so I'll be doing all I can to get a place in the team. It's a massive goal and would be massive achievement for me. So I'm trying to do all I can to get something like that."

Bryn's older brother has also had his fair share of Ireland international accomplishments, as Zac Ward has previously starred in the Ireland Olympic Sevens squad and in Emerging Ireland set-ups. However, neither Ward sibling is yet to make a senior Ireland Test debut, with Bryn revealing how supportive his older brother has been along his journey.

"Zac's five and a half years older than me. So, it doesn't really feel like that way [competitive] at all. It's quite a big step in my career, and I'm just sort of focusing on myself. He's just hoping that I'm doing well. He's giving me a good bit of confidence."

Whilst Ward did not travel out to Paris for Ireland's tournament opener against France, the versatile back row did find himself donning the Irish green this past Friday. Ward stood out in the Ireland XV match-up against England A, despite the heavy defeat to Mark Mapletoft's side at Thomond Park in Limerick. Ward shared how the Ireland XV hit out has only improved his confidence, and he feels ready to take the next step to make his full senior Test debut.

"Going back into that Ireland XV game, I went in there with a lot of confidence knowing that I trained at that sort of level and was ready. I think my game had come on a lot on the week, so it was good to put it on the pitch."

"For people that know me, I'd be a confident kind of player. I feel like I'd be to take that step, no problem. Obviously it will be a big step up [to Test level], but it'd be something I would cherish and go out and try to grab with two hands."

Looking back to the start of the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship season, and Ward would not have dreamed up the hot run he has been on. Prior to the start of the URC campaign, the back row had aimed to make just a handful of Ulster appearences, never-mind become a mainstay for his province and push the boundaries for an Ireland international run.

"We do sit down and make goals. It's funny, I actually said that to my Mum the other day, at the start of the season my goal was to try and play five games for Ulster. I think I've played 10 and I find myself in an Irish squad, so I've surpassed those goals. So, I've had a great season so far, and hopefully it can continue."

Never one to shy away from an opportunity, Ward made his Ulster debut in quite intense circumstances. The back row traveled out to South Africa for his provinces' early season tour, where he battled the intense heat of the Johannesburg sun. Ward started at number eight for Ulster's hard-fought defeat to the Emirates Lions, in what was an unforgettable experience at Ellis Park.

"Bit of a baptism of fire! It's a tough place to go, Ellis Park in South Africa. In that heat, and being a fair haired ginger as well, that didn't do too well in the high UV, I was struggling at halftime. No, it was great, I probably didn't have my best game, but it was something I learned a lot off. I was so hungry to get back out there and prove myself, because it didn't really think I'd done it justice that day. I'm so grateful that I got another opportunity, and I'm just trying to keep the head down there."

Ward is apart of a solid Ulster contingency, that are steadily forming the crux of Andy Farrell's Ireland squad. Whilst the majority of the group is once again made up by Leinster talents, Ulster's Stuart McCloskey, Nick Timoney, Jacob Stockdale, Cormac Izuchuckwu and Rob Balacoune have all helped Ward ease into the new surroundings at the Dublin camp. The back row is quite the extrovert at his Belfast club, with his Ulster teammates eager to see him bring the same energy to the Six Nations preparations.

"There's a decent number of Ulster boys in the squad this year, which is great. It's really good to have them in here, they're giving me the confidence to go out there and be myself. They said to me when I came in, 'just be how you are at Ulster', generally just don't go into my shell.

"It's been really good having them in here. They've been really supportive to me, and any questions I've needed, Nick Timoney has been good with me around learning detail over the seven and eight roles."

"The style of play we're playing this year [at Ulster] with the attack, it really suits my game as a ball carrying forward. To get a run of games like I have, it's been so good for my confidence and rolling into each game week, trying to make sure I stay in the squad and doing everything I can to keep fighting for the position.

"Everything's not guaranteed up at Ulster, positionally wise. One week I could be starting the next week, you could be back playing AIL [All Ireland League]. I'm just trying to do all I can to try and stay in that jersey."

Also, Ward has found a real early career mentor in his Ulster head coach Richie Murphy, who oversaw the back rower in the Ireland U20 set-up. Such coaching cohesion has worked wonders for Ward's confidence, as he bridged the gap from age-group rugby into the senior provincial environment.

"I was fortunate enough to have Richie through the U20s, and it was a pretty seamless transition when he came up to Ulster. It was cool to go back and work with him there, he's been so good for my career so far. I've learned so much off him, and I owe him a lot to the player I am today. He's been very, very good for me and my personal development in my game."