Old head on Young's shoulders

RUGBY/European Cup Countdown: Johnny Watterson talks to Ulster's Scott Young, who has graduated to provincial level with ease.

Ulster's policy of dovetailing younger players with more grizzled squad members has produced several new faces in the province's squad. Ballymena's Scott Young, while hardly a new name within Irish rugby, is one of coach Alan Solomons's greenhorns, but is ripening by the month. Recently the former Irish under-21 international winger has been sure-footedly making his way in a competitive position where confidence frequently pays as many dividends as know-how. Under the current Ulster coaching structure he is gaining both.

While his first start for Ulster last week against Caerphilly came on the back of an injury to regular winger James Topping, Young has been impressing Solomons since last season. There was no procrastination from the coach before throwing him in from the beginning in Wales.

"I scoured the province for young players and in Scotty I saw potential," says Solomons. "I think he's got a lot of ability. You know, we've very much adopted a youth culture in Ulster and we've brought in a number of players. Scotty is a dynamic player, instinctive and a very exciting runner with the ball. He's also a very brave runner and has come off the bench a number of times for me and done very well."

In 1999, Young and his Campbell College team-mates arrived at Lansdowne Road on the day Ulster faced Colomiers in the final of the European Cup. He was 18 years old. "I came down with the boys from school to watch. Now when I run out and play alongside some of those players it's surreal. I wouldn't mind doing what they did again," he says.

As befits a player who wants to get as much out of the game and go as far as he can, Young will play on any wing and at full back if required. Under South African Andre Bester at Ballymena and latterly Australian Tony Darcy (since Bester moved to Belfast Harlequins) Young, following his school coaching, has flourished under foreign influences.

"I was delighted starting last week. I've been fairly lucky and have come in because others have been getting injured, but even playing for 10 or 20 minutes off the bench you learn things. I came on against Glasgow and against Munster when Jimmy (Topping) hurt his leg. It's a case of taking it when you can get it.

"I was on the development squad last year and was included in the European squad. Alan looked after us very well and was at us to get experience. He said at the end of last year that we'd be on line for a contract this year."

A "veteran" of two years playing with the Irish under 21s and Irish schools, this year's full-time contract nonetheless came as a surprise.

"I thought I'd be on a development contract for a couple of years. It's been a big step up. The difference between the AIL and the Celtic League is amazing. There is the added pressure to take the chance but I revel in that and always think I'm going to make the most of it. When you go on the pitch you know you can do the job. Alan will tell you: 'listen, I'm backing your ability and I know you can do this'. "

Ulster now, with a run of important wins, see themselves as stronger than a month ago. The game against Munster was a big one while Caerphilly was a potential banana skin, but they pulled through with ease, winning 67-15.

"We're definitely better," says Young. "Against Swansea the team was littered with injury and that dents confidence but now we've guys back, and with the likes of David Humphreys and Gary Longwell there is strength . . . he (Humphreys) is the sort of player who makes space for wingers. He's such a dangerous player that he attracts defenders to him, which means the likes of myself and Johnny Bell get more space."

Solomons's philosophy has always been to lace a squad with fresh faces and play them on their merits. He doesn't worry about age, claiming that it is immaterial. What he seeks is a mix of players that will gel and perform and Ulster currently have a very strong blend.

"He (Solomons) says he's happy with me. He likes to give young guys a chance. It's better now the way the younger boys are brought through and I think it's happening in all of the provinces. It wasn't always that way. Sure this weekend will be a huge step up. But I think we are ready. We have ability. We've good forwards, we've good backs and we're definitely better than we were two months ago."

Young is 22 in July. "A lad with ability," says Solomons, who will pick the side to face Northampton today. He could say the same about Neil McMillen, Paul Shields, Paddy Wallace, Neil Best or Matt McCullough. As the corporate world might put it, investing in people, investing in the future.