Don’t get us wrong, the big Connacht lock is driven to succeed. He just doesn’t get carried away by the game and most of its’ distractions.
Ultan Dillane once had a [very casual] job as doorman at Baileys Corner in Tralee. When he wasn’t picking up glasses and getting them washed, he often stood at the door and chatted with patrons on the way in.
At 6-foot-6, even in his late teens, and with a shock of hair, Dillane definitely stood out. What surprised most bar-goers, though, was his soft-spoken nature. He is as calm and collected as you like.
Ultan Dillane on his job as a glass-picker and occasional doorman in a Tralee bar ?
Full interview on #TheHardYards podcast tomorrow pic.twitter.com/7BHcHBhNtn
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 25, 2017
On the pitch, Dillane has already earned a reputation for charging head-long into a heave of bodies and getting over the gainline. On his Ireland debut, he made a 20-metre line break and offload with one of his first involvements. He is a played to be extremely wary of.
Away from the pitch, Dillane is affable and modest. He is grateful for his position in rugby but sometimes can’t see what the fuss is about.
We caught up with Dillane in Galway for The Hard Yards podcast and found the Tralee native to be in the best of form ahead of his side’s Guinness PRO14 clash with Munster at The Sportsground.
Kieran Keane has named his starting XV for tomorrow’s eagerly awaited interprovincial clash with Munster (7.35pm) https://t.co/i1JrJEUOhQ pic.twitter.com/cmCxzfWoYI
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) October 26, 2017
The 23-year-old spoke of being able to dole out some of his Connacht and Ireland gear to friends and family back home. One item of clothing he plans to keep is the Wallabies jersey he got after helping Ireland to a win over the Aussies, last November. If only he could find the thing…
“I’ve a few jerseys I’ve traded after games that I definitely will keep,” he said.
“It’s not at the forefront of my mind – you just get stuff as you go. But I do have a few… I only just remembered that I have an Australian jersey there from last season.
“That’s the height of it. It’s back home in Kerry.”
We imagine Dillane will pick up a few more Test jerseys from famous opposition players over the next few years. Just don’t expect him to make a big deal about it.
