Ian Porter (rugby union)

For other people named Ian Porter, see Ian Porter (disambiguation).

Ian Porter
Birth nameIan Porter
Date of birth (1988-04-04) 4 April 1988 (age 36)
Place of birthBanbridge, Northern Ireland
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight85 kg (13 st 5 lb)
SchoolBanbridge Academy
UniversityQueens University, Belfast
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Current team Connacht
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Belfast Harlequins ()
– Banbridge ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2014 Ulster 11 (0)
2014–2016 Connacht 17 (30)
Correct as of 8 May 2016
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008 Ireland U20 7 (44)
Correct as of 30 June 2008

Ian Porter (born 4 April 1988) is a rugby union player from Ireland. His main position is at Scrum-half. Porter most recently played professionally for Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro12, and has also played for his native province of Ulster.

Career

Ulster

Though he also played amateur rugby for Belfast Harlequins and Banbridge, Porter's first professional rugby club was Ulster. Porter came through Ulster's academy system, playing for the Under-19 and Under-20 sides, and in 2009 was nominated for the province's 'Academy Player of the Year' award.[1]

In January 2010 it was announced that Porter was among nine players who had signed contracts with Ulster, meaning he would play for the senior side starting in the 2010–11 season.[2] He made his full debut for the senior side on 11 September 2010 in the 2010–11 Celtic League, coming off the bench against Italian side Aironi.[3] He also featured off the bench against Edinburgh and Cardiff Blues.[4][5] However, having started off the season as second choice to Paul Marshall at scrum-half, the signing of Ruan Pienaar saw him drop to third choice and Porter finished the season with just three league appearances, all as a replacement.[6]

In the 2011–12 season, Porter continued as third choice, making five replacement appearances in the 2011–12 Pro12, the league having been renamed.[6] Porter took a one-year sabbatical from playing the following season and did not feature for Ulster, returning in 2013.[1] He returned from his long absence with an appearance from the bench against Newport Gwent Dragons in the 2013–14 Pro12 on 6 September 2013. Porter made his first-ever senior start for the province the following week against Glasgow Warriors.[6] Porter left Ulster at the end of the 2013–14 season.[citation needed]

Connacht

It was announced in May 2014 that Porter had agreed a deal Ulster's Irish rivals Connacht. He signed a two-year contract and joined the team ahead of the 2014–15 season.[7] Porter signed as cover to Connacht's Kieran Marmion, replacing outgoing players Frank Murphy and Paul O'Donohoe.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b "Ian Porter". Corner Flag Management. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Ulster confirm nine contracts". Breaking News. 13 January 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  3. ^ "Aironi Rugby 15 - 22 Ulster Rugby". RaboDirectPRO12. 6 June 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Ulster Rugby 29 - 21 Edinburgh Rugby". RaboDirectPRO12. 17 September 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  5. ^ "Cardiff Blues 15 - 37 Ulster Rugby". RaboDirectPRO12. 21 November 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  6. ^ a b c "Ulster Squad Index: Ian Porter". RaboDirectPRO12. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  7. ^ "Connacht sign Ian Porter and Shane O'Leary". RTÉ Sport. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  8. ^ "Parks leads Connacht outgoings". Irish Independent. 29 April 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2014.