Ulster back row James McNabney has received his first call-up to the senior Ireland squad for the November Nations Championship fixtures, marking a remarkable rise for the 23-year-old who grew up on a farm in Ballymena and once represented Northern Ireland and Great Britain in equestrian sport.
Unconventional Path to Professional Rugby
McNabney did not watch much rugby as a child; his focus was horses. He rode from age six to 16 and competed at international level in equestrian events. At 16, Ulster talent coach Michael Black gave him an ultimatum: gain weight for rugby or stay lean for horses. McNabney chose rugby, enjoying the game and sticking with it through school and age-grade levels.
Grand Slam Success and Injury Setback
He was part of Ireland Under-20 teams that won Six Nations Grand Slams in 2022 and 2023. An impressive season with Ulster earned him a place as a training panellist for the 2025 Six Nations. He was set to join the summer squad for fixtures against Japan and Georgia but suffered an ACL injury that kept him out for a year. He returned to action for Ulster in pre-season this summer.
Highly Rated by Ireland Coaches
Standing 6ft 5in and weighing almost 19 stone, McNabney has been described by head coach Andy Farrell as "some specimen of a man." His inclusion in the Ireland panel at the first opportunity after his return shows how highly the coaching group rates him. McNabney said the injury was the worst a player can get, but he learned to be patient and take recovery day by day.
November Debut Possible
McNabney could make his Ireland debut in the Nations Championship matches against Argentina, Fiji, South Africa, or during the finals weekend in London. He says he is delighted with the opportunity but has no expectation of being capped. His goal is to learn as much as possible, train hard, and show the coaches what he can do. "Just because I'm picked in the squad doesn't mean I'm necessarily going to play," he said. "Hopefully I train hard, get picked, and hopefully Faz sees what I see in myself and backs me."
