Ulster No15 Michael Lowry a 'real beacon' for smaller players, says Bryn Cunningham

Ulster star Michael Lowry represents a “real beacon” for smaller players and has been backed to shine on the international stage with Ireland.

The uncapped full-back has forced his way into Andy Farrell’s 37-man squad for the Guinness Six Nations following a series of electric performances for his province.

Fleet-footed Lowry, who stands at 5ft 7in, was written off by some people earlier in his career because of his height.

Yet Ulster’s head of operations Bryn Cunningham was “blown away” by the 23-year-old from the beginning, having first seen him perform for Royal Belfast Academical Institution in a schools’ cup game.

“If you had a checklist of things you would want in an ideal professional rugby player, Mikey pretty much ticks every single box,” Cunningham told the PA news agency.

“What he has shown, which is a real beacon to smaller players, is that you can actually make it at this level if you have the skill level but also the commitment around how you organise yourself in defence and attack.

“His work-rate and his mindset around the physicality part of the game is just absolutely unbelievable. He hits harder than many guys twice his size.

“And then the big thing above all of that is his point of difference, which is his footwork and his acceleration, which is just exceptional and I think that’s what everybody has been so excited about.

“We’ve been very aware of that internally for some time but for that outside world to now start seeing that on a regular basis it’s brilliant for the game.

“I think the vast majority want to see excitement in rugby and, if Mikey’s on the pitch, there’s a pretty good chance you’re going to get that.”

Ireland begin the Six Nations at home to defending champions Wales on Saturday.

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