WHEN CONNACHT TAKE on Ulster in the Sportsground tomorrow night, Nathan White will be an interested onlooker.
The veteran prop was forced to retire from professional rugby last week on medical advice following a concussion injury.
Ahead of the first Pro12 derby of the new season, TG4′s Rugby Beo caught up with the New Zealander and produced this short video reflecting on his playing days in Ireland.
“My first time on the pitch here was for Leinster,” White recalls.
“We came down, I think it was 1 January, an absolutely freezing cold night. I sort of wondered, ‘Do I really want to come and play here?’
Leinster snuck a win, I think it was 15-12. What I do remember coming as a Leinster player first was the crowd. You sit on the reserves bench in front of the grandstand and the noise they make, the abuse they send out to opposition teams — especially in a Leinster jersey — that’s pretty intimidating.
“To be on the other side of that for four years was nice. The support they give you, rain, hail, shine, they’re the best supporters going around.”
Connacht v Ulster is live on TG4 from 7pm on Friday evening.
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