IT DOESN’T SIT well with Rob Baloucoune that he hasn’t scored a try yet this season.
He hasn’t played much – this week’s Ireland game against Argentina will be his fourth of the campaign – and his main goal in these early-season months was just being fit and available for selection, but the Ulster wing wants a few five-pointers.
He’ll aim to start putting that right against the Pumas on Friday night in Dublin, having scored 12 tries in his 13 appearances for Ulster, Ireland and Ireland A last season.
If Ireland get off to a winning start to their November schedule, 29-year-old Baloucoune will be happy, but he’s the kind of player who wants to be listed among the try-scorers.
“Every time I’m on the pitch, I want to score,” says Baloucoune
“You probably need that if you want to score as well.”
The role of a modern-day wing is about more than just tries, but it’s clear that good things will happen for Ireland if they can get the ball into the pacy, elusive Baloucoune’s hands.
His introduction on the right wing was one reason Andy Farrell’s side turned their Six Nations campaign around this year after a tough start away to France.
Baloucoune was named breakthrough player of the championship but an injury in the final game against Scotland, when Ireland clinched the Triple Crown, meant he was subsequently sidelined for several months.
Baloucoune made it back for Ulster’s Challenge Cup final loss to Montpellier, scoring a scintillating solo try in Bilbao, but another injury meant he missed the first two Tests of Ireland’s July window in the Nations Championship.
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Baloucoune at Ireland training in Dublin. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
He returned for the closing loss to New Zealand, but didn’t have much influence on the game as the ball failed to find its way into his hands.
“There are games like that,” says Baloucoune. “I spoke to the coaches as well about it.
“How do you get involved in that, and there’s always bits and pieces you can do. I do get off my wing, but sometimes the ball doesn’t come; you don’t see the ball just depending on the circumstances of the game and stuff, so it’s just what I can do off the ball if that’s the case.”
Baloucoune’s aerial work is another strength in his game, with the explosive 6ft 3ins wing well capable of winning aerial contests.
Ulster have used him to retrieve short restarts with great success early this season and Ireland will be looking for Baloucoune to come up with more wins under kicks this month.
“We go pretty hard at it in training,” said Baloucoune of this area of the game.
“I’d say we do it every session, we’ve got some sort of focus on the aerial battle, and it is a huge part of the game now.
“It’s a bit hectic, to be honest. It’s a bit of a free-for-all, but we look to dominate the air, we look to retrieve the ball and hold onto the ball. It’s a great platform to attack off and that’s how we see it.
“It’s part of the game you have to adapt to, and we’ve looked at it and seen how we can deal with it.”
Baloucoune could team up with fullback Hugo Keenan and left wing Mack Hansen in the Irish back three, with Connacht man Hansen returning after a year out of the Ireland set-up due to injury.
Baloucoune can be a difference-maker for Ireland. Photosport / Craig Butland/INPHO
Photosport / Craig Butland/INPHO / Craig Butland/INPHO
He was previously a pivotal player for Ireland, mainly from the right wing, and Baloucoune is excited about the prospect of combining with him at some point.
“He’s been flying,” says Baloucoune of Hansen.
“He’s a baller. It’s good to train with him and see the way he works and the way he plays. It’s something I want to base my game on as well.
“He’s really good as a distributor as well as being on the wing and beating players, so I’m really excited to see him play and hopefully play alongside him.”
Whatever about Hansen, there will be excitement among the Ireland management about what Baloucoune can achieve in what will essentially be his second season of international rugby.
While injuries still struck at different stages of the 2025/26 campaign, Baloucoune believes he has learned to manage his previously troublesome hamstring issues better, thanks to the input of Ireland physio Emma Galvin and the backroom team at Ulster.
His breakthrough for Ireland meant Baloucoune got more supporters sending him messages or coming up to him in public to ask for a photo last season.
“I’m easily spotted as well, to be fair, when I’m walking around Belfast,” says Baloucoune with a smile.
He approaches this new campaign expecting to kick on.
“I’ve got a bit more confidence from those performances, a bit more confidence in myself to perform,” says Baloucoune.
“So it’s probably the standard that I expect from myself when I’m coming into camp. It’s definitely a different feeling than what I’ve been used to, but I’m still in the same spot of having to come in and perform and set the pressures of trying to do the best that I can.”
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'I've got a bit more confidence in myself' - Baloucoune ready to rock for Ireland
IT DOESN’T SIT well with Rob Baloucoune that he hasn’t scored a try yet this season.
He hasn’t played much – this week’s Ireland game against Argentina will be his fourth of the campaign – and his main goal in these early-season months was just being fit and available for selection, but the Ulster wing wants a few five-pointers.
He’ll aim to start putting that right against the Pumas on Friday night in Dublin, having scored 12 tries in his 13 appearances for Ulster, Ireland and Ireland A last season.
If Ireland get off to a winning start to their November schedule, 29-year-old Baloucoune will be happy, but he’s the kind of player who wants to be listed among the try-scorers.
“Every time I’m on the pitch, I want to score,” says Baloucoune
“You probably need that if you want to score as well.”
The role of a modern-day wing is about more than just tries, but it’s clear that good things will happen for Ireland if they can get the ball into the pacy, elusive Baloucoune’s hands.
His introduction on the right wing was one reason Andy Farrell’s side turned their Six Nations campaign around this year after a tough start away to France.
Baloucoune was named breakthrough player of the championship but an injury in the final game against Scotland, when Ireland clinched the Triple Crown, meant he was subsequently sidelined for several months.
Baloucoune made it back for Ulster’s Challenge Cup final loss to Montpellier, scoring a scintillating solo try in Bilbao, but another injury meant he missed the first two Tests of Ireland’s July window in the Nations Championship.
He returned for the closing loss to New Zealand, but didn’t have much influence on the game as the ball failed to find its way into his hands.
“There are games like that,” says Baloucoune. “I spoke to the coaches as well about it.
“How do you get involved in that, and there’s always bits and pieces you can do. I do get off my wing, but sometimes the ball doesn’t come; you don’t see the ball just depending on the circumstances of the game and stuff, so it’s just what I can do off the ball if that’s the case.”
Baloucoune’s aerial work is another strength in his game, with the explosive 6ft 3ins wing well capable of winning aerial contests.
Ulster have used him to retrieve short restarts with great success early this season and Ireland will be looking for Baloucoune to come up with more wins under kicks this month.
“We go pretty hard at it in training,” said Baloucoune of this area of the game.
“I’d say we do it every session, we’ve got some sort of focus on the aerial battle, and it is a huge part of the game now.
“It’s a bit hectic, to be honest. It’s a bit of a free-for-all, but we look to dominate the air, we look to retrieve the ball and hold onto the ball. It’s a great platform to attack off and that’s how we see it.
“It’s part of the game you have to adapt to, and we’ve looked at it and seen how we can deal with it.”
Baloucoune could team up with fullback Hugo Keenan and left wing Mack Hansen in the Irish back three, with Connacht man Hansen returning after a year out of the Ireland set-up due to injury.
He was previously a pivotal player for Ireland, mainly from the right wing, and Baloucoune is excited about the prospect of combining with him at some point.
“He’s been flying,” says Baloucoune of Hansen.
“He’s a baller. It’s good to train with him and see the way he works and the way he plays. It’s something I want to base my game on as well.
“He’s really good as a distributor as well as being on the wing and beating players, so I’m really excited to see him play and hopefully play alongside him.”
Whatever about Hansen, there will be excitement among the Ireland management about what Baloucoune can achieve in what will essentially be his second season of international rugby.
While injuries still struck at different stages of the 2025/26 campaign, Baloucoune believes he has learned to manage his previously troublesome hamstring issues better, thanks to the input of Ireland physio Emma Galvin and the backroom team at Ulster.
His breakthrough for Ireland meant Baloucoune got more supporters sending him messages or coming up to him in public to ask for a photo last season.
“I’m easily spotted as well, to be fair, when I’m walking around Belfast,” says Baloucoune with a smile.
He approaches this new campaign expecting to kick on.
“I’ve got a bit more confidence from those performances, a bit more confidence in myself to perform,” says Baloucoune.
“So it’s probably the standard that I expect from myself when I’m coming into camp. It’s definitely a different feeling than what I’ve been used to, but I’m still in the same spot of having to come in and perform and set the pressures of trying to do the best that I can.”
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Argentina Ireland Nations Championship right wing Rob Baloucoune the cat