Zac Ward

Zac Ward

Ward during Ireland's 2024 Summer Olympic quarter-finals
Born	(1998-12-11) 11 December 1998 (age 26) Ballynahinch, County Down
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	104 kg (229 lb; 16 st 5 lb)
School	Down High School
Notable relative	Andy Ward (father)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, wing Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Ballynahinch RFC Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2024– Ulster 13 (20) Correct as of 25 October 2025 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2024 Emerging Ireland 2 (5) Correct as of 9 October 2024 National sevens team Years Team Comps 2021–2024 Ireland
Medal record Men's rugby sevens Representing   Ireland European Games 2023 Kraków–Małopolska Team competition

Zac Ward (born 11 December 1998) is an Irish rugby union player ^[1] who plays wing for Ulster. He formerly represented Ireland internationally at Rugby Sevens, and played for Emerging Ireland in 2024. He is the son of former Ulster captain and Ireland international Andy Ward.

Early life

Ward was born during the quarter-final of Ulster's 1999 Heineken Cup-winning campaign. His father, Andy, who was playing in the match, was substituted and given a police escort from Ravenhill to Lagan Valley Hospital to be with his wife, Wendy, as she gave birth. ^{[2] [3]}

By 2004, Ward was already playing age group rugby in Ulster. ^[4] He attended Down High School, ^[5] and Hartpury College. ^[6]

Career

Ward's senior rugby career began with Ballynahinch in the All-Ireland League, where he played flanker. ^[7]

In November 2021, he was called up to the Ireland Sevens squad for the World Rugby Sevens Series event in Dubai. ^[8] In May 2023, he featured as Ireland finished sixth at the World Rugby Sevens Series event in London. ^[9] He was then selected for the Ireland squad for the 2023 European Games held in Kraków in June 2023. ^[10] He played in the final against Great Britain, with Ireland winning gold in the tournament and qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games. ^[11] In May 2024 he won the Men's Sevens Players' Player of the Year in the Rugby Players Ireland Awards. ^[12] He was selected for the 2024 Paris Olympics, ^[13] where Ireland made the quarter-finals. ^[14]

He joined Ulster on a trial basis in August 2024. ^[15] He switched position to wing, and played in two pre-season friendlies, before representing Emerging Ireland in the 2024 Toyota Challenge in South Africa, scoring a try against the Pumas. ^[16] He made his competitive debut for Ulster in the Champions Cup against Bordeaux in December 2024. ^{[17] [18]} Shortly afterwards he signed a three-year contact with Ulster keeping him at the club until 2028. ^[19] He was called up as a training panellist for Ireland's tour to Georgia and Portugal in the summer of 2025. ^[20]

References

1. Control_. "Zac Ward – Team Ireland" . Retrieved 2024-07-22.
2. Jennifer Doherty, "Ulster rugby hero celebrates double", Belfast Telegraph, 12 December 1998
3. Mairs, Gavin (6 May 2004). "Ward passion for Ulster runs deep". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
4. "Andy Ward: Time for Zac to take the centre stage". Belfast Telegraph. 19 April 2004. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
5. Ward, Tony (22 January 2016). "Inst hit a rich vein of form as they chase back-to-back Ulster titles". Independent.ie. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
6. "The season starts early for no less than 12 Hartpury connections named in Singha Premiership 7s squads". Hartpuryrfc. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
7. Neil Treacy, "Zac Ward earns Ulster contract after impressive trial", RTÉ, 19 December 2024
8. "Four Ulster players named in Ireland Sevens squads ahead of World Series return". Belfast Telegraph. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
9. "Ireland Men End World Series With Sixth Place Finish In London". Irish Rugby. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
10. "Ireland Men Begin Olympic Qualifier With Brace Of Wins". Irish Rughy. 25 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
11. "European Games: Ireland sevens beat Great Britain 26-12 in final to qualify for 2024 Olympic Games". BBC Sport. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
12. "Aki And Wafer Win Player Of The Year Awards", Irish Rugby, 22 May 2024
13. "Ireland Sevens Squads Confirmed For 2024 Paris Olympics" . Retrieved 17 July 2024.
14. "Zac Ward’s dream Olympics", Mourne Observer, 31 July 2024
15. [https://ulster.rugby/content/zac-ward-to-join-senior-mens-team-on-trial-basis "Zac Ward to join Senior Men’s team on trial basis"[, Ulster Rugby, 19 August 2024
16. Seamus Maloney, [https://www.irishnews.com/sport/rugby/zac-ward-hoping-to-continue-learning-lessons-in-switch-from-rugby-sevens-to-15s-with-ulster-7HK2MZC76ZBM3D27RJGH22ZYY4/ "Zac Ward hoping to continue learning lessons in switch from rugby sevens to 15s with Ulster", The Irish News, 29 October 2024
17. McKendry, Adam (13 December 2024). "Ireland Sevens star set for Ulster debut as international figures recalled for Bordeaux tie". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
18. "Mixed emotions for wing Ward in debut for Ulster", BBC Sport, 16 December 2024
19. "Winger Ward signs three-year deal with Ulster". BBC Sport. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
20. "Ireland Men’s Squad Named For Summer Tour", Irish Rugby, 4 June 2025