Tissues at the ready as Will bids farewell
AS he prepares to play his last home game for Sale Sharks, club captain Will Addison admits the decision to leave the club he has called home for nearly a decade brought him to tears.
However, the 25-year-old academy graduate says the chance to test himself in a new environment at Ulster – and potentially follow in the footsteps of his boyhood hero Brian O’Driscoll in the Ireland midfield – was too good to turn down.
Addison, a former England U20 international, qualifies for the Grand Slam champions through his Belfast-born mother.
“I probably had a week to decide and I was quite tearful for most of that week. When I told the squad, I was pretty upset but, at the same time, I am really excited by the challenge ahead,” he said.
“I have huge family ties with Ulster. My mum’s Irish and I am one of 19 first cousins. Three of them were all involved in the age-grade teams at Ulster. A lot of my uncles are fans and they’ll be coming over to the Kingspan on a Friday night, so it’ll be good to see more of them.”
Addison exercised a break-clause in his Sale contract allowing him to be released early if an Irish province came calling.
“I never sought out a move but when they asked about me it felt like the right decision. I know they have struggled this season, but their academy is like Sale’s, they’ve got a lot of young talent coming through and I think it is an exciting time to be involved with Ulster.
“What with my own motivation to try something new and the international aspirations I have, it all kind of fell into place.”
Ill-timed injuries ruined any chance Addison had of stepping up into the England senior team, and he has no qualms about his new choice of allegiance.
“There is a World Cup potentially in a year and a half’s time and for me to put my best foot forward, I felt it was the right time to make this decision,” he explained.
“When I was growing up my hero was Brian O’Driscoll, below. There are a lot of good midfielders in Ireland at the moment, and that probably comes from kids like me copying everything he did, so it is going to be tough.
“My first job is to get into the Ulster side, experience new coaching and a new environment and make myself a better player.”
Addison returned earlier than expected from a grade two MCL tear to start yesterday’s match against Exeter at full-back and gets the chance to say a fond farewell to the AJ Bell faithful against Leicester on Saturday.
“I had a bit of an unlucky injury against Worcester. One of their big fellas landed on the bottom half of my leg and I tore my MCL. I’d have been upset had that been the way I’d have gone out but, luckily, I got myself back fit in five weeks instead of seven.
“We’ve got Leicester coming up to the AJ Bell and, by all accounts, we could have our first sell-out for a long time. We always seem to have a good game against them and we have started to play some really good rugby, so fingers crossed it will be a nice way to bow out there.”
Sale have been in the running for a play-off spot or top six place since the turn of the year and Addison believes his soon-to-be former club will be regular contenders from now on.
“I have every confidence that Sale will be a part of that conversation every year and will continue to go from strength to strength,” he said.
“It made my decision a lot harder knowing the quality that is coming through our academy and the signings we have made.
“The new ownership has brought some real enthusiasm behind the scenes and that has transferred to the pitch as well.”