NB: LOTE TUQURI (Australia)

Is there anyone you fear on or off the pitch and who?

NB: MY DAD

What is it like walking onto Ravenhill for every match?

NB: IT IS THE GREATEST FEELING EVER, IT MAKES ME PROUD TO BE AN ULSTERMAN AND PLAY FOR MY PROVINCE

Do you like getting all muddy when it pours at Ravenhill?

NB: I DON'T LIKE PLAYING IN THE RAIN.

What has been your best moment in an Ulster shirt?

NB: BEATING LEICESTER 33 - 0 AT RAVENHILL AND THEY WERE LUCKY TO GET NIL!

How did it feel winning your first cap for Ireland?

NB: REALLY GOOD, I HAD WORKED SO HARD AND IT WAS AWESOME TO WIN MY FIRST CAP AGAINST THE ALL BLACKS AT LANSDOWNE ROAD, MY MUM, DAD AND BROTHERS WERE IN THE CROWD WHICH MADE IT EVEN MORE SPECIAL

When you were younger who was your favourite rugby player?

NB: ANDRE VENTER (SOUTH AFRICA)

Where has the best atmosphere Ravenhill or Lansdowne?

NB: NO CONTEST, IT HAS TO BE RAVERS

Who has been your hardest opponents to against with Ulster and Ireland?

NB: IRELAND - LOTE TUQURI

NB: ULSTER: WE CAN HOLD OUR OWN WITH THE OPPOSITION BUT ROBBIE KEMPSON IS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST PLAYERS I HAVE EVER COME ACCROSS IN TRAINING

Does the crowd ever have any impact on the team's performance? 

NB: THE ULSTER RUGBY SUPPORTERS ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD AND THEIR SUPPORT AT THE GAMES REALLY LIFTS US ON THE PITCH.

Do you think the Ravenhill atmosphere could be replicated at a much larger venue?

NB: IT IS THE FANS THAT MAKE RAVENHILL NOT RAVENHILL THAT MAKES THE FANS

What has been your proudest moment of your career so far?

NB: MY FIRST ULSTER CAP

Who do you consider to be the World's best player in your position at this moment in time? (Apart from yourself of course!!)

NB: IMANOL HARINORDOQUY

What went through your head when Humph dropped his goal against the Ospreys to win the League?

NB: I THOUGHT HE HAD MISSED IT AND WE HAD LOST, NOBODY WAS CHEERING AND EVERYONE WAS RUNNING BACK, THEN I TWIGGED ON!! I WAS SO HAPPY

Where do you stand on Cheerleaders?

NB: IF THEY CAN ADD TO THE ATMOSPHERE AT YES!!

What was it like to walk out onto the pitch and have to face the haka?

NB: VERY ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE TO WITNESS THE HAKA, IT DIDN'T RAISE ANY EMOTION IN ME

What or who inspired you 2 pursue a career in rugby?

NB: I AM ATHLETIC AND ENJOY SPORTS AND BEING PART OF A TEAM AND RUGBY AFFORDS THESE THINGS.

How influential in your career were your early days at Cooke? What words of advice would you have to any 13, 14 year olds at junior clubs who look up to Ulster players and aspire to be like them in 10 or so years time?

NB: COOKE WAS V IMPORTANT; DREW, SPUD MURPHY AND PHIL K ET ALL WERE BIG INFLUENCES ON ME.

LISTEN TO YOUR COACHES AND STICK AT IT, I DIDNT START PLAYING PROFFESIONALLY UNTIL I WAS 23. WITH HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION ANYTHING IS ACHEIVABLE

After a super season last year you were selected to travel to the Southern Hemisphere for 3 tests with Ireland what were the highs and lows of the tour?

NB: THE HIGHS INCLUDED JUST BEING SELECTED AND BEING ON THE STARTING 15

THE LOWS INCLUDED: FLYING SO FAR AWAY FROM HOME AND THE LONG FLIGHT AND BEING COUPED UP IN THE HOTEL ROOM

What do you feel is the best part of your game?

NB: MY ATTITUDE, MY DESIRE TO WIN, MY LIFESTYLE CHOICES ARE GEARED TOWARDS MY PERFORMANCE AS A PRO RUGBY PLAYERS

Do you want to play abroad and if yes where?

NB ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE

What was it like winning the Celtic League in Liberty Stadium against the Ospreys, especially with the victory coming so late on in the game?

NB: IT WAS VERY MEMORABLE, NERVE RACKING ANDEXCITING ALL AT ONCE!

Which of the European Cup group matches are you looking forward to the most?

NB: TOULOUSE AWAY, IF SELECTED

What’s your opinion on this years Magners league so far?

NB: I HAVE ONLY PLAYED ONE GAME, IT LOOKS LIKE A VERY TIGHT COMPETITION NOW. TEAMS THAT WERE GETTING BEATEN HEAVILY IN PREVIOUS SEASONS ARE DOING WELL WHICH BODES WELL FOR AN EXCITING SEASON.

Who do you predict will win?

NB: ULSTER.

Who will Ulster's most dangerous opponents be (inc. the games just played) whether it's individual players or teams?.

NB: ALL OPPONENTS ARE DANGEROUS, WE CANT AFFORD TO UNDERESTIMATE ANYONE. OUR FITNESS COACH PHIL MORROW ALWAYS SAYS, " IF I WAS GIVEN 6 HOURS TO CUT DOWN A TREE I WOULD SPEND 4 HOURS SHARPENING MY AXE"

Have you (or any of the Ulster squad) ever adopted a wild animal like an Orang-utan, Elephant or tiger, if not do you want to?

NB: NO, BUT I FULLY SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE WWF .

What are you career plans after rugby?

NB: I AM NOT SURE; I AM STUDYING AT THE MINUTE FOR MY CERTIFICATE IN FINANCIAL PLANNING WITH CRN FINANCIAL GROUP.

David Niven, Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan or Daniel Graig, who's the best?

NB: IT HAS TO BE SEAN CONNERY.

There are a few rugby players on the Ulster team who can step into your shoes, I just wondered if that worried you when you were waiting for your "REST" period to be complete.

NB: PEOPLE LOSE THEIR PLACES EVERY WEEK AND I WOULDNT WANT TO PLAY IF I KNEW I WASNT GOOD ENOUGH.