Zac Ward
{{Short description|Irish rugby union player}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Zac Ward
| image = Zac Ward - Fiji vs. Ireland, 2024 Summer Olympic rugby sevens, men's quarter-final, 2024-07-25 (57) (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Ward during Ireland's 2024 Summer Olympic quarter-finals
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|12|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = Ballynahinch, County Down
| height =
| weight =
| school = Down High School
| university =
| relatives =
| ru_sevensnationalyears1 =2021–
| ru_sevensnationalteam1 =Ireland
| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 =
| medals=
{{Medal|Sport|Men's rugby sevens}}
{{MedalCountry|{{IRL}}}}
{{Medal|Competition|European Games}}
{{Medal|Gold|2023 Kraków–Małopolska|{{nowrap|Team competition}}}}
| clubs1 = Ulster
| years1 = 2024–
| apps1 =8
| poinst1 =15
| ru_clubupdate = 26 April 2025
| repyears1 = 2024
| repteam1 = Emerging Ireland
| repcaps1 = 2
| reppoints1 = 5
| ru_ntupdate = 9 October 2024
}}
Zac Ward (born 11 December 1998) is an Irish rugby union player.{{Cite web |last=Control_ |title=Zac Ward – Team Ireland |url=https://olympics.ie/athlete/zac-ward/ |access-date=2024-07-22 |language=en-GB}} He represents Ireland internationally at Rugby Sevens, and joined Ulster from the 2024–25 season. He is the son of former International Andy Ward.
Early life
By 2004, Ward was already playing age group rugby in Ulster.{{cite web|url=https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/andy-ward-time-for-zac-to-take-the-centre-stage/28187098.html|website=Belfast Telegraph|title= Andy Ward: Time for Zac to take the centre stage|date=19 April 2004|accessdate=28 June 2023}} He attended Down High School,{{cite web|url= https://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/inst-hit-a-rich-vein-of-form-as-they-chase-back-to-back-ulster-titles/34386566.html|title= Inst hit a rich vein of form as they chase back-to-back Ulster titles|first=Tony|last=Ward|date=22 January 2016|accessdate=28 June 2023|website=Independent.ie}} and Hartpury College.{{cite web|url=https://hartpuryrfc.co.uk/rfc-news/the-season-starts-early-for-no-less-than-12-hartpury-connections-named-in-singha-premiership-7s-squads/|title= The season starts early for no less than 12 Hartpury connections named in Singha Premiership 7s squads|accessdate=28 June 2023|website=Hartpuryrfc}}
Career
In November 2021, Ward was called up to the Ireland Sevens squad for the World Rugby Sevens Series event in Dubai.{{cite web|url=https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/four-ulster-players-named-in-ireland-sevens-squads-ahead-of-world-series-return/41084097.html|title= Four Ulster players named in Ireland Sevens squads ahead of World Series return|date=24 November 2021|accessdate=28 June 2023|website=Belfast Telegraph}} In May 2023, Ward featured as Ireland finished sixth at the World Rugby Sevens Series event in London.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2023/05/21/ireland-men-end-world-series-with-sixth-place-finish-in-london/|title= Ireland Men End World Series With Sixth Place Finish In London|website=Irish Rugby|date=21 May 2023|accessdate=28 June 2023}} Ward was then selected for the Ireland squad for the 2023 European Games held in Kraków in June 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2023/06/25/ireland-men-begin-olympic-qualifier-with-brace-of-wins/ |title= Ireland Men Begin Olympic Qualifier With Brace Of Wins|date=25 June 2023|accessdate=28 June 2023|website=Irish Rughy}} Ward played with in the final against Great Britain, with Ireland winning gold in the tournament and therefore qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games.{{cite web|title=European Games: Ireland sevens beat Great Britain 26-12 in final to qualify for 2024 Olympic Games|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/northern-ireland/66034903|date=27 June 2023|accessdate=28 June 2023|website=BBC Sport}} In May 2024 he won the Men's Sevens Players' Player of the Year in the Rugby Players Ireland Awards.[https://www.irishrugby.ie/2024/05/22/aki-and-wafer-win-player-of-the-year-awards/ "Aki And Wafer Win Player Of The Year Awards"], Irish Rugby, 22 May 2024
In June 2024, he was confirmed in the Irish squad for the 2024 Paris Olympics.{{Cite web |title=Ireland Sevens Squads Confirmed For 2024 Paris Olympics |url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2024/06/17/ireland-sevens-squads-confirmed-for-2024-paris-olympics/ |access-date=17 July 2024}} In August 2024 He joined Ulster on a trial basis until the autumn international window.[https://ulster.rugby/content/zac-ward-to-join-senior-mens-team-on-trial-basis?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0UI6SKC3BaaKvgAwNfUw9aSWS7oW5lnquAzY9KHQXk8A24TDQNsqUnIFo_aem_5wgraBF4JImTSiYE8nchRQ&ai "Zac Ward to join Senior Men’s team on trial basis"], Ulster Rugby, 19 August 2024 He was named in the Ulster starting XV for his debut in the European Rugby Champions Cup against Union Bordeaux Bègles on 14 December 2024.{{cite web|title=Ireland Sevens star set for Ulster debut as international figures recalled for Bordeaux tie|website=Belfast Telegraph|date=13 December 2024|accessdate=13 December 2024|first=Adam|last=McKendry|url=https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/ireland-sevens-star-set-for-ulster-debut-as-international-figures-recalled-for-bordeaux-tie/a786629985.html}} Shortly afterwards he signed a three-year contact with Ulster keeping him at the club until 2028.{{cite web|website=BBC Sport|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/clyk759rdz3o.amp|accessdate=19 December 2024|title= Winger Ward signs three-year deal with Ulster|date=19 December 2024}}
Personal life
He is the son of former rugby union International Andy Ward and was born during his father’s triumphant 1998–99 Heineken Cup campaign with Ulster Rugby.{{cite web|url=https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/ward-passion-for-ulster-runs-deep/28210987.html|title= Ward passion for Ulster runs deep|first=Gavin|last=Mairs|date=6 May 2004|accessdate=28 June 2023|website=Belfast Telegraph}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Ulster Rugby squad}}
{{Ireland Men's 2024 Summer Olympics Squad}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ward, Zac}}
Category:Irish rugby union players
Category:Ireland international rugby sevens players
Category:People educated at Down High School
Category:Alumni of Hartpury College
Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2023 European Games
Category:European Games medalists in rugby sevens
Category:European Games gold medalists for Ireland
Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2024 Summer Olympics