Paddy Wallace

Patrick Wallace (born 27 August 1979) is an Ireland rugby union player who played for Ireland's national team and played for Ulster.

A native of Belfast, he attended Rockport School and Campbell College.

He was a member of the Ireland U19 side (which also included Brian O'Driscoll) that lifted the U19 World Cup in 1998.

This secured the talented Wallace the Ulster Number 15 shirt for the next series of games including the 27–21 defeat of Edinburgh to lift the Celtic Cup, Ulster's first piece of silverware since the famous 1999 European Cup triumph, and the 33–0 thumping of Leicester Tigers at Ravenhill in January 2004, in the return leg of the Tigers' fixture though he had a torrid time playing at full-back and was relegated to the bench for the majority of the remainder of the season.

Wallace had 3 more starts that season, twice at outside centre and once again at fullback, all due to injuries to other squad members.

He was though successfully used as an impact substitute off the bench scoring a number of tries from here.

Wallace burst on to the scene at the beginning of the 2001/02 season putting in a number of top class performances from fullback or out-half for Ulster.

His wacky sidesteps and flamboyant goose-steps made him a favourite with the Ravenhill supporters.

He soon became a regular and was selected to play for Ireland A against the touring New Zealand All Blacks at Ravenhill.

Although Ireland lost 43–30 Wallace put in an extremely accomplished performance as well as kicking 20 points.

He was a regular in both the Ulster and Ireland A teams for the remainder of the season, indeed helping the Ireland A team to a Shadow 6 Nations Triple Crown.

Wallace began the 2002/03 season as Ulster's first choice fullback but a broken leg in a Celtic League game away to Swansea at St. Helens meant he would miss the majority of the remainder of the season.

He would return in time though to help his club, Ballymena, win the AIB All Ireland League Title, defeating Clontarf in the final at Lansdowne Road.

He began the 2003/04 season in the Number 10 shirt for Ulster due to David Humphreys absence because of the impending Rugby World Cup in Australia.

After fellow Ulster player Jonny Bell was ruled out of the tournament with an achilles tendon injury the uncapped Wallace was called up to the Ireland Squad.

Although a great experience for the young Wallace he saw no game time.

When he returned to Ulster, he had lost his place at fullback to the ever-consistent Bryn Cunningham, and the No10 slot to the returning David Humpreys.

It seems in hindsight the best thing for Wallace would actually have been to stay with Ulster and play regular Celtic League rugby.

Having been left out of the squad for the opening Heineken Cup game away to the Newport Gwent Dragons he was drafted into the 22 for the visit of French giants Stade Français to Ravenhill after an injury to Australian international centre Ryan Constable.

He would come on as a second-half replacement for Bryn Cunningham and score the winning try.

The 2004/05 season started well for Wallace; playing from out-half he hit the winning drop goal in the 17–16 defeat of Edinburgh at Murrayfield but after this the Ulster team and he both suffered a massive dip in form.

After the home defeat to Leinster in September 2004 he was relegated to the bench to accommodate David Humphreys at out-half.

He made a number of appearances off the bench in this period but having come on for David Humphreys in the away Heineken Cup defeat to Gloucester he damaged knee ligaments that would see him ruled out until the new year.

With the Autumn Internationals directly after the Gloucester game and Humphreys involved with Ireland, Wallace would have had a chance to get a run of games for Ulster in the no. 10 shirt if it were not for this unfortunate injury.

As it where he would make his return to the Ulster bench in the 9–8 away defeat to Leinster at Donnybrook, Dublin.

Having then come on as a replacement in the 14–12 home win over Gloucester he started the following game, away to Cardiff Blues, at fullback.

His next appearance in an Ulster shirt would be in the home glamour friendly against the touring South African team the Bulls.

Having come on at out-half for Adam Larkin he put in a decent showing reminding the Ulster management of what he was capable of.

The Ireland A team had a one-off fixture with France A at Donnybrook, Dublin with Wallace, playing out-half and kicking 12 points in the 15–9 triumph, putting in an accomplished display.

He subsequently regained the position of back-up out-half to David Humphreys and started in the 21–15 away defeat to Munster.

Injury to Humphreys towards the end of the season gave Wallace two further starts in Celtic League games against Cardiff Blues and Llanelli Scarlets.

He was selected by Ireland to tour Japan over the summer where he would have won his first full cap but his injury jinx struck again and a broken hand ruled him out.

He began the 2005/06 season as Ulster's back up out-half and an injury to Bryn Cunningham meant Wallace played the opening 4 games of Ulster's Celtic League campaign from fullback putting in some solid performances including an important kicking display in the 22–19 away victory over the Dragons.

Once Cunningham returned Wallace was once again relegated to the bench as cover for Humphreys.

Having sat on the bench for a number of games he finally got another start at home to the Ospreys whilst Humphreys was on Ireland duty.

Wallace played poorly that night and his lack of game time was apparent.

After discussions with Ulster coach Mark McCall it was decided it would be better for Wallace to go and play for his club, Ballymena, and get 80 minutes week in, week out.

His next appearance in an Ulster shirt that season was not even in the white of the senior team but the black shirts of the Ulster A team in the 24–19 defeat to Leinster A where Wallace played Inside Centre.

He would continue to play for Ballymena before being once again drafted into the Ulster 22 for the Heineken Cup fixture away to Treviso where he came off the bench to score a try in the 43–26 bonus point win.

He was a member of the Ireland Grand Slam winning team of 2009.