Angus Curtis says he wants to take every opportunity to get more game time following his recent injury issues with Ulster.
23-year-old Ulster centre Angus Curtis has gained good game time for Ulster this season for the first time since a nasty knee injury that kept him out for over 16 months.
Born in Zimbabwe, Curtis made his Ulster debut against Glasgow at the end of the 2017-2018 season. Alongside playing for Ireland Under 20’s this led to more game time with the senior team.
“I got a good few games at the back end of that season and the beginning of the next. I then had a few injury problems which put me out for the rest of that season,” Curtis said.
Curtis managed to get back fit and back in the side for a game against Leinster over the Christmas inter-pros in 2019 when he suffered an ACL injury at the RDS.
“It was a frustrating one as I got back from one setback and was starting to feel good and then that happened.”
He began doing creative rehab with Dan Soper to keep active and was also given time to go back to Zimbabwe when lockdown hit.
“For the first five months of my rehab it was all over facetime and zoom,” Curtis added.
“It was very difficult as I had never done a knee injury and it was quite a complicated one so it was hard to describe in terms of what it felt like and where it was sore and if I was moving well.
“When I got back here [Belfast] it was a bit more straightforward once I could get some hands-on [treatment].”
The Return
Curtis returned for Ulster in the Rainbow Cup in May of last year. Recent Injuries to Stewart Moore and Stuart McCloskey meant he has started over the last few weeks. The biggest coming in his first European start against Clermont.
“It was a huge occasion and probably one of my biggest games. I’ve played a few European games but never had a start.
“Take into account all the injuries and the fact I haven’t played too much this season obviously I was nervous.
“But as professional rugby players, you want to be going out in environments like that.”
Curtis scored in Ulster’s last game a 32-12 victory over Connacht. A team which his father David played for, who had 13 caps for Ireland as a player and too was a centre.
“I was on the phone to him after the game as I always am,” Curtis added.
“It would have been close to midnight for him [with the time difference] and he was still up.”
He will be looking to continue and gain more game time.
“I am not taking it for granted boys get fit and internationals come back. It is just about me taking every opportunity I get,” he added.
“It is all about being as competitive I can be.”
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