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Rising Ulster star smashes Irish schools sprint records

By Josh Raisey
Binge drinking has generated negative headlines for rugby in Ireland (Getty Images/Dino Panato)

Ulster’s 18-year-old winger Aaron Sexton has broken both the senior boys’ 100- and 200-metre times at the All-Ireland Schools’ Track and Field Championships.

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The Ulsterman ran a time of 10.43 in the 100m and 20.69 in the 200m, smashing the 21.06 he ran at the World Under-20 Championships in Finland last year.

The video of Sexton running these times was shared by former Ulster and Ireland flanker Neil Best, who, like many Ulster fans, must be very excited for what the future holds for their player.  

Sexton made his debut for Ulster as a 17-year-old in a pre-season match last August against Gloucester, but is yet to make his competitive debut for the Kingspan Stadium outfit. However, at 6ft 4ins, the teenager looks to be a very promising prospect.

The idea of Sexton and Jacob Stockdale occupying either flank for Ulster over the next decade is something that could make the province a real force in European rugby again.

This is Sexton running both races:

After being clocked running 37.8 kmph before, Sexton has been touted by many as the fastest man in Irish rugby, something that he only confirmed with these recent times.

While 10.43 seconds is an impressive time, especially given his size, it is by no means unique. In the southern hemisphere, a bidding war has opened up over New Zealand-born sprint sensation Edward Osei-Nketia. The 17-year-old dominated sports headlines in New Zealand media earlier this year for his exploits in track and field.

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He clocked a blistering personal best time of 10.19 seconds and he is already New Zealand’s fourth fastest sprinter.

Similarly, Australia Sevens recently signed sprint sensation Trae Williams, who has clocked a time of 10.13 in the 100m. Nonetheless, Sexton will still be up there with some of the fastest in world rugby.

WATCH: Episode one of The Academy, the six-part RugbyPass documentary series on how Leicester Tigers develop their young players 

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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