Tony McWhirter is an Irish former rugby union player, who played number eight and lock for Ulster.
A native of Ballymoney, County Antrim,Bruce McKendry, Champions: The Players' Story, IRFU (Ulster Branch), 1999, pp. 90-111 he attended Dalriada School, where he was part of the team that made the 1993 Ulster Schools' Cup final."Absent friends will be missed", Belfast Telegraph, 13 January 2000Jim Stokes, "Tony knows Ulster drill", Belfast Telegraph, 4 September 1998 He studied dentistry at the University of Dundee, while playing rugby for Dundee HSFP, and represented Ulster at under-20 and under-21 levels, and captained the Ireland under-21 side that won the Triple Crown in 1995-96."Ulster's McWhirter announces retirement", ESPN Rugby, 8 April 2004
Returning to Northern Ireland, he joined Ballymena R.F.C. and signed a part-time contract with Ulster for the 1997-98 season."Irish provincial contracts on offer to players", Irish Examiner, 18 July 1997 Under coach Tony Russ, he played in the second row. He signed a full-time contract for the 1998–99 season, and under coach Harry Williams he moved to his preferred position, number 8. He was part of the Ulster team who won the 1998–99 Heineken Cup. The following season, he moved to Dungannon RFC,Jim Stokes, "Dungannon's table is set", Belfast Telegraph, 18 August 1999 and was named Ulster's player of the year.Jim Stokes, "Humphreys is 'Mr Personality'", Belfast Telegraph, 19 May 2000 He was called up to the Ireland training squad ahead of the 2001 Six Nations Championship,Jim Stokes, "McWhirter trains his sights on Ireland slot", Belfast Telegraph, 9 January 2001 and was part of the Dungannon team that became the first Ulster club to win the All-Ireland League in 2001."Brilliant Dungannon crowned All-Ireland champions", Ulster Herald, 31 May 2001 He retired due to a hand injury at the end of the 2003-04 season,"McWhirter out and Clarke in", Belfast Telegraph, 9 April 2004 having made 94 appearances for Ulster. After retiring, he resumed his career as a dentist, while coaching rugby at Dalriada School.Frank Brownlow, "Ulster 1999: Where are they now?", Belfast Telegraph, 29 January 2009
References