David Humphreys

David George Humphreys was born in Belfast and educated at Ballymena Academy, Queens University and Oxford University. His international career began on 6th of April 1990 when he led the Irish Schools to a 12-10 win over Wales in Ravenhill, a ground he was to grow very familiar with over the coming years. That victory was the first leg of the Triple Crown and Humphreys was skipper in the subsequent wins over Scotland (Lansdowne Road) and England (Oxford).

He won his first Ireland U21 cap, against Scotland, in January 1993, a game played in Murrayfield that Ireland won 18-3 and later that year he earned his first A cap when he partnered Fergus Aherne in the game against Wales in Newport. He played once more for the A side in 1993 and was a member of the Ireland Development squad for the tour to South Africa, Namibia & Zimbabwe in the summer of that year.

On January 19th 1996, he was out-half on the Ireland A side that beat Scotland, 26-19 and one month later, almost to the day, he made his senior debut against France in Parc des Princes. The side was captained that day at full-back by Jim Staples and the only person remaining in the current side who played that day is Victor Costello

He gained further caps that season against Wales and England and the following year against Western Samoa but then lost out as Paul Burke and Eric Elwood entered the picture.

In the summer of ’97 he represented Ireland Students at the World Cup in South Africa and also played for Ireland in the World Cup Sevens in Hong Kong. Later that year he reclaimed his place on the Irish senior side – from Elwood – for the December game against Italy in Bologna. He played second fiddle to Elwood for much of 1998 but was first choice for the ’99 Six Nations and played in both summer Tests against the Wallabies in Australia.

First choice number 10 right through the 1999 World Cup, he then suffered for the debacle that was the opening Six Nations defeat by England at Twickenham and for the rest of the 2000 season he sat on the bench as the young Cork man made a name for himself.

Since then, it’s been a question of trading places. O’Gara in pole position in 2001, Humphreys back as first choice in 2002 – he captained the side against Italy – until he was dropped on the summer tour to New Zealand and now he returns to the side on Sunday.

He has been capped by Ulster 79 times and played a pivotal role in their Heineken Cup victory in 1999. He holds the record for the most points scored in a Heineken Cup match (37 v London Wasps).

Fact File.

Date of Birth: 10th September 1971.
Club: Dungannon.
Province: Ulster.
Height: 5′ 10″.
Weight: 13st.