Roger Wilson (rugby union)

Roger Wilson (born 21 September 1981) is an Irish rugby union footballer. He plays for Ulster, having returned to the province from the Northampton Saints at the start of the 2012–13 season. He initially left Ulster for Northampton in 2008.

Career

Despite a one-time interest in a football career, Wilson played school rugby at RBAI and was a member of the 1998 and 2000 schools cup winning teams. After being spotted during his time at Trinity College, following a third division game, Wilson signed his first professional contract with Ulster. He held down a regular starting spot in the Ulster XV after his debut in September 2003 against the Ospreys, aged 21, and claimed the Ulster Player of the Year Award at the end of 2004–05.

Wilson won his first Ireland cap in June 2005 during the tour to Japan. He was also part of the Ireland A squad that participated in the Churchill Cup in the USA and Canada in June 2006. Wilson played every game for Ulster in the 2006–07 season and accumulated the most minutes on the pitch (1,591 minutes and 26 caps). He was again selected for the Ireland A Churchill Cup Tour in June 2007. Wilson was named Bank of Ireland Player of the Year for the 2006–07 season.

On 25 January 2008, Northampton Saints announced that he has signed to the club for the 2008–09 season. He became a regular starter and earned over 100 caps for the Saints. On 18 January 2012, Ulster confirmed that Wilson was to return to the province for the start of next season. He joined Ulster on a three-year deal.

In May 2014 he was called up to play for the Barbarians against an England XV and in the same month he was Ireland's only representative in a World XV which played in an exhibition game against South Africa.

Wilson has commented that he has been frustrated at not being able to play more for Ireland, however he is happy that he has been able to sustain a long career at the highest level of professional rugby. Wilson has now played nearly 200 games for Ulster and is currently the oldest member of the team.

Wilson was called up to the senior Ireland squad for the 2015 Six Nations Championship.

Honours

Ulster Rugby

• Celtic Cup: Winners 2003
• Celtic League: Winners 2006

Northampton Saints

• European Rugby Challenge Cup: Winners 2009
• LV Cup: Winners 2010
• Heineken Cup: Runners-Up 2011

Personal life

It was reported by Northern Ireland's In! magazine that Wilson would marry his Brazilian girlfriend Nathalia Melo and the couple were married in June 2015. Nathalia is now professionally known as Nathalia Melo-Wilson. His grandfather, Harry McKibbin and his two uncles, Harry Jnr and Alastair, have also represented Ireland at rugby union.