Iain Henderson

Iain Henderson is a highly accomplished rugby union player, serving as captain for Ulster Rugby and representing the Ireland national team, with selections for two British & Irish Lions tours. After making his senior Ulster debut in April 2012 and his full international debut for Ireland against South Africa in November of the same year, Iain Henderson quickly established himself as a formidable presence in professional rugby. Acknowledged early for his talent, he received the Jack Kyle Academy Bursary (£2,000) from the Ulster Rugby Official Supporters Club in December 2011 and was named Young Player of the Year at the 2013 Ulster Rugby Awards. Henderson signed his first professional contract with Ulster in October 2012 and swiftly progressed, contributing to Ulster’s run to the 2013 Pro12 Grand Final.

In January 2019, Henderson marked his 100th appearance for Ulster against Leicester Tigers in the European Rugby Champions Cup, a significant club milestone. That same year, he was appointed captain of Ulster, succeeding Rory Best, and represented Ireland at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. He further led Ulster to the 2020 Pro14 Grand Final. His leadership prowess was further recognized when he captained Ireland for the first time in February 2021, a role he reprised in a warm-up game against Italy in August 2023.

This year also saw him contribute to another Six Nations Championship victory with Ireland, further cementing his status as a key figure in both club and international rugby. As the reigning captain for Ulster Rugby and a celebrated international player with multiple Grand Slam and Lions tour selections, Henderson remains one of the most respected and marketable talents in global rugby.