FOOTBALL was the first love of Worcester Warriors hooker Niall Annett.

The proud Ulsterman enjoyed played at right-back as a youngster and watching his dad, Ken, play semi-professionally for Lisburn Distillery in County Down.

It wasn’t until Annett went to Methodist College Belfast, who have won the Ulster Schools Cup a record 35 times, that his passion for rugby gathered pace.

“My dad was a footballer and played semi-professionally in Northern Ireland so football was probably my first love in terms of sport,” recalled Annett. “My dad enjoyed his football and had a proposed move to Coventry City fall through.

“I played both rugby and football when I was growing up and I moved into Methodist College Belfast and that’s where the rugby took off and I haven’t looked back.”

Belfast-born Annett captained his Schools Cup team and played 18 games for Ireland Under 20s, skippering the side on 11 occasions.

He played under Mike Ruddock and Allan Clarke and was in the Ireland team with the likes of Simon Zebo, Rhys Ruddock and Jordi Murphy.

Annett progressed through the academy at Ulster and was a professional at the club for two years.

The 23-year-old moved to Sixways in the summer, partly because Rory Best’s form was limiting his first-team opportunities at Ulster.

“It was a fantastic experience at Ulster and something I will always enjoy and look back on,” he said. “I was born and bred there and it’s my place of birth and it will always feel like home.

“The crowd are brilliant - passionate and fantastic but I felt like it was a time for me to change, develop and try to get some more game-time.”

The Northern Irishman has made 13 appearances for Warriors, having started the last three matches in the Greene King IPA Championship.

“I learned from Rory Best and I am continuing to learn from Gus Creevy,” he said. “Those guys have fantastic experience and I have an opportunity to get more regular game-time at Worcester.”