James Hume is making strides in his return to rugby after a significant knee injury, while also taking on a mentorship role for younger players at Ulster. The 26-year-old centre, who recently returned to competitive action in the United Rugby Championship, emphasizes the importance of balancing personal recovery with team leadership.

Injury and Recovery

Hume underwent ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair, which sidelined him for 10 months. His return has been a boost for Ulster, who are currently 14th in the URC table and striving to secure a spot in next season's Champions Cup.

Mentorship and Team Dynamics

Hume is keen to mentor the younger players in the squad. "Being a senior player at 26 is pretty mental," he told BBC Sport NI. "I'm trying to get that balance of getting my own stuff right on coming back from injury but I do want to help the academy lads and the younger lads coming through as much as possible."

Building Momentum

Ulster's recent form has been inconsistent, but Hume is optimistic. "The position we are in at the moment, the younger players have a huge role in making the team better," he said. "We're putting everything into everything we're doing – our pitch sessions, our gym, our intensity has risen the past few weeks in training and I just hope that starts translating onto the pitch because we are putting the work in behind the scenes."

Future Prospects

Looking ahead, Hume is focused on helping Ulster climb the URC table and secure a place in European rugby. "It's just a matter of time before that clicks and hopefully we can get into that top eight and secure European rugby."