A former pupil of Banbridge Academy and one of the longest-serving members of the Ulster Squad, Tyrone was playing club rugby for Dungannon, following his graduation from St Andrews University when he made his debut for the province in the 1992-93 season against Munster. He pursued his education at Oxford University where he won a blue for rugby, playing twice in the annual Varsity match against Cambridge, in 1994 and captaining the side in 1995.
A chronic groin injury forced him out of the game for three years during which he took up a teaching post in England and it was while playing for Division 3 side Newbury in England in 1998 that then Ulster Coach Harry Williams offered him a professional Ulster contract
Howe won the first of his 14 international caps on a summer tour against the USA in 2000 and made his Six Nations debut the following February against Rome in Italy. Undoubtedly the high point in his rugby career came in the summer of 2001 when he was called out to the British Lions Squad in Australia as a replacement for the injured Dan Luger. He won one Lions cap, starting the match against NSW Country in Coffs Harbour on 26th June 2001.
To date Tyrone has played 99 times for Ulster, most recently coming on as a replacement against Llanelli in January and scoring an injury time try.
“Tyrone is an extremely charismatic character and has been a hugely influential member of the Ulster squad for many years” said Ulster Coach Mark McCall. “His presence and contributions to the team, both on and off the field, were always positive and he will be very hard to replace. He always played with an incredible edge and had the ability to raise his game whenever it was needed. He will be hugely missed and on behalf of Ulster Rugby, the coaching staff, management team and the players, I would like to wish him every success for his future ahead”.
A qualified teacher and fluent French and German speaker who has completed a masters in Business Administration, Tyrone, who married last summer, hasn’t yet committed himself to a career path post-rugby; “I’m taking some time at the moment to review my options career-wise but at this point think that I am probably going to hang up rugby boots up altogether at the end of the season” said Howe.
“I think the injury problems I had early in my career and the enforced three year break from the game mean that I have appreciated and really enjoyed the past six or seven years all the more and I’m extremely grateful for all the fantastic experiences and opportunities that rugby has given me. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Ulster Rugby public for not only their personal support and encouragement over the past 14 years but also for their unstinting support of the Ulster Rugby team as a whole.”
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