RUGBY fans around the country have Scottish football legend Kenny Dalglish to thank for giving the oval ball game one of its major stars of the modern era.

"I was an avid Liverpool fan and Kenny was right up there for me, a great footballer and an inspiration," reveals the Ireland and Ulster fly-half.

"I was a pupil at Broughshane Primary School and hadn't heard about rugby! It was football all the way and I just wanted to be like Kenny Dalglish.

With his move to grammar school, the football fad faded a little and the rest, as they say, is history - glorious history so far as rugby is concerned!

But David, who enjoys stepping out of his hectic schedule to spend time coaching youngsters, vividly recalls those early days when he was inspired to get involved in sport by a combination of Kop goal king Kenny, school teachers and, of course, his parents.

"I can't stress enough how much sport and rugby in particular has given me. It has been part of my life since I was a child and I know that it will continue to play a major role as the years go on.

"My simple message to young people today would be simple: don't miss out on one of the best opportunities in life. Get up and get active, even if it's not at a competitive level.

"If you do progress to the competitive side of sport then it can be life-changing, offering so many opportunities to reach targets and achieve goals.

"Because I have gone into the professional side of it I have been fortunate to enjoy enormous benefits. Sport gives you an interest that stays with you always. You expand your social life too, meeting new people and making friends."

David's dedication to the game has seen him become Ireland's most capped out-half and record international points scorer. Among his career highlights is captaining Ulster to European Cup glory in 1999. Last season he topped the 100 cap mark for his Province.

When he's not immersed in rugby, David likes to get home to his wife and three children: "The kids don't really have much interest in how dad played so I can come home and totally relax just by doing normal family things!

"I know how the world has changed since I was a youngster when at most you would have watched half an hour's TV after school. Today, TV, DVDs, music and computers are the norm.

"Although sport is still up there for many children, I think it is important that as many as possible are encouraged to enjoy healthy activities and I'm pleased that Sunday Life is helping us raise awareness of that through our involvement with the Tesco Sport for Schools and Sports clubs programme.

"The Government and health agencies have really hit the net in their drive to get the message across in recent years and I'm fully behind them on that score!"

Although he doesn't envisage a coaching career when he hangs up his boots, David knows sport will feature heavily in whatever he does, even if it is purely watching from the sidelines. His golf, though, will definitely improve!

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