Ulster Rugby vs Connacht

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

IRFU ULSTER BRANCH OFFICERS Bobby Stewart // President John McKibbin // Senior Vice President Graffin Parke // Junior Vice President John McKibbin // Honorary Secretary Michael Boyd // Honorary Treasurer Denis Gardiner // Competitions Secretary EXECUTIVE TEAM Shane Logan // Chief Executive Chris Webster // Domestic Rugby Manager Audrey Robinson // Financial Controller Fiona Hampton // Head of Sales & Marketing Les Kiss // Director of Rugby

It gives me great pleasure to welcome everyone here to Kingspan Stadium for this evening’s Round 19 game in the Guinness PRO12 League against Connacht.

I especially welcome the President of the Connacht Branch of the IRFU, Gerry O’Donnell, together with his officers and the many Connacht supporters who have made the journey to Belfast to support their team tonight. You are all very welcome and I hope that you will enjoy your time here. It is the first time since the Six Nations that I have had the opportunity to congratulate Ireland on their third place finish, which is a very creditable position considering the injuries to so many influential players. I would also like to congratulate Rory Best, Andrew Trimble, Jared Payne and Stuart McCloskey who all played their part in the campaign. Connacht come to Kingspan Stadium tonight in a very strong position as we enter the last four games of the PRO12 League having taken the lead at the end of February. Our contest in Galway on Boxing Day was very tightly fought, with Ulster scraping an away from home 10-3 victory and only a dropped pass by Connacht with the line at their mercy saved Ulster’s bacon that evening. I fully expect a very tight encounter tonight with so much at stake and Ulster will need to be at their very best if they are to claim the points.

On the Domestic scene we are well into Trophy final stages and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate some winners. Firstly, congratulations to Royal Belfast Academical Institution in creating history by becoming the first school to win both the Schools’ Cup and the Medallion Shield two years in a row. Not only on that achievement but the school also completed the ‘grand slam’ of all Schools’ Trophies including the 2nd XV, 3rd XV and 4th XV Cups. Secondly, I congratulate Bangor RFC who defeated a very gallant Enniskillen side to win the Powerade Towns’ Cup on Easter Monday. Finally, congratulations Ballynahinch 3rd XV who defeated Banbridge 3rd XV to lift the Crawford Cup on Tuesday. I hope that you all had a very enjoyable Easter Holiday and did not over indulge! Give Connacht a great Ulster welcome this evening. Good Luck to Ulster and remember “STAND UP FOR THE ULSTERMEN”

Kingspan Stadium, 85 Ravenhill Park, Belfast, BT6 0DG T // +44 (0)28 9049 3222 ulsterrugby.com

Bobby Stewart // President IRFU (Ulster Branch)

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