Ulster Rugby v Southern Kings

So much has happened since I last penned my welcome notes and there is no better starting point than congratulating our teams for their tremendous impact in European competition. Yes, six clubs can look forward to knock-out rugby in the Champions and Challenge Cups, but out on the pitch all of our clubs showed a shared spirit and ambition when it came how they want to play the game. Overall, our clubs won more games against opponents from the other leagues for the second season in a row and that should be a real point of pride for everyone involved. It’s brilliant to see our champions Scarlets earn a home quarter-final in the Champions Cup alongside Leinster and Munster – it’s only the second time we’ve had three teams win home quarter-finals so that makes for some exciting days ahead for those fans. Ospreys, Glasgow Warriors and Benetton also had their moments during the pool stages much like Dragons who came so close to reaching the quarter-finals in the Challenge Cup. Well done to Edinburgh, Cardiff Blues and Connacht for navigating their pools in such fantastic style – best of luck to all of them come April. On the Championship front, we’ve see the Southern Kings and Toyota Cheetahs play out the first-ever South African derbies in the Guinness PRO14 in their blistering summer sun. Both teams will now embark on three-game tours up north with the Cheetahs fighting to maintain third place in Conference A as they aim to reach the Guinness PRO14 Final Series in their first season. Speaking of the Final Series, we are delighted to welcome on board two new supporters for the business end of the season. ROS Nutrition and the Times Ireland & Sunday Times have joined us as Official Partners to the Guinness PRO14 Final Series and we’re excited to see how they activate these partnerships to connect with all our fans across the Championship. The expansion of the Final Series comes as direct result of the addition of the Cheetahs and the Kings and for the first-time ever six teams will have the chance to compete for the Guinness PRO14 trophy. Plus, there’s the addition of a Play-Off game for the seventh Champions Cup place so there are a lot of tasty fixtures ahead to look forward to. Of course, the Guinness PRO14 Final on May 26 is the ultimate celebration of the very best that our Championship has to offer and ticket sales are still going strong. Dublin’s Aviva Stadium provided a fitting setting (and a record attendance) last season and we know it will do so again this year. The Final is no longer an occasion for fans of the Finalists, it’s an incredible occasion for rugby supporters from all over the world and no matter where you’re coming from you can rely on Gullivers Sports Travel to arrange tickets, hotels and flights as our Official Supporter Travel Partner for the Guinness PRO14 Final Series – see www.gulliverstravel.co.uk. We also have a host of ticket options available to cater for every kind of match- day experience so make sure to log on to www.ticketmaster.ie where prices start at €7 for children and €35 for adults.. Martin Anayi Chief Executive Officer