Ulster Rugby vs Leinster

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

It is my pleasure as President of the IRFU Ulster Branch to welcome everyone to Kingspan Stadium this evening for what I know will be a very exciting game against Leinster despite both sides missing key players who are on World Cup duties.

Leinster are Ulster’s oldest rivals and were the first side to play against Ulster at Ravenhill when the provincial side moved here in the 1923/24 season. I especially welcome the Leinster President, Robert McDermott, together with the Leinster Officers, Management, players and supporters who have made the journey to Belfast. It is the start of a new season and I am sure that the squad will put the disappointment of the end of last season behind them and begin afresh. Over the close season there have been a few comings and goings and I would like to pay tribute to Jonny Bell who gave 21 years of service to Ulster both as a player and more recently as the Defence Coach. Jonny has moved to join David Humphreys at Gloucester and I wish him every success. I would also like to thank Declan Fitzpatrick, Neil McComb, Michael Allen, Mike McComish, Charlie Butterworth, Michael Heaney, Dave Ryan, James Simpson and Ricky Andrew who have moved on or retired and I wish them all the best in the future. Having thanked those who have departed it is my pleasure to extend a very warm Ulster welcome to Joe Barakat as our Assistant Coach. Joe is an Australian and is a former Waratahs defence coach and for the last five seasons has worked in Japan. I wish him and his family a very happy and successful time in Ulster.

Also joining Ulster this year are Sam Windsor, Peter Browne, Paul Rowley and Willie Faloon. I hope that they too have a happy and fulfilling time with Ulster. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate both the Ireland Women’s and Ireland Men’s teams on their historic double Six Nations Championships and in particular the Ulster players who played such vital roles in their campaigns. I wish Ireland a very successful World Cup campaign and look forward to seeing the Webb Ellis Trophy on Irish soil. At this time of the year our clubs are also preparing for the new season and I want to wish everyone from the minis up to senior level every success for the incoming season. I also want to thank the countless hard working volunteers who support this fantastic game in schools and clubs across Ulster. This is also a very busy time for the Ulster Age Grade and Ladies Provincial teams who compete for their championships over the next few weeks and I thank their coaches, managers and all their support personnel for their dedication and hard work and I wish them well in their quest for success. Finally, enjoy the match; give Leinster a great Kingspan reception and “Stand up for the Ulstermen” Yours in Rugby, Bobby Stewart // President IRFU (Ulster Branch)

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

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