Ulster Rugby vs Ospreys

LEADING THE FIELD

Hello and welcome to Kingspan Stadium, the home of Ulster Rugby for an exciting Saturday evening Guinness PRO12 clash against the Ospreys.

I am delighted to welcome you to the stadium as Ulster Rugby aim to continue this impressive run of form which sees them top of the Guinness PRO12 table after four rounds of fixtures. On behalf of Kingspan I would like to welcome the Ospreys team and travelling fans, who have also made an encouraging start to their PRO12 campaign. I would like to take this opportunity to wish the squad and management of Ulster Rugby every success this evening. To you the fans, enjoy the game, lead the way and help ensure this is another evening to remember at the Kingspan.

Pat Freeman Divisional Managing Director

CONTENTS

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME 3 GUINNESS PRO12 WELCOME 4 TONIGHT’S MACOTS 7 PADDY JACKSON 8 LUKE MARSHALL Q&A 13 RAY WILLIAMS 17 NEWFORGE TAGGERS 21 CLIVE ROSS 22 ULSTER SQUAD PROFILES 24 ULSTER TEAM 28 DOUBLE SIDED POSTER 29 OSPREYS TEAM 33 OSPREYS SQUAD PROFILES 34 OPPOSITION VIEW 39 JOE BARAKAT 40 YOUTH RUGBY UPDATE 43 ROD NAWN GUEST ARTICLE 46 CENTRA HALF TIME RUGBY 49 URSC CLUB NEWS 51 OUR CLUB NEWS 53 ULSTER RUGBY VALUES 55 STADIUM INFORMATION 57 MATCH PREVIEW 58 FIXTURES 59 THANK YOU 60

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PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

Tonight’s opponents are the Ospreys and I extend a warm welcome to their team, coaches, Directors and supporters. Ulster are sitting at the top of the Guinness PRO12 with four wins from their first four games and Les Kiss, the coaches and the players are to be congratulated for this. Following the win against the Scarlets at Kingspan Stadium two weeks ago, the side put up a gutsy and committed performance in Glasgow last week to win by 22-17. Scotstoun Stadium has been a difficult place for Ulster in recent seasons and it was therefore great to come away with a well-deserved victory. However, there is a long way to go in the league and all Ulster supporters will be looking for another good performance tonight. It was also good to see the return of international players Rory Best and Iain Henderson. The male Age Grade Inter-provincial Competitions have now been completed. Whilst the Academy, Schools U18 and Club U18 squads had difficult campaigns, congratulations go to the Ulster U19 squad and their coaches for winning all three games and securing the U19 Inter- provincial title. This season has seen, for the first time, the introduction of a Girls U18 Inter-provincial competition. To date, the Ulster Girls U18 squad has produced two excellent performances in beating Leinster by 10-5 and Connacht by 34-5. Their final game is against Munster this weekend in what will be the title decider – best of luck to the Ulster Girls U18s. This week also saw the Department for Communities Minister Paul Givan open a new Community Gym at Ballynahinch RFC. This is the 20th Community Gym that Ulster Rugby has been able to set up through the “Promoting Equality, Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion through Sport” programme, funded by the Department. These gyms, which are in both traditional and non-traditional rugby areas, are a key element of Ulster Rugby’s plans to increase opportunities for people to engage with fitness and rugby sessions, as well as improving the health and wellbeing of not only all those involved in rugby, but also those in the local community who would not normally have access to facilities such as these gyms. Ulster Rugby is grateful to the Department for the Communities for their continuing support for this programme. Finally, I hope everyone enjoys the game tonight as well as the facilities in Kingspan Stadium and remember - “Stand Up For The Ulstermen”. John McKibbin President IRFU (Ulster Branch) It gives me great pleasure as President of the IRFU Ulster Branch to welcome everyone to Kingspan Stadium for this evening’s Round 5 match in the Guinness PRO12. PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

IRFU ULSTER BRANCH 2016/17 OFFICERS John McKibbin President Graf n Parke Senior Vice President Stephen Elliott Junior Vice President Denis Gardiner Honorary Secretary Michael Boyd Honorary Treasurer Greg Irwin 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

Kingspan Stadium, 134 Mount Merrion Avenue Belfast, BT6 0FT T +44 (0)28 9049 3222 ulsterrugby.com

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Managing Director, PRO12 Rugby Welcome

What a compelling first four rounds we’ve enjoyed so far with six teams already in the hunt to reach the third ‘Destination Final’ in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on May 27, and that makes for some mouth-watering clashes this weekend. Only Ulster Rugby and Cardi Blues remain unbeaten in the Guinness PRO12 and that is a great credit to their respective coaches and players, but with just five points separating first place from sixth, it could all change this weekend. The last two teams to lift the Guinness PRO12 trophy – Connacht Rugby and Glasgow Warriors – were first-time winners and already Cardi Blues are putting forward a good case to join our circle of champions. Ulster Rugby, Leinster Rugby, Munster Rugby, Ospreys and Glasgow Warriors are all former title winners who have set the standards for others to follow and with so much at stake in every fixture across the Championship, we are watching some great rugby right now.† Already we have seen more tries scored across the first four rounds when compared to last season, which is a great advertisement for the adventurous rugby the Guinness PRO12 is built on. The top four are all in action against each other this weekend, but I’m really looking forward to†watching how Connacht Rugby rebound as they host Edinburgh Rugby at the Sportsground in Galway. I’m also keen to see how Newport-Gwent Dragons’ young team perform against Glasgow Warriors, while Benetton Treviso and Scarlets should put together a tasty encounter after both clubs picked up their first wins of the season last weekend. Despite†Zebre†Rugby’s narrow loss to Cardi Blues, it was encouraging to see Carlo Canna receive the Guinness Man of the Match award to make it an Italian double as†Tommaso†Allan also received the player of the game medal for his display against Newport-Gwent Dragons. Of course, we are just one week away from our first ‘Big Weekend’ where our Irish and Welsh clubs will all be involved in derby games as the Italians and the Scottish teams also take each other on. Enjoy the game, Martin Anayi

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TONIGHT’S MASCOTS

MASCOTS

RHODRI PHILLIPS (12) Rhodri is from Downpatrick and attends Down High School. He plays rugby at school and also enjoys football, cricket, swimming and baking. Rhodri’s favourite player is Tommy Bowe because he is good at everything he does and is really fast. When he grows up Rhodri would like to be a rugby player, PE teacher or physiotherapist.

FERGUS EDDIS (8) Fergus is from Portglenone and attends St Mary’s. He plays rugby for Ballymena RFC and also enjoys swimming and Minecraft. His favourite Ulster Player is Luke Marshall as he also played for Ballymena and when he is older, Fergus would like to be a graphic designer or rugby player.

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PADDY JACKSON Following an extended summer break due to his commendable efforts on the Ireland tour of South Africa, Paddy Jackson returned to the Ulster team for the Guinness PRO12 Round 3 clash against Scarlets, by which stage Ulster had already recorded opening round wins against Dragons and Treviso. Jackson put in a man of the match performance, landing three penalties and controlling the play majestically to guide Ulster to a 19-8 win at Kingspan Stadium.

A week later, he was to the fore once again, chipping in with a try, a penalty and two conversions en route to a gritty 17-22 win away to Glasgow, Ulster’s first at Scotstoun since the PRO12 was formed. Thanks to that victory, Ulster currently proudly sit joint-top of the Championship table along with Cardiff as the only unbeaten teams after four games, and Jackson is pleased to be in that position:

which is fun to see from the backline and it gets the boys going. I think especially against Glasgow the pack really fronted up defensively and showed a lot of grit. From an out-half’s point of view it’s great to have that kind of ball and guys backing you up from the pack, so it’s a pleasure to play behind them.” When asked about his own form, Jackson is predictably modest, but also speaks with an assuring confidence:

“For myself it was good to come in after the team had already put together

“Yeah I’ve been happy enough. As an out-half you’re never completely happy and there’s still a few things that I need to get right. I’m feeling pretty confident out there and I think that comes from the guys around me making my job easier. Then I just have to focus on getting the ball to them and if I

PADDY JACKSON two wins. The lads did really well against the

Dragons and Treviso so it made my job a bit easier coming into a winning environment. “At out-half it’s great to have the likes of Jared (Payne) and Charles (Piutau) outside me who want the ball so I just try and get it to them and let them do their thing.

get an opportunity for a gap I can take that on myself. So yeah, I’m feeling confident and hopefully I can keep this momentum going.” While he is still just 24 years old, Jackson has four full seasons under his belt and over 100 Ulster caps to his name, and since the appointment of Les Kiss back in November 2015, the out-half has taken on an enhanced position of leadership within the Ulster camp. “Naturally, as I have gotten a bit older, the leadership thing has started to come in. I’ve been here a while so I know how things work and I know how to get the best out of guys around me. I would say there’s a bit of both; between Les

We’re still missing the likes of Trimby (Andrew Trimble) and Gilly (Craig Gilroy), Tommy (Bowe) as well, so there’s a lot of competition and that makes my life a bit easier having guys like that around you.” While much of the talk has centred around the Ulster backline, Director of Rugby Les Kiss was keen to praise the work of his forwards after the Glasgow in, and it is a point on which Jackson concurs: “Absolutely. You see the likes of Rodney (Ah You) and Hendy (Iain Henderson) throwing boys about

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having confidence in me and me growing as a player, so I think it’s starting to come together nicely and I just hope that I can keep building on it.” In recent years Jackson has struck up one of the best half-back partnerships in the game between himself and Ruan Pienaar. Jackson is quick to note the tinge of sadness that came with the announcement of the Springbok’s departure at the end of this coming season, but is also determined to make the most of the games they have left together: “Ruan has been a massive influence on me. It’s strange to think we’ve been playing together for so long. I think in the past he would’ve struggled to get any chat out of me, being nervous as a young kid, so I like to think as I’ve grown I’ve hopefully taken a bit of pressure off his shoulders as well. It seems to work nicely between both of us. I’ve learned a hell of a lot from him, especially kicking wise and how to run the game. I think the more I’ve grown the more he has been able to focus on his own game so I think it’s been a great partnership and I’ve loved playing with him since I started here. I don’t want to think about it (Ruan’s departure) too much now, as I’m sure he doesn’t, so we’re just looking forward to playing together a bit more. Hopefully we’ll both stay injury free, continue our partnership and have a successful season.” It is Ospreys next up for Ulster and, despite a disappointing loss to Leinster last weekend, Jackson is under no illusion as to how testing the Welsh side will prove to be: “They didn’t have the best result last weekend so we know they’ll be coming out looking to remedy that. I fully expect there to be a backlash from them, especially with the players and experience they have. It’s definitely going to be a tough game for us. It’s going to be a close one, we’re expecting it to go the full 80 minutes and we’re prepared for that.” “THE LADS DID REALLY WELL AGAINST THE DRAGONS AND TREVISO SO IT MADE MY JOB A BIT EASIER COMING INTO A WINNING ENVIRONMENT”

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LUKE MARSHALL Q&A

NICK NAME? Seal / Bob FAVOURITE SUBJECT AT SCHOOL? Latin

IF YOU COULD BE A PROFESSIONAL IN ANOTHER SPORT, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Golf, longevity and you don’t have to be fit! MOST EXCITING THING YOU HAVE DONE? Shark diving FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION? Donegal - great weather and good pubs MOST EXPENSIVE ITEM YOU HAVE BOUGHT? Speedboat HOW DO YOU RELAX ON YOUR DOWN TIME? Walk the dog FAVOURITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME? Gladiator IF A FILM WAS MADE ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY YOU? Brad Pitt, because I have a bit of a man crush on him IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESSERT ISLAND, WHICH PLAYER WOULD YOU LEAST LIKE TO BE STRANDED WITH? Paul Marshall DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS? Rosie, crossbreed dog I adopted from ASSISI. She is 3 and loves swimming and chasing squirrels Least – Gym/Fitness and BJJ Most – Coffee after training WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT PLAYING FOR ULSTER? Playing in front of a packed crowd at Kingspan on a big European night or Inter-pro derby IF YOU WEREN’T A PROFESSIONAL RUGBY PLAYER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING AS A PROFESSION? Forest Ranger IF YOU COULD INVITE ANY FAMOUS PERSON ROUND FOR TEA WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHAT WOULD YOU MAKE THEM? William Wallace, Ulster fry with some haggis, to make him feel welcome WHAT ARE YOUR LEAST AND MOST FAVOURITE TRAINING ELEMENTS?

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LUKE FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @LUKEMARSHALL121

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KINGSPAN STADIUM TOUR FOR RAY WILLIAMS

We had a very special visitor this week when esteemed former referee Ray Williams received a tour of The Nevin Spence Centre and Kingspan Stadium. Minutes of the IRFU Report of the Committee 1963-64:

Ray, who turned 92 on Thursday, refereed 21 international matches and was the man in charge of the whistle when the Barbarians last played at Ravenhill back in 1957. Upon Ray’s retirement as an International Referee he was honoured by the Ulster Society of Rugby Football Referees for his outstanding service to rugby football and to the art of refereeing (pictured below alongside Harry McKibbin, IRFU President, receiving a plaque and a silver whistle). In 2005, the IRFU honoured its past and present referees who officiated at the highest levels of the game. A special cap presentation ceremony took place in Dublin, where those referees who officiated at senior international level each received commemorative caps for their services to the game. Notable mention was made that “Ray Williams, first capped in 1957, refereed at test level until 1964, including three tests on the Wilson Whineray led New Zealand tour to the Northern Hemisphere.” Other notable tributes recorded include:

“It is sad to learn that Mr R.C. Williams, who has refereed more international matches than any other referee in the history of the game, but who has still many active years in front of him, has decided to retire from representative engagements. Your committee have recorded their appreciation of Mr Williams’ conduct as an international referee and their pleasure that he has earned so much praise from other countries.” Letter written to Ray Williams in 2012 from Sir Wilson Whineray, one of the greatest captains of the All Blacks: “The 1963/64 tour is regarded in New Zealand (and the UK I hope) as the last of the ‘great tours’ - over 35 games and 4 months away. We would like to include you in our group of ‘good guys’ - neutral, fun and fair.” Article by Ernest Strathdee in Ulster Illustrated in 1958: “The greatest rugby referee of our time.”

RAY WILLIAMS

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NEWFORGE TAGGERS 10 YEARS ON AND GETTING STRONGER!

Newforge Taggers has become a respected and established part of the rugby family in Ulster and Ireland and the club recently reached an important milestone in its history - the 10th Anniversary.

The club, which caters for people with learning disabilities, was the first of its kind in Ireland and is affiliated to the Police Service of Northern Ireland RFC. The Taggers were formed in May 2006 by a group of friends with the support of the IRFU (Ulster Branch) and the first training session took place in September that year at Newforge Country Club. The club has flourished from the outset and currently has a playing membership of 46, who have travelled and played a lot of rugby at many different venues. These include half-time appearances at the RDS, Kingspan Stadium and a curtain-raiser at Twickenham for the England v All Blacks Autumn International in 2010. Since the Taggers started there are now a further eight rugby clubs across Ulster who have disability sections and these clubs come together to play each other at monthly rugby blitzes during the season. They also participate with schools and clubs from all of the four home unions in the annual Wooden Spoon International Tag Festival. This season they are off to Oxfordshire as the Witney Wolves host the festival. Taggers players and coaches do like their tours and the festival has become an important part of the season.

On Saturday 24th September, Taggers past and present celebrated their achievements with a formal Anniversary Dinner at Newforge Country Club. It was quite an evening, with words of support via video link from former Club Patrons Paul Steinmetz and Isaac Boss. Club Captain Ross Stewart welcomed all of the guests, then the current Club Patron Chris Henry spoke about his involvement with the club. He commented: “The Taggers are a truly wonderful organisation and I am very proud to be associated with the club. It’s rugby at its best.” The patrons have been a great source of inspiration to everybody at the club, while The Taggers players and volunteers would also like to thank the entire rugby family for its continued support. The adapted game of Tag Rugby is a fast and exciting non-contact sport that encourages the positive development of running, balance and handling skills. It is an enjoyable fun and active way to keep fit and healthy. It can be played by men, women and children of all ages and abilities.

NEWFORGE TAGGERS

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CLIVE ROSS ON GETTING OUT OF THE BLOCKS EARLY

guys can get comfortable. The more headaches we can give the coaching staff regarding selection the better a place we’ll be in. What have you learnt from the more experienced back row players? Playing in the back row requires a very varied skill set, you get guys within the squad who are strong in each of the areas such as the line-out, breakdown, ball-carrying, defense, support and link play. Many of the guys playing in the back row here have 150 plus caps and have also played at international level so there is plenty of experience to draw from.

It’s been a great few weeks for you including a MOTM performance in Italy? Yes it’s been a good start for both myself and the team. I’m really enjoying the opportunities I’ve been given and excited for the upcoming games. It’s always nice to be picked out for MOTM, when you play within a squad as talented as ours it gives you a bit of a confidence boost! You must have put a lot of hard work in over pre-season? Yeah last season was a bit frustrating for me as I didn’t play as much rugby as I’d have liked to. So coming back in June I knew I had to make a big step up and get out of the blocks early. I didn’t

CLIVE ROSS

NAME: Clive Ross POSITION: Back row PLACE OF BIRTH: Cork

DOB: 14.06.1989 WEIGHT: 106kg HEIGHT: 1.78m ULSTER DEBUT: 27.09.2014 Zebre away ULSTER APPEARANCES: 33

What are your thoughts on the teams’ performance so far? Having won 4 from 4 we’ll be happy by and large. However, we probably left a bonus point or two behind and they can be crucial come the end of the season when there is little between the top teams. If we want to kick on from last year we know there is much to improve on. It’s still early days and there are much bigger tests ahead but we are building nicely every week and the strength in depth within the squad is as good as I’ve ever seen it. What are your goals for the season ahead? Play some good rugby, be involved every week and to help bring home some much needed silverware!

take much time off from training during the off season and made sure I came back in decent shape and was ready from the get-go. It’s great to get the opportunity early in the season to prove your place? Definitely, you have to make the most of the chances you get and hopefully put your hand up for the rest of the season. At the end of the day we all want to be playing week in week out. There is huge competition within the squad, does that encourage you? I think it’s imperative for a squad to be successful. In an ideal world I guess everyone would work to their full potential regardless of their position within the squad, however, in reality we need to push each other and the standards we set or

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“WE ARE BUILDING NICELY EVERY WEEK AND THE STRENGTH IN DEPTH WITHIN THE SQUAD IS AS GOOD AS I’VE EVER SEEN IT”

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MARK BEST

JOHN ANDREW

RODNEY AH YOU

Centre 01.04.94 182cm 94kg

Hooker 26.05.93 181cm 101kg

Prop 27.10.88

187cm 129kg

— —

16 —

3 3

TOMMY BOWE

CALLUM BLACK

RORY BEST

Wing 22.02.84 190cm 100kg 136 67 Flanker 08.05.91 191cm 112kg — SA 28 Back Row 27.01.95 190cm 108kg 1 —

Prop 25.02.86 180cm 116kg 111 — Centre 05.04.87 184cm 95kg 181 11

Hooker 15.08.82

178cm 106kg 185 97

MARCELL COETZEE

DARREN CAVE

PETER BROWNE 2nd Row 25.10.87 201cm 116kg

17 —

LORCAN DOW

JOHN DONNAN 2nd Row 16.02.93 197cm 115kg

ROBBIE DIACK

No. 8 12.11.85 195cm 110kg 178 2

— —

ULSTER SQUAD 2016/17 24 CRAIG GILROY Wing 11.03.91 183cm 90kg 134 8 WIEHAHN HERBST Prop 07.05.88 180cm 120kg 39 — IAIN HENDERSON 2nd Row 21.02.92 199cm 117kg 60 23 ROB HERRING Hooker 27.04.90 185cm 102kg 101 1

CHRIS HENRY

No. 7 17.10.84

191cm 105kg 150 24

BRETT HERRON

Fly half 13.11.95 184cm 92kg 2 —

www. ULSTERRUGBY .com

CONOR JOYCE

PADDY JACKSON

ROSS KANE

Back Row 05.07.93

Out half 05.01.92 180cm 87kg 107 16

Prop 26.02.86 182cm 114kg 52 — Prop 14.10.94 180.5cm 116kg 4 —

192cm 106kg 4 —

ANGUS LLOYD

RICKY LUTTON

LOUIS LUDIK Full back 10.08.86 182cm 92kg 43 —

Scrum half 02.10.92 175cm 80kg 1 — Prop 01.02.92 177cm 111kg 27 — Centre 03.03.91 181cm 97kg 4 — Back Row 07.04.90 193cm 108kg 2 —

ULSTER SQUAD 2016/17

PAUL MARSHALL

LUKE MARSHALL

ROB LYTTLE

Centre 03.03.91 181cm 97kg 85 8 Centre 06.08.92 193cm 113kg 46 1

Scrum half 26.07.85 172cm 80kg 175 3

KYLE McCALL

STUART McCLOSKEY

JOHNNY McPHILLIPS

Out half 13.04.97 179cm 80kg

— —

STEPHEN MULHOLLAND

JONNY MURPHY

PETER NELSON Full back 05.10.92 180cm 88kg

Hooker 02.06.92

178cm 106kg 1 —

31 —

STUART OLDING

ALAN O’CONNOR 2nd Row 10.09.92 197cm 114kg 28 —

JARED PAYNE Full back 13.10.85 186cm 97kg

Centre 11.03.93 178cm 93kg 52 4

69 16

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Should’ve gone to Specsavers

Official partner of the Guinness PRO12 referees

©2015 Specsavers. All rights reserved.

MATTHEW REA 2nd Row 21.09.93 193cm 110kg

RUAN PIENAAR

CHARLES PIUTAU

Scrum half 10.03.84 187cm 90kg 122 SA 88

Back Row 14.06.89 193cm 105kg 33 — Utility back 31.10.91 183cm 102kg 3 NZ 16

— —

CLIVE ROSS

DAVE SHANAHAN

SEAN REIDY

Scrum half 20.06.93 174cm 90kg 8 —

Back Row 05.10.89

ULSTER SQUAD 2016/17

182cm 105kg 35 1

JOHNNY SIMPSON

JACOB STOCKDALE

KIERAN TREADWELL 2nd Row 11.06.95 198cm 121kg 1 —

Prop 19.08.90 184cm 110kg

Wing 04.03.96 195cm 96kg 8 —

— —

DAN TUOHY 2nd Row 18.06.85 197cm 115kg 134 11

FRANCO VAN DER MERWE 2nd Row 15.03.83 198cm 117kg 57 SA 1

ANDREW TRIMBLE

Wing 20.10.84 185cm 97kg 206 66

ANDY WARWICK

ROGER WILSON

SAM WINDSOR

Prop 12.03.91 179cm 110kg

Fly half 07.12.87 185cm 94 kg 2 —

No. 8 21.09.81 190cm 106kg 210 1

51 —

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15

1

KYLE McCALL

CHARLES PIUTAU

14

2

RORY BEST

CRAIG GILROY

13

3

RODNEY AH YOU

JARED PAYNE

12

4

DARREN CAVE

ALAN O’CONNOR

ULSTER RUBGY

11

5

FRANCO VAN DER MERWE (C)

LOUIS LUDIK

6

10

IAIN HENDERSON

PADDY JACKSON

7

9

SEAN REIDY

PAUL MARSHALL

REPLACEMENTS 16 17 18 19 J ANDREW C BLACK R KANE K TREADWELL

20 21 22 23

R DIACK R PIENAAR B HERRON T BOWE

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ROGER WILSON

TODAY’S OFFICIALS

REFEREE BEN WHITEHOUSE WRU 29TH COMPETITION GAME ASSISTANT REFEREE’S SEAN BRICKELL WRU | PAUL HAYCOCK IRFU CITING COMMISSIONER EDDIE WIGGLESWORTH IRFU TMO GARETH SIMMONDS WRU

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ROBBIE DIACK RO BIE DIACK

15

1

PAUL JAMES

SAM DAVIES

14

2

JEFF HASSLER

SCOTT BALDWIN

OSPREYS

13

3

DMITRI ARHIP

ASHLEY BECK

12

4

LLOYD ASHLEY

JOSH MATAVESI

11

5

ALUN WYN JONES (C)

BEN JOHN

6

10

JAMES KING

DAN BIGGAR

7

9

JUSTIN TIPURIC

RHYS WEBB

REPLACEMENTS 16 17 18 19 S PARRY N SMITH M FIA B DAVIES

20 21 22 23

D BAKER T HABBERFIELD D HOWELLS D EVANS

8

TYLER ARDRON

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LLOYD ASHLEY

DMITRI ARHIP

TYLER ARDRON

Lock 02.02.91 195cm 114kg

Front Row 12.11.88 182cm 120kg

Back Row 16.06.91 196cm 111kg

ADAM BEARD

DAN BAKER

SCOTT BALDWIN

Lock 07.01.96 203cm 117kg

Back Row 05.07.92 188cm 114kg

Hooker 12.07.88 191cm 115kg

ASHLEY BECK

RYAN BEVINGTON

JOE BEARMAN

Centre 15.04.90

Prop 09.12.88 183cm 116kg

Back Row 28.02.79 193cm 104kg

OSPREYS

191cm 103kg

BRADLEY DAVIES

DAN BIGGAR

OLLY CRACKNELL

Flyhalf 16.10.89 188cm 89kg

Lock 09.01.87 198cm 122kg

Back Row 26.05.94 191cm 110kg

SAM DAVIES

HANNO DIRKSEN

DAN EVANS

Flyhalf 06.10.93 180cm 87kg

Winger 31.03.91 183cm 97kg

Fullback 15.11.88 183cm 93kg

KEELAN GILES

KIERON FONOTIA

MA’AFU FIA

Wing 29.01.98 173cm 77kg

Prop 22.11.89 180cm 114kg

Centre 02.02.88 185cm 105kg

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TOM GRABHAM

HUGH GUSTAFSON

TOM HABBERFIELD

Prop 08.07.87 183cm 114kg

Scrumhalf 19.05.92 178cm 83kg

Winger 20.06.91 178cm 86kg

JEFF HASSLER

DAFYDD HOWELLS

PAUL JAMES

Winger 21.08.91 178cm 92kg

Winger 22.03.95 184cm 94kg

Prop 13.05.82 185cm 115kg

OSPREYS

RHODRI JONES

BEN JOHN

ALUN WYN JONES

Centre 28.02.91 196cm 99kg

Lock 19.09.85 198cm 118kg

Prop 23.12.91 191cm 116kg

JAMES KING

DAN LYDIATE

BRENDON LEONARD

Back Row 24.07.90 193cm 107kg

Back Row 18.12.87 194cm 115kg

Scrumhalf 16.04.85 183cm 93kg

JOSH MATAVESI

ROB McCUSKER

SCOTT OTTEN

Hooker 19.07.94

Centre 05.10.90 188cm 112kg

Back Row 10.12.85 193cm 108kg

182cm 103kg

SAM PARRY

NICKY SMITH

LUKE PRICE

Prop 07.04.94 183cm 113kg

Hooker 17.12.91 186cm 114kg

Flyhalf 26.09.95 178cm 86kg

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JONATHAN SPRATT

GARETH THOMAS

DAN SUTER

Prop 29.06.93 180cm 114kg

Prop 02.08.93 188cm 118kg

Centre 28.04.86 188cm 100kg

SAM UNDERHILL

ELI WALKER

JUSTIN TIPURIC

Back Row 22.07.96 186cm 103kg

Winger 28.03.92 183cm 89kg

Back Row 06.08.89 188cm 102kg

OSPREYS

OWEN WATKIN

MORGAN WILLIAMS

RHYS WEBB

Centre 12.10.96 188cm 100kg

Fullback 28.12.95 185cm 88kg

Scrumhalf 09.12.88 183cm 92kg

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TANDY WANTS POSITIVE RESPONSE

After watching the Ospreys go down fighting at the RDS on Friday night, Steve Tandy says that the team will be ‘positive’ coming to Belfast to face Ulster. Following a cagey opening at the RDS, Leinster were able to roar into a 24-0 interval lead and Tandy’s frustration was evident. “It was bitterly disappointing,” he said. “The first half performance wasn’t what we wanted. There was indiscipline, we didn’t look after the ball and that meant we were inviting Leinster on to us. We couldn’t get any respite and the pressure told. We gave ourselves too much to claw back. “I know that people will ask about complacency but that wasn’t a factor. We knew that we weren’t world-beaters after three games. If anyone did think that, then they’ve had the answer. You can’t come to the RDS and give away possession, cheap turnovers and penalties, and expect to get anything. “Leinster are a decent team, they grind you down if you let them and it takes its toll. We didn’t deal with the game as it was playing out, we didn’t understand where we were at times and the outcome was pretty clear. “Ultimately, we are bitterly disappointed. We felt that we were going there to perform but, in that first half, we didn’t. It was more or less dead by half time, then they scored straight after half time. “If you look back at Connacht two weeks ago, we were in control right from the start, we kept the ball for long passages, we were disciplined in what we were doing and we were worthy winners. The exact opposite of how we started the game tonight against Leinster. “You know that you will always have a tough game when you come to the RDS, we’ve come here and played well but left with nothing. Tonight wasn’t one of those occasions, we were pretty big in our own downfall.” Ahead of tonight’s game against PRO12 leaders Ulster, Tandy said that there will need to be improvements: “It wasn’t about a lack of effort, that was there, but some of the detail was out, some of the discipline, and we made it difficult for ourselves. It doesn’t get any easier with Ulster. “We knew it was a strange start to the season with two home games and three away trips to Ireland. We’ve won one of the two Irish trips to go with the home games so we can’t be too downhearted. It’s still a solid start to the season but as we’ve said all along, that’s all it’s been, a start. We’ll be positive going to Ulster but well aware that we need to be much better right from the first whistle.”

CLUB STATS Location Swansea, Wales Founded 2003 Ground Liberty Stadium Capacity 20,570 Last Game

OPPOSITION

Leinster Rugby (A) 31 - 19 (L) Friday 23rd Sep 2016, 19:35 Next Game Cardiff Blues (A) Friday 7th Oct 2016, 19:35 Recent Form WWWL

STAFF Coach Steve Tandy Captain Alun Wyn Jones

CONTACT Liberty Stadium Landore Swansea Wales SA12FA T +44 1792 616 500 E info@ospreysrugby.com

TICKET OFFICE T +44 844 815 6665

www.ospreysrugby.com

@ospreys ospreysrugby ospreysTV

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What’s next in store for you? I am off to the Western Force in the New Year to take up a senior coaching position with them. It’s a good opportunity to get involved with a Super Rugby franchise in my home country, so I’m really excited about it. Prior to coming to Ulster and working for Toshiba in Japan, both successful organisations, I used to be a coach trouble-shooter who would go in JOE BARAKAT HEADING FOR HOME

supporters here who look after you whether you win or lose, but obviously really like winning! So being in such a unique environment were people know you and what we do keeps people going and keeps them enthusiastic, is something I am really going to miss. Coaching and being part of a squad where I am dealing with 10+ international rugby players, where as a coach you are challenged because you want to improve those players even more, and you are in a fantastic

to schools and clubs and help to rebuild them and that’s something I am really used to and really enjoy doing. I have missed getting my hands dirty and I am looking forward to going and helping the

environment which is high

performance, is such an honour. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. Being here for a home and away Toulouse game in the European Cup is also a highlight. As a

JOE BARAKAT

Western Force to turn their fortunes around. Was family a main driver in your decision? I have been away from home for seven years now and I have missed a lot at home. My family are very supportive, I have a great couple of girls who understand and really enjoy what I do, but I am very far away from them and one of them is getting married in November, starting a new family. My youngest will then be the only one left at home and keeping her close to her mum is really important to me. I want to be a bigger part of their lives, which I haven’t been for a period of time, so I am really looking forward to that. What have been your favourite moments at Ulster? Just being at Ulster has been a huge highlight - people don’t realise the impact that this team has on this Province. It is just immense, when we win, Belfast is vibrant and when we lose everyone stays indoors for a little while. But I say that tongue-in-cheek because there are fantastic

defence coach knowing that Toulouse couldn’t cross our line here at home, was probably my greatest feeling ever. Then beating them away the following week when they are the epitome of rugby in the world was just fantastic. What have you enjoyed most about living in Ulster? This place has been great. The beaches were not my favourite but we have had some sunny days recently and I have loved the golf. Both myself and my wife said that while we were in golf paradise we would play as much as we could and I have reduced my handicap to around 18, which is great, and our relationship with Royal Belfast has been magnificent. Not just for me but also for the players who need that down time to get out and escape and hit a few golf balls in beautiful surroundings. The Belfast Baps at St. George’s Market are fantastic! Also this community and this city in general is a hidden gem, I will definitely come back and visit!

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STRUCTURES IN PLACE FOR DEVELOPING YOUTH RUGBY PROGRAMME Michael Black has been working in the Hughes Insurance Ulster Academy for three years, first as Age Grade Performance Manager, and more recently as Provincial Talent Coach.

A big focus for Black over the past two seasons has been on developing the youth game, having witnessed a small number of players coming through the club pathway in comparison to the school system. There have been some successes, with the likes of Johnny Murphy, Chris Farrell and Adam McBurney making an impact in recent times, but it had been identified as a real growth area. “There is no doubting the raw material and physical potential of players in the club game, it’s about developing it and providing opportunities,” said Black. “This is being done by investing more time in these players and the support network around them.”

One of the challenges in the past has been talent identification, but that has steadily improved and has been buoyed further by the introduction of Jonny Gillespie as Talent Development Officer last year. Along with a big network of club and school coaches, he collates a large amount of information on players on a weekly basis. “For club players, their first step on the development pathway is at U16 Regional Development Squad (RDS) level. This programme from U16/U17 level through to U18s has seen significant changes in recent season,” explains Black. continued overleaf...

YOUTH RUBGY

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“There are now four U16 RDS with two sessions per month from October through to April. These squads are run by Ulster Rugby staff and eight Talent Coaches, in addition to the relevant managers, who are all volunteers. “Further investment in these players at U17 and U18 level can be seen in them training centrally as a squad each week. Jonny Gillespie is the Head Coach of these squads and puts together the technical and tactical content. This is delivered by a mix of staff and volunteer coaches including Academy staff and specialists. Identified players at this level also have S&C coaching support and access to a physiotherapist, when required.” Black is keen to praise the work of clubs but recognises that the new structures afford players more exposure to training and development games. “The clubs are doing a great job at youth level in terms of growing the game and coaching these players. However, most clubs only train once per week and have matches that can be sporadic. The aim is to supplement this good work being done by providing additional coaching sessions centrally per week, as well as visiting key players during their school day and squeezing in a 1-on-1 session. “I also organise a series of ‘development’ games during the season where we play competitive matches against Grammar Schools, which is worked around the club youth league structure. This provides additional rugby as well as stretching players beyond the levels of their current environment, which is key to their development in high performance.” This added investment, combined with a very strong working relationship with the Ulster

Branch Youth Committee, has started to show tangible results… This season there are two new entrants into the Hughes Insurance Academy who have come from the club youth game; hooker Adam McBurney (Randalstown RFC, now playing at Ballymena RFC) and back row Aaron Hall (Ballyclare RFC, now playing at Ballynahinch RFC). For the first time in three years, Ulster had representation in the Ireland U18 squad in the form of Rainey RFC second row John McCusker and Armagh RFC tighthead prop Paul Mullan. During the summer, two of the best U18 club players trained with their Grammar School counterparts and then played in the Schools Inter-provincial Championship. These were tighthead prop Callum Smyth (Rainey RFC) and second row Oisin Kiernan (Virginia RFC) and both performed very well throughout. Furthermore, Joe Dunleavey (Letterkenny RFC back row) and Cormac Fox (Armagh RFC flyhalf) were instrumental in helping Ulster to secure the recent U19 Inter-provincial Championship, with fine wins over Munster, Leinster and Connacht. “Results in the U18 Clubs Inter-provincial Championship in recent years may not have gone as well as we’d hope. However, we now have a number of players pressing for places at the next level in Ulster and Ireland representative teams as well as a good number of our U17 and U16 players coming through strongly. The next challenge though is to bring through more quality players in a ‘winning’ environment so that they go on to represent successful Ulster and Ireland teams of the future,” concluded Black.

YOUTH RUBGY

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On the first weekend in October it truly can be said that the Guinness PRO12 campaign is underway, that sides have gradually gone through the gears and are fully-equipped for the most challenging weeks of the season. KEEPING THE FLYING OSPREYS GROUNDED

For Ulster, fresh from that fine win in Glasgow last week, the first month has gone well, the team sits atop of the early-season table and this evening hosts the Ospreys, the most prolific 15 in the competition but one which slipped up – and lost the leadership – at Leinster. Cardiff Blues, at last, is demonstrating a consistency its talented player roster has often lacked and, like Ulster, boasts a perfect winning record and sits second in the table, ready to pounce. Four games played and coaches and players alike hope to have built a platform for the relentless assault on the league and the European Champions Cup games, which all will have a key bearing on the prospects for the year. Ulster started with three solid if unspectacular wins, picking up a try-bonus point against the Dragons at Kingspan, navigating a tricky test at Treviso and despatching the Scarlets at home a fortnight ago, then had its most significant, hard- earned success in Scotland. International players were slowly re-integrated into the matchday panel and there were modest but robust signs that the strength in depth justified fans’ expectations for the long winter ahead. While the Irish contingent and the long-term injured slowly became available, others have more than proved a point or two about the competition for places at Ulster. Very often such talk has been seen as glib, but Rob Lyttle, Louis Ludik, Jacob Stockdale are just three players who will not just offer genuine cover but real selection options for Kiss, Neil Doak, Allen Clarke, Niall Malone and Joe Barakat. The much-anticipated arrival of All Black Charles Piutau can already be described a great success, his talents and presence making him an immediate favourite at Kingspan and he’s blended seamlessly into team awash with world- class quality behind the scrum. Coaches and pundits often speak of the ambition to select from a ‘full deck’, and though circumstances – notably injuries! – always intrude it is from a very gifted pool of players that Ulster’s fortunes are carried this 2016/17 season, and it’s not indulgent, nor does it tempt fate, to anticipate a very serious assault on silverware.

This evening’s opponents will be thinking along very similar lines because, like Ulster, the Ospreys have not consistently provided tangible rewards for the shrewd investment in, and development of, playing resources. It is the Welsh club with the most glittering array of stars in key areas of the pitch, and yet it has never dominated the league as many observers believed it should. Coach Steve Tandy, now in his sixth year in charge, has fashioned a squad which is the envy of most and only Ulster could rationally claim to have greater quality and strength in real depth at its disposal. Tandy was a more-than-useful open-side flanker with the club in the ‘noughties’ before he was asked to take charge of team affairs in 2012. That he has stayed in charge during a period of transition is testament to his character and the respect his coaching has earned him from a panel of players who share his determination to restore the glories of the early years of the new century. Three thumping wins to start the PRO12 season, accumulating no fewer than 21 tries in the process, created real history: the Ospreys became the first club to open its league campaign with three successive bonus-point wins. Top of the pile going into last weekend’s game with Leinster the players were determined to celebrate in Dublin with a win for skipper Alun Wyn Jones, that most redoubtable of Lions, on his 200th appearance for the club. But, just as Ulster was breaking its hoodoo in Glasgow with a gritty and often imaginative victory to chalk up a fourth successive win, the Ospreys faltered badly, going down 31-19 to a Leinster side now guided by Leo Cullen with the assistance of Stuart Lancaster. Two late converted tries showed a dangerous defiance and the attacking threat from Dan Biggar, Ben John, Rhys Webb and Jeff Hassler remains potent, while Justin Tipuric, Scott Baldwin and the inspirational captain Jones at lock are possessed of great character and international ability. So, tonight’s opponents swapped places at the top of the table, and at a stage of the season when many argue the template is set, the targets of pre-season become more precisely focussed

ROD NAWN

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ARTICLE BY ROD NAWN FREELANCE JOURNALIST AND SPORTS ENTHUSIAST @RODNAWN1

still: and the fact is that the Ospreys blinked first, Ulster successfully negotiated a fixture at Scotstoun for the first time in six outings and took control of the table. What many coaches and players hope for is ‘M’, momentum: it breeds confidence, it helps develop cohesion and it is embraced by the entire squad so that when injuries or international calls intrude others step easily, confidently into the line-up. This evening at Kingspan there are some wonderful individual battles to watch, all conducted in the context of their respective teams. But who wouldn’t want to see Jackson pitch up against Biggar – with both of them perhaps harbouring serious Lions ambitions next summer - Webb against Pienaar, Henderson against Tipuric, Best challenged by Baldwin, Piutau’s brilliance set against Fiji’s Josh Matevesi midfield power? This evening’s game is one to get all rugby fans excited, two sides with excellent starts to the season and with a clear aspiration for the Guinness PRO12 title, come face-to-face just five weeks into the campaign. But though there will be some changes to those who’ll figure in the battle for a top four place come May it’s clear that, again, ‘the usual suspects’ will be involved. Glasgow will come back from their two reverses to date, Cardiff look a more determined proposition, and Leinster and Munster will mount serious threats to everyone. Expectations are high, and properly so, and this is an Ulster squad with what appears to be a much more resilient calm and authority on its evolving, attacking play. The Ospreys tonight offer a true test of just how well the Ulster team has developed and grown after a strong pre-season and some genuinely uplifting displays throughout September. It’s a match which promises tries aplenty, and the mesmerising talents each club can field supports the argument that the PRO12 is a competition to stand comparison with any other league in these islands. Kingspan Stadium will once again be packed, the stage set for the most important and potentially entertaining contest yet.

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HALF TIME RUGBY

Welcome and good luck to the Centra Half Time mini rugby teams from...

FAMILY END

CENTRA HALF TIME RUGBY

LETTERKENNY RFC CLUB COLOURS Black & yellow

VIGINIA RFC CLUB COLOURS Black TEAM Noah Lotscher James O’Hara Anthony Monaghan Harry Leddy Gordon Lochaden

COACHES Hugh Leddy Ned Lochaden Mick Smith

TEAM Gary McGettigan David Florentina Oisin Campbell Ryan Orsi (Captain) Sophie Speer Finn Duffy Conor Gibson Tiernan Farrell Ultan McGuinness Matthew Gibson Archie Stewart Eunan Gallagher

COACHES Derek Plumb Gerard Campbell Peter Orsi

Aaron O’Dowd Aidan Kiernan Ryan Smith Mateo Paricer Cormac Yore Rián Stafford Darragh Smith

MEMORIAL END

CAVAN RFC CLUB COLOURS Navy & red TEAM Ron Binu-Thomas Andrew Elliott Tiernan Maguire William Fisher Otenili Tuipulotu Elliot Kells

STRABANE RFC CLUB COLOURS Black, red & yellow

COACHES Fergal Maguire Eamon McDwyer Clifford Poyntz

TEAM William Rodgers Ben Rodgers Rauri Mcmackin Andrew Keys Ross Brown Andrew Donnell Andrew Mcphilemy

COACHES Bob Dillon Stuart Hamilton

Dylan Duffy Evan Crowe

Lewis Finlay Max Mealiff Felix Foley

Aaron Poyntz David Poyntz Josh McDwyer Cormac Callaghan

Jamie Murphy Thomas Burton

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