Ulster Rugby vs Ospreys

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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