Stand Up Magazine - Issue 39 - Ulster Rugby Supporters' Club

Jack Kyle Bursary Award and “Meet the Ulster Rugby Academy” On a Monday evening back in November 2017, the URSC presented the annual Jack Kyle Bursary of £2,500 to the Ulster Rugby Academy.

The presentation was done in front of nearly one hundred URSC members who had gathered at Kingspan Stadium to hear Kieran Campbell , Head of the Abbey Insurance Ulster Academy, and Willie Anderson , Elite Player Development Officer, talk about the structures and operations of the Academy programme. Academy players Adam McBurney and Jonny Stewart also spoke about their rugby experiences that led to the provincial system, life in the Academy, and their future goals. Director of Rugby Les Kiss was also in attendance and he gave an interesting insight into how the coaching staff in both the Academy and senior team work together, and how Academy players are integrated into the first team. In the second part of the evening, senior players Andrew Trimble and Tommy Bowe took part in a panel discussion on the current Autumn international series. In previous years the Jack Kyle Ulster Rugby Academy Bursary has been awarded to an individual player within the Academy. However, the URSC and the Academy

management felt that it would be better served being donated to the services delivery programme, and in particular for the provision of performance psychology. Presenting the cheque, URSC Chairman Jonathan Bill commented: “While we have been able to help out individuals in the past as they began their rugby career, we are delighted that this bursary will support all the players in the Academy with increased performance psychology services. From hearing Kieran and Willie this evening, we are confident that the structures and processes within our Academy are among the best around, so we are more than happy to play our part in supporting them.” Head of the Abbey Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy, Kieran Campbell added: “We are very grateful to the URSC for their continued support. We are committed to providing the best services and opportunities to our young players and the award of this bursary will allow us to further enhance the performance psychology aspect of our

programme, which is now such a critical part of what we do.”

Tommy Bowe also welcomed the award, highlighting the importance of performance psychology: “In my younger days, particularly if I was struggling with confidence, I found working with a performance psychologist hugely beneficial, to push yourself on and get the best out of yourself. It really is such an important part of a young player’s development, so I’m delighted to hear that the bursary is being allocated there.” At the end of the evening, as is usual at our events, Naz, Willie and the Academy players were happy to linger and sign autographs, pose for selfies, and most important, draw and present the ballot prizes. Many members went away with an excellent memento of the evening; one young man however, went away with rather more than one – see if you can identify him from the photos ... and if you know him, ask him for next week’s lottery numbers!

The committee came to the conclusion that the Ballot would be put to much better use if used for the benefit of the whole Academy, after a presentation by Kieran Campbell to the committee earlier in the season.

URSC Chairman Jonathan Bill presents the Jack Kyle Bursary award of £2,500 to Ulster Rugby Academy coaches and players Willie Anderson, Adam McBurney, Jonny Stewart and Kieran Campbell.

Panellists from the evening’s Q&A session on Academy structures & operations; Andrew Trimble, Tommy Bowe, Adam McBurney, Jonny Stewart, Willie Anderson and Kieran Campbell.

www.ursc.co

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