Ulster Rugby vs Toulon

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RUGBY VS RC TOULON Saturday 25th October 2014 - Kingspan Stadium - Kick Off 13.00

TwickenhamStadium 2ndMay K.O. 17:00

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Good evening and welcome to another exciting Saturday afternoon at Kingspan Stadium.

Ulster take on RC Toulon today in the first home European Rugby Champions Cup game which is sure to be an exciting match. We extend a warm welcome to all the Toulon fans that have travelled here to support their team and look forward to some top class rugby between the two sides. Ulster secured an impressive 29-9 win over Glasgow Warriors in their last home game so we are hoping to see another strong performance this afternoon! Kingspan Stadium is once again a fortress and it is where Ulster plays best thanks to the energy and support of the home fans. This season marks the 18th year of our proud association with Ulster Rugby and we remain committed to the team. At Bank of Ireland we stand together with the fans, sharing their passion and together we are all the driving force behind our Ulster Rugby team.

Ian Sheppard // Head of Corporate Banking Northern Ireland Bank of Ireland

Official sponsor of Ulster Rugby

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ULSTER RUGBY

GET EVEN CLOSER TO THE ACTION THIS SEASON

ULSTER BRANCH

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

John Kinnear / / President Bobby Stewart / / Senior Vice President John McKibbin / / Junior Vice President John McKibbin / / Honorary Secretary Michael Boyd / / Honorary Treasurer Denis Gardiner / / Competitions Secretary Shane Logan / / Chief Executive Chris Webster / / Domestic Rugby Manager Audrey Robinson / / Financial Controller Fiona Hampton / / H ead of Sales & Marketing

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to Kingspan Stadium for this Champions Cup match against Toulon.

I would like to welcome in particular the directors, players, supporters and coaches from Toulon. There can be few greater tests for Ulster than the visit of the reigning European champions. The Toulon side is packed full of international stars. Giteau, Bastareaud, O’Connor, Habana, Williams, Hayman and Fernandez Lobbe are just some of the household names that we will see this afternoon. Toulon started their Champions Cup campaign with a victory over Scarlets while Ulster lost narrowly to Leicester Tigers. While it was a disappointing first half at Welford Road, the second period of 40 minutes showed the character that exists in this Ulster side. They scored two excellent tries and secured what could be, a vital losing bonus point. This week, Ireland Head Coach, Joe Schmidt, announced his squad for the Autumn internationals. Congratulations to Jared Payne who has been included for the first time. No doubt he will make as big an impact on the international scene as he has done here at Ulster. Well done too to Rory Best, Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Tommy Bowe, Craig Gilroy and Stuart Olding on their call ups.

While all eyes will be on Kingspan Stadium today, Ulster Rugby’s commitment to growing this fantastic game at grassroots level was displayed this week in Londonderry/ Derry. A new satellite club in Creggan Estate has been established in conjunction with City of Derry Rugby Club. This is a great example of how DCAL funding has allowed us to grow the game in non-traditional areas and I want to wish everyone involved every success. This afternoon, Rory Best will play his 50th European game. I want to offer my sincere congratulations to Rory on this landmark achievement. He has been and continues to be a fantastic servant to Ulster and Irish Rugby. This afternoon will be a wonderful occasion. We might be playing a team of well known rugby names, but our team is full of players from here, who grew up here and who are incredibly proud to wear the Ulster shirt. Your support will be vital if we are to get a result this afternoon and I would encourage you to stand up, shout loudly and support your Ulstermen like never before. Yours in Rugby. John Kinnear // President IRFU (Ulster Branch)

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

EPCR WELCOME

Welcome to a new chapter in European professional club rugby

This weekend’s action heralds an exciting new chapter for European professional club rugby with the opening rounds in the inaugural European Rugby Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup tournaments. On behalf of newly-constituted tournament organiser, EPCR, I am delighted to welcome you to today’s match which is an important milestone for the tournaments and the participant clubs. After nearly two seasons of turbulent negotiations among European club rugby’s stakeholders, we can together now look forward with confidence to a bright future for the European professional club rugby game which is so cherished by coaches, players and fans alike. And on behalf of EPCR, I want to acknowledge the patience of fans across Europe throughout this difficult process, and to thank you for your continued support of European club rugby. The new European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup tournaments are built on the rich heritage of 19 years of outstanding competition generated by the Heineken Cup and the old Challenge Cup. The enhanced and streamlined formats mean that the competing clubs in both tournaments qualify for the first time solely on merit from their respective domestic leagues - the Aviva Premiership, the Top 14 and the Guinness PRO12 - or through a play-off series. With 20 clubs competing in five pools, the Champions Cup will become truly elite, and the Challenge Cup with 18 clubs from the three leading leagues, is set to become more competitive than ever before. The tournaments will also provide opportunities for emerging clubs to compete alongside some of Europe’s best through play-off series which will expand in the seasons ahead. On the commercial front, EPCR’s tournaments have already established a solid foundation from which to build.

The new TV platform will provide even more exposure for the tournaments as well as increased revenues for the professional club game. All 20 Champions Cup games will now be broadcast each weekend in Ireland, the UK and France by our partners, BT Sport, Sky Sports, beIN Sports and France Televisions, while Sky Italia will show games in Italy. Fans outside of Europe will also have the opportunity to enjoy these tournaments with IMG distributing the rights through a network of partners in established and emerging rugby markets. I am also delighted to confirm that Heineken, a long standing supporter of European club rugby, will join us on this latest chapter of the European journey as a founding partner of the new tournaments. I also welcome GILBERT as the official ball supplier and Canterbury as the provider of apparel for match officials. This season, as we celebrate 20 years of European club rugby, we hope fans from across Europe will engage with the new EPCrugby.com digital platforms and we are excited to welcome YouTube and Google+ as digital partners of the tournaments. Finally, I would like to wish all 40 clubs every success in their inaugural European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup campaigns and I’m sure we will all enjoy a compelling and exciting season as this new chapter culminates in the EPCR Finals London 2015 weekend in May. Jacques Pineau // EPCR Director General The new-commissioned European Rugby Challenge Cup and Champions Cup trophies. Watch a video about the making of the trophies on the EPCR YouTube channel.

Get closer to rugby No one sees the game like The Sunday Times. Our insightful commentary, expert analysis and unrivalled team of writers — Stuart Barnes,Peter O’Reilly, Stephen Jones and DenisWalsh will bring you closer to the action. Get more from the season with The Sunday Times.

O cial Partner of the European Rugby Champions Cup

TONIGHT’S MASCOTS

MASCOTS

KATIE SANDFORD (10) Katie attends Waringstown Primary School in Craigavon. Her favourite hobby is playing hockey at Lurgan Ladies Hockey Club. Her favourite Ulster Rugby players are Craig Gilroy and Andrew Trimble. Katie can’t wait to run out onto the pitch with Sparky and Rory Best at such a massive game for Ulster.

ADAM McNALLY (11) Adam is from Newtownbutler and

attends Dungannon Royal School. His hobbies include rugby, GAA, running and swimming. His favourite player is Tommy Bowe and when he grows up he would like to be a pilot.

HIRE THE OFFICIAL ULSTER RUGBY COACH

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For more details visit translink.co.uk/ulsterrugby 1st November KO 1935

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ULSTER RUGBY

Tommy Bowe reflects on what was a hard to take defeat away to Leicester Tigers last weekend but insists that the team are in fighting spirit to take on reigning Champions Toulon this afternoon… TOMMY BOWE: “THESE ARE THE GAMES THAT EXCITE US”

an enormous game coming up against Toulon the reigning champions - so the talk is focused on that, everyone is excited, it is a full house and it is a huge opportunity for us to turn it around. “As rugby players, these are the fixtures that we all get excited about playing and certainly everyone in Belfast and in Ulster will be chomping at the bit to get this game going on Saturday and we can’t wait for Toulon to come to town.” It is essential that Ulster can optimise the fortress nature of Kingspan Stadium and get the points this weekend: “This competition is so difficult and you certainly have to win your home matches. But I do think if that wasn’t to go to plan, we have plenty of opportunities to get away and we would be confident in facing the remaining pool games. However at the moment we are fully focused on getting a win this weekend. With a full house here the atmosphere is unreal, even against Glasgow a few weeks ago the atmosphere was electric, so if we can give the crowd something to get behind, we know the atmosphere will be amazing.” The visiting line-up includes world class operators like Bastareaud, Giteau, Armitage and Habana but Bowe will treat it as he does any other game: “Look you change things up slightly no matter who you play against, I look at areas I can attack, running different lines against different people, obviously my opposite number and players in the back three that we might come up against to see if we can pick up weaknesses or trends in their game that we can exploit. So when we get on the pitch on Saturday and have a split second to think, we know what they are going to do and how to counteract that, that is the benefit of video analysis and why we use it every week.”

“We were obviously disappointed by our performance especially in the first half,” says Bowe. “I think that we started the game well but then a few errors crept in and we gave away a few penalties which gave Leicester, who are a strong European side, the opportunity to get their tails up. They scored a try and I think they went through a purple patch, they got a bit of confidence and for us we just lacked composure and fell away from them for 15 minutes and that’s when they accumulated points. “We obviously addressed that during the break, but given where we were at that stage in the game we were lucky to come away with a losing bonus point and not having given them a bonus point. During the second half I believe we got ourselves back into a position where we could have won. It’s a performance we were not very happy with, but at the same time we came away with a point away from home which is a good sign of where we are as a team. Going away to a European powerhouse like Leicester and to be so disappointed with only picking up a point just shows the standards that we expect from each other and how hungry we are to do well in this tournament.” In the 55th minute of last weekend’s game Bowe scored his 25th European try following some great inter-play with Jared Payne down the right wing: “It was a nice try, I was delighted to get over,” claims Bowe. “It’s always good to get over straight from a set piece, they are the ones that the forwards enjoy the most. It shows how dangerous we can be, there is strength throughout the pitch and whenever we do get the opportunity it is nice to be able to put away a try like that. It is certainly up there with one of my favourite tries and it’s nice to be back to scoring ways again.” However, with French giants Toulon coming to town the team do not have much time to dwell on the misfortunes of last weekend… “We looked at the Leicester game early on Monday and have put it behind us, we have

TOMMY BOWE

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ULSTER RUGBY

www. ulster rugby.com

“AGAINST GLASGOW A FEW WEEKS AGO THE ATMOSPHERE WAS ELECTRIC SO IF WE CAN GIVE THE CROWD SOMETHING TO GET BEHIND, WE KNOW THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BE AMAZING” TOMMY BOWE

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ULSTER RUGBY

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RORY BEST’S 50TH EUROPEAN APPEARANCE

This afternoon’s game sees Ulster Captain, Rory Best, make his 50th appearance in European competition.

CONGRATULATIONS

Rory made his European debut, against Gloucester, in January 2005 in a 14-12 home win. The front row that night included his brother Simon and Australian tighthead prop Rod Moore.

Highlights of Rory’s European career, to name just a few matches, include the quarter-final win over Munster at Thomond Park, the Heineken Cup Final in 2012, the wins over Castres and Montpellier in France and the away victories over Northampton and Leicester Tigers in recent years.

CONGRATULATIONS TO RORY – HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE MANY MORE APPEARANCES TO COME!

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ULSTER RUGBY

THE ULSTER RUGBY 2015 CALENDAR

IN SUPPORT OF

ON SALE SATURDAY 1ST NOVEMBER Price £10 with all proceeds going to our Official Charity Partner, Mencap Available from: • Ulster Rugby Ticket Office • Kukri Store, Kingspan Stadium and Victoria Square • Ticketmaster.ie (P&P additional)

ROUND TWO PREVIEW

ULSTER RUGBY RC TOULON

HEAD TO HEAD

SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER 2014 AT 13:00 KINGSPAN STADIUM, BELFAST

MATCH FACTS:

• Ulster have won six of their last seven games against French opposition, and 11 of their last 13 homes games against French clubs in Europe. • Ulster Rugby could break the 2,500 points mark this weekend against Toulon - they currently sit on 2,491 points • All five of Toulon’s defeats in the top flight have come away from home. • Ulster have won 16 of their last 17 home pool games. • Last weekend Ulster lost their opening fixture for the first time since the 2008/09 season. • Tommy Bowe scored his 25th try in the tournament last weekend, and is 6th on the all time top try scorers list alongside Geordan Murphy and Chris Ashton.

TEAM COMPARISON (TOURNAMENT RECORD*)

ULSTER RUGBY

RC TOULON

Played

118

26 21

Wins

58

Draws Losses

3

0 6

57

Total Points For

2491 2555

689 447

Total Points Against

Total Tries For

223 263

62 39

Total Tries Against

*includes Champions Cup and Heineken Cup

POINTS SCORERS

RC TOULON: PLAYER

ULSTER RUGBY: PLAYER

POINTS

POINTS

Leigh Halfpenny

13

Paddy Jackson

8 5 5

3 Players

5

Franco van der Merwe

Tommy Bowe

POOL THREE TABLE

pos team

pl

w

d

l

pf

pa diff

tf

ta

tb

lb

pts

1 RC Toulon

1 1 1 1

1 1 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 1 1

28 18 10 25 18 7 18 25 -7

3 3 2

2 2 3 3

0 0 0 0

0 0 1 0

4 4 1 0

2 Leicester Tigers 3 Ulster Rugby

4 Scarlets

18 28 -10 2

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ULSTER RUGBY

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‘TRY RUGBY’ PROGRAMME IN CREGGAN ESTATE A HUGE SUCCESS

This season Ulster Rugby, in partnership with Derry City Council Active Communities and City of Derry Rugby Club, has embarked on a ground breaking rugby development programme in the Creggan Estate and surrounding areas.

TRY RUGBY

Community Rugby Coaches, David Funston and Nathan Deeney, along with Active Communities coach Kevin Gallagher, have been delivering tag rugby sessions in local primary schools over the past few weeks. The overall focus has been to provide boys and girls from all backgrounds with the opportunity to get involved in rugby activity in a safe, controlled and familiar environment. Their hard work culminated in a ‘Rugby Fun day’ on Monday at Bishops Field Sports Centre, where approximately 360 boys and girls took part in a mass participation event. The pupils came from eight primary schools from within the city and covered a wide range of rugby related games and skills. This event was designed to filter more players into the ongoing satellite rugby club that has been established in Creggan within

the last month. Ulster Rugby development staff and City of Derry mini rugby coaches have been delivering mini rugby sessions at the Bishops Field venue to provide local boys and girls with access to regular rugby coaching. It is hoped that these boys and girls will seek to make rugby their main sport and participate on a regular basis. Ulster star Michael Allen attended last week’s session to talk to the children about his experiences in the sport and pass on some tips to help develop their skills. This project has been made possible due to the generous support of the NI Executive and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure through the ‘Promoting Equality, Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion through Sport’ programme.

UlsterBranch

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ULSTER RUGBY

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2 MINUTES FRANCO VAN DER MERWE WITH

IN FOCUS

NICKNAME: Frankie Knuckles FAVOURITE SONG/ARTIST? Budapest by George Ezra CAN YOU COOK? Is barbequing cooking? Then yes, I can! WHAT’S YOUR SIGNATURE DISH? I do a mean fillet steak LAST BOOK YOU READ? Africa in the footsteps of great explorers (Kingsley Holgate) FAVOURITE TV SHOW? Scandal WHOWOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO BE STUCK IN A LIFT WITH? Will Farrell/Kingsley Holgate/Nelson Mandela WHO’S THE LAST PERSON YOUWOULD LIKE TO BE STUCK IN A LIFT WITH? Miley Cyrus IF YOUWEREN’T PLAYING RUGBY, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING?

YOU TEAM Louis Ludik HARDEST?

4x4ing through Africa DO YOU HAVE A PET? Yes, a German pointer dog PET’S NAME? Ally

BEST IN TRAINING? Robbie Diack BEST MATE ON TEAM?

Nick Williams QUICKEST? Tommy Bowe FUTURE MANAGER/COACH?

Declan Fitzpatrick BEST NICKNAME? Dinger (Jonny Bell) BEST DANCER?

Still need to see the guys in action but I’ve heard Mike McComish can move BEST DRESSER? Craig Gilroy / Louis Ludik BEST TEAMMATE TO FOLLOW ON TWITTER? I’m not on Twitter, yet!

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ULSTER RUGBY

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IRFU TO INTRODUCE MEN’S SEVENS PROGRAMME

IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora has announced that Irish Rugby will be introducing a Men’s Sevens Programme this season as part of the IRFU’s expanded Player Development Pathway.

SEVENS RUGBY

The IRFU has entered a team in the Men’s Rugby Europe Championships that take place in Montenegro in June 2015 and will compete in Division C of that competition. David Nucifora, commented, “We are starting right down at the bottom and will work our way up. The Sevens programme is part of the development pathway. Sevens is a wonderful game in that it allows you to judge talent and give players the opportunity to play another form of the game that shows you different things about their strengths and weaknesses. “Sevens as a game has really developed over the past three to five years. It’s a very confrontational game now. You quickly learn about players whether they can tackle whether they can carry - a whole range of different things about them that are important to both forms of the game.

“As we are starting in Division C it will very much be a crawl before you can walk scenario. This year the Sevens Programme will be based on the couple of tournaments that are available to us, a couple of warm- up tournaments and the camps where we assemble the talent we have identified.” Speaking of where the players for the Sevens Programme will come from, Nucifora said, “We are conscious that we don’t place any extra burden on any of the provincial teams so primarily it will be academy, sub-academy and club players. Giving players an opportunity to jump into that player pathway. Hopefully we will find players we haven’t seen before and they may very well end up being players that are re-introduced into the 15s game at a higher level.”

UlsterBranch

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ULSTER RUGBY

GUEST ARTICLE

Article by Rod Nawn

Freelance Journalist and Sports Enthusiast @RODNAWN1

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ULSTERRUGBY

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THE STARS ARE OUT AND TOULON TOO!

Like fans in any sport we are often in thrall to the big names, the huge reputations of others, too often ignoring ‘our own’.

And of course there is fascination in the visit to Kingspan Stadium of players most frequently watched on television plying their club and international trade in a different hemisphere. But this afternoon in Belfast, Europe’s champion team of the last two seasons brings its version of ‘gallacticos’, free-spending - vastly-ambitious Toulon are in town. That means Bryan Habana, Mathieu Bastareaud, Matt Giteau, Bakkes Botha, Carl Hayman, Leigh Halfpenny, the brothers Armitage, James O’Connor, Frederic Michalak, form just part of a celestial sporting talent pool, gathered from across the globe and at great expense. The Mediterranean city, where the French navy’s main fleet is based, is a fortress too in rugby terms, and coaching boss Bernard Laporte – as a player and official a man of great distinction – is responsible for forging a unit which does not hide its intention to dominate Europe and further afield. For supporters it is a genuine thrill to see quality players like these take to the pitch, but it’s a measure of how far Ulster has travelled that its ambitions are just as far-reaching, and its playing resources just as rich as its opponents. And any trepidation which might have been evident in the ranks 20 years or so ago has long since vanished. For the current generation of Ulster players has set new benchmarks itself, most simply evidenced by the feats collectively and individually of Tommy Bowe, Andrew Trimble, Rory Best, Chris Henry, Jared Payne, Luke Marshall, Darren Cave and the ever-expanding list of internationals available to Neil Doak. Ruan Pienaar, Nick Williams, Louis Ludik, Franco van der Merwe and Wiehahn Herbst are just some of those recruited carefully from abroad, their personal and rugby integration managed in such a way that no-one doubts their Ulster credentials, and each week their pedigree is emphasised with performances which have made them crowd favourites. Will Lions such as Bowe and Best march out on to the Kingspan turf in any way in awe of their counterparts, or will Louis Ludik, Paddy Jackson, Nick Williams, Robbie Diack or Herbst be daunted by the 80 minutes to come? Not a bit of it! It’s a nuanced feeling, but there can sometimes – amongst supporters especially – be a concern that such are the global ‘brands’ of visiting players, such are there proven qualities, that it is too easily forgotten that wearing the white of Ulster is a group which commands precisely the same high regard and respect in the ranks of the most celebrated opposition. A few short years ago the commitment was made that Ulster should become a world-class club, with players, management and facilities to match. The bar was set high, and the challenge taken up with alacrity. A European Cup Final, PRO12 success and the arrival and development of players proved this was no pipedream. Throughout rugby Ulster is perceived as in the top tier, a thoroughly professional but rooted club with unlimited ambition. Stuart McCloskey, Stuart Olding, Craig Gilroy, Andy Warwick, Roger Wilson, Rob Herring – whether ‘starters’ or springing from the bench – know they are part of a world-class operation, bound by a particular passion and dedicated to realising the talents assembled with precision. These are performers of international stature, eager to pit their skillsets against the best and, importantly, confident of shaping events on the pitch.

Of Juan Smith, Michael Claassens, Martin Castrogiovanni and the cosmopolitan squad gathered on the Cote d’Azur much is demanded by Toulon, and similarly at Ulster. The totemic Jonny Wilkinson has left the Stade Mayol, the European dreams of benefactor Mourad Boudjellal, Toulon born-and-bred realised, but other challenges remain. The exotic southern French location, and the apparently infinite financial rewards, adds to the glamour and the fascination with the current kingpins in Europe, but the job has to be done on the pitch. George Gregan was a signature capture and was amongst those who created a template for success in Toulon. But it is easy to forget that Ryan Constable, Paul Steinmetz, Robbie Kempson, Dion O’Cuinneagain, from afar, David Humphreys, Jeremy Davidson, Mark McCall, Jonny Bell and Allen Clarke – to name but a very few – inspired just the same sort of ambitious route map for Ulster Rugby with their lustrous talents and worldwide reputations. Today, the first big European occasion in the fully-refurbished Kingspan Stadium, the players of the recent past will cast not a shadow but provide the impetus and motivation for the team which takes the field to lay down the gauntlet to the French. Admire the opposition, respect it as the players in the home dressing room will, but have no doubt that not one Ulster player involved will feel a lesser competitor. The second game of the group qualifying stage, and it’s already a critical match for both sides. Ulster might have hoped for better at Leicester last weekend, but the losing bonus point and the style and character of the second half at Welford Road keeps spirits rightly high. The Tigers were never the fatally wounded side some commentators would have had us believe, their season is on an upward curve at last. In the Sunday sunshine at home Toulon powered through the Scarlets early on, but the Welsh regrouped and exploited any failings to the full and denied the champions the bonus point win they craved. Laporte will know that Belfast offers his side a huge challenge this Saturday afternoon, and Neil Doak, with Jonny Bell and Allen Clarke, will have prepared meticulously. Be in no doubt, these are two of Europe’s best outfits going head-to-head, clubs and players with priority, and victory tonight will certainly put the winners in pole position to qualify for the quarter-finals in the New Year. It’s one of those days to relish: memories of Stade Toulouse being put to the sword in Ulster’s Cup-winning season of 1998/99, not just once but twice. The mighty Stade Francais has been humbled – on a Saturday lunchtime memorably - so too Montpellier and Biarritz, powerhouses of the game in France and Europe. Skipper Rory Best will not have to tell his players that the feats of yore are to be repeated, rather that new standards demand his troops write new, unique rugby history. This is an era when rugby in the Province has produced a sleek, contemporary ‘golden generation’, one firmly bedded in the affection and support of its supporters, and with individual and squad goals it is determined to achieve. The champions of Europe meet their gifted and genuine contenders for the crown. What is not to like?

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ULSTER RUGBY

IT’S ALL COMING TO A HEAD

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT SQUAD (RDS)

Last Saturday, the Ulster U18 Girls Regional Development Squad (RDS) travelled to Westmanstown Sports Ground, on the outskirts of Dublin, to take part in an Inter-provincial blitz against Connacht and Munster.

U18 GIRLS’

In the opener versus Connacht, two tries from Claire Boles and one from Maire Hanrahan, along with two conversions from Erin Caughey,

U18 GIRLS’ REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT SQUAD:

saw Ulster come out on top 19-15. Ulster then produced a magnificent

Lucy Barr Collegiate College/Enniskillen* Hanna Beattie Down High/Ballynahinch* Claire Boles Collegiate College/Enniskillen* Storm Cobain Ballyclare HS/Malone Kathryn Dane Enniskillen Collegiate/ Enniskillen* Stacey Fluke Armagh Tech/ Armagh Alison Glass Collegiate College/ Enniskillen* Leah Gregory Bailieborough Community School/Virginia* Maire Hanrahan Aquinas/Malone* Hanna Harris Bangor Academy/Bangor* Lisa Henry Newtownhamilton High/Armagh* Vicky Irwin Royal School Armagh/Armagh Neve Jones Cambridge House/Malone* Molly Lavery St Michael’s Grammar/Armagh Emily Martin Strathearn/Ards* Beccie McCauley City of Armagh High/ Armagh Bethany McDowell Grosvenor Grammar/Malone* Leah Mudi Wellington/ Ballynahinch* Morna O’Hanlon Loreto College, Cavan/Armagh Rebecca Pennell Collegiate College/Enniskillen* Rebecca Rainey Omagh Academy/Omagh* Jill Stephens Down High/Ballynahinch* Rachel Tombs Methodist College/ Harlequins* Erin Caughey Grosvenor Grammar School/QUB* Sian McIlwaine Sullivan Upper/Harlequins* Carla Rafferty Royal School Armagh/Armagh* Zarah Ryan Victoria College/Harlequins* Nicole Watterson Glenlola Collegiate/Bangor* Tammy-Lee Wood Hazelwood/Malone) *denotes first season on RDS squad If you wish to find out more about female rugby opportunities in your area please feel free to contact your local Female Rugby Officer: Great Belfast Area Neal Johnston Neal.Johnston@Ulsterrugby.com, 07767 115 764 North Ulster Glenda Mellon Glenda.Mellon@Ulsterrugby.com 07442 490 459 South Ulster Zoe Templeton Zoe.Templeton@Ulsterrugby.com 07767 117 937

performance against Munster. A try from Neve Jones, followed by some outstanding defence (of particular note was Rebecca Rainey’s try- saving tackle) resulted in a first ever win over Munster at this level, by the slightest of margins. The squad will now face Leinster at the same venue on Saturday 1st November to fight it out for first and second place in the series. Whatever the result in the Leinster game, Ulster has already shown huge progress since re-joining this competition last year, after several years of not being involved. It is interesting to note the number of players who have been involved in the Girls Schools’ Cup, while the improving skill level of the girls is testiment to their coaches at club level. The future looks bright with so many of the current RDS squad at the lower limit of the age grade. There is also clear evidence of a pathway for players with two of the squad, Erin Caughey and Kathryn Dane, recently representing Ireland at U18 7s level and also being involved in the Ulster Women’s senior squad during the summer.

MANAGEMENT: Darren McGuigan Head Coach Neill Alcorn Assistant Coach David Heaps Manager Zoe Templeton Player Liaison

UlsterBranch

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ULSTER RUGBY

MICHAEL ALLEN

RICKY ANDREW

Centre/Wing 28.11.90 183cm 97kg 37 -

Fullback 02.12.89 185cm 87kg 19 -

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

RORY BEST (C)

CALLUM BLACK

TOMMY BOWE Hooker 15.08.82 180cm 110kg 158 77 ULSTER RUBGY POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

Prop 25.02.86 180cm 110kg 63 -

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

CHARLIE BUTTERWORTH

Wing 22.02.84 191cm 102kg 123 54

POSITION BORN

Back Row - 195cm 115kg 0 -

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

DARREN CAVE

ROBBIE DIACK

Centre 05.04.87 184cm 97kg 139 7 // 11A

Back Row 12.11.85 196cm 109kg 134 1 // 1A

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

DECLAN FITZPATRICK

CRAIG GILROY

Wing 11.03.91 183cm 90kg 90 5 // 1A

Prop 12.07.83 182cm 118kg 89 7 // 9A

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

MICHAEL HEANEY

IAIN HENDERSON

Scrumhalf 05.11.90 176cm 78kg 25 -

POSITION BORN

Back Row 21.02.92 200cm 115kg 40 12 // 2A

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

24

ULSTER RUGBY

www. ulster rugby.com

CHRIS HENRY

WIEHAHN HERBST

Back Row 17.10.84 191cm 105kg 125 16 // 10A

POSITION BORN

Prop 05.07.88 180cm 114kg 7 -

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

SQUAD 2014/15

ROB HERRING

IAN HUMPHREYS

Hooker 27.04.90 183cm 103kg 53 1 // 1A

Outhalf 24.04.82 178cm 85kg

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

89 7A

PADDY JACKSON

CONOR JOYCE

Outhalf 05.01.92 179cm 87kg 68 9 // 1A

POSITION BORN

Back Row 05.07.93 192cm 106kg 4 -

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

RICKY LUTTON

LOUIS LUDIK

Prop 26.02.86 183cm 115kg 23 -

POSITION BORN

Fullback 10.08.86 182cm 92kg 6 -

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

LUKE MARSHALL

PAUL MARSHALL

Centre 03.11.91 181cm 96kg 55 6

POSITION BORN

Scrumhalf 26.07.85 172cm 80kg 131 3 // 2A

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

STUART McCLOSKEY

KYLE McCALL

Centre - 195cm 105kg 8 -

POSITION BORN

Hooker 02.01.92 176cm 108kg 3 -

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

25

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ULSTER RUGBY

When I switch my current account to Bank of Ireland UK, I’ll have access to a fantastic graduate package and they’ll give me £100! *

Have you graduated in the last three years? Switch to a Bank of Ireland UK current account between 1 October and 31 December 2014 and close your old account and we’ll pay £100* to your account within 2 months of the switch completing. Plus you’ll get access to special offers to help set you up for life after university.

bankofireland.co.uk 0800 0850 444

*Terms and conditions apply to the £100 switch offer and these are available from any branch or bankofireland.co.uk/graduates. Terms and conditions apply to the Bank of Ireland UK Graduate Account and are available on request from any branch. Bank of Ireland UK is a trading name of Bank of Ireland (UK) plc which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Registered in England and Wales (No. 7022885), Bow Bells House, 1 Bread Street, London EC4M 9BE. Quote is fictional.

8761141003

NEIL McCOMB

MIKE McCOMISH

2nd Row 15.07.83 201cm 120kg 42 -

POSITION BORN

Back Row 07.12.83 190cm 106kg 41 -

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

SQUAD 2014/15

RUAIDHRI MURPHY

PETER NELSON

Fullback 05.10.92 180cm 84kg 14 -

Prop 05.07.87 187cm 115.5kg 3 -

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

STUART OLDING

JARED PAYNE

Outhalf 11.03.93 176cm 88kg 25 1

Fullback 13.10.85 186cm 97kg 53 -

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

RUAN PIENAAR

SEAN REIDY

Scrumhalf 10.03.84 187cm 90kg 80 79 (SA)

POSITION BORN

Back Row 10.05.89 180cm 100kg 0 -

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

BRONSON ROSS

CLIVE ROSS

Prop 16.09.85 183cm 118kg 3 -

Back Row 14.06.89 192cm 104kg 1 -

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

DAVE RYAN

RORY SCHOLES

Prop

POSITION BORN

Wing 24.04.93 186cm 95kg 5 -

POSITION BORN

183cm 116kg 0 -

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

27

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ULSTER RUGBY

“This kind of landscape is the reason I became a photographer.” Eunan, Photographer, Leitrim

Take a leaf out of Eunan’s book and discover the beauty of Northern Ireland’s coasts and lakes. Book a short break to our compact little part of theworld and hit thewater. FromFermanagh’s lakes and islands, to the spellbinding seascapes of theCauseway Coastal Route andeverything inbetween, there’s nowhere better to unwind. Fill your getaway with afternoons on the water, cosy hotels, seafood and roaring fires in homely pubs. And, don’t forget your camera...

CromEstate, Co. Fermanagh

JAMES SIMPSON

LEWIS STEVENSON

2nd Row 03.11.90 197cm 115kg 0 -

2nd Row 01.06.84 200cm 116kg

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

67 1A

SQUAD 2014/15

ANDREW TRIMBLE

DAN TUOHY

Wing 20.10.84 187cm 99kg 188 57 // 3A

POSITION BORN

2nd Row 18.06.85 197cm 115kg 113 9 // 4A

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

FRANCO VAN DER MERWE

ANDREW WARWICK

2nd Row 15.03.83 198cm 115kg 7 -

Prop 12.03.91 180cm 111kg 12 -

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

NICK WILLIAMS

ROGER WILSON

Back Row 21.09.81 191cm 106kg 161 1 // 11 A

POSITION BORN

Back Row 02.12.83 189cm 122kg 48 -

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

ULSTER RUGBY SQUAD SEASON 2014/15

29

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ULSTER RUGBY

ULSTER RUG SATURDAY 25TH OCTOBER KICK O

Official sponsor of Ulster Rugby

15

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

LOUIS LUDIK

ANDREW WARWICK

14 13 12 11 9 10

RORY BEST (C)

TOMMY BOWE

ULSTER RUGBY

WIEHAHN HERBST

JARED PAYNE

LEWIS STEVENSON

STUART OLDING

FRANCO VD MERWE

CRAIG GILROY

ROBBIE DIACK

PADDY JACKSON

CHRIS HENRY

PAUL MARSHALL

REPLACEMENTS FROM

8

R HERRING C BLACK D FITZPATRICK C ROSS

N WILLIAMS M HEANEY I HUMPHREYS D CAVE

16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23

ROGER WILSON

68)780

Y v TOULON 2014 - KINGSPAN STADIUM F 13.00

15 14 13 12 11 10 9

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

RC TOULON

LEIGH HALFPENNY

XAVIER CHIOCCI

DAVID SMITH

JEAN-CHARLES ORIOLI

MATHIEU BASTAREAUD

CARL HAYMAN (C)

MAXIME MERMOZ

BAKKIES BOTHA

BRYAN HABANA

ALI WILLIAMS

MATT GITEAU

JUAN SMITH

S TILLOUS-BORDE

J FERNANDEZ LOBBE

G GUIRADO A MENINI L CHILACHAVA C MASOE 16 17 18 19 REPLACEMENTS FROM 20 21 22 23

8

J O’CONNOR R WULF M CLAASSENS R TAOFIFENUA

STEFFON ARMITAGE

REFEREE ASSISTANT REFEREE’S CITING COMMISSIONER TMO TODAYS OFFICIALS

WAYNE BARNES (ENG) TIM WIGGLESWORTH (ENG) // NIGEL CARRICK (ENG) PETER LARTER (ENG) ROWAN KITT (ENG)

DELON ARMITAGE

STEFFON ARMITAGE

Back row 20.09.85 175cm 104kg

Full back 15.12.83 192cm 95kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

FABIEN BARCELLA

MATHIEU BASTAREAUD

Centre 17.09.88 185cm 120kg

Prop 27.10.83 185cm 115kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

RC TOULON

BAKKIES BOTHA

THEO BELAN

Lock 22.09.79 202cm 120kg

Centre 15.11.92 187cm 94kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

CRAIG BURDEN

MARTIN CASTROGIOVANNI

Hooker 13.05.85 184cm 100kg

Prop 21.10.81 188cm 122kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

LEVAN CHILACHAVA

XAVIER CHIOCCI

Prop 17.08.91 189cm 125kg

Prop 13.02.90 180cm 122kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

MICHAEL CLAASSENS

ERIC ESCANDE

Scrum half 28.10.82 178cm 87kg

Scrum half 18.11.92 172cm 78kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

32

ULSTER RUGBY

www. ulster rugby.com

JUAN FERNANDEZ LOBBE

FLORIAN FRESIA

Prop 17.01.92 185cm 116kg

Back row 19.11.81 193cm 102kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

SQUAD 2014/15

MATT GITEAU

MAMUKA GORGODZE

Flanker 14.07.84 195cm 118kg

Outside half 29.09.82 178cm 86kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

GUILHEM GUIRADO

BRYAN HABANA

Wing 12.06.83 180cm 94kg

Hooker 17.06.86 181cm 99kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

LEIGH HALFPENNY

CARL HAYMAN

Prop 14.11.79 194cm 120kg

Full back 22.12.88 178cm 81kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

CHRIS MASOE

ALEXANDRE MENINI

Prop 05.08.83 183cm 113kg

Back row 15.05.79 183cm 103kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

MAXIME MERMOZ

DREW MITCHELL

Centre 28.07.86 182cm 93kg

Full back 26.03.84 182cm 92kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

33

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ULSTER RUGBY

JEAN-CHARLES ORIOLI

JAMES O’CONNOR

Hooker 09.08.89 179cm 104kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

Full back 05.07.90 180cm 89kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

SQUAD 2014/15

DAVID SMITH

NICOLAS SANCHEZ

Outside half 28.10.88 177cm 85kg

Wing 12.10.86 172cm 95kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

JOCELINO SUTA

JUAN SMITH

Lock 18.11.82 195cm 115kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

Back row 30.07.81 196cm 115kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

SEBASTIEN TILLOUS-BORDE

ROMAIN TAOFIFENUA

Scrum half 29.04.85 176cm 90kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

Lock 14.09.90 200cm 123kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

GERHARD VOSLOO

JOSUA TUISOVA

Flanker 10.05.79 188cm 104kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

Wing 04.02.94 182cm 96kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

ALI WILLIAMS

RUDI WULF

Back row 30.04.81 201cm 118kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

Centre 02.02.84 182cm 99kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

35

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ULSTER RUGBY

Your home of Rugby Over 360 live International, Domestic and European matches from the 2014-15 Rugby season

AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS

For full fixture information visit sky sports.com/rugbyunion

MATCH UP

ULSTER V TOULON 2014/15

2014/15 PERFORMANCE DATA

ULSTER RUGBY

RC TOULON

Points

18

28

Tries

2

3

Goal Kicking%

60% 110 388

83% 138 479

Carries Metres

CLUB STATS //Location Toulon //Founded 1908 //Ground Stade Félix Mayol //Capacity 15,020 //Last Game Scarlets (H) 28-18 (W) Sun 19 Oct 2014 at 16.15 //Next Game Leicester Tigers (A) Sun 7 Dec 2014 at 17:30 //Recent Form W W W W W

Clean Breaks

6

8

Defenders Beaten

12

20 17 24 81 13 10 18 12

Offloads Passes

5

129

163

Kicks from Hand

29

Tackles

110

Missed Tackles

16

Tackle%

87%

86%

Penalties Conceded Turnovers Conceded

9

12

Turnovers Won

2

Lineout %

65%

80%

Lineout Steals

2

3

Scrum %

75%

80%

Scrums against the head

0

0

Ruck%

96%

98%

LEADING SCORERS

Franco van der Merwe UR 1 Tommy Bowe UR 1 Steffen Armitage RCT 1

Matt Giteau RCT

1 1

STAFF // Director of Rugby Bernard Laporte //Captain Carl Hayman CONTACT RC Toulon 53 rue Melpomène 83100 Toulon France

Maxime Mermoz RCT

LEADING SCORERS

MOST CARRIES

Leigh Halfpenny RCT 13 points Paddy Jackson UR 8 points

Matt Giteau RCT Craig Gilrow UR

16 11

MOST METRES GAINED

MOST TACKLES

Tel +33 8 92 68 06 80 Fax +33 4 94 41 92 16 Email info@glasgowwarriors.org TICKET OFFICE Tel 0844 800 3490 Email ticket.centre@sru.org.uk www.rctoulon.com

David Smith RCT Tommy Bowe UR

Franco van der Merwe UR 14 Steffen Armitage RCT 9

91m 63m

MOST CLEAN BREAKS

DEFENDERS BEATEN

Jared Payne UR Matt Giteau RCT

Matt Giteau RCT Craig Gilroy UR

2 2

5 3

RCTofficiel

LINEOUTS WON

MOST TRY ASSETS

RCTofficiel

Ali Williams RCT 8 Franco van der Merwe UR 7

Jared Payne UR

1 1

Rctoulon

Maxime Mermoz RCT

37

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ULSTER RUGBY

BT Sport. Unmissable and still freewith BTBroadband. There’s all sorts of top sporting action coming up on BT Sport. You won’t want to miss it. Still free with BT Broadband. Call 0800 756 75 66 bt.com/sport

YOU HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT

UK residential BT Broadband customers only. Watch BT Sport online at home with a minimum line speed of 400kbps. To watch BT Sport online elsewhere you need 3G/4G/wifi (charges may apply). To watch BT Sport at btsport.com you need Microsoft Silverlight. The BT Sport App works on iPhone (3GS and above), iPad (iOS 6 and above) & selected Android devices with OS 4.1. Max. 2 devices simultaneously. e-billing required. BT Broadband for new customers from £4 a month for 6 months, then £10 a month with our special offer until 22/12/14. £12.50 from month 19. (plus line rental £15.99 a month – rising to £16.99/month on 1 December). £6.95 Hub delivery charge. Prices may change during the contract period. Terms apply. Please check bt.com/sport for details.

Flanker 20.09.85

175cm 96kg

STEFFON ARMITAGE

POSITION: D.O.B.:

HEIGHT: WEIGHT:

Halfpenny played his youth rugby at Ospreys, before signing for Cardiff Blues in 2008. He made his debut in a 17-26 victory over Ulster in Belfast. He was selected on the wing for Wales’ 2009 Six Nations campaign and was included in the 2009 Lions tour. Halfpenny became Wales’ first choice kicker in 2011, cementing his place at fullback during the 2012/13 Six Nations. He toured Australia with the British and Irish Lions in 2013. Halfpenny was nominated for IRB Player of the Year 2013; won BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2013 and was runner up for BBC Sports Personality of the Year. He scored 13 points in Toulon’s opening European Cup game against Scarlets last weekend. 31 year old Habana played most of his rugby in the Super 14 in South Africa before moving to Toulon in 2013. Habana was selected on the wing for the Springboks first game of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, where he scored four tries in the 59–7 win over Samoa in Paris. He also scored two tries against Argentina in the semi-final, equalling Jonah Lomu’s record of eight tries in one World Cup. He was a part of the World Cup winning side contributing to the defeat of England in the 2007 final. Habana was awarded the IRB Player of the Year Award in 2007. In 2009, Habana played on the left wing for the star- studded Barbarians for their Final challenge against the All Blacks. He scored three tries for the Barbarians as they defeated the All Blacks, who had not lost a match in the Northern Hemisphere in two years. The 29 year old international flanker is renowned for his pace and ability to win turnovers. He grew up in the south of France where he and his brothers played for Rugby Nice Côte d’Azur Université-Racing. Armitage was a member of the England Saxons squad that won the 2008 Churchill Cup. He was called up to the England senior squad ahead of the 2009 Six Nations Championship to replace the injured Lewis Moody, making his full international debut against Italy in the opening game. He joined Toulon in 2011 following spells at Saracens and London Irish. Armitage was awarded best foreign player by the Oscars of Midi Olympique. In May 2013 he played as a replacement when Toulon won the 2013 Heineken Cup Final by 16–15 against Clermont Auvergne. In May 2014, he was named 2013/14 ERC European Player of the Year. POSITION: D.O.B.: Full Back 22.12.88 HEIGHT: WEIGHT: 178cm 85kg POSITION: D.O.B.: Left Wing 12.06.83 HEIGHT: WEIGHT: 180cm 94kg

TRIPLE THREAT

LEIGH HALFPENNY

BRYAN HABANA

39

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ULSTER RUGBY