Ulster Rugby vs Clermont

JAMIE DONALDSON

URSC MEMBERSHIP 2016/17

1000 HAVE JOINED URSC THIS SEASON... DON’T GET LEFT BEHIND! URSC Membership for the 2016-17 season is STILL OPEN through the URSC shop by PayPal. To renew or join up for the first time and thus maximise your benefits for the season, go to membership.ursc.co. BIG BALLOT The Bursary (currently worth £2,500) is awarded annually to an up-and-coming player in the Ulster Rugby Academy. It is largely funded through proceeds from our Big Ballot. This year’s Big Ballot was drawn on 7th December 2016 and the list of winners of some terrific prizes, courtesy of our fantastic and generous donors will be included in the Connacht programme. The URSC would like to thank our donors and encourage our members to support those businesses whenever possible. On Monday 23rd January in the H3 Lounge at 7.30pm, there is a chance to meet PRO12 ref David Wilkinson, hear about the life of a professional referee, and question him about the laws, big decisions, game management and the need for regular ophthalmic tests! A unique opportunity to get in the ref’s ear! MEET THE REF NIGHT All those buying discounted tickets through URSC for the recent Barbarians v Fiji match were entered in a draw to win a Barbarians polo shirt signed by Ulster BaaBaas Ruan Pienaar, Tommy Bowe and Dan Tuohy... and the winner was Alan Haire! Congratulations to Alan. BARBARIANS COMPETITION

SUPPORTERS CLUB NEWS

It was with great sadness that URSC learnt of the passing on Friday 2nd December of one of its most respected and recognisable members, Jamie Donaldson. Jamie was a regular at the URSC information point pre-match, a frequent front row attendee at our Meet the Player events and at our BBQs. However, it was watching Ulster play that Jamie loved more than anything else. He was a frequent traveller – wherever Ulster played, Jamie, Dad John and Mum Pearl could be seen. Of course it was post-match that Jamie’s love of Ulster and the Ulster players’ love of Jamie was played out in public. Whilst others waited on tenterhooks for a possible glimpse of their heroes, an autograph or a selfie, the players invariably made a bee-line to Jamie for a personal chat – indeed he was something of a hero to them. They were frequently rewarded with Jamie’s famous

distribution of post match Mars bars! They will miss him, we will miss him.

To Pearl and John whose love for, and dedication to Jamie, knew no bounds, we pass on our sincerest sympathy and prayers. RIP Jamie.

NEW YEAR’S EVE BUS TO LEINSTER

URSC will be running a bus to Leinster for the Saturday New Year’s Eve match at the RDS (kick off 3pm). Cost will be: > £20 members > £25 for non members > £10 for juniors. Timings of the bus will be publicised later. Match tickets should be purchased direct from Leinster through Ticketmaster.

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