Ulster Rugby Annual Report 2016-17

The Ulster U19 squad was identified and met just after the Easter period for one day at Ballymena Academy. The season plan was presented to the players the majority of whom then returned to their schools to finalise their preparations for examinations. The beginning of July then saw the start of an intensive summer training schedule with great commitment and attention to detail, on and off the pitch, being shown by those in attendance. By the end of July the coaches were readily able to identify the potential starting team as well as the back-up players. The demands of the U20/Academy team did impact on the U19 squad with a number of players not being released to the U19 squad until early-mid August. However, as both squads had worked closely together during the summer sessions, this was a relatively easy transition for the players involved. In preparation for the Inter-Provincial series of games the Ulster U19 squad played two matches. The first saw a squad of twenty six players travel to the Oratory School, Reading, for a game against an experienced Irish Exiles U20 squad. This game was well contested with all available players getting a run-out in the course of the match which the U19 team won by 33-10. This trip proved to be useful in terms of the players and management bonding both on and off the pitch. Next up was a visit to Banbridge RFC where the Ulster U19 squad took on an U18 team from the Italian Academy. The standard of opposition was something of an unknown quality and the Ulster U19 management team used the game, once again, as an opportunity to play an extended squad of players which helped them make objective decisions regarding their final selections for the Inter-Provincial games. The Ulster U19 team won this game against the Italian Academy team by 34-0. The first Inter-Provincial game was played against Leinster at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution playing fields at Osborne Park. The game was played on great pitch conditions and was very evenly contested with a very good Leinster team well in contention throughout. That was until the final play of the game, when, with the score at 15-15, Ulster scored an excellent try to secure a deserved 23-15 win. The following week the Ulster team set of for Cork to take on the Munster U19 team at Cork Institute of Technology. The game against Munster saw the U19 team turn round at half time 6-5 down. However, there was enough belief in the squad that they had the ability to turn that deficit around. So it proved to be with the Ulster U19 team emerging as 15-13 winners after a somewhat nervous fourteen minutes of added time in the second half! The third and final Inter-Provincial game the following week saw the team return to the Royal Belfast Academical Institution grounds where they would face a very spirited and dogged Connacht U19 team. The simple fact was that victory in this game would secure the U19 Inter-Provincial Championship for the Ulster. Seventy minutes later, and with a 66-7 victory secured, the U19 Inter-Provincial Championship deservedly returned to Ulster for the first time in three seasons. On 22nd March, the Ulster U19s returned to action against the Japan High Schools U19 squad. The match 24

was superbly hosted by CIYMS RFC at Belmont, but was played in atrocious conditions. Despite the fact that players selected for the Ireland U18 and U19 teams were not considered for selection, the Ulster boys put up a creditable performance before losing by 20-5 to Japan in an entertaining encounter.

ULSTER UNDER 18S (CLUBS) Age Grade Manager: Michael Black Head Coach: Johnny Gillespie Coach: Johnny Graham S & C Coach: Gavin Dunlop Physio: Bebhinn Flaherty Resources Manager: Eamon McCormick Manager: Willie Latimer

The winter training for the 2015/2016 season commenced on the 28th September 2015 at

Meadowbank Stadium Magherafelt and continued until May 2016. With an initial squad of forty eight players, the format was based around a weekly training session and a competitive game each month with grammar schools opposition. This proved a useful format from a coaching perspective. All sessions and games were well attended throughout the winter training period. A game was organised at Harlequins RFC on 17th April 2016 against a touring side, Hamilton Boys School from New Zealand and whilst the team worked hard and tried to compete we finished up second best to a very strong and skilful XV on the day. By May 2016, the squad had been reduced to thirty four players prior to the summer training programme. Early June was a semi closure period due to examinations but got under way with two-day sessions in June and three-day sessions through July and August, held at Ballymena Academy and Rainey RFC. Prior to the Interprovincial series, two warm up games were arranged with the Irish Exiles and the Schools U17 squad. The Exiles fixture was played on Sunday 14th August in the Oratory School, Reading over a three day week- end training camp, and was a successful event. The accommodation, playing/training facilities and food were first class. The second match was against the Schools XV on 20th August at Ballymena Academy. The Schools Game took place on 20th August at Ballymena Academy. The session consisted of three twenty five minute sessions to ensure all squad members were given playing time. From the kick-off both teams were totally committed, playing attacking rugby involving both backs and forwards and featuring good ball handling skills. The Inter-provincial series started with a match against Munster at Rainey RFC. The Ulster side got off to a strong start but against the run of play found themselves 3 points down from a long range penalty. They put this behind them and were in control throughout the first half, scoring two converted tries to lead 14-3 at half time. The second half saw Munster battle their way back into the game with two unconverted tries to

IRFU ULSTER BRANCH ANNUAL REPORT & STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS 2016/17

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