Ulster Rugby Annual Report 2016-17

Committee. I welcome Graffin Parke as our incoming President and his wife Lexi. I know they will represent the Branch with gusto following the example of John and Moira. My thanks also go to Shane Logan who as Chief Executive has led a an effective team of senior managers at Ulster Branch. I am grateful for Shane’s support which has certainly made my role less difficult than it may otherwise have been. The Management Committee will miss David Dobbin as its chairman next year. Over the last seven years David has brought a real business focus to the workings of the committee. David will step down from this role at the AGM. I wish him well in his future endeavours and hope to see him back at the Branch in some capacity in the near future. David’s successor, Paul Terrington, is senior partner in PwC and has quickly grasped the subtleties of the governance structures and the business challenges both current and emerging faced 34

by the Branch and the IRFU. I look forward to working with Paul. I am grateful to the Management Committee for the support of its members over the last 12 months. Finally, in summary, 2016/17 has been a challenging year for Ulster Branch in both domestic and professional rugby. These challenges do not look like receding in the next 12 months but the Branch has many good people, both staff and volunteers, with good ideas and experience working in a constructive manner. The Branch has demonstrated that through the work of the staff and volunteers such real progress is possible and sustainable Michael Boyd Honorary Treasurer

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

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