Ulster Rugby vs Llanelli Scarlets

IRFU ULSTER BRANCH

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

OFFICERS 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 EXECUTIVE TEAM Shane Logan // Chief Executive Chris Webster // Domestic Rugby Manager Audrey Robinson // Financial Controller Fiona Hampton // Head of Sales & Marketing

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all here to Kingspan Stadium for this European Rugby Champions Cup match against Scarlets.

I would like to welcome in particular the directors, management, players, staff and supporters from Llanelli. I hope that you enjoy your time in Belfast. Tonight Ulster return to European competition after a mixed run of results in the Guinness PRO12. After convincing wins over Dragons and Ospreys, the province lost narrowly to interprovincial rivals Munster at Thomond Park last weekend. While the result was disappointing, the team showed great fight in the final ten minutes to be in with a shout of claiming the victory right at the end. Ulster know that they will have to return to winning ways this evening if they are to keep their hopes of progressing in this competition alive. It will be no easy task against a Scarlets side who proved against Ulster in the opening match of the season that they are more than a force to be reckoned with. Their win over Leicester Tigers also demonstrated their grit and determination to win. We want to wish The Ravens good luck this weekend as they take on Yorkshire Carnegie, still looking for

their first win in this season’s British and Irish Cup. In club rugby, congratulations to Malone and Ballynahinch who will compete in the First Trust Senior Cup final here at Kingspan Stadium next Wednesday night. Congratulations too to Instonians and Omagh who will contest the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup Final on Tuesday 16th December. Finally, it was with great sadness that we learned this week of the death of Jack Kyle aged 88. The word legend is often over used but it is a phrase entirely befitting Jack. He is regarded in Ireland and around the world as one of the greatest players of all time. A player, a doctor and a tireless fundraiser for charity in his latter years, his was a life well lived. We can be proud that he came from this province. Enjoy the match and stand up for

your Ulstermen! 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

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www. ulster rugby.com

ULSTER RUGBY