Ulster Rugby Annual Report 2015 - 2016

completed the “double double” by winning the Schools’ Cup and Medallion Shield for two successive years and completed a clean sweep this year also winning the 2nd and 3rd XV Cup competitions. The Subsidiary Shield, Trophy and Bowl were won by Wallace HS, Portora RS and Banbridge Academy respectively. The 2nd XV Plate was won by Methodist College and 3rd XV Plate was shared by Ballyclare HS and Ballyclare SS. The Medallion Plate, Bowl and Trophy were won by Sullivan Upper School, Dalriada School and Foyle College respectively. The High Schools’ Trophy was won by Dromore HS and the Girls Schools’ Cup by Enniskillen Collegiate GS. The Ulster Branch is very appreciative of the continued support from Danske Bank who sponsor all of these competitions. Thanks are also due to all the schools who hosted the semi- finals and finals of competitions. Campbell College once again hosted a very successful Schools Sevens competition with Ballymena Academy, Foyle College and Royal School Armagh winning the Senior, Junior and Medallion competitions respectively. A number of smaller competitions are also superbly organised by individual schools at U12 – U14 which are invaluable in providing young players with competitive action. Thanks are due to the members of the Schools’ Committee, chaired by Stephen Black, for their work and commitment throughout the year. YOUTH RUGBY Youth Rugby is one of the key areas of development for the game in Ulster. The Youth structure takes the mini-rugby players and guides them through the different age levels, advancing their skill and fitness levels by the provision of meaningful, challenging and competitive games in League and Cup Competitions. The Youth Committee, working with the clubs and the Elite Player Development Program, endeavours to give young players the best opportunity to develop and improve their skills and fitness and helps them progress to the adult game. Some of the young players, who are selected for the Regional Development Squads, can go on to achieve provincial and national age grade representative honours. The Regional Development Squads also help to identify potential players for the Ulster Rugby Academy. A key target of the Youth Committee is to grow the Youth game in Ulster. It is therefore pleasing to be able to report that even with the very wet weather and flooding in December and January, when for several weeks very little rugby was played, 494 Youth league games were played in Ulster this season compared to 451 last season, an increase of 43. Use of the IRFU player registration system has improved, as clubs get more familiar with the process, with the result that there have been a lot less cases of teams been excluded from competitions for playing ineligible players. It is also worth noting that the good work being done in clubs by the CCROs has seen greater numbers of players being recruited and introduced to the game throughout the season. For some clubs this has been vital to their ability to continue to put out teams week by week. Whilst the Youth Committee’s main focus is on growing the game, it is also the vehicle for the dissemination

With regard to All-Ireland referees, Ulster currently has 13 involved in a panel of 50. It is the USRFR’s intention to increase the Ulster representation in this area. At times players become a little too enthusiastic and discipline on and off the field is an area which is vital if we are to maintain the ethos of our sport. This season has seen an improvement on many fronts with less red cards and a welcomed reduction in cases of referee abuse. The USRFR is appreciative of the strong line that the Ulster Branch Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Stephen Elliott, takes with cases of referee abuse. The management of potential concussion injuries and the use of law 3.10 continues to be, along with other matters of player safety, a major focus of a referee’s responsibility. The USRFR has advised all its members that they will not be selected to referee a game unless they have been trained not trained in the application of law 3.10 and concussion awareness. The Ulster Branch is grateful to the Society for their continued support in this matter. The Ulster Branch’s appreciation for the work of the USRFR and its members cannot be overstated. Without our referees, there would be no game. SCHOOLS RUGBY Rugby in Ulster Schools is now practically active for ten out of the twelve months in the year. Players involved in the representative programmes commence their training at the start of July before warm-up matches in August and then the various Inter Provincial series in September. Late August sees the start of the inter- schools matches at all levels, through to the various competitions which conclude in March. This is followed by international schools matches for Ireland U18 teams and introductory sessions for the representative teams for the following year before a break in May and June for external examinations. The commitment of the school staff and coaches is essential to this process of developing young players and is very much appreciated by the Ulster Branch, as is the support given by School Principals. As well as working with the representative teams, the Ulster Academy Staff led by Kieran Campbell go out and take sessions in schools. The schools have now developed a very strong working relationship with the Academy Staff with a high level of mutual respect for each other’s objectives. In addition to the Academy staff, a large number of teachers are involved in the various representative and development squads from U16 through to U19. This involvement provides an excellent opportunity for teachers and coaches to learn from the professional coaches and administrators. This year a Graduate Teaching Apprentice Scheme for Pre-PGCE students was introduced with one graduate, Ryan Mitchell, placed in Omagh Academy and he has now gained a place on the University of Ulster PGCE course. Thanks to Chris Webster and to Scott Walker (IRFU) for their support with this scheme and it is anticipated that it will develop over the years with more places becoming available. This year the Schools’ Committee set a target of having all competitions completed by St Patrick’s Day and due to the cooperation of schools this was achieved. RBAI 20

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