Ulster Rugby vs Connacht

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IRFU
ULSTER BRANCH
Kingspan Stadium,
85 Ravenhill Park,
Belfast, BT6 0DG
T // +44 (0)28 9049 3222
OFFICERS
Bobby Stewart
// President
John McKibbin
// Senior Vice President
Graffin Parke
// 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
Les Kiss
// Director of Rugby
PRESIDENT’S
WELCOME
I especially welcome the President
of the Connacht Branch of the IRFU,
Gerry O’Donnell, together with his
officers and the many Connacht
supporters who have made the
journey to Belfast to support their
team tonight. You are all very
welcome and I hope that you will
enjoy your time here.
It is the first time since the Six Nations
that I have had the opportunity to
congratulate Ireland on their third
place finish, which is a very creditable
position considering the injuries to so
many influential players.
I would also like to congratulate Rory
Best, Andrew Trimble, Jared Payne
and Stuart McCloskey who all played
their part in the campaign.
Connacht come to Kingspan Stadium
tonight in a very strong position as
we enter the last four games of the
PRO12 League having taken the lead
at the end of February.
Our contest in Galway on Boxing Day
was very tightly fought, with Ulster
scraping an away from home 10-3
victory and only a dropped pass by
Connacht with the line at their mercy
saved Ulster’s bacon that evening.
I fully expect a very tight encounter
tonight with so much at stake and
Ulster will need to be at their very best
if they are to claim the points.
On the Domestic scene we are
well into Trophy final stages and I
would like to take this opportunity to
congratulate some winners.
Firstly, congratulations to Royal
Belfast Academical Institution in
creating history by becoming the first
school to win both the Schools’ Cup
and the Medallion Shield two years in
a row. Not only on that achievement
but the school also completed the
‘grand slam’ of all Schools’ Trophies
including the 2nd XV, 3rd XV and 4th
XV Cups.
Secondly, I congratulate Bangor
RFC who defeated a very gallant
Enniskillen side to win the Powerade
Towns’ Cup on Easter Monday.
Finally, congratulations Ballynahinch
3rd XV who defeated Banbridge
3rd XV to lift the Crawford Cup on
Tuesday.
I hope that you all had a very
enjoyable Easter Holiday and did not
over indulge!
Give Connacht a great Ulster
welcome this evening.
Good Luck to Ulster and remember
“STAND UP FOR THE ULSTERMEN”
Bobby Stewart // President
IRFU (Ulster Branch)
It gives me great pleasure to welcome everyone here to
Kingspan Stadium for this evening’s Round 19 game in the
Guinness PRO12 League against Connacht.