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PRESIDENT’S WELCOME
PRESIDENT’S
WELCOME
The Ulster Schools’ Challenge Cup
has the distinction of being the second
oldest rugby competition in the world
and is being competed for today by
the holders Royal Belfast Academical
Institution and Campbell College.
Both of these schools have a very
strong tradition in the competition with
Inst having 34 wins and Campbell 27.
For some boys, today is the pinnacle of
their rugby playing career, and others
will go on to have greater achievements
within the sport.
In recent years, current Ulster and
Ireland players like Craig Gilroy, Paddy
Jackson, Iain Henderson and Stuart
Olding have all played in a Schools’
Cup Final with varying degrees of
success.
I would like to take this opportunity to
thank Danske Bank for their generous
sponsorship of schools’ rugby in
Ulster. They have been the sponsor of
the Schools’ Cup competition for over
11 years and the Ulster Branch are
delighted with the partnership.
The traditional St. Patrick’s Day Final at
Kingspan is one of the great occasions
in the rugby calendar and eagerly
anticipated by all followers of the game.
I hope that you all have a very enjoyable
and fruitful experience.
Ulster’s next home game is against
Connacht on April 1st and a full stadium
behind them would give our players the
impetus needed to defeat the PRO12
league leaders. I hope to see you there.
Yours in rugby,
Bobby Stewart
//
President
IRFU (Ulster Branch)
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all here to
Kingspan Stadium this St. Patrick’s Day afternoon for
the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup.