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www.
ULSTERRUGBY
.com
IRFU
ULSTER BRANCH
2016/17
OFFICERS
John McKibbin
President
Graf n Parke
Senior Vice President
Stephen Elliott
Junior Vice President
Denis Gardiner
Honorary Secretary
Michael Boyd
Honorary Treasurer
Greg Irwin
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
Kingspan Stadium,
134 Mount Merrion Avenue
Belfast, BT6 0FT
T +44 (0)28 9049 3222
ulsterrugby.comTonight’s opponents are the Ospreys and I extend a warm welcome to
their team, coaches, Directors and supporters.
Ulster are sitting at the top of the Guinness PRO12 with four wins from
their first four games and Les Kiss, the coaches and the players are
to be congratulated for this. Following the win against the Scarlets
at Kingspan Stadium two weeks ago, the side put up a gutsy and
committed performance in Glasgow last week to win by 22-17.
Scotstoun Stadium has been a difficult place for Ulster in recent
seasons and it was therefore great to come away with a well-deserved
victory. However, there is a long way to go in the league and all Ulster
supporters will be looking for another good performance tonight. It was
also good to see the return of international players Rory Best and Iain
Henderson.
The male Age Grade Inter-provincial Competitions have now been
completed. Whilst the Academy, Schools U18 and Club U18 squads
had difficult campaigns, congratulations go to the Ulster U19 squad and
their coaches for winning all three games and securing the U19 Inter-
provincial title.
This season has seen, for the first time, the introduction of a Girls U18
Inter-provincial competition. To date, the Ulster Girls U18 squad has
produced two excellent performances in beating Leinster by 10-5 and
Connacht by 34-5. Their final game is against Munster this weekend in
what will be the title decider – best of luck to the Ulster Girls U18s.
This week also saw the Department for Communities Minister Paul
Givan open a new Community Gym at Ballynahinch RFC. This is the
20th Community Gym that Ulster Rugby has been able to set up
through the “Promoting Equality, Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion
through Sport” programme, funded by the Department. These gyms,
which are in both traditional and non-traditional rugby areas, are a key
element of Ulster Rugby’s plans to increase opportunities for people to
engage with fitness and rugby sessions, as well as improving the health
and wellbeing of not only all those involved in rugby, but also those in
the local community who would not normally have access to facilities
such as these gyms. Ulster Rugby is grateful to the Department for the
Communities for their continuing support for this programme.
Finally, I hope everyone enjoys the game tonight as well as the facilities
in Kingspan Stadium and remember - “Stand Up For The Ulstermen”.
John McKibbin
President IRFU (Ulster Branch)
It gives me great pleasure as President of the IRFU Ulster
Branch to welcome everyone to Kingspan Stadium for this
evening’s Round 5 match in the Guinness PRO12.
PRESIDENT’S WELCOME
PRESIDENT’S WELCOME