Ulster Rugby vs Oyonnax

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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
When Ulster visited Oyonnax, before
Christmas, and again two weeks
ago, we were given a very warm
welcome both from the club and the
residents of the town and in return I
want you to give the team, officials
and supporters a very warm Ulster
welcome and I hope that they enjoy
their time in Belfast.
Two weeks ago the game was very
unusual with Oyonnax winning 23-0
at half time and Ulster making a
grand comeback to bring home a 23
points to 24 victory. However, I don’t
think I could handle another game
like that today!
Qualification to the knockout stages
of the Champions Cup can be
achieved this weekend, but we must
play at our utmost potential.
With the Six Nations Championship
approaching, the news of our injured
players is encouraging with Jared
Payne already back playing and
Stuart Olding playing for the A team
this weekend.
On the domestic front, Ballymena,
Banbridge and City of Derry are all
well placed at or near the top of their
respective leagues and I wish them
further success.
Ballynahinch and Belfast Harlequins
continue to struggle and I hope that
their fortunes change for the better
in the near future.
I would like congratulate Honorary
Life Vice President, Ian Beggs,
who was awarded an MBE by Her
Majesty the Queen in the New Year
for his services to rugby.
Ian has been a member of
Carrickfergus Rugby Club for 60
years and was their representative
at the Ulster Branch for 41 years. On
his retirement and for his services
to rugby in Ulster, he was awarded
the status of Honorary Life Vice
President. I am delighted for Ian and
his family.
I hope that you all enjoy the game
this afternoon and that we will be
celebrating qualification to the
quarter final stages of the European
Champions Cup by the end of
today!
Good luck to Ulster and remember,
STAND UP FOR THE ULSTERMEN!
Bobby Stewart // President
IRFU (Ulster Branch)
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to Kingspan
Stadium this afternoon for this Round 6 match in the
European Champions Cup against Oyonnax.