Ulster Rugby vs Munster

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1 ULSTERRUGBY
PRESIDENT’S
WELCOME
IRFU
ULSTER BRANCH
Kingspan Stadium,
85 Ravenhill Park,
Belfast, BT6 0DG
T // +44 (0)28 9049 3222
ulsterrugby.com
OFFICERS
John Kinnear
// President
Bobby Stewart
// Senior Vice President
John McKibbin
// 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
I would particularly like to welcome
the officials, players and supporters
who have made the trip from
Munster, especially the Senior Vice
President of the Munster Branch,
Bertie Smith.
Interprovincial matches are one
of the great highlights of the Irish
sporting calendar. We saw a
fortnight ago, that when the best
players on the island face each
other, they produce matches of the
highest intensity and quality.
Ulster produced one of their
performances of the season to get
that win and they will have to match
the excellent form from that game to
get the victory this evening.
Huge credit must go to both Munster
and Ulster for securing a play off
place in this season’s Guinness
PRO12. Regardless of this evening’s
result, both provinces know that they
will have at least two more matches
left in the competition.
It would be fantastic for Irish Rugby
if both Ulster and Munster were in
the final; here at Kingspan Stadium
on 30th May, however, one suspects
Glasgow Warriors and Ospreys will
have something to say about that.
I would like to congratulate Ulster
Juniors who have had a fantastic
start to their interprovincial series.
Following wins over Connacht and
Munster, they take on Leinster today
and are well placed to claim the title.
Last week, I was fortunate to witness
four days of Maxol Mini Rugby
Festivals at the stadium. The children
who were on the pitch are the future
of the game here in the province
and it was brilliant to watch the high
standard of rugby that was played by
players so young.
Tonight is my final regular-season
game as President of the IRFU
(Ulster Branch). I have had a
fantastic year and have been
fortunate to travel across the
province, visiting clubs and watching
this great game being played by all
ages, sexes and creeds.
Rugby football in the province is
growing in popularity and remains
the best sport to both play and
watch.
I want to wish my successor, Bobby
Stewart, every success in his 12
months as President when he takes
up the office in the summer.
As always thank you for your support
and Stand up for the Ulster men.
Yours in Rugby,
John Kinnear // President
IRFU (Ulster Branch)
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you here to
Kingspan Stadium for this Guinness PRO12 match
against Munster Rugby.