Ulster Rugby vs Dragons

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.com

Tonight’s opponents are Newport Gwent Dragons and I extend a

warm welcome to their team, coaches, Directors and supporters.

Last week the Ulster team put in a tremendous performance

in beating a strong Northampton Saints team by 29-19 and

supporters will be looking for another such performance again

tonight. Ulster has successfully qualified for the PRO12 play-offs

for the last five seasons but unfortunately have not been able

to lay their hands on that elusive piece of silverware. Hopefully

tonight’s game will be the start of a successful season for Les Kiss

and the Ulster squad. I would also like to congratulate Andrew

Trimble and Rob Herring on being appointed joint captains for the

season.

Anyone who was at the double header last week would have

also seen an excellent performance by the Ulster A team who

defeated Canada A by 48-38. This was a highly entertaining game

with considerable skill on show. The Ulster A side sponsored by

CD Group, included a large number of players from the Hughes

Insurance Academy and Kieran Campbell (Academy Manager)

and his coaches are to be complimented on the work that they are

doing with our young players.

The Age Grade Inter-provincials also got underway last week with

the Ulster Schools XV, sponsored by Danske Bank, playing their

Munster counterparts. Unfortunately they lost narrowly 15-18

but will have the opportunity to make amends when they face

Leinster Schools tomorrow in Dublin. Also tomorrow, the Ulster

U19 XV face Leinster U19s at Osborne Park (KO 3.00pm) and the

Ulster U18 (Clubs) side face Munster at Hatrick Park, Magherafelt

(KO 1.00pm). I wish all three teams the best of luck and would

encourage any Ulster supporters who can get to these games to

go along and support the Ulster teams.

Finally, I hope everyone enjoys the game tonight as well as the

facilities at 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 the first match in this season’s Guinness

PRO12.

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME