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The Ulster U19 squad was identified and met just after
the Easter period for one day at Ballymena Academy.
The season plan was presented to the players the
majority of whom then returned to their schools
to finalise their preparations for examinations. The
beginning of July then saw the start of an intensive
summer training schedule with great commitment and
attention to detail, on and off the pitch, being shown
by those in attendance. By the end of July the coaches
were readily able to identify the potential starting team
as well as the back-up players. The demands of the
U20/Academy team did impact on the U19 squad with a
number of players not being released to the U19 squad
until early-mid August. However, as both squads had
worked closely together during the summer sessions,
this was a relatively easy transition for the players
involved.
In preparation for the Inter-Provincial series of games
the Ulster U19 squad played two matches. The first
saw a squad of twenty six players travel to the Oratory
School, Reading, for a game against an experienced
Irish Exiles U20 squad. This game was well contested
with all available players getting a run-out in the course
of the match which the U19 team won by 33-10. This
trip proved to be useful in terms of the players and
management bonding both on and off the pitch.
Next up was a visit to Banbridge RFC where the
Ulster U19 squad took on an U18 team from the Italian
Academy. The standard of opposition was something
of an unknown quality and the Ulster U19 management
team used the game, once again, as an opportunity to
play an extended squad of players which helped them
make objective decisions regarding their final selections
for the Inter-Provincial games. The Ulster U19 team won
this game against the Italian Academy team by 34-0.
The first Inter-Provincial game was played against
Leinster at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
playing fields at Osborne Park. The game was played
on great pitch conditions and was very evenly contested
with a very good Leinster team well in contention
throughout. That was until the final play of the game,
when, with the score at 15-15, Ulster scored an
excellent try to secure a deserved 23-15 win.
The following week the Ulster team set of for Cork
to take on the Munster U19 team at Cork Institute of
Technology. The game against Munster saw the U19
team turn round at half time 6-5 down. However, there
was enough belief in the squad that they had the ability
to turn that deficit around. So it proved to be with the
Ulster U19 team emerging as 15-13 winners after a
somewhat nervous fourteen minutes of added time in
the second half!
The third and final Inter-Provincial game the following
week saw the team return to the Royal Belfast
Academical Institution grounds where they would face
a very spirited and dogged Connacht U19 team. The
simple fact was that victory in this game would secure
the U19 Inter-Provincial Championship for the Ulster.
Seventy minutes later, and with a 66-7 victory secured,
the U19 Inter-Provincial Championship deservedly
returned to Ulster for the first time in three seasons.
On 22nd March, the Ulster U19s returned to action
against the Japan High Schools U19 squad. The match
was superbly hosted by CIYMS RFC at Belmont, but
was played in atrocious conditions. Despite the fact
that players selected for the Ireland U18 and U19 teams
were not considered for selection, the Ulster boys put
up a creditable performance before losing by 20-5 to
Japan in an entertaining encounter.
ULSTER UNDER 18S (CLUBS)
Age Grade Manager:
Michael Black
Head Coach:
Johnny Gillespie
Coach:
Johnny Graham
S & C Coach:
Gavin Dunlop
Physio:
Bebhinn Flaherty
Resources Manager:
Eamon McCormick
Manager:
Willie Latimer
The winter training for the 2015/2016 season
commenced on the 28th September 2015 at
Meadowbank Stadium Magherafelt and continued until
May 2016. With an initial squad of forty eight players,
the format was based around a weekly training session
and a competitive game each month with grammar
schools opposition. This proved a useful format from
a coaching perspective. All sessions and games were
well attended throughout the winter training period.
A game was organised at Harlequins RFC on 17th April
2016 against a touring side, Hamilton Boys School from
New Zealand and whilst the team worked hard and tried
to compete we finished up second best to a very strong
and skilful XV on the day.
By May 2016, the squad had been reduced to thirty four
players prior to the summer training programme. Early
June was a semi closure period due to examinations
but got under way with two-day sessions in June and
three-day sessions through July and August, held
at Ballymena Academy and Rainey RFC. Prior to
the Interprovincial series, two warm up games were
arranged with the Irish Exiles and the Schools U17
squad.
The Exiles fixture was played on Sunday 14th August
in the Oratory School, Reading over a three day week-
end training camp, and was a successful event. The
accommodation, playing/training facilities and food were
first class. The second match was against the Schools
XV on 20th August at Ballymena Academy.
The Schools Game took place on 20th August at
Ballymena Academy. The session consisted of
three twenty five minute sessions to ensure all squad
members were given playing time. From the kick-off
both teams were totally committed, playing attacking
rugby involving both backs and forwards and featuring
good ball handling skills.
The Inter-provincial series started with a match against
Munster at Rainey RFC. The Ulster side got off to a
strong start but against the run of play found themselves
3 points down from a long range penalty. They put
this behind them and were in control throughout the
first half, scoring two converted tries to lead 14-3 at
half time. The second half saw Munster battle their
way back into the game with two unconverted tries to
IRFU ULSTER BRANCH
ANNUAL REPORT & STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS 2016/17
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