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associated committees. This work, over a number of
months, has resulted in a budget for 2017/18 of a deficit
of £250k. However, the focus on sources of income and
efficiencies will continue with the aim of approaching
break-even for the year. Whilst this is certainly not ideal,
i am confident that the Branch will return to an operating
surplus in 2018/19, if not in the forthcoming year.
The budget for 2017/18 was reviewed and proposed by
Management Committee before being considered and
approved by the Branch in May 2017.
THANKS
The Domestic Game throughout Ireland continues to
have mixed fortunes due, to a large extent, to societal
and demographic changes. Numbers of under 18’s,
both boys and girls, playing rugby continues to rise and
flourish, while fewer numbers over 18 are playing the
game. A pilot programme has been led by the Branch
to help clubs help themselves by learning through
cooperation and collaboration with each other of what
works well at some clubs and what doesn’t. These
learnings will then be shared with the other clubs. It
would appear that fewer people of rugby playing age
want to commit to playing every Saturday afternoon
from September to May. Work is ongoing by the Rugby
Committee and the Domestic Rugby staff to come up
with innovative solutions that may prove more popular
with players at all levels.
I would like to thank all the staff within the Branch for
their continued excellent work in the domestic game
under the guidance and leadership of Chris Webster,
and also the volunteers who work within the Branch
and club structure in Ulster for giving of their time and
expertise to administer the great game that we all live.
The outlook for the Domestic Game in terms of finance,
not only for the Branch but also for clubs and schools
remains challenging. The IRFU has agreed to maintain
its support of the domestic game for 2017/18 at around
£600k. The Branch will continue to explore additional
funding opportunities particularly from government
sources. However, this continues to be challenging with
the impasse at Stormont. We hope the NI Executive can
be restored as soon as possible so that departmental
funding decisions can be made.
The Professional Game depends upon the continued
goodwill of the wider rugby followers, sponsors and
partners who support the team throughout the year and
I would like to thank all these groups for their continuing
interest and support of Ulster Rugby.
The IRFU continues to provide significant assistance
and financial support to the Professional Game in Ulster
and across Ireland. The IRFU and Ulster recognise
that due to the lower television and commercial
deals in the Pro 12, when compared to the Aviva
Premiership and the Top 14, that it is imperative that
the Provinces continue to develop local talent through
their Academies. However, this must be in balance with
the recruitment of world class players to supplement
and develop local talent. It was a particular source of
disappointment and frustration that Ulster was unable
to re-sign Ruan Pienaar for a further couple of years to
finish his playing career in Belfast.
Ulster Rugby continues to see the benefits of investment
in its Academy structure with many young players
fast becoming integral parts of the senior side and an
improving representation of local players in some of the
national underage sides. There is still not an adequate
representation in some teams but the Academy staff
continue to focus on bringing more young players
through the structures.
The Branch is very grateful to the IRFU for its ongoing
and increasing financial support of the professional and
domestic games.
The Internal Audit is outsourced to
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). In carrying out
this function PwC look at the Branch’s systems and
controls. PwC’s reporting gives their opinion on the
individual systems and controls, as well as an overall
opinion on the area being assessed and makes
recommendations for improvements. This year three
areas were assessed with a further advisory piece
on best practice for Business Continuity Planning.
Substantial assurance ratings were achieved in the
reviews of Human Resources function and Payroll
and Expenses function. Risk Management achieved
limited assurance with recommendations for more
formal governance arrangements and standardisation
of documentation in each of the functional areas in the
Branch. These results show the considerable efforts
being made by staff throughout the Branch to improve
systems and controls on an ongoing basis.
The annual audit of the Branch’s accounts is once again
being performed by Deloitte who continue to carry out
this work to a very tight timescale in an efficient and
professional manner.
I would like to express my thanks on behalf of the
Branch to both PwC and Deloitte for their guidance and
assistance over the year. The Audit Committee made
up of David Workman (Chairman), Paul Hart and Hugh
Johnston meets a couple of times during the year and
I am grateful for their oversight and support in this very
important area.
The Finance Committee has continued its work of
overseeing and scrutinising the management of the
Branch’s financial affairs. I am very grateful to this
committee for making my role as Honorary Treasurer
a little easier. The committee members included John
McKibbin (IRFU Rep), David Millar (Chairman of the
Professional Game Board), Denis Gardner (Honorary
Secretary) and Stephen Black (Chairman of the
Domestic Game Committee). Shane Logan (Chief
Executive) and Audrey Robinson (Financial Controller)
also attend meetings of the Finance Committee
and their detailed knowledge and understanding
of the Branch’s day to day operations is very much
appreciated. My thanks also go to Audrey and her
finance team, Joanne Hunter, Liz Lowry, and Janice
Gilpin for all their hard work and support throughout the
year which has been invaluable. Audrey continues to
provide timely and accurate responses to my numerous
questions and queries throughout the year.
John McKibbin, our outgoing President, has tirelessly
represented the Branch throughout the year. He
has undertaken all his duties with good humour and
diligence supported by his wife Moira. John will be an
extremely hard act to follow and I wish him well as he
continues to represent Ulster Branch on the IRFU Union
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