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PRESIDENT’S REPORT
JOHN McKIBBIN
When I was elected, I was advised that the year
would fly in and it certainly did. It has been a busy but
enjoyable year in office and I will take away many fond
memories of the matches, events and occasions I have
attended and the people I have met.
The Kingspan Stadium is now fully operational and is,
without doubt, one of the best stadiums in Europe.
With the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup coming to
Belfast, we will get the opportunity to showcase the
stadium to the entire rugby world and help to ensure
the tournament is a great success. Ulster Rugby owes
a great deal of thanks to Cecil Watson’s Development
Committee for the tremendous work they have put in,
not just in building the Kingspan Stadium, but also the
ongoing work of maintaining and further developing it.
The Ireland team, following on from their great victory
over New Zealand in the Autumn Series, did well to
finish as runners up in this season’s Six Nations. Whilst
the defeats in Wales and Scotland were disappointing,
the victories over France and particularly England
were excellent performances. Congratulations go
to Rory Best, Ian Henderson, Jared Payne, Paddy
Jackson, Andrew Trimble, Tommy Bowe and Craig
Gilroy, all of whom represented Ireland in the Six
Nations. Congratulations also go to Sean Reidy who
was capped on the summer tour to South Africa. The
Ireland Women’s team also had a good season and,
like their male counterparts, finished as runners up in
the Women’s Six Nations. Congratulations go to Ilse
van Staden, Claire McLaughlin and Nikki Caughey who
represented Ireland in the tournament.
Following on from the Six Nations, it was good to
see eleven Ireland players selected for the British and
Irish Lions but, more importantly, it was great to see
three Ulster players selected. Congratulations go to
Rory Best, Jared Payne and Ian Henderson and we
wish them well for the challenging tour ahead in New
Zealand.
The Ulster team have had their ups and downs
throughout what has been a slightly disappointing and
frustrating season, narrowly missing out in getting to
the Guinness PRO12 play-offs and also failing to make
the knockout stages of the European Champions Cup.
After a bright start in the PRO12 League, winning their
first five matches, including an excellent away victory in
Glasgow, the team performances became somewhat
inconsistent. Whilst injuries did not help the situation,
our “away” form is a concern. This season we have only
won four of our fourteen away matches which, if the
team want to be in play-offs and win silverware, is not
good enough and needs to be addressed. However,
the Ulster team did put in a spirited performance in
the last league game against Leinster to defeat our
old rivals and give legends Ruan Pienaar and Roger
Wilson a fitting send-off. In the European Champions
Cup, the highlights were a tremendous victory over the
much vaunted Clermont Auvergne and a narrow victory
against Exeter, both at the Kingspan Stadium. However,
defeats in our three away matches and a home defeat
by Bordeaux-Begles meant we were bottom of our
group. Having had the privilege of travelling with the
team throughout the season, I know that we have a very
committed and skilled squad of players with excellent
coaches and hopefully our performances will improve
next season.
The Ulster “A” team had a good season and did
particularly well, qualifying for the quarter-finals of
the British & Irish Cup for the first time in many years.
However, in the quarter-final, they lost out to Munster
“A” who went on to win the B&I Cup. My thanks go to
Bobby Stewart, Philip Gregg, Paul Flanagan and Barney
McGonigle who supported and travelled with the team.
It has been a great honour and a privilege to serve as the Ulster Branch President for
the 2016/17 season and I am grateful to the Council of the Ulster Branch for electing me
to this prestigious role.
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