Ulster Rugby Annual Report 2015

With regard to All-Ireland referees, Ulster currently has

13 involved in a panel of 50. It is the USRFR’s intention

to increase the Ulster representation in this area.

At times players become a little too enthusiastic and

discipline on and off the field is an area which is vital if

we are to maintain the ethos of our sport. This season

has seen an improvement on many fronts with less red

cards and a welcomed reduction in cases of referee

abuse. The USRFR is appreciative of the strong line that

the Ulster Branch Disciplinary Committee, chaired by

Stephen Elliott, takes with cases of referee abuse.

The management of potential concussion injuries and

the use of law 3.10 continues to be, along with other

matters of player safety, a major focus of a referee’s

responsibility. The USRFR has advised all its members

that they will not be selected to referee a game unless

they have been trained not trained in the application of

law 3.10 and concussion awareness. The Ulster Branch

is grateful to the Society for their continued support in

this matter.

The Ulster Branch’s appreciation for the work of the

USRFR and its members cannot be overstated. Without

our referees, there would be no game.

SCHOOLS RUGBY

Rugby in Ulster Schools is now practically active for ten

out of the twelve months in the year. Players involved

in the representative programmes commence their

training at the start of July before warm-up matches

in August and then the various Inter Provincial series

in September. Late August sees the start of the inter-

schools matches at all levels, through to the various

competitions which conclude in March. This is followed

by international schools matches for Ireland U18 teams

and introductory sessions for the representative teams

for the following year before a break in May and June

for external examinations. The commitment of the

school staff and coaches is essential to this process of

developing young players and is very much appreciated

by the Ulster Branch, as is the support given by School

Principals.

As well as working with the representative teams, the

Ulster Academy Staff led by Kieran Campbell go out

and take sessions in schools. The schools have now

developed a very strong working relationship with the

Academy Staff with a high level of mutual respect for

each other’s objectives. In addition to the Academy

staff, a large number of teachers are involved in the

various representative and development squads from

U16 through to U19. This involvement provides an

excellent opportunity for teachers and coaches to learn

from the professional coaches and administrators.

This year a Graduate Teaching Apprentice Scheme for

Pre-PGCE students was introduced with one graduate,

Ryan Mitchell, placed in Omagh Academy and he has

now gained a place on the University of Ulster PGCE

course. Thanks to Chris Webster and to Scott Walker

(IRFU) for their support with this scheme and it is

anticipated that it will develop over the years with more

places becoming available.

This year the Schools’ Committee set a target of having

all competitions completed by St Patrick’s Day and due

to the cooperation of schools this was achieved. RBAI

completed the “double double” by winning the Schools’

Cup and Medallion Shield for two successive years

and completed a clean sweep this year also winning

the 2nd and 3rd XV Cup competitions. The Subsidiary

Shield, Trophy and Bowl were won by Wallace HS,

Portora RS and Banbridge Academy respectively. The

2nd XV Plate was won by Methodist College and 3rd

XV Plate was shared by Ballyclare HS and Ballyclare

SS. The Medallion Plate, Bowl and Trophy were won

by Sullivan Upper School, Dalriada School and Foyle

College respectively. The High Schools’ Trophy was

won by Dromore HS and the Girls Schools’ Cup by

Enniskillen Collegiate GS. The Ulster Branch is very

appreciative of the continued support from Danske

Bank who sponsor all of these competitions. Thanks

are also due to all the schools who hosted the semi-

finals and finals of competitions. Campbell College

once again hosted a very successful Schools Sevens

competition with Ballymena Academy, Foyle College

and Royal School Armagh winning the Senior, Junior

and Medallion competitions respectively. A number of

smaller competitions are also superbly organised by

individual schools at U12 – U14 which are invaluable in

providing young players with competitive action.

Thanks are due to the members of the Schools’

Committee, chaired by Stephen Black, for their work

and commitment throughout the year.

YOUTH RUGBY

Youth Rugby is one of the key areas of development

for the game in Ulster. The Youth structure takes the

mini-rugby players and guides them through the

different age levels, advancing their skill and fitness

levels by the provision of meaningful, challenging and

competitive games in League and Cup Competitions.

The Youth Committee, working with the clubs and the

Elite Player Development Program, endeavours to give

young players the best opportunity to develop and

improve their skills and fitness and helps them progress

to the adult game. Some of the young players, who are

selected for the Regional Development Squads, can

go on to achieve provincial and national age grade

representative honours. The Regional Development

Squads also help to identify potential players for the

Ulster Rugby Academy.

A key target of the Youth Committee is to grow the Youth

game in Ulster. It is therefore pleasing to be able to

report that even with the very wet weather and flooding

in December and January, when for several weeks

very little rugby was played, 494 Youth league games

were played in Ulster this season compared to 451 last

season, an increase of 43.

Use of the IRFU player registration system has

improved, as clubs get more familiar with the process,

with the result that there have been a lot less cases of

teams been excluded from competitions for playing

ineligible players. It is also worth noting that the

good work being done in clubs by the CCROs has

seen greater numbers of players being recruited and

introduced to the game throughout the season. For

some clubs this has been vital to their ability to continue

to put out teams week by week.

Whilst the Youth Committee’s main focus is on growing

the game, it is also the vehicle for the dissemination