Ulster Rugby vs Zebre

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IRFU
ULSTER BRANCH
2016/17
OFFICERS
John McKibbin
President
Graffin 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
In the Guinness PRO12, the Ulster team are hitting a good run of form
having won their last four matches, three with bonus points. Whilst
the team were unable to get the elusive bonus point last week in their
victory over Treviso, the side did well in appalling weather conditions.
This week’s opposition are Zebre who have proved themselves to be
difficult opponents in the past. Ulster are currently fifth in the table with a
game in hand on the top four teams. A win this evening will see the side
overtake Scarlets and move to fourth and into play-off contention. There
is still a challenging schedule of games to come however and it will be
important that Ulster continue this recent run of good form.
The Ulster A team play Munster A in their B&I Cup quarter-final on
Sunday at Independent Park, Cork. The A team have had an excellent
season so far and we wish them all the best for this important game.
In domestic rugby, Armagh RFC recently held a blitz involving 130
Primary School pupils as part of a rugby development programme
funded by the Department for Communities. This initiative is also part
of the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup legacy programme. The event
was a culmination of a six-week engagement with five schools who
had no previous rugby experience - Armagh CBS PS, St. Patrick’s PS,
Saints & Scholars PS, St. Malachy’s PS and Mount St. Catherine’s PS.
The programme is primarily aimed at increasing participation in girls’
rugby and there was a strong female presence at the event. Each school
received training sessions at their school, culminating with the blitz. The
pupils also went on a tour of Kingspan Stadium and The Nevin Spence
Centre. As a result of this, Armagh RFC now have a stand-alone Girls’
U12 team. Carrickfergus RFC and Larne RFC are also involved in the
initiative. Well done to all those involved.
As reported last week, our supporters have been really getting behind
the team in recent matches, which has been a great source of inspiration
for the players – let’s keep it going tonight! I hope everyone enjoys the
game tonight as well as the great facilities we have here 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 this evening’s rearranged match in the
Guinness PRO12 Championship. In particular, I am very
pleased to welcome the Zebre team along with their
officials and supporters.
PRESIDENT’S WELCOME PRESIDENT’S WELCOME