Ulster Rugby vs Connacht

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IRFU
ULSTER BRANCH
2016/17
OFFICERS
John McKibbin
President
Graf n 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 particular, I am very pleased to welcome my old friend and Connacht
President Pat Piggot along with his team, officials and supporters.
The Ulster team, following the excellent PRO12 bonus point win against
Cardiff three weeks ago, produced a tremendous performance in
beating ASM Clermont Auvergne a fortnight ago. Whilst the team
could not repeat that performance in France last weekend, it was still a
spirited performance and they no doubt will be looking to revenge the
narrow defeat Ulster suffered against Connacht in Galway in October.
Connacht, following on from their success in winning the Guinness
PRO12 last season, have put in some very good performances in the
European Champions Cup this season and have been steadily climbing
the PRO12 Championship table following a bit of a shaky start to the
season. They will no doubt present a formidable challenge to the Ulster
team tonight but hopefully one that the Ulster team will overcome.
The Ulster A team are to be congratulated on two recent victories,
home and away, against the Cardiff Blues Premiership Select team and
are now top of their B&I Cup group. The Ulster Women’s team had a
difficult Inter-provincial campaign but there are clear signs that this team
is developing and improving under Philip Doyle’s and Jarrett Truscott’s
stewardship.
The Ireland team and management are to be congratulated on an
excellent Guinness Autumn Series with 3 wins out of 4 including that
great win over New Zealand in Chicago. Congratulations go to Rory
Best, Jared Payne, Andrew Trimble, Iain Henderson, Paddy Jackson,
Luke Marshall and Craig Gilroy, all of whom played in the Autumn Series
games. Special congratulations go to Rory Best on winning his 100th
cap for Ireland – a tremendous achievement.
On the domestic front, Ballynahinch are to be congratulated on winning
the First Trust Senior Cup for the third successive year and their 2nds
are to be congratulated on winning the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup.
In the All Ireland Junior Cup, commiserations go to Clogher Valley, who
unfortunately lost at the semi-final stage by one point.
Finally, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a
prosperous New Year. I also hope everyone enjoys the game tonight as
well as the facilities in 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 Round 11 match in the
Guinness PRO12 League.
PRESIDENT’S WELCOME PRESIDENT’S WELCOME