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Article by
Rod Nawn
Freelance Journalist
and Sports Enthusiast
@RODNAWN1
the Province, and until the arrival of the
professional game the Schools’ Cup Final
could often claim to attract the biggest crowd
of the season to the ground.
Kingspan Stadium retains so much of the
aura of the old ground, but it provides players
and fans with the best possible facilities, the
perfect arena to stage one of rugby’s oldest
but also most important finals.
Some who feature today – and many who
may have departed the tournament much
earlier – will have already been earmarked
for advancement through the dramatically
improved youth and schools representative
structures.
Ulster’s Hughes Insurance Academy is the
latest and most prestigious addition to the
systems which identify talent and nurture its
development, while Ulster and Irish Schools’
campaigns will further test the abilities of
many who have taken part in this year’s
Danske Bank Schools’ Cup.
But, and as important, is the retention of
coaches and players in the game: they may
not all progress to the very top, but the real
grassroots of club rugby will always be the
foundation for the sport’s longevity. Ulsters’
league and cup competitions embrace every
ability and ambition, but crucially keeps
people involved, spreading the ‘gospel’.
Saturday mornings at every club attest to
just how far down the age and gender route
rugby has travelled, succeeding in being
professional in its development and in its
provision of facilities and competition, but
always encouraging the most common
contribution of all: the amateur player, official
or fan who finds that 80 minutes of sporting
combat offers access to a family with so much
more in common.
The spotlight is on two fine groups of young
rugby players this afternoon, and so popular
and modernising has the sport become they
will have the finest possible stage to perform
– and enjoy – the decisive moments in a
competition which means so much to those
who have remained relatively unknown as it
does to the best-known figures in its history.
Royal School Armagh really started something
when they took on RBAI in 1876, didn’t they?
So, we’ll see you here again in 2016, on
St. Patrick’s Day, as usual!
Methodist College, 2014
Bangor Grammar, 1978
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