Ulster Rugby v Dragons

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PRESIDENT’S WELCOME
IRFU
ULSTER BRANCH
2017/18
OFFICERS
Graf n Parke
President
Stephen Elliott
Senior Vice President
Gary Leslie
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
Bryn Cunningham
Operations Director
Kingspan Stadium,
134 Mount Merrion Avenue
Belfast, BT6 0FT
T
We extend a special welcome to all the Dragons players, officials and
supporters travelling over for this evening’s game. We hope you have a
very enjoyable experience in Ulster.
Following on from an exciting and hard fought win over the Scarlets at
Kingspan Stadium last Friday, we look forward to another great game
this evening.
Ulster has enjoyed an excellent start to the season with three wins from
the opening three games, leaving ourselves and Leinster as the only
teams currently unbeaten in Conference B.
At half-time this evening we are pleased to welcome on to the pitch the
all-conquering Ulster Juniors squad who won the Junior Inter-Provincial
Championship at the end of last season thanks to wins over each of
the other three Provinces. Congratulations to all the players, coaches,
managers and officials on an outstanding achievement.
Tonight we will also be recognising a significant milestone for our longest
serving member of staff, Lesley McGaughey, who recently marked 30
years in the Ulster Branch. Congratulations and many thanks, Lesley.
Tomorrow, our 12 All Ireland League clubs are back in action for the
second round of this season’s competition. In the opening round last
weekend, seven Ulster based teams recorded wins, with five losses.
There is once again a full programme of fixtures in our local leagues this
weekend, so we would encourage you to get out and support your local
team.
In our youth section we are pleased to report that a total of 96 teams
have entered in the boys leagues across U18, U16, and U14 level - the
future is bright! Lots of friendly games are currently being played with
the Ulster Carpets Youth League games due to commence on 30th
September.
On Saturday afternoon the Danske Bank Ulster Schools side play
Leinster Schools at Donnybrook, while the Ulster U18 Clubs host
Connacht at City of Armagh RFC in the last of the Age-Grade Inter-
Provincial fixtures. We extend our best wishes to both teams.
SUFTUM!
Graffin Parke
President IRFU (Ulster Branch)
As President of the IRFU Ulster Branch, it gives
me great pleasure to welcome you all to Kingspan
Stadium for tonight’s Round 4 game in the
Guinness PRO14 Championship.
PRESIDENT’S WELCOME