43 / 68
www.
ULSTERRUGBY
.com
45
ALLEN CLARKE
I’m sure it is with mixed emotions that you
are saying farewell to a club you have been a
part of for so long?
It has been an honour and privilege to play and
coach for my home Province. I first played for
Ulster in 1994, even though my club side was
Northampton Saints. In those days, there were
only about 8 to 10 Ulster fixtures per season
made up of Inter-provincials and touring sides,
nonetheless every game for Ulster was special.
Tell us about your new position?
I’m moving to Ospreys as Assistant Coach - the
people I’ve met have been very impressive.
The club is ambitious with a great mix of
experience and talent coming through and the
fans are knowledgeable and passionate about
their rugby. It’s an exciting challenge, one my
wife and I are looking forward to. We’ve found
a beautiful small market town just outside
Swansea called Ystradgynlais where we’re going
to live - I’ll head over early June and Kerry will
follow late summer.
What stands out as your Ulster Rugby
highlight?
There have been many - as a player obviously
my first cap for Ulster, no Ulster man ever
forgets it. The European Cup success of 1999
seems like a life time ago but will always remain
special. We weren't the most talented team in
the competition but everybody dug deep for
each other. The semi-final victory over Stade-
Francais at Ravenhill is particularly memorable
because of the crowd, the atmosphere and the
performance.
As a coach - winning the Celtic League in 2006,
ironically pipping Leinster, with a victory over
Ospreys in the final league game of the season.
With five minutes to go Ospreys scored from
a special play we’d prepared for all week. I still
remember the silence between Smally (Mark
McCall) and me; but fair play to the boys they
managed the last few minutes fantastically and
Humph hit a sweet drop goal off both posts
before dropping over. It was a brilliant end to
what was a fantastic season.
"To all I’ve played with, colleagues at all levels,
supporters and most importantly the players,
some young and some not so young - thank
you!"
GOOD LUCK CLARKIE!
Clarkie