Ulster Rugby vs Leinster

Managing Director, PRO12 Rugby

Welcome

www.

ULSTERRUGBY

.com

Welcome to Round 22 and the very first Super Saturday in the

Guinness PRO12. The final day of the season always provides

plenty of drama and we hope that a full slate of derby games will

add to your experience, no matter what game you’re at.

We’re also on course to beat last season’s attendance figure and on behalf of our

clubs, our title sponsor Guinness and the team at PRO12 Rugby, I’d like to thank

all of our fans for continuing to display your passion and support for your

teams and the Championship.

Indeed, the crowd in Dublin for Leinster v Glasgow Warriors last weekend

got to witness a small piece of history for the Guinness PRO12 when Rory

O’Loughlin’s try brought us to 652 tries for the season – a tally that broke the

previous all-time record of 651 which was set in the 2003/04 season.

By the time the final whistle went on Round 21 we were at 683 tries for the

campaign and I think everyone would be confident that we’ll see try Number

700 today at Super Saturday.

Of course, there’s a lot at stake for so many clubs with Leinster, Munster and

Scarlets already guaranteed their places in the Guinness PRO12 Final Series

and Ospreys in need of just one match-day point to ensure their place. We all

know how unpredictable sport can be and Ulster still have a chance if Ospreys

lose at Parc y Scarlets and Les Kiss’ team produce a spectacular result at

Kingspan Stadium.

Tries will be the order of the day then in Belfast and that expectation will be

nothing new in the Guinness PRO12 where our Positive Play statistics makes

us the most exciting tournament to watch.

The latest game-play statistics from World Rugby prove that teams from

our Championship produce more positive rugby than anywhere else in the

Northern Hemisphere where we have the quickest rucks, the highest ball-in-

play time and the most tries.

The clubs, their coaches, the players and our referees all play a huge part in

fostering an environment where positive play can thrive: in every Guinness

PRO12 match you’re likely to see at least five tries and 43 points scored, which is

as good a reason as any to watch the action in person.

I’d also like to say a special thanks to Independent News & Media, Energia &

Mazda who have come on board as partners of the Guinness Final Series –

another sign of how the Championship is going from strength to strength on

and o the pitch.

Thanks also to the part played by our television broadcast partners: Sky Sports,

BBC Wales, BBC Northern Ireland, Eurosport, BBC Alba, TG4 and S4C. They are

integral to telling the story of our Championship and capturing the magic and

excitement that gets supporters out of their seats every weekend.

We’re also less than a month away from the Guinness PRO12 Final which

will be held in Dublin on May 27 and if that game lives up to the action we’ve

seen so far this season, then it’s going to be a classic. It promises to be an

unmissable event and ticket sales have been incredibly strong so far, but you

can avoid missing out by logging onto

www.ticketmaster.ie

to get yours.

Enjoy the game,

Martin Anayi