Ulster Rugby v Connacht

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CONTENTS

KINGSPAN WELCOME PRESIDENT’S WELCOME GUINNESS PRO14 WELCOME

2 3 5 7 8

TONIGHT'S MASCOTS

LUKE MARSHALL

JONO GIBBES

12 15 17 18

STUART McCLOSKEY Q&A

WHAT'S ON ROD NAWN

ABBEY INSURANCE ULSTER ACADEMY

22 26 30 32 35 36 40 42 44 48 53 54 59 60 61 62 63 64 41

ULSTER SQUAD PROFILES

ULSTER TEAM

POSTER

CONNACHT TEAM

CONNACHT SQUAD PROFILES

URSC NEWS

ABOUT CONNACHT RODNEY AH YOU

ULSTER U18 GIVE IT A TRY

SUBWAY HALF TIME TEAMS

OUR CLUB NEWS

ULSTER RUGBY VALUES

STADIUM MAP

STADIUM INFORMATION

PRO14 PREVIEW

FIXTURES

THANK YOU

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Welcome back to Kingspan Stadium, home of Ulster Rugby, where tonight the Ulster squad go head-to-head against their Western rivals, Connacht Rugby. Derby matches always stir up an electric atmosphere and we expect tonight’s floodlit clash to be no different. It was December when the two sides last met when Ulster recorded a convincing 16-point victory in front of a home crowd and a similar result tonight will get the team back to winning ways after last week’s loss. We are known for our warm welcome and I am sure that the Connacht Rugby squad and their travelling supporters will experience nothing less from their visit. Finally, on behalf of Kingspan, I would like to wish the Ulster Rugby squad and management team the very best of luck this evening. To Ulster’s committed fans, enjoy the game, lead the way and help ensure that this is an evening to remember at Kingspan Stadium.

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

IRFU ULSTER BRANCH 2017/18 OFFICERS Graffin 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

We extend a special welcome to the Connacht President Brian O’Beirn and all the Connacht Branch officials, players, and supporters who have travelled from the west for this evening’s game. We hope you have a very enjoyable experience in Ulster. The new PRO14 league structure has kept intact all our Inter- Provincial games. Since these games are generally our best attended and hardest fought, it was most important that they were maintained within the fixtures programme. Following on from a small hiccup in Parma we are expecting an exciting and keenly contested game against Connacht this evening, hopefully ending in a good win for the home team - with no injuries! Congratulations are due to the Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools team, their coaches, team managers and all associated with the side on winning the Inter-Provincial schools competition following their excellent 18-17 win over Leinster Schools last weekend. What a pleasure to see captain John McKee collect the trophy, the first Ulster man to do so in 12 years, on behalf of the squad made up of players from 17 different schools across the Province. This weekend there is again a full programme of games in the All Ireland League, our local Ulster leagues, women’s leagues, under- age, minis, and in schools, so get out and support your local team. I would also like to extend our best wishes to the Ulster U18 Girls team, who travel to Munster for their final Inter-Pro fixture tomorrow As President of the IRFU Ulster Branch, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to Kingspan Stadium for tonight’s Round 6 game in the Guinness PRO14 Championship. PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

Director of Rugby Bryn Cunningham Operations Director

afternoon. SUFTUM! Graffin Parke President IRFU (Ulster Branch)

Kingspan Stadium, 134 Mount Merrion Avenue Belfast, BT6 0FT T +44 (0)28 9049 3222 ulsterrugby.com

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The only way to top the terrific action and surprise results from the past few weeks is to sprinkle in our first derby games of the Guinness PRO14 season which has hit a breathless pace already. Again, we’ve seen the attacking prowess of the Toyota Cheetahs stand out while the hard work from Conor O’Shea and the Italian clubs was evident in Zebre’s well-deserved win over Ulster. Michael Bradley’s team are showing that reputations don’t matter to them and they will be very confident heading to Edinburgh this week hoping to repeat their heroics from the Scottish capital last season. Naturally, the derby games in Wales and Ireland will draw a lot of attention with champions Scarlets making the short trip to face Ospreys at Liberty Stadium and Leinster entertaining Munster at Aviva Stadium – two fixtures to whet the appetite of rugby fans around the Championship. Dragons look a renewed force under Bernard Jackman who brings his team to face Cardiff Blues while Connacht must enter Kingspan Stadium to take on a wounded Ulster team. The Cheetahs finish their stretch of four home games by taking on the undefeated Glasgow Warriors in a fixture that should showcase everything that is good and exciting about our new Championship. Of course, all of this action is available for you to watch every Sunday after 5pm across our social media channels. Highlights of each game go up on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube so no matter where you like to get your video content we’ve got you covered. In every round there is so much to play for now that we have introduced a Conference system to the Championship. This ensures that every team has a greater opportunity of reaching the Guinness PRO14 Final Series with the Top 3 from each conference qualifying for the knock-out rounds. We’ve also worked closely with our unions to schedule those Derbies away from international windows, too. Like you, we want to see the best players in the best games because we are hugely proud of the 295 Internationals who played in the Championship last season, not to mention the 26 called up for the British & Irish Lions tour. Those players are certainly keeping true to that quality with our Positive Play stats – among the best in Europe – looking good again this season. Already our teams, their coaches and players are producing almost six tries a game as they continue to play ambitious and attractive rugby each week. You only have to look at our recent champions in Scarlets, Connacht, Glasgow Warriors and Leinster to see the attacking rugby it takes to win our title. Last season we saw a record for tries scored (711) while crowds were up and nowhere was that more evident than at the Final at Aviva Stadium. A new record attendance saw Scarlets’ scintillating play prove too much for Munster in a game that showcased the attacking calibre of our Championship. That’s one of the reasons that makes it so exciting to bring the first ever Guinness PRO14 Final to Dublin on May 26, 2018. Right now, we have an Early Bird offer for fans who decide to back their teams and buy tickets well in advance of the Final on www.ticketmaster.ie where prices start at €5 for children and €30 for adults. Enjoy the game. Martin Anayi Chief Executive Officer

TONIGHT’S MASCOTS

MASCOTS

ISLA MAYRS (10) Isla is from Crumlin and attends Antrim Primary School. She enjoys music and hockey. She thinks it would be great to run out onto the field with all the amazing rugby players who she looks up to and cannot wait to be the mascot tonight. Paul Marshall is her favourite player because he has very quick reactions and can always sneak in for tries. Isla would like to be a Primary School teacher or an actress when she grows up.

ETHAN NORWOOD (12) Ethan is from Crumlin and attends Ballyclare High School. He plays rugby with Ballyclare Rugby Club and enjoys music. Ethan is excited to be a mascot tonight and can’t wait to experience being on the pitch before a live match. His favourite player is Andrew Trimble as he is fast and very skilled. Ethan would like to be a professional rugby player when he grows up.

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LUKE MARSHALL: ‘COMPETITION BREEDS SUCCESS’

A familiar face on the Ulster team sheet, Luke has racked up 106 appearances for Ulster as well as 11 caps for Ireland. Luke joined Ireland’s summer tour to America and Japan where he played two games but, having since returned, his focus is firmly on his role with Ulster.

“The summer tour with Ireland was great and it was fantastic to play two games. Japan and the USA are places I’d never been to before so it was exciting to have the opportunity to visit them, and to have the chance to play rugby there for Ireland was even better. It was a good experience all round. “Any chance you get to play for your country is a great privilege. But I’m back with Ulster now and while I would love the opportunity to play for Ireland again, my focus is on Ulster. I hope to keep pushing on and improving to add as much to the team as possible. Competition for places on the starting team is tough but as they say: competition breeds success. You have to be on top of your game in order to get a role. We go week-to-week unsure if we’ll be selected or not, which can be a bit stressful but it’s good encouragement and I’m really enjoying it at the minute.” Much has been said of the new coaching structure at Ulster with its increased emphasis on the involvement of the whole squad rather than the match day 23. With 4 wins out of 5 in the Guinness PRO14 one could argue that the new format and refreshed focus is effective but there remains work to be done in order to maintain that winning streak. “The season has went well so far. It was a bit of a gradual build, with a good win against the Cheetahs, we dipped a bit against Treviso but put in a strong performance against the Scarlets and got a really good win against the Dragons. Obviously we were really disappointed with our result against Zebre but that is last week’s news. We know what went wrong and we know what we need to do to avoid that happening again so we’re focusing on the positives and I think we’ve done really well so far. “It’s been great working with the new coaching structure. The coaches seem to be working well

together as a team and there is a good balance between them, which the guys are all reacting well to. As a team, we’ve become a bit more physical in our ball carrying and in the breakdown and we’re trying to be a bit more strategic, bringing the scrum and maul into play a bit more. Everything the new coaches have tried to install within the squad is really starting to come to fruition and there is a lot of confidence among the team.” October heralds the opening of the European Rugby Champions Cup. With ties against Wasps and La Rochelle, neatly sandwiched between two inter-provincial contests against Connacht and Leinster it is sure to be a challenging month for the Ulster team, but one which Luke is confident they are ready for. “We have a tough run of matches lined up for October, but hopefully we’ll deliver more of the same winning performances, playing physical up front but with a lot of width as well and attacking from all areas of the pitch. “Connacht are always difficult opponents and we are wary of what they can produce. Wasps will be a challenge. They were one of the form teams in Europe over the last two years and have been quite unlucky not to have gained any silverware as they’ve been playing some good rugby. La Rochelle are also a strong threat. They were brilliant last year and have continued to do really well this year. “We know that we are going to face some difficult challenges both in the Champions Cup and in the PRO14. Obviously, we’d like to bring home the two wins in the ERCC and continue to deliver the same in the PRO14. If we continue the way we have been doing, if we keep improving and hang onto that confidence I think we will get there.” Aside from the professional game, Luke has been steadily building up his coaching experience

LUKE MARHSALL

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with Rainey Old Boys in Magherafelt, where he oversees the backs. Balancing both playing and coaching can be a challenge but, as Luke notes, it also offers huge rewards. “After an intense Tuesday training session here at Kingspan Stadium, sometimes the thought of heading off to coach can be a bit of a challenge. If training has been particularly tough, the last thing I want to do is jump in the car and travel an hour to Magherafelt, but when I get there that all changes. I really love the coaching. It’s great craic and a welcome relief from the stresses of the professional game. “Stepping from the professional environment into the amateur environment is refreshing as it helps me to refocus and take a more strategic view of the game. I think coaching has helped me to improve my own rugby. When coaching, I have to look at the game and various positions from a wider perspective, which has helped me to develop a stronger knowledge of the game and that can only be a good thing. “It can be tempting to complain about early starts or the sacrifices required of a professional rugby player, but then you meet guys playing for their local club. Guys who are so passionate about the sport and manage to balance full time, 9 to 5 jobs with a family, two hours training on Tuesday and Thursday nights and Saturday matches that might take them away from their families for another day or two. Their appetite for the game and determination to play reminds me how lucky I am to have the chance to play rugby at a professional level and that helps spur me on to do better.” Ulster have made a good start to the competitive season delivering the sort of rugby sure to embolden even the most dispirited fan, but a lot can change within a few weeks. Luke is aware of the need to focus on short-term improvements in order to reap long term rewards. “My first priority is to gain a regular place in the team. As I’ve said, competition for a place is crazy as there are a lot of great players around and more good players coming through the Academy, so my focus, first and foremost, is to do the best I can to stand out and get that regular spot. If I’m achieving that and playing good rugby it will hopefully put the squad in a good position to continue bringing home the wins and it might also bring more opportunities for me to represent Ireland.”

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JONO GIBBES A MATCH-BY-MATCH FOCUS IS ESSENTIAL TO RECLAIM OUR WINNING WAYS Head Coach, Jono Gibbes provided a frank account of the measures necessary to overcome the disappointing loss against Zebre last week suggesting that if the Ulstermen take their eye off the ball against Connacht tonight they risk getting “caught with their pants down”.

Gibbes is well known for his no-nonsense approach and wasted no time in defining what it was that led to the defeat in Zebre. "The error rate was way too high with the ball," started Gibbes bluntly. "We did not build enough pressure on them. Every time we seemed to put something together it ended in a turnover and the pressure was released. That was frustrating, (as was) watching Zebre be really positive with the ball and us reacting slowly. "Our defence became passive, we were watching a bit. "There were things Zebre did the poor performance may point to the fact that Ulster were forced to skip the usual captain's run at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi after their plane was re-routed via Antwerp. But Gibbes is a man who can face hard truths, learn from them and move on. "I don't think dropping the ball has anything to do with an aeroplane. I would love to take that excuse but I can't even say we were flat physically or anything like that because we simply did not execute basic things. "We had no rhythm, we got no continuity, we did not put them under any pressure and we lost control of the game. "In the second half there were plenty of opportunities to build scoreboard pressure and we did not take them. well but lots of things that we had done well in the first period of the season that we did not execute." Those looking to excuse

"Absolutely, I think performances are a reflection of preparation but that is (down to) coaches as well. The sessions were specific enough to what we were going to deal with at Zebre. "Were the sessions hard enough? We'll reflect on that." Having not won in Belfast since November 1960, Connacht will tonight be hoping to create some new records and deliver further punishment to

Ulster who desperately need to produce a response after losing their unbeaten record in the most surprising of locations last Saturday. Following hot on the heels of the Connacht test, Ulster then welcome Wasps to Kingspan Stadium, on Friday 13th October, for the opening of the European Champions Cup. However, any question of where the focus of the Ulstermen lay was quickly dismissed by a Gibbes determined to concentrate only on the match-by-match

JONO GIBBES

improvements and take each match as it comes. "We have Connacht on Friday to get right first. Kissy went to Dublin (on Monday) to talk about Europe but that's a whole way away. "We have Friday to get right and that's what's in front of us. "We have to make sure we get our preparations right; we can't afford to have an eye around the corner. "If we feel we're in the position to have an eye on Europe then we're going to get caught with our pants down on Friday so I'm not going to talk about Europe."

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ONE BALL. FOURTEEN TEAMS

TRUST. INNOVATION. PERFORMANCE.

ITALIAN FOOD / CHINESE FOOD MOVIE / THEATRE STAR WARS / INDIANA JONES EUROPE / AMERICA HIKE / BIKE BUNGEE JUMP / SKY DIVE UP EARLY / LIE IN SUPER MARIO / SONIC PLAYSTATION / X BOX IRON MAN / CAPTAIN AMERICA SUPERMAN / BATMAN X FACTOR / STRICTLY COME DANCING DOG / CAT WHAT IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS FACT OR PHRASE YOU KNOW? ‘We didn’t underestimate them, they were just a lot better than we thought’ PINEAPPLE ON PIZZA - YAY OR NAY? Nay WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST? Bungee Jumping WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME? Braveheart SPORTING HERO YOU MOST ADMIRE? Roger Federer QUICKFIRE WHICH TEAMMATE IS THE WORST DRESSER? Chris Henry WHO IS THE BIGGEST COFFEE SNOB? Callum Black WHO IS THE WORST ROOMMATE TO HAVE ON AWAY TRIPS? Charles Piutau WHO IS THE SMARTEST ON THE TEAM? Iain Henderson IF YOU HAD A BOAT, WHAT WOULD YOU NAME IT? Boaty McBoat STUART McCLOSKEY ANSWERS FAN QUESTIONS

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT STUART FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @STUART_MC12

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The first Friday evening in October at Kingspan Stadium is suddenly upon us, as has the arrival of Connacht and the prospect of a defining month for Ulster. THE HUNT FOR GREAT OCTOBER!

Until the huge disappointment of defeat at Zebre last Saturday the side, with some astute changes in the last few weeks to ensure the squad is battle-hardened, had slipped smoothly through the gears, particularly since that confidence- boosting win over the reigning champions Scarlets in the Guinness PRO14. The Dragons were summarily swept aside with a discipline and flair which must have pleased the management team under Les Kiss, and certainly reinforced the growing sense of expectation on the terraces and the stands. John Andrew, Rodney Ah You, Mattie Rea, Nick Timoney, Dave Shanahan and Rob Lyttle are just some who’ve seamlessly slotted into a team which has been far more convincing during September – bar a below-par display in Treviso – that in some previous early autumns. To open up with four successive wins in Conference B of a new-look PRO14, which is still mildly confusing to us all, was impressive. And to keep that rather addictive habit of winning fed the successful introduction of a raft of players who might not have instinctively been expected to feature positively has been a huge bonus for Kiss, Head Coach Jono Gibbes and his assistants Aaron Dundon, Dwayne Peel and Niall Malone. But the loss in Italy was as shocking for supporters as it was surprising, and there’s been a lot of head-scratching about how Ulster, apparently comfortably accommodating a raft of changes each week, could perform quite so lamely against a Zebre team fighting for its very existence. In truth Zebre played an enterprising brand of rugby which exposed some familiar failings in the visitors, errant handling, lack of application at the breakdown and on first-up defence. So, fans who were greatly encouraged about what they felt was a more consistent spirit and confidence in the players have had reason to ask some questions once again: how did their side, so focussed and accurate in the games with the Scarlets and the Dragons in Belfast last month sink back into the torpor that trips to Italy seem to invite.

Les Kiss was critical of the performance of his much-changed team and rightly felt there was quality aplenty on the pitch to keep the leadership of Conference B in the RO14. Tonight Ulster takes the field against Connacht, who pushed Scarlets all the way in Wales last weekend, down to third in the table behind the reigning champions and Leinster. Zebre’s Head Coach is Michael Bradley, ironically a former supremo in the West, and he’s inspired the Italians to successive league wins, over Southern Kings in South Africa and Ulster. He felt that Ulster had more than one eye on Europe and next week’s visit from Wasps, and it’s true many coaches have been giving game time to as many players as possible before the Champions Cup. But the Guinness PRO14 remains the primary target, the bread-and-butter compared to the delicious desserts in Europe. So in training and in analysis this week the squad will have been asked to press the ‘reset’ button in terms of concentration, application and discipline. There’ll be no chance of under-estimating Connacht in what’s been a tough season to date for the 2015/16 PRO12 champions, and Kiwi coach Kieran Keane is gradually harnessing the resources he has into a real force. The evergreen John Muldoon and locks Ultan Dillane and Quinn Roux are formidable forwards, and Kieran Marmion is a key figure at the base of the scrum. Centre Bundee Aki is often mentioned as a potential Ireland player, while Rory Scholes – once of this parish – hint at the potential firepower behind a pack which loves the gruelling, wrestling battle of the scrummage, ruck and maul. It is indeed likely that Kiss and Gibbes will want to start this evening with a line-up very much like the one it feels will test Wasps her at Kingspan Stadium next weekend, and for everyone in the squad there will be the real incentive of getting Ulster back on track in the PRO14 and, as a consequence, holding up their hands for a place in the matchday 23 for the Champions Cup game. The supporters, who the players and management admit have played a massive part

ROD NAWN

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ARTICLE BY ROD NAWN FREELANCE JOURNALIST AND SPORTS ENTHUSIAST @RODNAWN1

in what was, still, a fine start to the competitive season, will be hoping they can consign the Zebre result to the ‘blip bin’ but they need reassurance with a positive display from their favourites. Hopefully Andrew Trimble, in good try-scoring form, will set a new record of appearances for his club, edging ahead of the warrior who was Roger Wilson. Jean Deysel, Chris Henry, Sean Reidy, Clive Ross, Mattie Rea and Nick Timoney have shown their top-class credential and competition for a place in the starting line-up can push each individual player to new heights. The possible reintroduction of Jared Payne after an injury-hit Lions tour is something to savour, and with Luke Marshall, Darren Cave, Stuart McCloskey, Tommy Bowe, Trimble, Jacob Stockdale, Louis Ludik, Peter Nelson and Charles Piutau all vying for inclusion in a back five of immense talent there is genuine belief that in lethal attack and concentrated defence the home crowd will be applauding another PRO14 win. John Cooney’s arrival has seen him impress everyone with his range of scrum-half talents, and his partnership with another ‘new boy’, Christian Leali’ifano, proved instantly successful. The Ulster roster has an impressively powerful look to it, and though the lacklustre, placid display in Zebre rather contradicted that, this evening is a chance to partially atone for a performance which the players involved will want to forget. This is an important month, Wasps and La Rochelle are in Champions Cup prospect in the next two weeks, but there can be no understating how the fans – and the players too – need a demonstration, like those against the Scarlets and the Dragons, that this year Ulster will be truly competitive and convincingly challenging for honours in the PRO14. The recent successes for the new South African sides and the improvement in the two Italian teams, shows how the game does not stand still, that it cannot wait for ‘potential’ forever.

This Ulster squad is surely one of the most accomplished in these islands and it is time to reward itself, and its success-stared supporters, of a tangible success next May. It may seem early in the season, with just seven competitive games by late this evening, to say that this month of October can be defining, at least in part. But it is a time when indications of consistency on the field and in selection must be clear, when the belief that Les Kiss and his coaches share about these players is complemented by mirrored fealty in the great supporting base. Ulstermen? It’s time to stand up.

ROD NAWN

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ABBEY INSURANCE ULSTER ACADEMY ZACK McCALL

NAME Zack McCall DOB 10.02.95 PREFERRED POSITION Hooker PREVIOUS TEAMS Ballynahinch RFC, Queen’s Uni RFC REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS Ulster A, Ulster U20, Ireland U20, Ireland U19 7s RUGBY INFLUENCES Dad, and brother Kyle SPORTING IDOLS Sergio Parisse and Roger Federer RUGBY AMBITION Play for Ulster, Ireland and the Lions FACT NOT MANY PEOPLE WOULD KNOW ABOUT YOU I’m an above average dancer, and rapper. BEST ADVICE RECEIVED 'Just throw the ball' DESCRIBE MYSELF IN 3 WORDS Passionate, persistent, honest. WHAT YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT RUGBY Team environment, skill required and the physical demand OTHER HOBBIES Coffee enthusiast, keen golfer and cricketer FAVOURITE MOVIE Gladiator or Shutter Island CHEAT MEAL Pizza PRE-MATCH SUPERSTITIONS Lucky boxers and socks. Clean boots. BIGGEST STRENGTH Footwork and carrying AREA TO WORK ON Throwing consistency

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JOHN ANDREW

RODNEY AH YOU

RORY BEST

Hooker 26.05.93

Prop 27.10.88 186cm 128.1kg 23 3 Prop 25.02.86 180cm 116.8kg 131 —

Hooker 15.08.82 180cm 105kg

180cm 99.1kg 32 —

198 104

PETER BROWNE 2nd Row 25.10.87 200cm 115.8kg 33 —

TOMMY BOWE

CALLUM BLACK

Wing 22.02.84

191cm 98.6kg 154 69

DARREN CAVE

AARON CARINS

DAVID BUSBY

Centre 05.04.87 182cm 93kg 196 11

Scrum Half 07.10.92

Back Line 03.02.94

176cm 84.9kg 1 —

179cm 89.8kg 2 —

JEAN DEYSEL

MARCELL COETZEE

JOHN COONEY

Back Row 05.03.85 191cm 118kg 3 SA 4

Flanker 08.05.91

Scrum Half 01.05.90 177cm 88kg

191cm 122kg 5 SA 28

4 1

ULSTER SQUAD 2017/18 26 Wing 11.03.91 182cm 94kg 149 10 Prop 05.07.88 177cm 120.9kg 59 — CHRIS HENRY No. 7 17.10.84 187.cm 105.5kg 169 24 ROBBIE DIACK No. 8 12.11.85 193cm 110.8kg 197 2

IAIN HENDERSON 2nd Row 21.02.92 200cm 117kg

CRAIG GILROY

76 32

ROB HERRING

WIEHAHN HERBST

Hooker 27.04.90

182cm 106kg 124 1

www. ULSTERRUGBY .com

ROSS KANE

BRETT HERRON Out Half 13.11.95

CHRISTIAN LEALIIFANO Out Half 24.09.87 180cm 91kg 4 AUS 19

Prop 14.10.94 179cm 113.5kg

183cm 89.9kg 8 —

11 —

ROB LYTTLE

LUKE MARSHALL

LOUIS LUDIK Full Back 08.10.86

Wing 28.01.97

Centre 03.03.91 180cm 98kg 107 11 Centre 06.08.92 190cm 108.8kg 62 1

ULSTER SQUAD 2017/18

174cm 86.2kg

182cm 92.4kg 58 —

10 —

PAUL MARSHALL

KYLE McCALL

STUART McCLOSKEY

Scrum Half 26.07.85

Prop 02.01.92 177cm 106.7kg 39 —

170cm 76.0kg 197 3

JOHNNY McPHILLIPS Out Half 13.04.97

PETER NELSON Full Back 05.10.92 180cm 87kg

ALAN O’CONNOR 2nd Row 10.09.92 195cm 113.2kg 42 —

180cm 88.9kg

— —

41 —

TOMMY O'HAGAN

JACK OWENS

CALLUM PATTERSON

Prop 05.10.93 182cm 120kg

Wing 04.10.95

Centre 10.08.92

189cm 98.6kg 1 —

181cm 93.3kg

— —

— —

MATTHEW REA

JARED PAYNE Full Back 13.10.85 187cm 94kg

CHARLES PIUTAU Full Back 31.10.91 186cm 103.5kg 26 NZ 17

No. 8 21.09.93 193cm 110.8kg 5 —

78 20

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SEAN REIDY

CLIVE ROSS

DAVE SHANAHAN

Scrum Half 20.06.93

Wing 20.10.84 185cm 98kg 221 70 Prop 19.08.90 182cm 108.3kg 4 — Back Row 10.05.89 182cm 103kg 62 2

Back Row 14.06.89 190cm 107.2kg 54 —

174cm 77.4kg

17 —

JACOB STOCKDALE

KIERAN TREADWELL 2nd Row 06.11.95 198cm 115kg 24 2

JONNY SIMPSON

Centre 03.04.96 190cm 102kg 27 2

ULSTER SQUAD 2017/18

ANDREW TRIMBLE

SCHALK VAN DER MERWE

ANDREWWARWICK

Prop 04.12.90 184cm 110kg

Prop 12.03.91 177cm 113kg 77 —

— —

Keep up to date with the latest player profiles, career stats and squad news at www.ulsterrugby.com . PLAYER STATS

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CHARLES PIUTAU

KYLE McCALL

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2

TOMMY BOWE

ROB HERRING

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3

WIEHAHN HERBST

LUKE MARSHALL

12

4

STUART McCLOSKEY

ALAN O'CONNOR

ULSTER RUBGY

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5

KIERAN TREADWELL

JACOB STOCKDALE

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10

CHRISTIAN LEALIIFANO

IAIN HENDERSON

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9

CHRIS HENRY C

JOHN COONEY

REPLACEMENTS 16 17 18 19 J ANDREW A WARWICK R AH YOU R DIACK

20 21 22 23

S REIDY P MARSHALL P NELSON L LUDIK

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JEAN DEYSEL

TODAY’S OFFICIALS

REFEREE ANDREW BRACE IRFU, 28TH COMPETITION GAME ASSISTANT REFEREES FRANK MURPHY IRFU | PAUL HAYCOCK IRFU TMO PETER FITZGIBBON IRFU

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A FUTURE BUILT WITH OUR PEOPLE

With over 10,000 employees worldwide Kingspan is committed to providing a safe, enterprising and exciting workplace for all employees.

www.kingspan.com

Working Together

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TIERNAN O’HALLORAN

DENIS BUCKLEY

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2

CIAN KELLEHER

TOM McCARTNEY

CONNACHT

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13

BUNDEE AKI

FINLAY BEALHAM

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12

TOM FARELL

ULTAN DILLANE

5

11

MATT HEALY

QUINN ROUX

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10

EOIN MCKEON

JACK CARTY

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9

JARRAD BUTLER

KIERAN MARMION

REPLACEMENTS 16 17 18 19 D HEFFERNAN D COULSON C CAREY J CANNON

20 21 22 23

E MASTERSON C BLADE

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S CROSBIE E GRIFFIN

JOHN MULDOON C

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ANDREW DEEGAN

ANDREW BROWNE

BUNDEE AKI

Fly Half 23.03.95 177cm 86kg —

Lock 21.01.87 195cm 144kg —

Centre 07.04.90 183cm 101kg —

CONOR CAREY

CIAN KELLEHER

CAOLIN BLADE

Prop 26.09.91 183cm 126kg —

Back 3 07.08.94 183cm 92kg —

Scrum Half 29.04.94 174cm 80kg —

CRAIG RONALDSON

CORMAC BRENNAN

CONOR McKEON

Centre 08.02.90 187cm 96kg —

Back 3 21.02.95 184cm 96kg —

Scrum Half 04.01.94 175cm 83kg —

DENIS BUCKEY

DARRAGH LEADER Fullback 22.05.96 190cm 100kg —

DAVID HEFFERNAN

Prop 09.08.90 177cm 110kg —

Hooker 31.01.91 185cm 108kg —

CONNACHT 2017/18

DENIS COULSEN

EOGHAN MASTERSON Backrow 05.04.93 193cm 108kg —

D ROBERTSON-McCOY

Prop 10.11.93

Prop 15.06.94 183cm 107kg —

187cm 122kg —

EOIN GRIFFIN

FINLAY BEALHAM

EOGHAN McKEON Backrow 23.06.91 189cm 110kg —

Centre 18.09.90 185cm 96kg —

Prop 09.10.91 188cm 123kg —

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GAVIN THORNBURY

JAKE HEENAN

JACK CARTY

Flanker 17.03.92 189cm 104kg —

Lock 19.10.93 204cm 117kg —

Fly Half 31.08.92 182cm 91kg —

2nd Row 24.09.98 203cm 120kg — JAMES CANNON

JAMES CONNOLLY

JAMES MITCHELL

Backrow 19.04.93 185cm 104kg —

Scrum Half 02.11.95 175cm 81kg —

CONNACHT 2017/18

JARRAD BUTLER

JOHN MULDOON

JP COONEY

Prop 12.05.90 183cm 122kg —

No 8 30.11.82 190cm 110kg —

Backrow 20.07.91 186cm 106kg —

KIERAN MARMION

MATT HEALY

NAULIA DAWAI

Wing 14.06.89 183cm 92kg —

Backrow 26.06.87 183cm 110kg —

Scrum Half 11.02.92 178cm 85kg —

NIYI ADEOLOKUN

PAT O'TOOLE

PETER McCABE

Hooker 01.02.95 182cm 110kg —

Back 3 03.11.90 183cm 89kg —

Prop 05.03.19 183cm 117kg —

QUIN ROUX

RORY SCHOLES

PETER ROBB

Lock 30.10.90 198cm 122kg —

Centre 19.07.94 189cm 107kg —

Back 3 23.04.93 186cm 95kg —

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SEAN O'BRIEN

SHANE DELAHUNT

STACEY ILI

Hooker 02.02.94 188cm 112kg —

Back Row 09.12.94 195cm 110kg —

Centre 05.11.91 176cm 94kg —

TIERNAN O'HALLORAN

TOM FARRELL

STEVE CROSBIE

Back 3 26.02.91 188cm 96kg —

Fly Half 02.10.93 185cm 93kg —

Centre 10.01.93 189cm 99kg —

ULTAN DILLANE

TOM McCARTNEY

PLAYER STATS

Hooker 06.09.85 185cm 108kg —

2nd Row 09.11.93 198cm 114kg —

Keep up to date with the latest player profiles, career stats and squad news at www.connachtrugby.ie

CONNACHT 2017/18

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This week the URSC hosted its first ‘Meet the Players’ event providing members the chance to mix and mingle with British and Irish Lions Iain Henderson and Jared Payne along with Ulster’s new half back combination, John Cooney and Christian Lealiifano. A great night was had by all. Huge thanks to the players! MEET THE PLAYERS

SUPPORTERS CLUB NEWS

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THINGS YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW… ABOUT CONNACHT!

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The club, under Head Coach Pat Lam, secured its first-ever silverware in the professional era with a superb PRO12 title win in 2015/16 with the defeat of Leinster in the final.

Warren Gatland, 1996/8, and Eddie O’Sullivan, 1993/96, coached Connacht before highly-successful terms in charge of Ireland. Though success in the European Champions Cup has eluded Connacht the side has reached the Challenge Cup semi-finals three times. Given that Connacht has just 7% of Ireland’s rugby-playing population the club has set remarkable standards on and off the field.

CONNACHT

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The Connacht Clan is the official supporters club of the Province, formally established in 2011.

The Connacht Branch of the IRFU was established in 1885, and 3 of its 6 founding clubs still exists today – Castlebar, Ballinasloe and NUI Galway, formerly Queen’s College. Though never an outright winner, on three occasions Connacht has shared the Inter- Provincial Championship title – in 1956/7, 1957/8 and in 1964/5. Hooker Ciaran Fitzgerald captained the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand in 1983 and Connacht also provided flanker John O’Driscoll to that party, while legendary prop Ray McLoughlin toured in 1966 and in 1971. Irish international breakaway forward John Muldoon, in his third term as captain, has played over 300 times for the club in a 14-year career with Connacht.

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RODNEY AH YOU

On the eve of the Connacht fixture we caught up with Ulster’s New Zealand born prop Rodney Ah You, who joined from Connacht in the summer of 2016, to discuss Ulster’s form so far and his feelings on playing against his former team-mates.

“I’m not sure what to make of the season so far. I love the opportunity to be included in the match night 23 and getting the two starts against Dragons and Zebre was just fantastic. I’m trying to make the most of the time that I do get to play on the field so that I can add the most to the team. The new coaching set-up this season has been brilliant, I feel that they’re really getting the best out of everyone and encouraging everyone to step up.” Ulster started the season with four straight wins, but hit something of a speed-bump last weekend in Parma. “Zebre was a tough match. They were definitely up for the fight. Their line speed was incredible and unfortunately, we didn’t problem solve fast enough in the game to try and sort out the challenges they presented us with. In fairness to Zebre though, they played really good rugby and deserved the win. Personally, I wasn’t feeling too good about my own game. It was not the performance I wanted to give and not what I expected of myself. “The outcome of the Zebre game hasn’t changed our focus but the game did highlight several internal weaknesses which we need to improve. In particular, it highlighted the failure of our basic ball handling skills, there were simply too many handling errors on our part.” The surprising and disappointing defeat away to Zebre last Saturday has prompted naysayers to suggest that Ulster has got a head start on repeating the same poor run of results as around the same time last season. But as Ah You knows, focusing on the past and what you don’t want to happen is not the best way to design a successful future. “It definitely wasn’t the result that we wanted but we have to focus on the positives in terms of what we can learn from it. We learned that we need to concentrate more on execution and how to deal with hard-line speed so we’ve been working hard this week to better our basic skills and avoid handling issues to ensure that we don’t make the same mistakes again. “Our focus is on a week to week, match by match basis. We don’t worry about the league tables or

what other clubs are doing, we’re focused on what we need to get better on individually in order to collectively improve our overall performance and move forward with success.” To date this season, Ah You has been sharing the number 3 jersey with Wiehahn Herbst as the Ulster coaching ticket continue to manage playing resources through an intense schedule of games, and Rodney feels there is a healthy competition for starting spots throughout the team. “We have some great operators in the front row. There is good competition between us all and I don’t think that’s a bad thing, I think it’s healthy for the squad. We all have to be at our best to keep challenging each other. In general, there is good depth in our squad, everyone knows what they are doing; if a new person comes in he simply picks off where the last person left off so everyone pulls together very well.” Tonight, is the first Interprovincial clash of the season as we welcome Connacht to Kingspan Stadium where we hope that history and the support of the home crowd will be on Ulster’s side to reinstate those winning ways. “I’m confident about Ulster’s chances tonight. As a Connacht player, we always found it difficult coming here to Kingspan Stadium. It was always a tough game; the home crowd are so loud and really get on your back. So, it’s nice for me to now have the roar of the home crowd behind me as an Ulsterman. “There is a step up in intensity with Interprovincial games, they seem to be a bit more competitive and we know that Connacht will definitely be up for it. They’ll be keen to get a big win here as it’s somewhere they’ve never won before. We know that they will try to take us on, they’re going to bring a new vitality and physicality to the game but we’re prepared for it. “I’m excited to play them and really looking forward to the game tonight. At the very least we are aiming to deliver an improvement on Saturday’s past performance with more intensity and a more clinical approach to our game plan. I’m confident that we’ll do the job.”

RODNEY AH YOU

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DOB 27.10.1988 HEIGHT 185cm WEIGHT 128.18kg POSITION Prop HONOURS Ireland (3 caps) RODNEY AH YOU

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ULSTER U18

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SPORTSFILE

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ULSTER U18 SCHOOLS SECURE FIRST INTER-PRO TITLE IN 12 YEARS

Nathan Doak opened the scoring for the Ulster team with a well struck penalty in the fifth minute to give his team a 3-0 lead. This became 8-0 eleven minutes later, when Ryan O'Neill crashed over for an unconverted try following a series of multiple phase plays. The Leinster team replied midway through the half when, following a rare appearance into the Ulster half, Mike O'Gara converted a penalty opportunity which reduced the deficit to 8-3. The last few minutes of the first period of play saw the Danske Bank Ulster Schools' team extend their lead to 15-3 when an Aaron Sexton run took play deep into Leinster territory. The resultant ruck produced the quality possession which enabled James Nelson to finish with a try. Nathan Doak added the extras. With the final play of the half the Leinster team reduced the arrears to 15-10 when Ross McInnes scored a try which was converted by Mike O'Gara. Six minutes into the second half more Ulster pressure saw the Leinster team concede a penalty which Nathan Doak converted to extend the Ulster lead to 18-10. Back came the Leinster team and, six minutes from the end, Sam Dardis scored a try, which Mick O'Gara converted, to see the scoreboard read 18-17 in favour of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools' team. A vital turnover towards the end of the game by the Ulster forwards, and the ability to run the clock down, ensured the Danske Bank Ulster Schools' team finished the game as deserved winners of the 2017/18 IRFU Schools' U18 Championship. It was a delighted John McKee, captain of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools' team, who lifted the Inter-Provincial Championship Cup at the post- match presentation ceremony. A remarkable 17 schools were represented in the squad, highlighting the strength of schools' rugby across the Province. Championship for the first time, thanks to a thrilling 18-17 win over Leinster in Donnybrook on Saturday 23rd September. The Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools team have won the Schools Inter-Provincial

DANKSE BANK ULSTER U18 SCHOOLS SQUAD Angus Adair RBAI Robbie Armstrong Methodist College Thomas Armstrong Methodist College David Browne Limavady

ULSTER U18

Keelin Coyle Foyle & GS College Ben Crangle Methodist College Bryn Davies Rainey Endowed

Nathan Doak Wallace HS Oscar Egan Coleraine GS Lewis Finlay Down HS Nic Jennings RS Armagh

Robbie Johnston Regent House Chris Larmour Methodist College Tom Lavery RBAI Joshua McAuley Ballymena Academy David McCann RBAI Ben McCaughey Friends' School Lisburn

Jake McCay Omagh Academy Ben McCrossan Bangor GS Ethan McIlroy Methodist College Robin McIlveen RBAI

John McKee Campbell College Glenn McKinley Omagh Academy Kevin McNaboe Methodist College Peter McRoberts Wallace HS Bradley Mulholland Friends' School Lisburn James Nelson Ballyclare HS Ryan O'Neill RS Armagh Harry Owens Campbell College Ben Power Campbell College George Pringle Friends' School Lisburn Conor Rankin Wallace HS George Saunderson Sullivan Upper Aaron Sexton Bangor GS Robbie Sproule Omagh Academy Tom Stewart Belfast Royal Academy Jack Stinson Campbell College Charlie Worth RS Armagh MANAGEMENT TEAM Head Coach: Kieran Campbell Assistant Head Coach: Bryan Young Assistant Coach: John Creighton Strength and Conditioning Coach: Matthew Maguire Physiotherapist: Richard Johnston Resources Manager: Adrian Walker Doctor: Ryan Hamilton Video Analyst: Mark Chernek Manager: Richard Clingan

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TRAVEL TO SOUTH AFRICA with Killester Travel Group

SOUTHERN KINGS v ULSTER RUGBY SATURDAY 4th NOVEMBER 2017

COSTS: Belfast from £1185 per person sharing Dublin from £1125 per person sharing Tailored trips can be arranged on request including Cape Town and other activities like wine tasting, safari, whale watching and golf.

TRIP DATES Tuesday 31st October 2017 to Sunday 5th November 2017

INCLUDED: » » Economy flights with BA and South African Airways » » Belfast or Dublin departure to Port Elizabeth via London and Johannesburg » » 4 nights BB twin sharing in Radisson Blu Hotel, Port Elizabeth » » Airport transfers » » Match ticket

Please contact Paddy Baird on rugby@killestertravel.com for details.

GIVE IT A TRY

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THE FEMALE RUGBY SUCCESS TRAIN KEEPS ROLLING!

The ‘Give it a Try’ WRWC Legacy event launched in spectacular fashion on Saturday 23rd September when 28 eager girls visited Kingspan Stadium to undertake the first of a five-week introductory rugby programme.

GIVE IT A TRY

Cup in history appears to have washed away any misgivings about the validity of the game of female rugby providing the solid foundations on which the sport can grow. And having just said goodbye to week 2 of the programme where feedback was again hugely postive, we look forward to the next chapter with rapt attention.

Led by Ulster Rugby Coaches, in collaboration with local clubs, participants had the opportunity to undertake drills designed to hone rugby skills and establish the confidence necessary to add value on the pitch. A special appearance from U18 Interprovincial winners Hannah Beattie and Vicky Irwin along with Ireland Women’s star prop Ilse Van Staden, provided an informative insight into female rugby and the discipline required to play at the top level. The initiative is aimed at girls, aged 10-17 (P7 - Year 13), who have never played rugby before or those who perhaps played mini rugby but never as part of a female structure. Funded through Sport NI’S Everybody Active 2020 programme in partnership with Belfast City Council the initiative provides an excellent opportunity for girls to get involved in the sport. The storm of positive media coverage arising from the most successful Women’s Rugby World

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO GET INVOLVED! If you are female, aged 10-17

years old, available on Saturdays (1pm-2pm) until 21st October and interested in trying rugby for the first time, please email Jennifer.Boyd@ ulsterrugby.com.

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The Ultimate Driving Machine

THE KEY TO A NEW BMW COULD BE IN YOUR POCKET. RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL £2,000 OFF A NEW LOWER EMISSION BMWWHEN YOU TRADE IN YOUR OLDER DIESEL CAROF ANY MAKE OR MODEL.*

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Official fuel economy figures for the BMW Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) range: Combined 83.1-148.7mpg (3.4-2.0l/100km). CO 2 emissions 294-44g/km. Figures are obtained in a standardised test cycle using a combination of battery power and petrol fuel after the battery had been fully charged. All figures are intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not be representative of what a user achieves under usual driving conditions. Plug-in Hybrid vehicles require mains electricity for charging. *£2,000 Lower Emissions Allowance towards new BMWs with CO 2 emissions of 130 g/km (NEDC) or below. New vehicle must be registered by 31 December 2017 and in the same name and address as trade-in vehicle. Trade-in vehicle must be diesel, any brand, EU4 emission standard or older and owned for at least 12 months. Retail customers only. Participating Retailers only. Can be used in conjunction with other offers. Terms and conditions apply.