Ulster Rugby vs Connacht

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

In particular, I am very pleased to welcome my old friend and Connacht President Pat Piggot along with his team, officials and supporters. The Ulster team, following the excellent PRO12 bonus point win against Cardiff three weeks ago, produced a tremendous performance in beating ASM Clermont Auvergne a fortnight ago. Whilst the team could not repeat that performance in France last weekend, it was still a spirited performance and they no doubt will be looking to revenge the narrow defeat Ulster suffered against Connacht in Galway in October. Connacht, following on from their success in winning the Guinness PRO12 last season, have put in some very good performances in the European Champions Cup this season and have been steadily climbing the PRO12 Championship table following a bit of a shaky start to the season. They will no doubt present a formidable challenge to the Ulster team tonight but hopefully one that the Ulster team will overcome. The Ulster A team are to be congratulated on two recent victories, home and away, against the Cardiff Blues Premiership Select team and are now top of their B&I Cup group. The Ulster Women’s team had a difficult Inter-provincial campaign but there are clear signs that this team is developing and improving under Philip Doyle’s and Jarrett Truscott’s stewardship. The Ireland team and management are to be congratulated on an excellent Guinness Autumn Series with 3 wins out of 4 including that great win over New Zealand in Chicago. Congratulations go to Rory Best, Jared Payne, Andrew Trimble, Iain Henderson, Paddy Jackson, Luke Marshall and Craig Gilroy, all of whom played in the Autumn Series games. Special congratulations go to Rory Best on winning his 100th cap for Ireland – a tremendous achievement. On the domestic front, Ballynahinch are to be congratulated on winning the First Trust Senior Cup for the third successive year and their 2nds are to be congratulated on winning the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup. In the All Ireland Junior Cup, commiserations go to Clogher Valley, who unfortunately lost at the semi-final stage by one point. Finally, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. I also hope everyone enjoys the game tonight as well as the facilities in Kingspan Stadium and remember - “Stand Up For The Ulstermen”. John McKibbin President IRFU (Ulster Branch) It gives me great pleasure as President of the IRFU Ulster Branch to welcome everyone to Kingspan Stadium for this evening’s Round 11 match in the Guinness PRO12 League. PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

IRFU ULSTER BRANCH 2016/17 OFFICERS John McKibbin President Graf n Parke Senior Vice President Stephen Elliott 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

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

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