Stand Up Magazine - Issue 38 - Ulster Rugby Supporters' Club

Les Kiss drew the ballots and presented the prizes for these lucky winners

Ulster Rugby Director of Rugby, Les Kiss

win? Other highlights included the cooperation between Ulster Rugby and URSC on discounted tickets to members for the Barbarians v Fiji match in November which resulted in a match shirt signed by the entire Barbarians squad being donated to URSC. This shirt, subsequently mounted and framed was offered by the club to be won by one URSC member with the draw taking place at the AGM later that evening. Mention was also made of the club being able to acquire 200 excellent tickets across the Autumn and 6 Nations home Internationals – a real tangible benefit of URSC membership, and that 3 issues of Stand Up magazine had been distributed to members through the year. On the down side, Jonathan highlighted the quite shameful way that Ruan Pienaar had been treated by the IRFU and in particular by the apparently “busy” David Nucifora - in stark contrast to Ruan’s own disappointed, but dignified reaction. Jonathan went on to add that this Supporters Club rejects the reasons for IRFU’s decision and notes with both concern and some anger the IRFU’s preferential treatment of Isa Nacewa. Additionally the IRFU’s agreement to enable Jaco Taute to firstly replace, and then join, Frances Saili in the same Munster team compares somewhat unfavourably with their unwillingness to provide any temporary cover for Marcell Coetzee. Allowing Anton Perskevili to be a tackle bag for a month at Ulster earns the IRFU no kudos in this province. Sadly too, Jonathan noted with sadness the untimely deaths of two stalwart supporters during the past season. Ruth Cave , mother of Darren, a paid up member and supporter of our Club for many years; and the players’ favourite super fan, the inspirational Jamie Donaldson . In concluding, Jonathan thanked his fellow committee members for their work with particular mention to Mark Hunter and Iain Campbell who are stepping down and then went appealed to members to consider putting themselves forward as committee members or simply volunteering as helpers in any of a variety of capacities. Questions to the Committee followed and these included a request to record in the minutes this meeting’s displeasure of the IRFU’s decisions which resulted in an uneven playing field for Ulster rugby. Despite Jonathan having already highlighting this in his Chairman’s report, the strength of feeling of the meeting was apparent, and duly noted and minuted.

One member (Chris- Simmons, himself a fantastically experienced and passionate away traveller) also asked about improved access to travel and accommodation information for away travellers, and offered his assistance in this matter. In response, Stew McDowall informed the members about a new initiative attempting to set up a “Pro 12 Forum” with contributions by supporters of all clubs for the benefit of other fans in the League. It is URSC’s intention to engage fully with this initiative and Stew welcomed Chris’s offer to add his experience and help further with this. A suggestion was received that URSC might facilitate away travellers with flags for away fixtures as these were in high demand by opposition supporters. It was pointed out that URSC has previously worked with UR to meet such requests, but that we would look to see if this could be improved in the future. One member noted that the costs of tickets for the Barbarians matches seemed unduly high. In response Jonathan noted that ticket prices were outside the remit of URSC but that the feedback would be passed on to Ulster Rugby. Elections to the Committee followed, and there being room on the committee, and nominations having been duly submitted, Jonathan Bill, Niki Wild and Lynn Wilson were reappointed without the need for a vote. (Ken Arthur, Yvonne Bell, Stephen Johnston, Stewart McDowall and Colin wild remain on Committee for one more year). Under Any Other Business , it was gratifying to the committee to receive a vote of thanks from the members for their hard work. Jonathan then concluded the formal part of the meeting by repeating his appeal for help from members. With the formal business meeting concluded, Les Kiss then came forward and drew the winners of the Framed Barbarians Shirt competition and the Player of the Season members’ prize watch draw, before addressing the members on the season past, coaching and playing squad plans for the new season and then answering questions.

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