Ulster Rugby vs Leinster

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

IRFU ULSTER BRANCH OFFICERS Bobby Stewart // President John McKibbin // Senior Vice President Graffin Parke // Junior Vice President John McKibbin // Honorary Secretary Michael Boyd // Honorary Treasurer Denis Gardiner // 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

It gives me great pleasure to welcome everyone here to Kingspan Stadium for this afternoon’s round 21 game in the Guinness PRO12 league against Leinster.

I especially welcome the President of the Leinster Branch of the IRFU, Robert McDermott, together with his officers and the many Leinster supporters who have made the journey to Belfast to support their team this afternoon. You are all very welcome and I hope that you enjoy your time here. Leinster are Ulster’s oldest rivals and were the first side to play against Ulster at Ravenhill when the Provincial side moved here in the 1923/24 season and they were the opposition when the new Kingspan Stadium was officially opened in May 2014. Entering into the last two league games of the regular season, Leinster come to Kingspan Stadium this afternoon as league leaders, with Ulster occupying fourth place. To be sure of retaining their position in fourth, Ulster must secure a win. This will not be easy, as Leinster have so much talent in their side. But I am asking you, our loyal fans, to be the 16th man and make lots of noise and cheer the home team on to victory. Our biggest rivals, Scarlets, are away to Newport Gwent Dragons and Munster play Edinburgh in Cork this weekend. So it makes for an entertaining weekend of rugby. However, regardless of what other teams do, I am sure that Les (Kiss) will have Ulster at the top of their game. On the youth rugby scene, it has been a hectic few weeks with Cup, Plate and Bowl finals all taking place and I congratulate all of the respective winners.

I must pay tribute to Bangor Rugby Football Club who has had an outstanding season. Last Saturday they beat Clonmel from Munster to gain promotion to Division 2C of the Ulster Bank All Ireland League. Their list of successes includes The Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup, The Powerade Towns Cup, the Ulster Qualifying League Division 1 and the Conference League title. My year as President of the IRFU (Ulster Branch) will come to an end in a few weeks’ time and I would like to thank you, the loyal fans, for your fantastic support, both at home here in Kingspan Stadium and at away games. I had the pleasure of meeting some of you in Oyonnax, Treviso, Toulouse and recently in Parma for the Zebre game, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I have had a fantastic year and have been fortunate to travel across the Province visiting clubs and schools and watching this great game being played by all ages, sexes, creeds and abilities. I would like to wish my successor, Mr John McKibbin, every success in his year as President when he takes up the office this summer. Please give Leinster a great Ulster welcome this afternoon. Good Luck to Ulster and remember “STAND UP FOR THE ULSTERMEN”

Kingspan Stadium, 85 Ravenhill Park, Belfast, BT6 0DG T // +44 (0)28 9049 3222 ulsterrugby.com

Bobby Stewart // President IRFU (Ulster Branch)

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