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ULSTER<br />
Official <strong>Match</strong> <strong>Day</strong> <strong>Programme</strong><br />
v MUNSTER<br />
Sat 2 Jan 2021, 5.15pm<br />
Kingspan Stadium
8<br />
Issue<br />
In this<br />
Welcome and a Happy New Year to you and yours,<br />
as tonight <strong>Ulster</strong> continue their Guinness PRO14 campaign.<br />
This Christmas has been a challenging time for all but hopefully<br />
the <strong>Ulster</strong>men being back on their home turf in Kingspan Stadium<br />
certainly helps bring a sense of some normality as we enter 2021.<br />
The roars of thousands will be sorely missed, but we know that so many <strong>Ulster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
supporters will be watching from home and showing their support.<br />
On behalf of Kingspan, I would like to express my gratitude to the frontline workers who<br />
have been vital in fighting the pandemic. The extraordinary efforts and heroism that has<br />
been shown in recent months and especially over a tough Christmas period gives us in<br />
Kingspan and <strong>Ulster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> the confidence that we can stand up together<br />
and build back better following the pandemic.<br />
Tonight, <strong>Ulster</strong> will look to kick the New Year off and hope to maintain their winning ways<br />
following a win over Connacht last weekend. They will face a very tough task, as they clash<br />
with <strong>Munster</strong>. Despite the absence of travelling fans this evening, on behalf of the entire<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> and Kingspan community, we would like to extend<br />
the warmest of welcomes to our visitors.<br />
Finally, I would like to wish the <strong>Ulster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> squad and management team the very best<br />
of luck. To <strong>Ulster</strong>’s committed fans, take care, stay safe and enjoy the game.<br />
32<br />
26<br />
34<br />
President’s Welcome 5<br />
Why It Matters: Eimear Considine 7<br />
Player Interview: James Hume 8<br />
Virtual Mascot 11<br />
Senior Squad 14<br />
Teams 20<br />
Behind the Player: Chloe McIlwaine 26<br />
<strong>Munster</strong>: Ones To Watch 30<br />
Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup 32<br />
Last Time Out 34<br />
Player Interview: Bradley Roberts 36<br />
Getting to Know: Aishling O’Connell 40<br />
Player Q&A: David Shanahan 45<br />
36<br />
3
President’s<br />
Welcome<br />
Welcome to Round 10 of the 2020-21<br />
Guinness PRO14 campaign. I hope you<br />
all had a great Christmas!<br />
I would like to extend a very warm welcome to<br />
our guests, <strong>Munster</strong>, this evening. Festive Inter-<br />
Pros always provide some extra excitement<br />
and today’s fixture will be no exception as<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> and <strong>Munster</strong> both seek to consolidate<br />
their positions at the top of their respective<br />
Conferences in the Guinness PRO14.<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> come into this game off the back<br />
of a resolute victory over Connacht at the<br />
Sportsground last Sunday evening, and will<br />
want to make it two from two in the Inter-<br />
Pros. <strong>Munster</strong>’s derby game against Leinster<br />
was unfortunately postponed, so they will be<br />
coming into this game eager to come away<br />
with a win.<br />
Although this game is being played behindclosed-doors,<br />
I know that the team will<br />
provide their own atmosphere at Kingspan<br />
Stadium, and your support will be keenly<br />
felt from home. We continue to work closely<br />
with the IRFU, Belfast City Council and the<br />
Northern Ireland Executive to bring back<br />
supporters to Kingspan Stadium when<br />
government restrictions allow.<br />
I would like to congratulate sub-Academy<br />
(PTS1) player, Ben Moxham, on making<br />
his senior debut for <strong>Ulster</strong>, coming on as a<br />
replacement against Connacht on Sunday.<br />
It’s hugely encouraging to see young talent<br />
comfortably making their step up to senior<br />
rugby. This is testament to the work that<br />
not only Ben has put into his development,<br />
but also the work of Kieran Campbell and<br />
his Academy staff, as well as the player<br />
integration that has been facilitated by Dan<br />
McFarland and his senior coaches.<br />
The <strong>Ulster</strong> Academy has enjoyed success<br />
over the last few months in both the IRFU<br />
Sevens tournament and also Inter-Pro ‘A’<br />
friendlies, having gone unbeaten against<br />
Leinster, <strong>Munster</strong> and Connacht. Several<br />
players will be putting their hands up<br />
for selection in the upcoming U20s Six<br />
Nations Championship.<br />
On the domestic rugby front, we continue to<br />
liaise, in partnership with the IRFU, with the<br />
Northern Ireland Executive about a return<br />
to rugby activity in Northern Ireland, while<br />
clubs in the Republic of Ireland continue<br />
with limited non-contact activity under<br />
Level 5 restrictions.<br />
As we continue our fight against COVID-19, I<br />
would like to thank you for continuing to help<br />
protect our community by Standing Up For<br />
The <strong>Ulster</strong> Men at home.<br />
Happy New Year to you all!<br />
SUFTUM<br />
Gary Leslie<br />
President, IRFU <strong>Ulster</strong> Branch<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong><strong>Rugby</strong>.com<br />
5
7
James Hume<br />
Centre<br />
07/09/1998<br />
188cm<br />
98kg<br />
28<br />
The 22-year-old centre has been pushing<br />
hard to stake his claim for the 13 jersey in<br />
the last few months, already racking up<br />
seven starts this season for the <strong>Ulster</strong> men,<br />
including last weekend’s victory in Galway.<br />
How have you found becoming a regular<br />
starter for <strong>Ulster</strong>?<br />
That was obviously the goal for me at the<br />
start of the season; I wanted to start at 13<br />
and take that jersey. I’m on a strong road<br />
to getting there; hopefully I’ll stay injuryfree<br />
and keep working on my defence with<br />
JP (Jared Payne) and attack with Peely<br />
(Dwayne Peel). I feel since I’ve started a<br />
few games and got comfortable when<br />
we’re winning – I’m not in any position<br />
to take that for granted – I just want to<br />
get better and be the best I can. That’s<br />
something I’m really driving at the<br />
minute.<br />
You have forged a partnership with<br />
Stewart Moore in recent games – has<br />
it helped having a regular partner in<br />
the centre?<br />
Both Stu’s are class; they’re different<br />
players. Stewart Moore brings that<br />
kicking aspect to his game – almost<br />
a second 10 – we get on really well<br />
and always have. It’s the same with<br />
Stuart McCloskey, I get on with him<br />
too. It’s nice to get a bit of synergy<br />
in midfield; there’s been a seamless<br />
change between both of them. It’s<br />
comfortable and reassuring to know<br />
there are two options there that are<br />
equally as good.<br />
You have been coached by <strong>Ulster</strong>’s Skills<br />
Coach, Dan Soper at school and club level.<br />
Can you tell us about the impact has had<br />
since joining <strong>Ulster</strong>?<br />
He’s class. You can see from Nick Timoney’s<br />
try at the weekend against Connacht that<br />
Alan O’Connor gave a nice inside tip and<br />
Greg (Jones) gets a good offload away.<br />
That’s something that we’ve brought into<br />
our game in the last couple of seasons<br />
since ‘Sopes stepped in. Our gym sessions<br />
aren’t just weights anymore; there are skills<br />
involved and everyone is keen to do extra<br />
work after sessions. He has really driven the<br />
skill aspect of the game.<br />
You could potentially be up against<br />
Chris Farrell and Damian de Allende<br />
in midfield for <strong>Munster</strong> – do you relish<br />
these opportunities?<br />
If I want to drive to be the best in my position,<br />
I have to challenge myself against Ireland<br />
internationals and World Cup winners. I’m<br />
not going to back down from that; that’s<br />
the sort of challenge I thrive on. Whatever<br />
combination <strong>Munster</strong> pick, I’ll put my best<br />
foot forward.<br />
It was a very resolute performance last Sunday<br />
against Connacht at The Sportsground –<br />
what did you make of that win?<br />
There was a big focus coming into last week<br />
about not winning an away Inter-Pro since<br />
2015. That was in the back of our minds<br />
and we looked at the collision battle; that’s<br />
something Connacht pride themselves<br />
on and we wanted to take that away from<br />
them. We thought we did that quite well.<br />
Coming off the back of two very narrow<br />
European losses, it was a tough place to be,<br />
but it was an unbelievable feeling to get that<br />
win at The Sportsground.<br />
It’s shaping up to be a super contest with<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> at Kingspan Stadium…<br />
It’ll be brilliant to play back home this<br />
weekend. <strong>Munster</strong> are a great side with a lot<br />
of depth as well. I’m really looking forward<br />
to it. It will be another big challenge because<br />
they’re unbeaten in the Guinness PRO14 as<br />
well as us. They’ll not want to come up here<br />
to back down. We’re excited about it.<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong><strong>Rugby</strong>.com<br />
9
Virtual<br />
Mascot<br />
Name: Harvey Wauchope<br />
Age: 4<br />
From: Gortin, Tyrone<br />
Harvey enjoys the outdoors. Whether<br />
it’s playing rugby or helping in the<br />
garden, he loves getting muddy!<br />
Harvey’s favourite player is<br />
Stuart McCloskey.<br />
He also misses seeing Sparky<br />
pitch-side on TV!<br />
11
TOGETHER<br />
ULSTER<br />
SEASON MEMBERSHIP<br />
Benefits<br />
Membership pack<br />
with gift<br />
Exclusive booking period<br />
for all home fixtures<br />
First access to premium<br />
digital content<br />
Exclusive partner<br />
offers & discounts<br />
Plus more<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong><strong>Rugby</strong>.com/Together<strong>Ulster</strong><br />
13
Senior<br />
Squad<br />
Angus<br />
Curtis<br />
Fly Half / Centre<br />
26/03/1998<br />
178cm<br />
92kg<br />
13<br />
Matt<br />
Faddes<br />
Centre/Wing<br />
06/11/1991<br />
185cm<br />
94kg<br />
22<br />
Craig<br />
Gilroy<br />
Wing<br />
11/03/1991<br />
183cm<br />
92kg<br />
190<br />
10<br />
Iain<br />
Henderson<br />
Lock<br />
21/02/1992<br />
198cm<br />
117kg<br />
116<br />
58<br />
Coaching<br />
Staff<br />
Head Coach:<br />
Dan McFarland<br />
Assistant Coach:<br />
Dwayne Peel<br />
Defence Coach:<br />
Jared Payne<br />
Forwards’ Coach:<br />
Roddy Grant<br />
Skills Coach:<br />
Dan Soper<br />
Will<br />
Addison<br />
Utility Back<br />
20/08/1992<br />
185cm<br />
93kg<br />
19<br />
4<br />
John<br />
Andrew<br />
Hooker<br />
26/05/1993<br />
180cm<br />
104kg<br />
77<br />
Robert<br />
Baloucoune<br />
Wing<br />
19/08/1997<br />
193cm<br />
90kg<br />
21<br />
Rob<br />
Herring<br />
Hooker<br />
27/04/1990<br />
199cm<br />
107kg<br />
188<br />
16<br />
James<br />
Hume<br />
Centre<br />
07/09/1998<br />
188cm<br />
98kg<br />
28<br />
Bill<br />
Johnston<br />
Fly Half<br />
07/02/1997<br />
180cm<br />
87kg<br />
18<br />
Greg<br />
Jones<br />
Back Row<br />
13/01/1996<br />
196cm<br />
105kg<br />
20<br />
Billy<br />
Burns<br />
Fly Half<br />
13/06/1994<br />
185cm<br />
86kg<br />
42<br />
3<br />
Sam<br />
Carter<br />
Lock<br />
10/09/1989<br />
201cm<br />
116kg<br />
19<br />
AUS 16<br />
Marcell<br />
Coetzee<br />
Back Row<br />
08/05/1991<br />
193cm<br />
114kg<br />
53<br />
SA 30<br />
John<br />
Cooney<br />
Scrum Half<br />
01/05/1990<br />
178cm<br />
87kg<br />
74<br />
11<br />
Ross<br />
Kane<br />
Prop<br />
14/10/1996<br />
180cm<br />
118kg<br />
49<br />
Michael<br />
Lowry<br />
Full Back<br />
20/08/1998<br />
170cm<br />
75kg<br />
34<br />
Louis<br />
Ludik<br />
Full Back<br />
08/10/1986<br />
183cm<br />
90kg<br />
112<br />
Rob<br />
Lyttle<br />
Wing<br />
28/01/1997<br />
175cm<br />
85kg<br />
39<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong><strong>Rugby</strong>.com<br />
15
Centre<br />
06/08/1992<br />
193cm<br />
11kg<br />
128<br />
4<br />
Stuart<br />
McCloskey<br />
Prop<br />
11/10/1989<br />
185cm<br />
118kg<br />
17<br />
56<br />
Jack<br />
McGrath<br />
Prop<br />
15/12/1992<br />
191cm<br />
132kg<br />
5<br />
Gareth<br />
Milasinovich<br />
Prop<br />
01/03/1991<br />
178cm<br />
121kg<br />
47<br />
10<br />
Marty<br />
Moore<br />
Centre<br />
08/08/1999<br />
1831cm<br />
91kg<br />
11<br />
Stewart<br />
Moore<br />
Back Row<br />
22/04/1991<br />
188cm<br />
105kg<br />
39<br />
30<br />
Jordi<br />
Murphy<br />
Centre<br />
03/03/1991<br />
180cm<br />
97kg<br />
144<br />
11<br />
Luke<br />
Marshall<br />
Scrum Half<br />
13/12/1985<br />
173cm<br />
93kg<br />
9<br />
NZ 4<br />
Alby<br />
Mathewson<br />
Hooker<br />
05/09/1996<br />
183cm<br />
102kg<br />
32<br />
Adam<br />
McBurney<br />
Prop<br />
02/01/1992<br />
175cm<br />
111kg<br />
65<br />
Kyle<br />
McCall<br />
Fly Half<br />
21/03/1989<br />
180cm<br />
87kg<br />
13<br />
30<br />
Ian<br />
Madigan<br />
Lock<br />
10/09/1992<br />
196cm<br />
114kg<br />
120<br />
Alan<br />
O’Connor<br />
Lock / Back Row<br />
19/05/1995<br />
193cm<br />
110kg<br />
14<br />
David<br />
O’Connor<br />
Prop<br />
23/09/1998<br />
185cm<br />
120kg<br />
49<br />
Tom<br />
O’Toole<br />
Back Row<br />
08/09/1997<br />
188cm<br />
105kg<br />
3<br />
Marcus<br />
Rea<br />
Hooker<br />
04/01/1996<br />
175cm<br />
108Kg<br />
2<br />
Bradley<br />
Roberts<br />
Scrum Half<br />
20/06/1993<br />
175cm<br />
78kg<br />
64<br />
David<br />
Shanahan<br />
Wing / Full Back<br />
03/04/1996<br />
191cm<br />
103kg<br />
72<br />
33<br />
Jacob<br />
Stockdale<br />
Back Row<br />
01/08/1995<br />
188cm<br />
111kg<br />
68<br />
Nick<br />
Timoney<br />
Lock<br />
06/11/1995<br />
198cm<br />
118kg<br />
97<br />
3<br />
Kieran<br />
Treadwell<br />
Prop<br />
12/03/1991<br />
178cm<br />
113kg<br />
127<br />
Andrew<br />
Warwick<br />
Prop<br />
30/11/1995<br />
185cm<br />
115kg<br />
54<br />
1<br />
Eric<br />
O’Sullivan<br />
Back Row<br />
21/09/1993<br />
193cm<br />
112kg<br />
55<br />
Matthew<br />
Rea<br />
Back Row<br />
10/05/1989<br />
183cm<br />
103kg<br />
135<br />
2<br />
Sean<br />
Reidy<br />
17<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong><strong>Rugby</strong>.com
19
1 O’Sullivan 2 Herring 3 Moore<br />
1 O’Connor 2 Scannell 3 Ryan<br />
C<br />
C<br />
4 Treadwell<br />
5 Carter<br />
4 Wycherley 5 Holland<br />
6 Rea<br />
8 Timoney<br />
7 McCann<br />
6 O’Donoghue<br />
8 O’Sullivan<br />
7 Cloete<br />
9 Cooney<br />
9 Casey<br />
11 McIlroy<br />
10 Burns<br />
11 Coombes<br />
10 Healy<br />
REPLACEMENTS<br />
16 A McBurney<br />
17 C Reid<br />
18 T O’Toole<br />
12 McCloskey<br />
13 Hume<br />
REPLACEMENTS<br />
16 R Marshall<br />
17 D Kilcoyne<br />
18 R Salanoa<br />
12 Scannell<br />
13 Goggin<br />
19 D O’Connor<br />
19 T Ahern<br />
20 M Coetzee<br />
21 N Doak<br />
15 Stockdale<br />
14 Faddes<br />
20 T O’Donnell<br />
21 N McCarthy<br />
15 Daly<br />
14 Nash<br />
22 I Madigan<br />
23 B Moxham<br />
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)<br />
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace, Rob O’Sullivan (both IRFU)<br />
TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU)<br />
22 J Crowley<br />
23 D Sweetnam<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong><strong>Rugby</strong>.com<br />
21
Next Home Game:<br />
SAT 16 JAN<br />
1.00PM<br />
KINGSPAN STADIUM<br />
23
25
Behind the Player<br />
Chloe McIlwaine<br />
In our series, Behind the Player in<br />
association with Deloitte, <strong>Ulster</strong> Women’s<br />
players give us an insight into how they<br />
got involved in the game and their journey<br />
to representing the province.<br />
This week, we feature Malone and <strong>Ulster</strong><br />
<strong>Rugby</strong> second row, Chloe McIlwaine.<br />
Tell us a little about your rugby pathway<br />
to date.<br />
I’m probably quite a newbie to the game<br />
having just played three seasons. I played<br />
hockey all through secondary school and for<br />
Queen’s University. I went to do my Masters’<br />
at Loughborough University and I decided<br />
that I would focus less on sport and make<br />
sure I would graduate. I took a back seat<br />
from hockey but I wanted to try something<br />
else. There was a ‘Give It a Try’ event so I<br />
Lock<br />
03/05/1995<br />
went along where I got picked up by the 1st<br />
XV coach there. Within a couple of weeks, I<br />
was starting at centre for Loughborough 1sts.<br />
After that, I came back home and played for<br />
Ballynahinch. Last season, I moved to Malone<br />
to play in the All-Ireland League. I’ve been in<br />
the <strong>Ulster</strong> setup for two years now as well.<br />
Who have been your main influences in<br />
your rugby career?<br />
I’ll have to give a shout-out to my dad and<br />
twin brother. My dad has played rugby all<br />
his life and my brother had two shoulder<br />
dislocations so he’s retired but they were a<br />
massive influence on me. That’s what helped<br />
me from watching them play for almost my<br />
whole life. I understood the game of rugby<br />
and that’s probably what allowed me to<br />
achieve so much in a short space of time.<br />
My older cousin, David McIlwaine played for<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> professionally so he was an influence<br />
as well and steered me onto the correct<br />
pathway of elite sport.<br />
Moving here after playing in England, there’s<br />
a big difference for women’s rugby and we<br />
aren’t quite able to match them yet at the<br />
professional level, but the support we get in<br />
clubs and provincial teams, hopefully that<br />
will only take another couple of seasons<br />
before we get there.<br />
What have been your proudest moments<br />
in rugby?<br />
My first game for Loughborough University<br />
was pretty special because we were playing at<br />
Newcastle Falcons stadium. I was speechless!<br />
Representing <strong>Ulster</strong> when we played against<br />
Connacht in August at The Dub was another<br />
proud moment. That was my third game as<br />
a forward – Suff converted me for my sins!<br />
I was calling the lineouts and my family<br />
was there to watch. I knew how proud my<br />
parents were so that was a nice feeling.<br />
What are your rugby aspirations?<br />
As I mentioned, I was recently converted to<br />
a forward this season. I was playing second<br />
row for both <strong>Ulster</strong> and Malone, so my goal<br />
would be to establish myself in the back row<br />
with Malone. Some of the girls and I work<br />
really well together. My long-term goal is to<br />
get back into the <strong>Ulster</strong> jersey.<br />
WATCH: <strong>Ulster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> TV<br />
What barriers have you had to overcome<br />
to reach this point?<br />
I’ve been quite lucky; there haven’t been<br />
many barriers for me. At Loughborough,<br />
the facilities are world-class. We trained and<br />
played on 4G pitches and in professional<br />
rugby stadiums. My first rugby coach was<br />
Sarah Hunter who is the England <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
captain. That was phenomenal. Coming to<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong>, the setup with Suff (Derek Suffern,<br />
Performance Coach), Diesel (Paul Heasley,<br />
Strength & Conditioning Coach), and<br />
Pops (Neill Alcorn, Head Coach) and our<br />
other coaches there are second-to-none.<br />
At Malone, you can see the support we get<br />
for women’s sport which is fantastic.<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong><strong>Rugby</strong>.com<br />
27
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29
Ones to Watch<br />
NAME<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> have won all of their games so far this season – seven games in<br />
the Guinness PRO14 and their two recent matches in the Champions Cup.<br />
Last weekend’s Guinness PRO14 clash with Leinster which was due to be held<br />
at Thomond Park on Boxing <strong>Day</strong> was postponed.<br />
Niall Scannell<br />
The 28 year old Hooker from<br />
Cork, joined <strong>Munster</strong> in 2013.<br />
Joined by his brother Rory<br />
in the starting line-up, the<br />
Scannells become the first<br />
set of brothers to start for<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> in the PRO12 in<br />
December 2015.<br />
Niall has represented Ireland<br />
20 times.<br />
Last 3 Meetings<br />
Jack O’Donoghue<br />
The 6’3’ back-row has played<br />
127 times for <strong>Munster</strong> since<br />
his debut against Zebre in<br />
2014.<br />
Following a spell of injury in<br />
2018, O’Donoghue made 18<br />
appearances in the 2019/20<br />
season and does not shy<br />
away from contact.<br />
3 Jan<br />
2020<br />
9 Nov<br />
2019<br />
Liam Coombes<br />
The 23 year old winger/<br />
full-back from Cork, scored<br />
a try on his debut away to<br />
the Toyota Cheetahs in 2018.<br />
Then promoted to the senior<br />
squad ahead of this season.<br />
With plenty of pace,<br />
Coombes is a threat out<br />
wide, as he showed against<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> in their A game<br />
last month.<br />
21 Dec<br />
2018<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> 38 16 19<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> 17 22 12<br />
POSITION DOB HEIGHT WEIGHT<br />
Stephen Archer Prop 29/01/1988 188cm 120kg<br />
Diarmuid Barron Hooker 06/08/1999 183cm 98kg<br />
Tadhg Beirne Lock/Back Row 08/01/1992 198cm 113kg<br />
Chris Cloete Flanker 15/02/1991 176cm 98kg<br />
Gavin Coombes Back Row 11/12/1997 198cm 110kg<br />
James Cronin Prop 23/11/1990 180cm 113kg<br />
Billy Holland Lock/Back Row 03/08/1985 191cm 111kg<br />
Dave Kilcoyne Prop 14/12/1988 183cm 112kg<br />
Jean Kleyn Lock 26/08/1993 203cm 125kg<br />
Keynan Knox Prop 06/04/1999 185cm 115kg<br />
Jeremy Loughman Prop 22/07/1995 185cm 120kg<br />
Rhys Marshall Hooker 12/10/1992 184cm 108kg<br />
Kevin O'Byrne Hooker 16/04/1991 180cm 107kg<br />
Liam O'Connor Prop 13/07/1995 178cm 110kg<br />
Tommy O'Donnell Back Row 21/05/1987 185cm 107kg<br />
Jack O'Donoghue Back Row 08/02/1994 191cm 107kg<br />
Peter O'Mahony Back Row 17/09/1989 191cm 106kg<br />
Jack O'Sullivan Back Row 01/10/1998 188cm 100kg<br />
John Ryan Prop 02/08/1988 183cm 117kg<br />
Roman Salanoa Prop 28/10/1997 183cm 123kg<br />
Niall Scannell Hooker 08/04/1992 185cm 109kg<br />
RG Snyman Lock 29/01/1995 206cm 116kg<br />
CJ Stander Back Row 05/04/1990 185cm 114kg<br />
Fineen Wycherley Lock 11/12/1997 193cm 112kg<br />
Joey Carbery Fly-half 01/11/1995 183cm 85kg<br />
Craig Casey Scrum-half 19/04/1999 165cm 75kg<br />
Andrew Conway Full-back / Wing 11/07/1991 180cm 89kg<br />
Liam Coombes Full-back / Wing 01/05/1997 191cm 89kg<br />
Neil Cronin Scrum-half 08/12/1992 173cm 83kg<br />
Shane Daly Wing / Centre 19/12/1996 191cm 91kg<br />
Damian De Allende Centre 25/11/1991 191cm 105kg<br />
Keith Earls Utility Back 02/10/1987 178cm 90kg<br />
Chris Farrell Centre 16/03/1993 193cm 110kg<br />
Matt Gallagher Full-back 26/10/1996 185cm 95kg<br />
Dan Goggin Centre 10/12/1994 185cm 100kg<br />
Mike Haley Full-back 28/06/1994 191cm 93kg<br />
JJ Hanrahan Fly-half / Centre 27/07/1992 183cm 93kg<br />
Nick McCarthy Scrum-half 25/03/1995 180cm 84kg<br />
Alex McHenry Centre 07/10/1997 188cm 95kg<br />
Connor Murray Scrum-half 20/04/1989 188cm 94kg<br />
Calvin Nash Wing 08/08/1997 178cm 90kg<br />
Rory Scannell Centre 22/12/1993 180cm 98kg<br />
Darren Sweetnam Wing 05/05/1993 185cm 95kg<br />
31
Guinness PRO14 Campaign to Conclude<br />
in March Ahead of New “Rainbow Cup”<br />
The current Guinness PRO14 campaign will<br />
end in March allowing South Africa’s four<br />
‘Super’ teams and existing clubs to finish<br />
the season with a 16-team “Rainbow Cup”<br />
competition ahead of the British & Irish<br />
Lions tour.<br />
After consulting with key PRO14 stakeholders,<br />
the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup was chosen<br />
as the best pathway to finish up the current<br />
campaign and introduce South Africa’s four<br />
‘Super’ teams: the Vodacom Bulls; Emirates<br />
Lions; Cell C Sharks and DHL Stormers. This<br />
decision also allows our European-based<br />
sides to earn qualification for European<br />
Professional Club <strong>Rugby</strong> (EPCR) tournaments<br />
in 2021/22 in a fair and equitable manner.<br />
Ahead of the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to<br />
South Africa, the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow<br />
Cup will provide a ground-breaking spectacle<br />
for fans who will see international star players<br />
from north and south establish new rivalries in<br />
their bid for the ultimate Test selection.<br />
Right through until the last kick of the ball in<br />
the Rainbow Cup in June, fans will be able to<br />
watch it all unfold with our broadcast partners<br />
Premier Sports, eir Sport, S4C, TG4, DAZN<br />
and Super Sport.<br />
How it will work<br />
The 2020/21 Guinness PRO14 campaign will<br />
finish after 16 rounds with the Conference<br />
winners facing each other in a final in late March.<br />
Qualification for EPCR tournaments in 2021/22<br />
will be decided by rankings after Round 16<br />
On April 17, 2021, the Guinness PRO14<br />
Rainbow Cup will kick-off and introduce the<br />
Vodacom Bulls, Emirates Lions, Cell C Sharks<br />
and DHL Stormers and their World Cupwinning<br />
Springboks<br />
The Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup will consist<br />
of a pool stage (two pools of eight teams)<br />
and a final between the two pool winners<br />
The scheduled dates for the conclusion of the<br />
2020-21 Guinness PRO14 campaign are:<br />
R12: February 20<br />
R13: February 27<br />
R14: March 6<br />
R15: March 13<br />
R16: March 20<br />
Final: March 27<br />
Once Round 16 has been completed, the<br />
top-ranked teams from each conference<br />
will qualify for the 2021/22 Heineken<br />
Champions Cup. The requirement for playoffs<br />
is under review.<br />
Guinness PRO14 “Rainbow Cup” – Forging<br />
new rivalries<br />
With South Africa preparing to host their<br />
first British & Irish Lions tour since 2009, the<br />
World Cup champions will see their ‘Super’<br />
teams – the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers<br />
take on the very best that Ireland, Italy,<br />
Scotland and Wales have to offer.<br />
Players aiming to make the British & Irish Lions<br />
squad will find no better trial environment to<br />
test themselves in, as they go up against the<br />
likes of Siya Kolisi, Pieter Steph du Toit (both<br />
DHL Stormers), Duane Vermeulen (Vodacom<br />
Bulls), Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions) and<br />
former Guinness PRO14 top-try scorer<br />
Makazole Mapimipi (Cell C Sharks).<br />
The Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup will kick<br />
off on April 17 with two pools of 8 teams<br />
made up of two Irish, two South African,<br />
two Welsh, one Italian and one Scottish club.<br />
Each team will play one game against each<br />
pool opponent and the sides that finish top<br />
of their pools will face off in a final on June 19.<br />
Across 57 matches, the Guinness PRO14<br />
Rainbow Cup will feature the best of the<br />
Springbok talent going toe-to-toe with<br />
some of the British & Irish Lions’ biggest<br />
names – every one of them keen to lay down<br />
a marker to their respective selectors ahead<br />
of what will prove to be a historic tour.<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong><strong>Rugby</strong>.com<br />
33
Guinness PRO14 Round 9<br />
Sun 27 Dec<br />
Last Time Out<br />
19 - 32<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> left The Sportsground with an<br />
impressive victory over Connacht on<br />
Sunday evening, after an Ian Madigan<br />
kicking masterclass and tries from Playerof-the-<strong>Match</strong>,<br />
Jordi Murphy and Nick<br />
Timoney strengthened <strong>Ulster</strong>’s position at<br />
the top of Conference A.<br />
It only took until the second minute of the<br />
game for <strong>Ulster</strong> to open the scoring after<br />
Connacht were penalised for not rolling<br />
away. Ian Madigan made no mistake with the<br />
long-range penalty effort.<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> doubled their lead through another Ian<br />
Madigan penalty, after great work over the<br />
ball by Jordi Murphy.<br />
The hosts started to apply pressure on <strong>Ulster</strong>,<br />
forcing a number of scrum penalties five<br />
metres out, and Kyle McCall was sent to the<br />
sin bin to add to <strong>Ulster</strong>’s woes. Connacht’s<br />
efforts paid dividends when Jack Carty<br />
dived over to score in the right-hand corner.<br />
He converted his own try and took the lead<br />
for the Galway side.<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> responded immediately, however, with<br />
Ian Madigan adding three to his tally and retaking<br />
the lead.<br />
That lead wasn’t long-lived, as Connacht<br />
capitalised on having the extra man on<br />
the field, going wide to winger John Porch<br />
who went over in the corner. Carty added<br />
the conversion.<br />
In the second half, with the Galway winds<br />
starting to pick up, <strong>Ulster</strong> were first to strike.<br />
The visitors got a penalty after Connacht<br />
were pinged for collapsing the maul. Ian<br />
Madigan kicked for the lineout option. Alby<br />
Mathewson went on a sniping run off the<br />
back of the <strong>Ulster</strong> maul but was brought<br />
down just short. Jordi Murphy obliged in<br />
picking up and powering over for the <strong>Ulster</strong><br />
men. Ian Madigan made no mistake with<br />
the conversion.<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> were in the ascendency, and Nick<br />
Timoney was next to get his name on the<br />
scoresheet, collecting a lovely inside ball<br />
from Greg Jones. Timoney bounced off a<br />
couple of tackles to make his way over the<br />
chalk. Madigan landed the extras.<br />
Connacht pulled one back through centre,<br />
Tom Daly bursting through the <strong>Ulster</strong> line.<br />
Carty pulled the conversion attempt wide to<br />
leave the score unconverted.<br />
However, Ian Madigan put <strong>Ulster</strong> out of sight<br />
with three excellent unanswered penalties in<br />
the swirling wind to give <strong>Ulster</strong> their ninth<br />
successive victory in the Guinness PRO14.<br />
Full-time score: Connacht 19 <strong>Ulster</strong> 32<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong><strong>Rugby</strong>.com 35
Bradley Roberts<br />
Hooker<br />
04/01/1996<br />
175cm<br />
108Kg<br />
2<br />
We caught up with the South African born<br />
Rainey Old Boys RFC hooker, who has<br />
recently joined the <strong>Ulster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> squad as<br />
injury cover and featured in the wins over<br />
Edinburgh and Connacht.<br />
Brad, welcome to <strong>Ulster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong>! You’re<br />
from Durban, South Africa originally. Can<br />
you tell us a little about your background<br />
and what led you to <strong>Ulster</strong>?<br />
Yes, I was born and raised in Durban and<br />
went to school there. I moved to Wales<br />
when I finished school to play rugby<br />
before going home for a couple of<br />
years, then I moved here in 2017.<br />
I wanted to pursue rugby as a<br />
career; I wasn’t really doing<br />
much in South Africa and just<br />
went through the motions<br />
at university. I wanted to<br />
give rugby another crack<br />
and when the opportunity<br />
came up to play for Rainey<br />
Old Boys in Magherafelt,<br />
I thought, “why not?”. I<br />
wanted to take rugby<br />
seriously and thought<br />
it would be a foot in the<br />
door.<br />
They were looking for a<br />
hooker at Rainey and Benjy<br />
van der Byl at Coleraine<br />
<strong>Rugby</strong> Club knows a couple<br />
of agents - one of those<br />
helped to place me in Wales<br />
- they got hold of me to ask if<br />
I was interested in going. It was<br />
just by chance really; I wasn’t<br />
looking for anything at the time<br />
but when the chance came up, I<br />
thought it was a good opportunity<br />
to give it a go.<br />
How were you selected to join up with the<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> squad?<br />
I’ve been at Rainey since 2017 and have<br />
been pretty successful there. We got<br />
promoted into Division 2A of the All-Ireland<br />
League in the 2018-19 season. I’m not too<br />
sure how it happened but my performances<br />
were going well and the next thing I know<br />
is that I get a phone call saying that they’d<br />
like me to come in as injury cover. I suppose<br />
it came off the back of my hard work and<br />
playing well for Rainey.<br />
It was very surprising; I initially had<br />
intentions of trying to get into the <strong>Ulster</strong><br />
set-up throughout my time at Rainey, but it<br />
didn’t look like it was going to happen. So,<br />
when the phone call came through, it was a<br />
no-brainer for me to accept.<br />
How have you found it since joining up<br />
with the squad?<br />
The squad is unbelievable. There are so many<br />
good characters and good guys; I wouldn’t<br />
have a bad word to say about any of them.<br />
Everyone has been so welcoming and<br />
helpful to me. It’s been an easy adjustment<br />
because of them. I’ve been really enjoying<br />
my time with the squad and am making the<br />
most of it.<br />
What were the emotions like when you<br />
made your debut against Edinburgh?<br />
It was a big moment for me and my family.<br />
My dad passed away in September and<br />
I said to him, “Dad, I’m going to make it”<br />
and he told me, “I have no doubt.” I can’t<br />
put into words how it felt. It’s something<br />
I have wanted to do since I was a young<br />
boy – I never thought it would be for <strong>Ulster</strong><br />
– but I’m happy it was in the end. It’s great<br />
to be asked to be involved with a brilliant<br />
club doing very well at the moment. It was<br />
a privilege.<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong><strong>Rugby</strong>.com<br />
37
You seem to have developed a bit of a<br />
fan club on social media – everyone was<br />
rooting for you when you were close to<br />
scoring on your debut!<br />
It’s something to do with my hair, I think! It’s<br />
a bit wild – definitely an eye-catcher!<br />
How would you say club rugby has<br />
prepared you to integrate with the<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> squad?<br />
The club rugby has been massive. I think<br />
the physicality is on-par with the pro game.<br />
Although Rainey play in the Division 2A, it<br />
doesn’t do them justice; the rugby is really<br />
good. There’s a step-up in intensity in the<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> set-up, but club rugby did a lot to<br />
prepare me. Some of the games you play<br />
away with Rainey, the clubs are really tough.<br />
It’s a good pathway into the pro game.<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> really owe me nothing; they didn’t<br />
have to bring me in, so it’s a statement that<br />
there’s potential for players in all of the<br />
AIL leagues to be brought into the set-up<br />
if they perform well and show promise. It’s<br />
great for the club game because it gives<br />
players hope. If I can do it, anyone can.<br />
Has joining up with the <strong>Ulster</strong> squad<br />
changed or renewed your ambitions?<br />
My ambitions are to be a regular in the<br />
side. I’ve only been in the squad for seven<br />
weeks now and up until nine weeks ago,<br />
I never thought I’d play for <strong>Ulster</strong>. My<br />
ambitions have changed completely. I love<br />
living in Northern Ireland; the people are<br />
great and Belfast is a lovely city. I can see<br />
myself living here long-term, so I need to<br />
do my part and hopefully the rest will fall<br />
into place.<br />
39
Are you good at any other sports?<br />
Basketball and karate.<br />
What is your favourite film?<br />
Hacksaw Ridge.<br />
Do you have any fears? If so, what are they?<br />
Heights – I’m not a fan!<br />
What motivates you?<br />
The girls you train and play with; the fitter<br />
and better they get helps push you on.<br />
Getting to Know:<br />
Aishling O’Connell<br />
LIVE STATS<br />
Do you have a nickname? If so, what is it?<br />
Shling.<br />
Who was your favourite player growing up<br />
and why?<br />
Paul O’Connell - he was just an absolute<br />
warrior and he has a great second name too!<br />
Who is your favourite player now?<br />
Ciara Griffin - her work rate is unreal.<br />
What is your favourite thing about<br />
playing rugby?<br />
The contact.<br />
Do you have any pets? If so, tell us<br />
about them.<br />
We found two kittens on the side of the<br />
road and adopted one this summer so we’ve<br />
three kittens - Beag, Bróga and Rua.<br />
Are you a tidy or messy person?<br />
Definitely messy!<br />
If you could eat one meal for the rest of<br />
your life, what would it be?<br />
Brownies and ice cream.<br />
What can’t you live without?<br />
<strong>Rugby</strong>. I definitely realise that after this year!<br />
Do you have any pre-match rituals or<br />
superstitions?<br />
Breakfast has to be homemade pancakes<br />
and bacon before a game.<br />
If you were a super-hero, what powers<br />
would you have?<br />
To stay super fit no matter what I ate.<br />
List two pet peeves.<br />
When the dishes are left in the sink to “soak”<br />
overnight; it drives me mad! Also, dirty play<br />
on the pitch.<br />
What three words would your friends use<br />
to describe you?<br />
Fun, kind and dedicated.<br />
Click Here<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong><strong>Rugby</strong>.com<br />
41
Player<br />
Q&A<br />
David Shanahan, Scrumhalf<br />
When did you start playing rugby, and who<br />
was your first team?<br />
Playing for Clontarf RFC when I was 8!<br />
What’s your favourite rugby memory?<br />
Beating Racing 92 at home in 2019.<br />
If you could re-live one moment from your<br />
rugby career, what would it be?<br />
The above!<br />
What’s the one thing you could not live<br />
without?<br />
Air.<br />
What’s your pre-match routine?<br />
Any superstitions?<br />
Have to run on to the pitch – never walk!<br />
Who has been the biggest influence on<br />
your rugby career and why?<br />
My Dad, he made me keep playing rugby<br />
even when I hated it!<br />
Tell us something not many people would<br />
know about you?<br />
I can dunk!<br />
Favourite subject in school?<br />
Latin.<br />
All time favourite movie?<br />
Friday Night Lights.<br />
Best player you have played with?<br />
Charles Piutau.<br />
Best player you have played against?<br />
Leone Nakarawa.<br />
43
<strong>Rugby</strong> Gold Over The Rainbow<br />
Normally as we herald the arrival of a new<br />
year, it is refreshingly cliched to summon<br />
uplifting wishes to our friends, family and,<br />
of course, the community which would<br />
normally convene at Kingspan Stadium for<br />
a big Inter-Pro.<br />
As 2021 arrives the terraces and stands<br />
are empty, the concourse eerily silent,<br />
the strangest of times for sport set to<br />
continue in an unhappily disengaged way<br />
for a while yet.<br />
But it is a time when our hopes for reunions<br />
with friends before a game must be<br />
nurtured, when those of us who share a<br />
passion for rugby must nourish the thought<br />
of rolling up to a Guinness PRO14 clash or<br />
for another big European night.<br />
As this period in our global history<br />
hopefully adapts and morphs into a more<br />
recognisable way of living, enjoying our<br />
lives <strong>Ulster</strong>’s fortunes – for many – have<br />
been welcome, encouraging distractions.<br />
Whether following on television, on radio or<br />
by constant updates on our smartphones,<br />
the desire to be immersed in ‘our’ club<br />
proves unshaken.<br />
In an astonishing, if smile-inducing,<br />
bewildering, backcloth to the ‘virtual’<br />
enthusiasm for the team and for individual<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong><strong>Rugby</strong>.com<br />
Guest article:<br />
Rod Nawn<br />
players, the success on the pitch in 2020’s<br />
stop-go seasons has done much for<br />
our wellbeing.<br />
Dan McFarland spoke this week of his<br />
overall impression of the past nine months<br />
and the fixtures confusion of it being<br />
“piece meal”, a generous but candid<br />
summation of what must have been the<br />
most challenging period in his time at<br />
the helm.<br />
Somehow <strong>Ulster</strong> has navigated hurdles<br />
without precedent to compete in a 2019/20<br />
PRO14 season in two parts, finishing its<br />
domestic obligations and a Champions<br />
Cup journey to the quarter-finals in the<br />
early autumn – only to press restart a few<br />
weeks later in both tournaments.<br />
Covid-19 has convulsed every aspect<br />
of life but sport in general has tried to<br />
offer a conduit for passions and opinions,<br />
an outlet for energies unspent and longheld<br />
ambitions.<br />
<strong>Rugby</strong> has rolled with the punches of<br />
sudden lockdowns, complex restarts,<br />
eleventh-hour postponements and what is<br />
now the everyday ritual of Covid testing<br />
and its consequent protocols.<br />
It may well be tempting fate as this new<br />
year of 2021 arrives, but the Guinness PRO14<br />
is not just set on a course of finishing the<br />
current campaign, indeed it is determined<br />
on a radical, imaginative and potentially<br />
defining conclusion.<br />
The winners of the current two Conferences<br />
will meet in the final, play-offs have been<br />
‘binned’, and in April a new eight-match<br />
Rainbow Cup will - it is hoped - seamlessly<br />
follow with our familiar sides joined by<br />
the glamourous South African powers in<br />
the shape of the Bulls, Stormers, Sharks<br />
and Lions.<br />
So, full marks for audacious ambition, and<br />
we will all hope the pandemic does not<br />
play more havoc! On a sporting level it<br />
could be a massive leap, and commercially<br />
it has huge potential.<br />
And in that future Dan McFarland has every<br />
right to feel his team will flourish. Under his<br />
stewardship of the last two years, he has<br />
fashioned a squad which has his imprint.<br />
It is organised, increasingly impressive up<br />
front and with an attack-minded confidence<br />
which has allowed Michael Lowry, James<br />
Hume, Stewart Moore, Rob Lyttle, Ethan<br />
McIlroy, Tom O’Toole, Eric O’Sullivan, Nick<br />
Timoney and Matty Rea, to name but a few,<br />
to flourish in the heat of battle.<br />
This evening, for the inevitably robust visit of<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> to Kingspan Stadium, the coaches<br />
have a broader and more experienced pool<br />
of proven players from which to choose.<br />
The team which performed so well in a<br />
rare victory in Galway on Sunday may have<br />
had some names unfamiliar to the wider<br />
rugby community but each and every one<br />
of the Sportsground match-day panel<br />
instinctively played with McFarland’s ‘heads<br />
up’ instruction.<br />
With every month it has been more difficult<br />
than under previous regimes to identify a<br />
raft of ‘nailed-on’ selections for big games<br />
in both competitions. With the virus running<br />
amok, with international calls at important<br />
stages of the club season, <strong>Ulster</strong> has become<br />
a stronger unit physically and mentally, and<br />
it has a heavier swathe of stardust to scatter<br />
in the cause.<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> sits atop Conference B with seven<br />
games played and all won, while <strong>Ulster</strong><br />
heads Conference A with nine victories<br />
from as many matches, so it’s not just<br />
another PRO14 clash, not just another<br />
Inter-Pro derby.<br />
Today the visitors will field many of their<br />
internationals, so don’t be surprised to see<br />
the names of Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, JJ<br />
Hanrahan, Conor Murray, Peter O’Mahony<br />
and CJ Stander on the teamsheet, and<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong>’s firm eye on the title prize could<br />
mean Billy Burns, Jacob Stockdale, Stuart<br />
McCloskey and John Cooney will feature<br />
after missing the Connacht win under the<br />
IRFU’s Player Management protocols.<br />
The holiday fixtures between these old<br />
rivals are never less than exhausting affairs,<br />
but Johann van Graan’s teams mirror<br />
McFarland’s in having match winners behind<br />
impressive set-pieces and forward units.<br />
They are intriguing clashes every year, no<br />
quarter asked nor given, but rarely – given<br />
the streamlined denouement to the race<br />
for the PRO14 title – has there been a<br />
more important one. Both clubs will now<br />
be focused on getting to the Final with<br />
unblemished records, though <strong>Ulster</strong>’s visit<br />
to Leinster next week will crank up the<br />
expectations if the hosts travel to the RDS<br />
with its 100 per cent record intact.<br />
But on this opening Saturday of 2021, the<br />
thoughts in the <strong>Ulster</strong> dressing room will be<br />
solely on <strong>Munster</strong>, multiple winners, a club<br />
emerging quickly through a transitional<br />
period. It promises to be a wonderful<br />
tussle and one which would have packed<br />
the Kingspan Stadium arena, but in these<br />
different times support will be a very social<br />
distance, sadly.<br />
Here’s to happier times ahead, when the<br />
throng assembles to cheer a team reliably<br />
able to meet all obstacles with a full,<br />
confident stride.<br />
Happy New Year all!<br />
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Thank You!<br />
2020/21 FIXTURES<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> wish to thank all of our sponsors<br />
and partners for their continued support.<br />
Main Sponsor<br />
JANUARY<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> Sat 2 5.15pm Home<br />
Leinster Fri 8 7.35pm Away<br />
Gloucester Sat 16 1.00pm Home<br />
Toulouse Sun 24 3.15pm Away<br />
Kit Sponsor<br />
Official Sponsors<br />
Domestic Sponsors<br />
Official On-kit Sponsors<br />
GUINNESS PRO14 CONFERENCE A<br />
Team Played W D L Bonus Pts<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> 9 9 0 0 6 42<br />
Leinster 7 7 0 0 7 35<br />
Ospreys 8 3 0 5 2 14<br />
Dragons 7 3 0 4 2 14<br />
Glasgow Warriors 8 2 0 6 2 10<br />
Zebre 8 1 0 7 1 5<br />
Official Partners<br />
mmw<br />
Millar McCall Wylie<br />
GUINNESS PRO14 CONFERENCE B<br />
Team Played W D L Bonus Pts<br />
<strong>Munster</strong> 7 7 0 0 4 32<br />
Connacht 7 4 0 3 4 20<br />
Scarlets 8 4 0 4 4 20<br />
Cardiff Blues 9 4 0 5 2 18<br />
Edinburgh 7 2 0 5 2 10<br />
Benetton 7 0 0 7 3 3<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong><strong>Rugby</strong>.com<br />
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