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ULSTER<br />
Official <strong>Match</strong> <strong>Day</strong> <strong>Programme</strong><br />
v ASM CLERMONT<br />
AUVERGNE<br />
Sat 22 Jan 2022, 5.30pm<br />
Kingspan Stadium
TRY. CONVERT.<br />
In this Issue<br />
12<br />
14<br />
34<br />
5 President’s<br />
Welcome<br />
7 EPCR<br />
Welcome<br />
9 Virtual<br />
Mascot<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> Men in<br />
Ireland Squad<br />
11<br />
12<br />
14<br />
Player Q&A:<br />
Nick Timoney<br />
A View from<br />
the Stands<br />
18 Squad<br />
Profiles<br />
23<br />
Danske Bank<br />
Schools’ <strong>Cup</strong> Update<br />
24 Team<br />
Line-ups<br />
New Signing<br />
Sean Reffell<br />
26<br />
28<br />
<strong>Clermont</strong> <strong>Auvergne</strong><br />
Ones To Watch<br />
31 Half-time<br />
Exhibition Games<br />
32<br />
34<br />
40<br />
44<br />
50<br />
Last Time<br />
Out<br />
Behind The Player<br />
Gemma MCamley<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> Fancy a<br />
French Flourish<br />
All-Ireland Junior<br />
<strong>Cup</strong> Final<br />
Player Interview:<br />
Mike Lowry<br />
50<br />
Enjoy <strong>Heineken</strong> ® Responsibly<br />
3
President’s<br />
Welcome<br />
Welcome to Round 4 of the <strong>Heineken</strong><br />
<strong>Champions</strong> <strong>Cup</strong>, and <strong>Ulster</strong>’s final pool stage<br />
fixture versus ASM <strong>Clermont</strong> <strong>Auvergne</strong>. It’s<br />
great to have supporters here!<br />
I would like to extend a warm welcome<br />
-or “bienvenue” - to our opponents, ASM<br />
<strong>Clermont</strong> <strong>Auvergne</strong>. They come into this<br />
game having defeated Sale Sharks by 25-19 at<br />
Stade Marcel-Michelin, and so have everything<br />
to play for this evening.<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> have secured a place in the <strong>Heineken</strong><br />
<strong>Champions</strong> <strong>Cup</strong> Round of 16 after claiming a<br />
bonus-point victory over Northampton Saints<br />
at cinch Stadium last weekend, and they will<br />
no doubt want to sign-off on the pool stages<br />
with a flourish this evening in front of a packed<br />
Kingspan Stadium.<br />
Over the festive period, we were boosted by<br />
the news that Ethan McIlroy, Stuart McCloskey,<br />
Nathan Doak, Jordi Murphy, Billy Burns, Marty<br />
Moore, Matty Rea, James Hume, Tom O’Toole,<br />
Will Addison and John Cooney have all<br />
signed contract extensions with the province.<br />
Ben Moxham has also been promoted to a<br />
development contract from the <strong>Ulster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
Academy. This is testament not only to their<br />
superb performances and commitment to<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong>, but also the high-performance culture<br />
that Bryn Cunningham and Dan McFarland<br />
have fostered at the club.<br />
We also announced the signing of back-row,<br />
Sean Reffell from Saracens - we look forward<br />
to him linking up with the squad in the summer!<br />
There will be an all-<strong>Ulster</strong> final in the All-Ireland<br />
Junior <strong>Cup</strong> as Ballyclare and Clogher Valley<br />
defeated Connemara and Newcastle West<br />
in their respective semi-finals on Saturday<br />
18th December. Huge congratulations to<br />
both teams; it is set to be a fantastic final at<br />
Kingspan Stadium on 29th January (5.30pm<br />
kick-off).<br />
We launched an updated version of our Code<br />
of Conduct as part of our #respectURgame<br />
campaign a couple of weeks ago. We know that<br />
many involved in rugby already live these values<br />
day-to-day, and we are keen to see that continue.<br />
Thank you for championing this message.<br />
On the schools’ front, the Danske Bank<br />
Schools <strong>Cup</strong> has progressed to Round 4 to<br />
be played next weekend, with the Danske<br />
Bank Subsidiary Shield, Bowl and Trophy all<br />
approaching the quarter-final stage, so there<br />
is a lot of activity which is fantastic to see.<br />
Up next, <strong>Ulster</strong> will turn their attentions to<br />
the United <strong>Rugby</strong> <strong>Champions</strong>hip next Friday<br />
when they will host Scarlets in Round 11 of the<br />
competition at Kingspan Stadium (7.35pm<br />
kick-off).<br />
I hope you enjoy the game and thank you for<br />
your support.<br />
Happy New Year to you all!<br />
Gary Leslie<br />
President, IRFU <strong>Ulster</strong> Branch<br />
5
EPCR<br />
Welcome<br />
A warm welcome to this <strong>Heineken</strong><br />
<strong>Champions</strong> <strong>Cup</strong> pool stage match as we<br />
anticipate once again elite clubs and top<br />
players producing the brilliance and drama<br />
which have for long been the trademarks<br />
of our truly world-class tournament.<br />
The two fixtures this month will determine<br />
the eight clubs in each pool which will<br />
qualify for the knockout stage and continue<br />
on the road to the Marseille finals weekend,<br />
so the stakes are high.<br />
We can then look forward to an innovative<br />
Round of 16 with home and away legs,<br />
followed by traditional quarter-finals and<br />
semi-finals which will guarantee a further<br />
series of compelling matches culminating<br />
in the 2022 showpiece final at the Stade<br />
Vélodrome on Saturday, 28 May.<br />
In addition, the three clubs ranked ninth to<br />
11th in each pool will have the opportunity to<br />
compete for silverware by qualifying for the<br />
knockout stage of the EPCR Challenge <strong>Cup</strong>.<br />
We are delighted to be joined on this<br />
season’s journey to Marseille by our longstanding<br />
title partner, <strong>Heineken</strong>, as well as<br />
by our newest official partner, DHL, who are<br />
providing customised logistics solutions for<br />
both the <strong>Heineken</strong> <strong>Champions</strong> <strong>Cup</strong> and the<br />
EPCR Challenge <strong>Cup</strong>, and we would also like<br />
to thank Tissot, the Financial Times, Gilbert<br />
and Kappa for their continuing support.<br />
We acknowledge the superb coverage<br />
provided by our TV partners BT Sport,<br />
beIN SPORTS, France Télévisions, Channel<br />
4, Virgin Media, S4C and Sky Italia whose<br />
output is complemented by the wide<br />
range of linear and OTT platforms which<br />
broadcast the <strong>Heineken</strong> <strong>Champions</strong> <strong>Cup</strong><br />
globally.<br />
We recognise that these are particularly<br />
challenging times for players, club staff and<br />
supporters, however, rest assured that we<br />
are continuing to work with the leagues and<br />
unions so that as many fixtures as possible<br />
can be played safely.<br />
We remain optimistic that this season’s<br />
tournament will be completed successfully,<br />
and on behalf of all at EPCR, enjoy the<br />
match and best wishes to you, the fans,<br />
as well as to your club’s players and staff<br />
for what promises to be a compelling<br />
conclusion to the pool stage.<br />
Yours in rugby,<br />
Dominic McKay<br />
EPCR Chairman (interim)
Virtual<br />
Mascot<br />
Name: Tom Alexander<br />
Age: 13<br />
Welcome back to Kingspan Stadium, the home of <strong>Ulster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong>,<br />
where this evening the <strong>Ulster</strong> squad welcomes <strong>Clermont</strong> <strong>Auvergne</strong> for<br />
the fourth round of the <strong>Heineken</strong> <strong>Champions</strong> <strong>Cup</strong>.<br />
Following a promising start in the <strong>Champions</strong> <strong>Cup</strong>, <strong>Ulster</strong> look to continue<br />
their strong run of form tonight. hey host a French side who need a win to book<br />
their spot in the playoff stages. All signs point towards a closely fought game.<br />
On behalf of the entire <strong>Ulster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> and Kingspan community, we would like<br />
to extend the warmest of welcomes to our visitors and we have no doubt the<br />
loyal crowd in Kingspan Stadium will provide stirring support for the <strong>Ulster</strong> team.<br />
Finally, on behalf of Kingspan, I would like to wish the <strong>Ulster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> squad and<br />
management team the very best of luck. To <strong>Ulster</strong>’s committed fans, enjoy the game,<br />
lead the way and help ensure that this is an evening to remember<br />
at Kingspan Stadium.<br />
From: Bangor<br />
Tom has been a Season Ticket holder for as<br />
long as he can remember and gets inspired by<br />
his side at the weekends, as well as enjoying<br />
post-match crepes with his friends and family.<br />
A pupil of Campbell College, he plays no.8 and<br />
has scored 18 tries scored so far this season.<br />
Tom enjoys travelling to watch and play rugby<br />
and has played as far away as New Zealand.<br />
Favourite Players: Rob Lyttle & Nathan Doak<br />
9
RUGBY.<br />
DELIVERED.<br />
TEAMWORK. SPEED. DELIVERY. THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE<br />
OFFICIAL LOGISTICS PARTNER. DHL.<br />
Eight <strong>Ulster</strong> men included in Ireland’s Six Nations squad<br />
Andy Farrell and the Ireland coaching<br />
group have named a 37 player squad<br />
ahead of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations<br />
<strong>Champions</strong>hips which commence in early<br />
February. Eight <strong>Ulster</strong> players have been<br />
selected, including uncapped Mike Lowry.<br />
The squad will be captained by Johnny<br />
Sexton who earned his 100th cap for his<br />
country against Japan during the November<br />
international window. Ireland will host Wales,<br />
Italy and Scotland at the Aviva Stadium over<br />
the course of the <strong>Champions</strong>hip while also<br />
travelling to Paris and London to face France<br />
and England respectively.<br />
In addition to <strong>Ulster</strong>’s Mike Lowry, uncapped<br />
Connacht’s Mack Hansen has been selected.<br />
Both have trained with the national squad<br />
in the past six months, Lowry during the<br />
Vodafone Summer Series in July and<br />
Hansen during the Autumn Nations Series in<br />
November.<br />
Connacht’s Cian Prendergast will join the<br />
squad for the training camp in Portugal as<br />
a development player. The former Ireland<br />
U20 player has made nine appearances for<br />
Connacht this season.<br />
Andy Farrell, Ireland head coach<br />
commented, “In November we challenged<br />
the group to get up to speed quickly so<br />
that the team could perform at international<br />
level. The same will apply for this Six Nations<br />
campaign, we need to be at our best against<br />
Wales on the opening weekend.<br />
We have a strong squad with competition<br />
for places across the board, there is a nice<br />
blend of experienced internationals and<br />
guys who have had their first taste of this<br />
level in the past 12 months. The games in<br />
November gave us a good foundation to<br />
build on and areas where we know we will<br />
have to improve.<br />
It will be an exciting <strong>Champions</strong>hip with<br />
so many strong squads and impressive<br />
performances across the board during the<br />
autumn.”<br />
Ireland’s opening fixture of the 2022 Six<br />
Nations <strong>Champions</strong>hip is against Wales on<br />
Saturday 5 February. A week later the squad<br />
will travel to France to take on Les Bleus in<br />
Paris. In Round 3 on Sunday 27 February,<br />
Ireland host Italy at the Aviva and then<br />
travel to Twickenham to take on England<br />
two weeks later. In the final round of the<br />
championship Ireland host Scotland at the<br />
Aviva Stadium on Saturday 19 March.<br />
All games will be available on free-to-air<br />
television in both the Republic and Northern<br />
Ireland.<br />
Players selected:<br />
Robert Baloucoune, 2 caps<br />
James Hume, 1 cap<br />
Michael Lowry, uncapped<br />
Iain Henderson, 65 caps<br />
Rob Herring, 23 caps<br />
Tom O’Toole, 2 caps<br />
Nick Timoney, 2 caps<br />
Kieran Treadwell, 2 caps<br />
11
Q&A<br />
Nick Timoney<br />
Least favourite drill at training?<br />
Scrum practice<br />
Favourite 2021/22 <strong>Ulster</strong> kit?<br />
Red European Kit<br />
Favourite moment of career so far?<br />
Argentina game for Ireland<br />
One thing you can’t live without?<br />
A car to drive<br />
Most used app on your phone?<br />
YouTube<br />
Best player you have played with?<br />
Ruan Pienaar<br />
Most used emoji?<br />
Favourite TV show / Film<br />
Succession / The Dark Knight<br />
If you had to stuck on an island with a<br />
teammate, who would you pick and why?<br />
Any habits or rituals before a game?<br />
Listen to music<br />
Favourite try you’ve scored for <strong>Ulster</strong>?<br />
Against La Rochelle at home back in 2018<br />
David O’Connor - he’s been preparing for<br />
survival<br />
Q&A<br />
in the wilderness for years<br />
Back Row<br />
01/08/1995<br />
188cm<br />
114kg<br />
90<br />
2<br />
ulster.rugby<br />
13
BALLYGOWAN – OFFICIAL HYDRATION<br />
PARTNER OF ULSTER RUGBY<br />
A View from the Stands<br />
What a great start we’ve had to our<br />
European campaign this season.<br />
With a brilliant win away at <strong>Clermont</strong><br />
and then home and away victories<br />
against Northampton, we have already<br />
guaranteed a place in the Round of 16.<br />
Can we keep up the momentum this week<br />
when <strong>Clermont</strong> visit Kingspan Stadium?<br />
One of our problems this year has been a<br />
lack of consistency - one week magnificent,<br />
often against top opposition, the next<br />
week disappointing and uninspiring often<br />
against lesser opponents. The away wins<br />
at <strong>Clermont</strong> and Leinster in particular were<br />
truly inspirational and showed that we<br />
have the players and the resolve to beat<br />
the best. Like me, there must have been<br />
many supporters who celebrated mightily<br />
after these victories, which gave us all the<br />
hope that at last <strong>Ulster</strong> were really on their<br />
way. Unfortunately, we lost impetus with<br />
the COVID-enforced cancellation of home<br />
inter-pro games against Connacht and<br />
Leinster, and our lack of match time did us<br />
no favours prior to our visit to Limerick.<br />
However, all that is in the past. We have<br />
picked up the pace again with last week’s<br />
win in Northampton, where we fought<br />
like tigers for every ball and our brilliant<br />
backline set the place alight with a running<br />
display that was second to none. The<br />
question is, of course, can we maintain<br />
this momentum and level of play this week<br />
against a quality <strong>Clermont</strong> side who also<br />
had a good win last week and will certainly<br />
be up for a revenge match in Belfast. Yes,<br />
we have already qualified for the next<br />
round, but today’s match is crunch time in<br />
terms of our ability to step up on the big<br />
stage in Europe against the best sides and<br />
prove that we are a force to be reckoned<br />
with. It is a big ask, but we have the players<br />
who can, on their day, set the place on fire.<br />
What a major momentum shift that would<br />
also be in looking forward to the rest of our<br />
season both in Europe and at home.<br />
In our favour today:<br />
Guest article:<br />
Brian O’Hara<br />
Season Ticket Holder<br />
• We are at home where we fear no-one.<br />
• There will undoubtedly be a magnificent<br />
atmosphere with the stadium full to<br />
capacity.<br />
• Fervent <strong>Ulster</strong> supporters will give the<br />
team the incredible vocal support that<br />
only they can give. Support that makes<br />
the skin tingle and the blood pump. There<br />
is no better feeling.<br />
Let’s sign off the pool stage campaign<br />
in style!<br />
1 %<br />
IRISH<br />
NOW<br />
MADE FROM<br />
1 %<br />
RECYCLED<br />
PLASTIC<br />
*<br />
1 %<br />
RECYCLABLE<br />
15
#KEEPPERFORMING<br />
Photos © Pressesports
Dan Soper<br />
Assistant Coach<br />
Jared Payne<br />
Defence Coach<br />
Will<br />
Addison<br />
Iain<br />
Henderson<br />
Rob<br />
Herring<br />
James<br />
Hume<br />
Cormac<br />
Izuchukwu<br />
Dan McFarland<br />
Head Coach<br />
Roddy Grant<br />
Forwards Coach<br />
Craig Newby<br />
Skills Coach<br />
Utility Back<br />
20/08/1992<br />
185cm<br />
95kg<br />
26<br />
5<br />
Lock<br />
21/02/1992<br />
198cm<br />
116kg<br />
122<br />
65<br />
Hooker<br />
27/04/1990<br />
185cm<br />
105kg<br />
207<br />
23<br />
Centre<br />
07/09/1998<br />
188cm<br />
95kg<br />
51<br />
1<br />
Lock<br />
28/01/2000<br />
201cm<br />
117kg<br />
6<br />
John<br />
Andrew<br />
Hooker<br />
26/05/1993<br />
180cm<br />
100kg<br />
89<br />
John<br />
Cooney<br />
Scrum Half<br />
01/05/1990<br />
178cm<br />
85kg<br />
90<br />
11<br />
Robert<br />
Baloucoune<br />
Wing<br />
19/08/1997<br />
193cm<br />
92kg<br />
34<br />
2<br />
Angus<br />
Curtis<br />
Fly Half / Centre<br />
26/03/1998<br />
178cm<br />
88kg<br />
16<br />
Billy<br />
Burns<br />
Fly Half<br />
13/06/1994<br />
183cm<br />
87kg<br />
61<br />
7<br />
Nathan<br />
Doak<br />
Scrum Half<br />
17/12/2001<br />
185cm<br />
87kg<br />
12<br />
Sam<br />
Carter<br />
Lock<br />
10/09/1989<br />
201cm<br />
116kg<br />
32<br />
AUS 16<br />
Craig<br />
Gilroy<br />
Wing<br />
11/03/1991<br />
183cm<br />
91kg<br />
202<br />
10<br />
Greg<br />
Jones<br />
Back Row<br />
13/01/1996<br />
196cm<br />
108kg<br />
33<br />
Rob<br />
Lyttle<br />
Wing<br />
28/01/1997<br />
175cm<br />
85kg<br />
49<br />
Ross<br />
Kane<br />
Prop<br />
14/10/1994<br />
180cm<br />
118kg<br />
58<br />
Ian<br />
Madigan<br />
Fly Half<br />
21/03/1989<br />
178cm<br />
89kg<br />
25<br />
30<br />
Mick<br />
Kearney<br />
Lock<br />
29/03/1991<br />
198cm<br />
116 kg<br />
5<br />
Luke<br />
Marshall<br />
Centre<br />
03/03/1991<br />
180cm<br />
99kg<br />
144<br />
11<br />
Mike<br />
Lowry<br />
Full Back<br />
20/08/1998<br />
170cm<br />
76kg<br />
57<br />
David<br />
McCann<br />
Back Row<br />
13/06/2000<br />
193cm<br />
108kg<br />
12<br />
Senior Squad<br />
ulster.rugby<br />
19
Prop<br />
11/10/1989<br />
185cm<br />
118kg<br />
21<br />
56<br />
Jack<br />
McGrath<br />
Prop<br />
15/12/1992<br />
191cm<br />
134kg<br />
6<br />
Gareth<br />
Milasinovich<br />
Prop<br />
01/03/1991<br />
178cm<br />
123kg<br />
65<br />
10<br />
Marty<br />
Moore<br />
Centre<br />
08/08/1999<br />
183cm<br />
90kg<br />
22<br />
Stewart<br />
Moore<br />
Back Row<br />
22/04/1991<br />
188cm<br />
102kg<br />
48<br />
30<br />
Jordi<br />
Murphy<br />
Lock<br />
10/09/1992<br />
196cm<br />
110kg<br />
144<br />
Alan<br />
O’Connor<br />
Lock / Back Row<br />
19/05/1995<br />
193cm<br />
107kg<br />
15<br />
David<br />
O’Connor<br />
Prop<br />
30/11/1995<br />
185cm<br />
117kg<br />
73<br />
1<br />
Eric<br />
O’Sullivan<br />
Prop<br />
23/09/1998<br />
185cm<br />
123kg<br />
71<br />
2<br />
Tom<br />
O’Toole<br />
Full Back / Wing<br />
10/08/2000<br />
188cm<br />
86kg<br />
26<br />
Ethan<br />
McIlroy<br />
Centre<br />
06/08/1992<br />
193cm<br />
110kg<br />
146<br />
6<br />
Stuart<br />
McCloskey<br />
Back Row<br />
08/09/1997<br />
188cm<br />
108kg<br />
11<br />
Marcus<br />
Rea<br />
Senior Squad<br />
Back Row<br />
01/08/1995<br />
188cm<br />
114kg<br />
92<br />
2<br />
Nick<br />
Timoney<br />
Lock<br />
06/11/1995<br />
198cm<br />
115kg<br />
116<br />
3<br />
Kieran<br />
Treadwell<br />
Prop<br />
12/03/1991<br />
178cm<br />
116kg<br />
146<br />
Andrew<br />
Warwick<br />
Back Row<br />
21/09/1993<br />
193cm<br />
110kg<br />
69<br />
Matthew<br />
Rea<br />
Hooker<br />
04/01/1996<br />
175cm<br />
104Kg<br />
11<br />
WAL 1<br />
Bradley<br />
Roberts<br />
Wing/Full Back<br />
03/04/1996<br />
191cm<br />
102kg<br />
83<br />
35<br />
Jacob<br />
Stockdale<br />
Scrum Half<br />
20/06/1993<br />
175cm<br />
77kg<br />
76<br />
David<br />
Shanahan<br />
Hooker<br />
11/01/2001<br />
183cm<br />
103kg<br />
1<br />
Tom<br />
Stewart<br />
Wing<br />
24/08/200<br />
188cm<br />
94kg<br />
1<br />
Aaron<br />
Sexton<br />
Prop<br />
06/01/1999<br />
183cm<br />
117kg<br />
7<br />
Callum<br />
Reid<br />
Back Row<br />
10/05/1989<br />
183cm<br />
102kg<br />
150<br />
2<br />
Sean<br />
Reidy<br />
Back Row<br />
03/07/1986<br />
193cm<br />
120kg<br />
4<br />
SA 60<br />
Duane<br />
Vermeulen<br />
21<br />
ulster.rugby
Danske Bank Schools’ <strong>Cup</strong> Update<br />
The draw has taken place for the 4th<br />
Round of the Danske Bank Schools’ <strong>Cup</strong>.<br />
It was conducted at Rainey Endowed<br />
School in Magherafelt by Principal Neil<br />
McClements, and Danske Bank Head of<br />
GB Mortgage Paddy Mullan.<br />
The following fixtures will take place on<br />
or before Saturday 29 January:<br />
• Foyle College v Sullivan Upper<br />
• Ballymena Academy v Coleraine GS<br />
• Dromore High v Regent House<br />
• Wallace High v Royal School Dungannon<br />
• Ballyclare v Royal School Armagh<br />
• Enniskillen Royal GS v Methodist College<br />
• Campbell College v Down High<br />
• RBAI v Omagh Academy<br />
The draw was also held for the Quarter<br />
Final of the Schools’ Bowl, which<br />
produced the following fixtures to take<br />
place on or before Saturday 29 January.<br />
• Grosvenor v Banbridge Academy<br />
• Belfast High School v Dalriada<br />
• Belfast Royal Academy v Bangor<br />
Grammar School<br />
• Rainey Endowed School v Limavady<br />
Grammar<br />
The Bowl Draw was carried out<br />
by Rainey Endowed Principal Neil<br />
McClements and Schools’ Committee<br />
Chairman Richard Clingan.<br />
Danske Bank Schools’ Competition Dates<br />
Danske Bank Schools’ <strong>Cup</strong><br />
Round 4, Sat 29 Jan<br />
Quarter Finals, Sat 12 Feb<br />
Semi Finals, 1-2 Mar 2.30pm, Kingspan<br />
Stadium<br />
In the event of a replay the date and venue<br />
will be decided by the Schools Committee<br />
and the <strong>Ulster</strong> Branch. The replay will take<br />
place on Sat 5 Mar.<br />
Final, Thu 17 Mar 3pm, Kingspan Stadium<br />
Danske Bank Subsidiary Shield<br />
Quarter-Finals, Sat 12 Feb<br />
Semi-Finals, Sat 26 Feb<br />
Final, Wed 9 Mar 2.30pm (venue TBC)<br />
Danske Bank Schools’ Bowl<br />
Quarter-Finals, Sat 29 Jan<br />
Semi-Finals, Sat 12 Feb<br />
Final, Wed 2 March 2022 (TBC)<br />
Danske Bank Schools’ Trophy<br />
Quarter-Finals, Sat 29 Jan<br />
Semi-Finals, Sat 12 Feb<br />
Final, Wed 2 Mar (TBC)<br />
23
1 O’Sullivan<br />
2 Herring 3 Moore<br />
1 Falgoux 2 Beheregaray 3 Slimani<br />
C<br />
4 O’Connor 5 Treadwell<br />
4 Jedrasiak 5 Lavanini<br />
C<br />
6 Rea 8 Vermeulen<br />
7 Timoney<br />
6 Cancoriet 8 Van Tonder<br />
7 Dessaigne<br />
9 Doak<br />
Referee: Luke Pearce<br />
Assistant Referees: Craig Evans, Paul Dix<br />
TMO: Rowan Kitt<br />
9 Parra<br />
11 McIlroy<br />
10 Burns<br />
11 Raka<br />
10 Hanrahan<br />
REPLACEMENTS<br />
REPLACEMENTS<br />
16 B Roberts<br />
12 Curtis<br />
16 E Fourcade<br />
12 Vili<br />
17 J McGrath<br />
17 D Bibi Biziwu<br />
18 T O’Toole<br />
18 C Ojovan<br />
19 S Carter<br />
13 Hume<br />
19 S Vahaamahina<br />
13 Barraque<br />
20 G Jones<br />
20 F Lee<br />
21 D Shanahan<br />
21 K Viallard<br />
22 B Moxham<br />
14 Baloucoune<br />
22 C Lopez<br />
14 O’Connor<br />
23 C Gilroy<br />
15 Lowry<br />
23 D Penaud<br />
15 Tiberghien<br />
25
NEW SIGNING<br />
THE HOME<br />
OF GREAT<br />
MUSIC<br />
New Signing: Sean Reffell<br />
23-year-old, Sean Reffell, will join <strong>Ulster</strong><br />
from Saracens, where he was awarded<br />
the Young Player of the Season award for<br />
2020/21. The Irish-qualified back row also<br />
holds the Saracens record for most tackles<br />
in a game, with 39 tackles made in the<br />
Premiership <strong>Rugby</strong> <strong>Cup</strong> semi-final versus<br />
Worcester in 2019.<br />
Known for his impressive work-rate, the<br />
former England U20s openside has made<br />
close to 40 appearances for his current<br />
club since a debut in the Anglo-Welsh <strong>Cup</strong><br />
in November 2017.<br />
Follow<br />
us<br />
Head Coach, Dan McFarland, said:<br />
“We are looking forward to welcoming<br />
Sean to the province next summer. With<br />
an already impressive track-record for<br />
Saracens, he will be a great fit alongside<br />
some real quality in our back row, and I am<br />
confident he will be a valuable addition to<br />
our squad.”<br />
Downtown<br />
THE OFFICIAL<br />
SOUNDTRACK<br />
OF ULSTER<br />
RUGBY<br />
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN<br />
ulster.rugby 27
Ones to Watch<br />
Alivereti Raka<br />
09/12/1994 189cm 103kg<br />
Morgan Parra<br />
The Fijian-born winger and <strong>Heineken</strong> Challenge <strong>Cup</strong><br />
winner, is both big and fast. Having joined <strong>Clermont</strong><br />
<strong>Auvergne</strong> in 2015, Raka has established himself as a<br />
key figure in the back-line.<br />
Try scorer last weekend against Sale Sharks, Raka has<br />
continued to demonstrate power and speed. <strong>Ulster</strong> will<br />
need to ensure the ball doesn’t get into his hands in<br />
open space as he will be hard to stop.<br />
15/11/1988 180cm 83kg<br />
The 33 year old scrum half from Metz, France brings a<br />
wealth of experience to the team. With 69 international<br />
caps and a 2010 Grand-Slam victory, he has established<br />
himself as a household name.<br />
Now having kicked 48 consecutive penalities, he<br />
continues to show his class, earning the reputation of<br />
being ‘deadly off the tee’.<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> cannot afford to give away pentalies with Parra<br />
on such good form.<br />
Damian Penaud<br />
25/09/1996 192cm 96kg<br />
The 25 year old winger from Brive-la-Gaillarde, France,<br />
has now made over 90 appearances for <strong>Clermont</strong><br />
<strong>Auvergne</strong> and continues to go from strength-to-strength.<br />
Nominated for EPCR Try of the Round for his<br />
performance last weekend, Penaud is an incredible<br />
talent (see page 49). A key play-maker for <strong>Clermont</strong><br />
<strong>Auvergne</strong>, Penaud is a consistant threat to any<br />
defensive line..<br />
NAME POSITION HEIGHT WEIGHT<br />
Cristian OJOVAN Prop 183 cm 120 kg<br />
Daniel BIBI BIZIWU Prop 183 cm 112 kg<br />
Etienne FALGOUX Prop 182 cm 112 kg<br />
Giorgi BERIA Prop 175 cm 108 kg<br />
Peni RAVAI Prop 185 cm 119 kg<br />
Rabah SLIMANI Prop 178 cm 118 kg<br />
Sipili FALATEA Prop 184 cm 116 kg<br />
Adrien PÉLISSIÉ Hooker 181 cm 110 kg<br />
Benjamin BOUDOU Hooker 182 cm 102 kg<br />
Etienne FOURCADE Hooker 180 cm 103 kg<br />
Yohan BEHEREGARAY Hooker 180 cm 104 kg<br />
Edward ANNANDALE Lock 200 cm 116 kg<br />
Jaco VAN TONDER Lock 197 cm 118 kg<br />
Miles AMATOSERO Lock 203 cm 125 kg<br />
Paul JEDRASIAK Lock 200 cm 121 kg<br />
Sébastien VAHAAMAHINA Lock 203 cm 127 kg<br />
Thibault LANEN Lock 198 cm 110 kg<br />
Tomás LAVANINI Lock 202 cm 130 kg<br />
Alexandre FISCHER Back row 188 cm 107 kg<br />
Alexandre LAPANDRY Back row 193 cm 104 kg<br />
Arthur ITURRIA Back row 198 cm 112 kg<br />
Clément LANEN Back row 195 cm 105 kg<br />
Fritz LEE Back row 188 cm 108 kg<br />
Judicaël CANCORIET Back row 194 cm 114 kg<br />
Lucas DESSAIGNE Back row 188 cm 102 kg<br />
Peceli YATO Back row 196 cm 120 kg<br />
Baptiste JAUNEAU Scrum-half 178 cm 81 kg<br />
Kévin VIALLARD Scrum-half 174 cm 78 kg<br />
Morgan PARRA Scrum-half 180 cm 83 kg<br />
Sébastien BÉZY Scrum-half 174 cm 78 kg<br />
Camille LOPEZ Fly-half 176 cm 88 kg<br />
Gabin MICHET Fly-half 180 cm 83 kg<br />
JJ HANRAHAN Fly-half 183 cm 93 kg<br />
Apisai NAQALEVU Centre 184 cm 111 kg<br />
George MOALA Centre 187 cm 106 kg<br />
Jean-Pascal BARRAQUE Centre 182 cm 86 kg<br />
Tani VILI Centre 187 cm 112 kg<br />
Wesley FOFANA Centre 182 cm 93 kg<br />
Alivereti RAKA Wing 189 cm 103 kg<br />
Bastien POURAILLY Wing 177 cm 85 kg<br />
Damian PENAUD Wing 192 cm 96 kg<br />
Marvin O'CONNOR Wing 178 cm 86 kg<br />
Samuel EZEALA Wing 187 cm 99 kg<br />
Thomas ROZIÈRE Wing 177 cm 89 kg<br />
Cheikh TIBERGHIEN Fullback 186 cm 96 kg<br />
Kotaro MATSUSHIMA Fullback 175 cm 88 kg<br />
TJ MAGURANYANGA Fullback 194 cm 101 kg<br />
29
Half-Time Exhibition Games<br />
Players<br />
Players<br />
1 Erin McConalogue<br />
1 Codie McCloskey<br />
Inishowen RFC<br />
Coaches<br />
1 Tara McConalogue<br />
2 Oliver McConalogue<br />
3 Pierce McConalogue<br />
Club Colours:<br />
Green<br />
2 Niamh Doherty<br />
3 Kodi McDaid<br />
4 Grace Devlin<br />
5 Roisin Carroll<br />
6 Ruth Mc Laughlin<br />
7 Lauren Miller<br />
8 Lauren Porter<br />
9 Ava Gill<br />
10 Laura McCrossan<br />
11 Tara McDermott<br />
12 Ellie May Canning<br />
Limavady RFC<br />
Coaches<br />
1 Shane McDermott<br />
2 Stephen Rogers<br />
3 Chris Sloan<br />
Club Colours:<br />
Black / Red<br />
2 Elise McDermott<br />
3 Jessica McFarlane<br />
4 Ella Mark<br />
5 Rebecca Mason<br />
6 Casey Millar<br />
7 Rebekah Mullan<br />
8 Blaithin O’Hara<br />
9 Casey O’Neill<br />
10 Annie Robinson<br />
11 Jasmine Sherrard<br />
12 Anna Sloan<br />
AbbeyAutoline Family Stand End<br />
Players<br />
Players<br />
1 Elisa McKie<br />
1 Madison Fleming<br />
2 Jenni Jackson<br />
2 Kadie Griffiths<br />
3 Isabelle McNally- Grant<br />
3 Eve McConkey<br />
City of Derry &<br />
Finn Valley<br />
Coaches<br />
1 Kelly Gormley-Cregan<br />
2 Michelle Gormley-McLaughlin<br />
4 Morgan Hughes<br />
5 Ella Friel<br />
6 Coral Boyd<br />
7 Caoimha Parke<br />
8 Rose Ford<br />
9 Grace O'Connor-Donahue<br />
Carrick RFC<br />
Coaches<br />
1 Sabrina Higgins<br />
2 Rachael Robinson<br />
4 Jenna Clarke<br />
5 Lauren Montgomery<br />
6 Paige McCormick<br />
7 Eve McKeegan<br />
8 Caitlyn Ford<br />
9 Keera Reid<br />
Memorial Stand End<br />
3 Allen McCrea<br />
10 Raising Toye<br />
3 Jenny Frazer<br />
10 Fae Arthurs<br />
Club Colours:<br />
11 Aislinn Boyle<br />
12 Holly Porter<br />
Club Colours:<br />
Red / White<br />
11 Aimee McGonagle<br />
12 Katie McIlwaine<br />
LIVE STATS<br />
Click Here<br />
31
Last Time Out<br />
20 - 24<br />
That two-point gap was short-lived<br />
however, as <strong>Ulster</strong> responded three<br />
minutes later, when Mike Lowry once again<br />
acted quickly to catch a messy ball and<br />
race through for their third try. Nathan<br />
Doak fired over the conversion to put<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> nine points up at the break.<br />
The hosts were the first to get on the board<br />
in the second half, after <strong>Ulster</strong> were penalised<br />
for going off their feet on 43 minutes, and<br />
Dan Biggar obliged with the penalty.<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> had a golden opportunity on 55<br />
minutes after a fantastic initial break by<br />
Mike Lowry brought them agonisingly<br />
close to the Saints’ line. They got a penalty<br />
when scrum-half Alex Mitchell infringed<br />
and saw yellow, and Ian Madigan went for<br />
the quick-tap, but the hosts were smart<br />
over the ball to force the turnover.<br />
The <strong>Ulster</strong> men in their European red<br />
colours, sealed the bonus-point try on 60<br />
minutes, when Ethan McIlroy scorched<br />
down the wing and drew the Northampton<br />
defence to send Lowry home for his<br />
second try of the afternoon.<br />
Northampton looked to be down and<br />
out but with a minute left to play, centre<br />
Rory Hutchinson broke through the<br />
middle to pounce over. George Furbank<br />
took the quick conversion bringing the<br />
gap to four points, but <strong>Ulster</strong> were able<br />
to regain possession and Star of the<br />
<strong>Match</strong>, Mike Lowry fittingly kicked the<br />
ball out for <strong>Ulster</strong> to take the victory and<br />
last-16 qualification.<br />
Full-time score:<br />
Northampton Saints 20-24 <strong>Ulster</strong><br />
Watch<br />
Highlights<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> progressed to the Round of 16<br />
in the <strong>Heineken</strong> <strong>Champions</strong> <strong>Cup</strong>, after<br />
defeating Northampton Saints 20-24 at<br />
cinch Stadium on Sunday afternoon.<br />
The opening few minutes involved both<br />
sides sending the ball aerially – <strong>Ulster</strong>’s<br />
back three dealt with the high balls<br />
comfortably. Courtnall Skosan was unable<br />
to cleanly catch one of <strong>Ulster</strong>’s kicks in<br />
reply, giving <strong>Ulster</strong> the scrum which they<br />
won to put Northampton under pressure.<br />
Stewart Moore, Billy Burns and Nathan<br />
Doak set in motion their first try, with<br />
Robert Baloucoune collecting a loose ball<br />
just outside the Saints’ line to make the<br />
dive over.<br />
and made the conversion.<br />
It took until the 19th minute for the hosts<br />
to get on the board through a Dan Biggar<br />
penalty after <strong>Ulster</strong> were caught offside.<br />
Northampton enjoyed a period of<br />
possession and territory, and eventually<br />
got purchase through Dan Biggar dotting<br />
down under the posts. The Welsh out-half<br />
converted his try to bring the game to<br />
within two points.<br />
Saints had soon got themselves into a<br />
dangerous area of the field, but Mike Lowry<br />
made a superb pick-up of a loose ball to<br />
go on the counter-attack with Robert<br />
Baloucoune in hot pursuit. Baloucoune<br />
made a great run and Nathan Doak was in<br />
support to go over for <strong>Ulster</strong>’s second try<br />
ulster.rugby<br />
33
Behind the Player<br />
Gemma McCamley<br />
In our series, Behind the Player in association<br />
with Deloitte, <strong>Ulster</strong>’s Senior Women<br />
players share a little bit about themselves<br />
and their rugby careers.<br />
In the hot seat this time is Cooke RFC and<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> back-row, Gemma McCamley.<br />
Tell us a little about your rugby pathway<br />
to date.<br />
I didn’t start playing rugby until I was 17<br />
years old. I have a background in sport, so<br />
I grew up training in acrobatic gymnastics<br />
in my early teens. I held a few national titles<br />
competing with my sister and another girl,<br />
but I fell out of love with sport. It wasn’t<br />
really until I picked up rugby that my<br />
passion for exercise and getting involved<br />
in team sports was reignited. I played at<br />
Bangor RFC’s Under-18 set-up and had a<br />
fantastic coach, and I really loved the team<br />
but because I was 17, I grew out of underage<br />
rugby quickly. There wasn’t a senior setup<br />
at my local club, so I waited until I went to<br />
Queen’s University where I played for two<br />
years. That was an excellent introduction<br />
to development-level rugby and I learned a<br />
lot. After that, I felt it was time to challenge<br />
myself a bit more, so I moved to Malone<br />
RFC for two years. During the pandemic,<br />
I switched to Cooke RFC where I am now<br />
and I am really enjoying it. It was through<br />
Cooke that I got picked up by <strong>Ulster</strong><br />
<strong>Rugby</strong>. I had a bit of exposure to the <strong>Ulster</strong><br />
development squad in 2019 when I was<br />
playing for Malone, but first time I made<br />
it to the Inter-Provincial squad was when I<br />
was playing for Cooke.<br />
Who have been your main influences on<br />
your rugby career?<br />
My number one fan has always been my<br />
grandad. I still remember him coming to my<br />
first Under-18 game. He had no exposure<br />
to women’s rugby but he was so over the<br />
moon that someone in the family picked<br />
up the sport, as I don’t come from a very<br />
rugby-forward family. Through the years,<br />
my second biggest supporter would be<br />
my twin sister. We didn’t always get on as<br />
teenagers but in the last two years, she has<br />
come to rugby with me and it’s the closest<br />
we have been in years. She was the one<br />
person who was more excited than I was when<br />
I got my first <strong>Ulster</strong> cap. She was prouder<br />
than I was of me; that was really special for<br />
us and our relationship. It has really brought<br />
us together.<br />
How did it feel to make your debut at Kingspan<br />
Stadium against Munster?<br />
I was absolutely ecstatic! I was buzzing the<br />
whole week leading up to the match and<br />
had a smile on my face the whole time. It’s a<br />
phenomenal atmosphere going to your home<br />
pitch and being able to show everyone what<br />
we can do at home. I remember in the changing<br />
rooms, I had a little photo of someone special<br />
– it was a photo of me and my twin sister the<br />
first time we played on a pitch together. I knew<br />
going out that she was going to be there and<br />
my family were going to be there. Lining up<br />
on the pitch for kick-off was an incomparable<br />
feeling. It was so lovely and exciting.<br />
What are your rugby aspirations?<br />
From where I’m at now with my<br />
ACL recovery, it’s to make a<br />
comeback, and to come back<br />
stronger. I’m taking this year<br />
out as an opportunity to<br />
work on my weaknesses<br />
from a rugby, strength<br />
and mentality standpoint.<br />
Mental toughness is a huge<br />
aspect of the game that<br />
isn’t always appreciated.<br />
Whenever I get my boots<br />
back on the grass, I will<br />
be stronger mentally and<br />
physically, and ready to take<br />
on whatever challenges<br />
come my way. Hopefully, I’ll<br />
line out in a white shirt again.<br />
That would be a huge honour to<br />
get back to <strong>Ulster</strong> and get more<br />
caps under my belt.<br />
Back Row<br />
11/06/1997<br />
ulster.rugby<br />
35
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Kingspan’s Commitment<br />
to Sustainability<br />
stadium on Friday, so it will be awesome<br />
and I’m really looking forward to it.<br />
Kingspan’s products sold in 2020, will make a significant<br />
positive contribution to the environment over their lifetime.<br />
HOME<br />
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573m<br />
In 2020 alone,<br />
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ulster.rugby/buytickets<br />
39
<strong>Ulster</strong> Fancy a French Flourish<br />
<strong>Rugby</strong> fortresses away from Belfast<br />
have commonly been stormed in recent<br />
seasons, and this year the Stade Marcel<br />
Michelin and Franklin’s Gardens have seen<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> depart with impressive wins.<br />
ASM <strong>Clermont</strong> <strong>Auvergne</strong> and Northampton<br />
Saints are regarded as titans of the<br />
French and English first-class game, but<br />
Dan McFarland has sent out his teams to<br />
impose themselves on the opposition,<br />
no matter its reputation, and what a<br />
great journey fans are on in this season’s<br />
<strong>Heineken</strong> <strong>Champions</strong> <strong>Cup</strong>.<br />
While the bread-and-butter United<br />
<strong>Rugby</strong> <strong>Champions</strong>hip has seen a few<br />
disappointing outings, it has been a<br />
refreshing and optimistic wind which has<br />
lifted supporters and will see the Kingspan<br />
Stadium witness a raucous roar of welcome<br />
Guest article:<br />
Rod Nawn<br />
to their favourites for the first time in 2022<br />
as <strong>Clermont</strong> arrives seeking to avenge the<br />
reverse in France last month.<br />
A place in the last sixteen of Europe’s<br />
premier tournament is already assured<br />
and a sequence of big occasions at home<br />
in the knockout stages is in prospect if this<br />
famous ground is to stage another great<br />
<strong>Champions</strong> <strong>Cup</strong> home victory under the<br />
Saturday evening lights.<br />
The coaching team has reiterated its<br />
determination that the squad selected<br />
for the return tie in Pool A will have been<br />
well-prepared against any complacency,<br />
that it will be as determined and focussed<br />
on another win as it was in the previous<br />
three successes.<br />
Another success might see <strong>Ulster</strong> finish top<br />
of the pool but that will not be the primary<br />
target: the players have demonstrated a<br />
strength of character allied to the huge talent<br />
and intelligence they possess in seeing off<br />
<strong>Clermont</strong> abroad and Northampton home<br />
and away.<br />
Some individuals have shone so brightly<br />
and so recently that their international<br />
credentials have been under the spotlight,<br />
and for the ‘young guns,’ particularly in<br />
the much-lauded backline, their eyes<br />
must be firmly set on consolidating their<br />
reputations with consistent performances<br />
of high quality. McFarland, his assistants<br />
Dan Soper, Roddy Grant and Jared Payne<br />
– sadly to depart for new challenges soon<br />
– have shown that keeping minds on the<br />
job of being a professional rugby player<br />
in tandem with honing the players’ visible<br />
skills is something at which they excel.<br />
Complacency, as James Hume remarked<br />
this week, is not on the agenda and he cited<br />
basketball superstar Kobe Bryant’s careerlong<br />
mantra that ‘the job isn’t done.’<br />
But it will be a challenge to extract just as<br />
much in terms of attitude and approach<br />
from a group which has, in Europe at least,<br />
been as cohesive as it has been combative<br />
and concentrated. But with a packed<br />
house providing a chorus of approval and<br />
encouragement, it promises to be another<br />
thrilling Kingspan Stadium occasion, one<br />
made even more exciting by the prospect<br />
of downing another of French rugby’s<br />
biggest names.<br />
Inevitably some of a certain vintage will<br />
draw parallels with – and high hopes from –<br />
the wondrous trail to European <strong>Cup</strong> winning<br />
glory in 1999. The squad of this modern<br />
era is better equipped in so many ways to<br />
chase that same trophy: it has access to the<br />
best training facilities, coaches, medical and<br />
nutritional guidance. But ultimately it must<br />
merge those assets to natural rugby ability<br />
and an understanding of the complexities<br />
of the 21st Century sport.<br />
Last weekend at Franklin’s Gardens we<br />
were all in thrall to the vision, opportunism<br />
and determination of the outstanding<br />
Michael Lowry, Robert Baloucoune, Hume,<br />
Stewart Moore, Ethan McIlroy and Nathan<br />
Doak, while out-half Billy Burns was the<br />
experienced and thoughtful pilot against<br />
an athletic, heavily-built Northampton<br />
Saints outfit.<br />
ulster.rugby<br />
41
Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlum and Sam<br />
Matavesi were outflanked by some clever<br />
coaching and super execution, while<br />
behind the scrum Dan Biggar, the feisty<br />
Alex Mitchell, Courtnall Skosan and George<br />
Furbank always offered an attacking threat<br />
of which Payne’s well-drilled defence was<br />
acutely aware.<br />
This evening, <strong>Clermont</strong>’s team will include<br />
players of great physicality and verve in<br />
both forward and back divisions.<br />
The French club’s hands-on Director<br />
of <strong>Rugby</strong> is, of course, familiar to all at<br />
Kingspan Stadium. Jono Gibbes did not<br />
stay with <strong>Ulster</strong> long enough to fulfil the<br />
expectations many held in him, and the<br />
manner of his departure in 2018 still rankles.<br />
Fortunately, Dan McFarland was identified<br />
as the man to take on a formidable job in<br />
shaping the current <strong>Ulster</strong> side and he has<br />
been a stable and reliable presence, as well<br />
as a Head Coach of invention, reason and<br />
singular character.<br />
Parra has set a record for consecutive<br />
penalty successes, forty-eight to be precise,<br />
and his 71 French caps merely confirm his<br />
quality and emphasises the talent available<br />
to his club.<br />
In midfield Damian Penaud is in the finest<br />
traditions of French centres, free running,<br />
often unpredictable but always exciting to<br />
watch, while his international team-mate<br />
Alivereti Raka is as swift a winger as he is<br />
imposingly strong. Kotaro Matushima, the<br />
established Japan international, can be<br />
deployed anywhere along the backline and<br />
has proved a particularly resilient full-back<br />
since his arrival at <strong>Clermont</strong> two years ago.<br />
In the pack, Jaco van Tonder is equally<br />
effective at flanker or lock, and in the second<br />
row Argentina’s Tomas Lavanini, the fiery<br />
Sebastien Vahaamahina and Paul Jedrasiak<br />
are fine options for Gibbes. The front row is<br />
grizzly and in the image of the coach, and<br />
the youthful Daniel Biziwu, Etienne Falgoux<br />
and hookers Yohan Beheregaray and<br />
Etienne Fourcade demonstrate the calibre<br />
of competition in that area.<br />
Rob Herring, Marty Moore and Tom O’Toole<br />
will not be fazed in the setpiece or in the<br />
loose, while Kieran Treadwell and Alan<br />
O’Connor formed a forceful and effective<br />
pairing for <strong>Ulster</strong> last weekend, with Sam<br />
Carter on the bench an experienced<br />
‘finisher.’ Duane Vermeulen’s contributions<br />
are not showy but there is a reason he is<br />
such a Springbok titan, and turnovers<br />
aplenty this winter can be traced to his<br />
technical and physical expertise. Nick<br />
Timoney’s star continues to rise, and<br />
Marcus Rea, Greg Jones and Sean Reidy<br />
offer a variety of skills across the back row.<br />
It would be foolish to describe tonight’s<br />
attractive encounter as season-defining for<br />
either team, though <strong>Clermont</strong> know only a<br />
win can copper-fasten its qualification for<br />
the <strong>Champions</strong> <strong>Cup</strong> knockout stages.<br />
The motivation for the home side is to<br />
continue its form in Europe through to<br />
the URC and the visit of the Scarlets<br />
next week, but also the opportunity to<br />
show the Kingspan Stadium fans just<br />
what levels the team and the individuals<br />
involved can reach.<br />
It will be a colourful and noisy Saturday<br />
evening, there will be inevitable echoes of<br />
big European nights which McFarland has<br />
somehow managed to make almost ritual<br />
during his tenure!<br />
It will be a fascinating game, one perhaps<br />
where the tactical approaches will be<br />
intriguing, but both clubs’ history is<br />
grounded in creating space and time<br />
for attacks to flourish. Let’s hope for a<br />
memorable evening, good rugby and time<br />
spent with some good companions after<br />
recent ‘blank’ festive days in Belfast.<br />
Allez!<br />
McFarland does not dwell on the trivial,<br />
but he does ‘do’ detail, and there will have<br />
been minute analysis of the opposition’s<br />
performance in narrow victory over Sale<br />
last weekend, and on some fluctuating form<br />
in the Top 14.<br />
Danger still hovers right through the<br />
<strong>Clermont</strong> line-up. Captain and out-half<br />
Camille Lopez is as adept in his game<br />
management as he is in his kicking game,<br />
and with JJ Hanrahan and the marvel that<br />
is Morgan Parra vying for half-back places,<br />
the visitors have a powerful points-scoring<br />
armoury.<br />
ulster.rugby<br />
43
All-Ireland Junior <strong>Cup</strong> Final<br />
BALLYCLARE v<br />
CLOGHER VALLEY<br />
Sat 29 Jan, 5.30pm | Kingspan Stadium<br />
Available Now<br />
gilbertrugby.com<br />
Kingspan Stadium will host the All-Ireland<br />
Junior <strong>Cup</strong> Final between Ballyclare and<br />
Clogher Valley next Saturday 29 January.<br />
2022 sees the first ever all-<strong>Ulster</strong> decider<br />
in the Energia All-Ireland Junior <strong>Cup</strong> and<br />
just the second time the final will be staged<br />
outside of Leinster after Portadown hosted<br />
the decider between Dundalk v Bangor<br />
in 2015.<br />
There are two <strong>Ulster</strong> names already on<br />
the trophy. Rainey Old Boys won the first<br />
ever final in 2006 with City of Derry raising<br />
the cup in 2010. Both sides have gone on<br />
to establish themselves in the Energia All-<br />
Ireland League.<br />
Speaking about the announcement, IRFU<br />
Committee member and Junior Working<br />
Party Chair Joe McDermott said:<br />
“I have witnessed first-hand the kind of<br />
quality we can expect from Ballyclare and<br />
Clogher Valley in this year’s competition and<br />
it will be great to see another outstanding<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> club add their name to this trophy.<br />
The Energia All-Ireland Junior <strong>Cup</strong> was<br />
one of the last rugby competitions to be<br />
completed before the pandemic took hold<br />
and it means so much to the entire rugby<br />
community that club games like this can<br />
take place once again.<br />
I would like to take this opportunity to<br />
commend every club who contributed to<br />
making this year’s competition such as<br />
success.”<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> CEO Jonny Petrie said:<br />
“I’d like to firstly congratulate both Ballyclare<br />
and Clogher Valley on their successful runs<br />
to the final. To have 2 <strong>Ulster</strong> clubs perform<br />
so well is something we’re immensely proud<br />
of, and I believe it’s a great testament to the<br />
strength of our domestic game.<br />
We’re also incredibly excited to host the<br />
final at Kingspan Stadium, as it presents the<br />
clubs with a chance to win this prestigious<br />
trophy in their home province.<br />
After all the challenges of the last couple<br />
of years, it’s fantastic to see things really<br />
moving forward, and we eagerly await the<br />
final at the end of the month.”<br />
All-Ireland Junior <strong>Cup</strong> Final<br />
Ballyclare v Clogher Valley<br />
Sat 29 Jan, 5:30pm<br />
Kingspan Stadium<br />
FIND TICKETS<br />
The oval trim design is a registered trademark of Gilbert <strong>Rugby</strong>.<br />
ulster.rugby 45
<strong>Ulster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> Academy<br />
Azur<br />
Allison<br />
Back Row<br />
19/04/1999<br />
191cm<br />
106kg<br />
1<br />
Ben<br />
Carson<br />
Centre<br />
24/02/2002<br />
183cm<br />
100kg<br />
-<br />
Reuben<br />
Crothers<br />
Flanker<br />
29/01/2001<br />
185cm<br />
96kg<br />
-<br />
Lewis<br />
Finlay<br />
Scrum Half<br />
19/01/2000<br />
168cm<br />
74kg<br />
-<br />
James<br />
Humphreys<br />
Fly Half<br />
11/04/2001<br />
185cm<br />
80kg<br />
-<br />
James<br />
McCormick<br />
Hooker<br />
08/01/2002<br />
180cm<br />
103kg<br />
-<br />
Conor<br />
McKee<br />
Scrum Half<br />
20/03/2001<br />
183cm<br />
87kg<br />
-<br />
CADEMY ACADEMY ACADEMY<br />
CADEMY ACADEMY ACADEMY<br />
CADEMY ACADEMY ACADEMY<br />
CADEMY Jude ACADEMY Conor ACADEMY<br />
George<br />
Postlethwaite Rankin Saunderson<br />
CADEMY Centre<br />
ACADEMY Full Back ACADEMY<br />
Prop<br />
03/04/2002 27/05/2001<br />
11/01/2001<br />
CADEMY 193cm ACADEMY 185cm<br />
ACADEMY<br />
191cm<br />
101kg<br />
89kg<br />
118kg<br />
CADEMY - ACADEMY - ACADEMY<br />
-<br />
CADEMY ACADEMY ACADEMY<br />
ulster.rugby<br />
CADEMY ACADEMY ACADEMY<br />
Ben<br />
Moxham<br />
Wing<br />
06/09/2001<br />
191cm<br />
97kg<br />
9<br />
Harry<br />
Sheridan<br />
Lock/Back Row<br />
21/09/2001<br />
196cm<br />
111kg<br />
-
If exceptional tries are what you like, you can<br />
always count on ASM <strong>Clermont</strong> <strong>Auvergne</strong> wing,<br />
Damian Penaud, to deliver. Fans witnessed<br />
some great scores in Round 1 of the <strong>Heineken</strong><br />
<strong>Champions</strong> <strong>Cup</strong> and EPCR Challenge <strong>Cup</strong><br />
including Penaud’s spectacular effort against<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong>.<br />
“Great break from JJ Hanrahan to expose the<br />
opposition front row and beat him one-on-one,<br />
followed by a perfectly-timed pass to Penaud,<br />
who has the kick accuracy, speed and a worldclass<br />
finish to score a superb try,” was how BT<br />
Sport’s Sam Waburton described the score.<br />
Warburton’s verdict, combined with the public’s<br />
votes, determined the winner, and although<br />
Penaud fully deserved the accolade, it was<br />
a close call between his effort and Anthony<br />
Jelonch’s memorable try for Stade Toulousain<br />
against Cardiff <strong>Rugby</strong>.<br />
For the sixth season in a row, the Try of the<br />
Round activation is launched on the Monday<br />
after each round, and fans will also be able to<br />
vote for the Try of the Season immediately after<br />
the Finals Weekend next May.<br />
Cheslin Kolbe won the award for the best try last<br />
season, Juan Imhoff topped the poll in 2019/20,<br />
then it was Maxime Médard in 2018/19, Tadhg<br />
Beirne in 2017/18, and first of all, Nick Abendanon<br />
back in 2016/17.<br />
Who will succeed all these great names of<br />
European club rugby? You can make the<br />
difference by voting for your favourite!<br />
EPCRUGBY.COM/TOTR<br />
49
Mike Lowry<br />
ulster.rugby<br />
Full Back<br />
20/08/1998<br />
170cm<br />
76kg<br />
57<br />
The <strong>Ulster</strong> full-back has a lot to be pleased<br />
about having been awarded <strong>Heineken</strong><br />
<strong>Champions</strong> <strong>Cup</strong> Star of the <strong>Match</strong> last<br />
Sunday and being selected in the Ireland<br />
Six Nations squad, with the challenge of<br />
French giants <strong>Clermont</strong> coming to town<br />
this weekend…<br />
Congratulations on being called-up to<br />
the Ireland Six Nations squad! How do<br />
you feel?<br />
Great! I didn’t really expect it and was<br />
keeping my head down over the last few<br />
months, working hard. Thankfully, I’ve<br />
been recognised and been selected! I’m<br />
absolutely buzzing and my family and<br />
friends are delighted too.<br />
What will you be looking forward to the<br />
most about the Ireland camp and what do<br />
you hope to get out of it?<br />
There will be a lot to look forward to. It will<br />
be the first time being involved with the<br />
likes of Johnny Sexton. I know a few of the<br />
lads from the Summer Tour but this time<br />
the Lions lads and Johnny will be back, so<br />
it will be interesting to learn from those<br />
experienced players. I want to push myself<br />
towards the team and hopefully get a game<br />
when I can run out in the green jersey!<br />
Switching back to <strong>Ulster</strong>, how is the mood<br />
in the squad this week coming into the<br />
game against <strong>Clermont</strong>?<br />
The sprits are high after Sunday’s<br />
performance against Northampton Saints.<br />
We have to continue that on this week. It’s<br />
a must-win game if we want to get a home<br />
second leg in the Round of 16. <strong>Clermont</strong><br />
have a must-win game to qualify, so it will<br />
be some battle. Everyone is looking forward<br />
to it – these are the games everyone wants<br />
to play in these big European nights at<br />
home in front of a packed crowd. These are<br />
the exciting weeks that we all love.<br />
<strong>Clermont</strong> are still very much in the hunt<br />
coming to Belfast – what threats do you<br />
expect they will bring on Saturday?<br />
<strong>Clermont</strong> are full of international stars;<br />
they have some classy players who we will<br />
have to nullify, for sure. They will have no<br />
fear coming over here despite the fact that<br />
they have to win to qualify. They’re a really<br />
dangerous side and we have to respect that,<br />
but we want to play our game in our house.<br />
We want to show them what Kingspan<br />
Stadium means to us.<br />
A lot is being talked about <strong>Ulster</strong>’s young<br />
back line – how much are you enjoying<br />
being part of it?<br />
It’s been brilliant. We all get along so well, it<br />
makes everything a lot easier. We can have<br />
those tough conversations with each other<br />
as well as enjoying each other’s company<br />
on and off the pitch. It definitely helps<br />
and we’re just enjoying getting game time<br />
together.<br />
It’s been a while since <strong>Ulster</strong> last played<br />
at home – how much are you looking<br />
forward to running out again at a full<br />
Kingspan Stadium?<br />
When we played Northampton before<br />
Christmas in front of a sell-out crowd, it was<br />
a “goosebumps down the back” moment<br />
coming out under the lights. Those special<br />
nights at home in Europe are hard to beat.<br />
I don’t think there are many places that<br />
Kingspan Stadium would be beaten by,<br />
especially with a home crowd. We’re all<br />
buzzing to be back at home. We’ve had a<br />
few weeks on the road, which is enjoyable<br />
too, but there’s something a bit more special<br />
about being home and putting on a good<br />
performance.<br />
51
Code of Conduct<br />
Follow the laws<br />
of the game<br />
Accept the referee’s<br />
decision<br />
Win with humility,<br />
lose with dignity<br />
Remember who you<br />
represent<br />
Please be respectful<br />
of players’ abilities<br />
Keep your language<br />
clean<br />
Zero tolerance for<br />
abuse / harassment<br />
Respect your<br />
opponents<br />
Play fair and<br />
with discipline<br />
Lead by example<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> has launched an updated<br />
Code of Conduct for all players, coaches,<br />
volunteers, referees and spectators as part<br />
of the #respectURgame campaign.<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong>’s Head of <strong>Rugby</strong> Development,<br />
Chris Webster commented:<br />
“It’s vitally important that everyone<br />
associated with the game is aware of our<br />
Code of Conduct, and so I would encourage<br />
people to take a few minutes to make<br />
themselves aware of the key messages.<br />
“We recognise that for most, these principles<br />
will be familiar and demonstrated every day;<br />
we want to see that continue.<br />
Value volunteer referees<br />
and coaches<br />
“For those involved in the game as players,<br />
coaches, volunteers, referees and spectators,<br />
the quality of their rugby experience is<br />
crucial; this is greatly enhanced when we<br />
respect each other and respect the game.<br />
These principles help guide all of us on what<br />
this quality experience looks like.<br />
“I’d like to thank everyone for the<br />
good work that they do in promoting<br />
rugby across the province in clubs<br />
and schools, and for championing the<br />
#respectURgame message.”<br />
<strong>Rugby</strong> World <strong>Cup</strong> 2023<br />
Ireland <strong>Match</strong> Breaks<br />
Register<br />
ulster.rugby 53
YOUR ACCESS TO THE HEART OF EUROPEAN<br />
RUGBY HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER<br />
HEINEKENCHAMPIONSCUP.COM<br />
ulster.rugby<br />
#<strong>Heineken</strong><strong>Champions</strong><strong>Cup</strong><br />
55
<strong>Ulster</strong> Society of<br />
<strong>Rugby</strong> Football Referees’<br />
Lee Evans | Lisburn RFC<br />
What is the process for someone who<br />
only wants to become an affiliate referee?<br />
There is a separate pathway for anyone<br />
who simply wants to referee in their own<br />
club and/or school. This is called the<br />
Affiliate Referee programme and further<br />
details can be found by clicking below:<br />
Click Here<br />
If interested in referring, please contact<br />
Richard Kerr<br />
Referee Development Manager<br />
richard.kerr@irfu.ie | 07493 868 388<br />
We often find that individuals start out as<br />
affiliate referees but very quickly decide<br />
that they want to develop their refereeing<br />
further by joining the USRFR.<br />
We welcome Luke Pearce (RFU) and<br />
his team of officials to the Kingspan<br />
Stadium for this evenings European<br />
<strong>Champions</strong> <strong>Cup</strong> match. The game<br />
of rugby prides itself on the core<br />
values of discipline, respect, integrity,<br />
passion and solidarity and we ask all in<br />
attendance to recognise these.<br />
In this digital match programme we profile<br />
the USRFR’s recently appointed Trainee<br />
Referee co-ordinator Lee Evans.<br />
<strong>Rugby</strong> background:<br />
I started playing youth rugby at<br />
Ballynahinch RFC before moving on in later<br />
life to play adult rugby at Lisburn RFC.<br />
I wasn’t much of a player so I decided to<br />
take up the whistle early in my career.<br />
How long have you been a member of<br />
the USRFR?<br />
15 years and counting.<br />
What level have you refereed at?<br />
I started as a trainee referee back in 2006<br />
before moving through the ranks to referee<br />
on the IRFU National Panel which included<br />
Senior rugby & the All Ireland League<br />
What is your current role within the USRFR<br />
and how long have you been doing it?<br />
I have just this season taken on the role of<br />
trainee referee coordinator. My first group<br />
included eight new trainee referees which<br />
included six males and two females. I will<br />
guide them through a 12 week process<br />
which will see them cover all aspects of<br />
refereeing from watching live matches,<br />
touch judging and refereeing youth & adult<br />
matches under the guidance of mentors<br />
from the society who will be there to<br />
help oversee and guide them along to full<br />
membership of the USRFR.<br />
What advice would you give to anyone<br />
who is thinking about becoming a referee?<br />
Do it! The opportunities to develop new<br />
skills, travel, meet new people, give back to<br />
the game etc. etc. …the list really is endless.<br />
Once you have completed your traineeship<br />
the world is your oyster.<br />
Briefly outline the process of becoming a<br />
referee for the USRFR<br />
You will be asked to do some pre course<br />
online training before attending an<br />
induction day with myself & Richard<br />
Kerr (Provincial Referee Development<br />
Manager) to talk all things refereeing.<br />
After this you will take part in a range of<br />
activities from touch judging, refereeing<br />
youth & adult games and taking part in<br />
a group sharing exercise which will help<br />
develop and guide you through the 12<br />
week programme to full membership.<br />
How have some of the recent Trainee<br />
Referees been getting on?<br />
Really well actually. We are currently ten<br />
weeks into the programme and four have<br />
already been promoted to full membership<br />
of the USRFR. The future of refereeing in<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> and Ireland is bright if this talented<br />
group are anything to go by!<br />
ULSTER v<br />
SCARLETS<br />
FRI 28 JAN, 7.35PM<br />
KINGSPAN STADIUM<br />
ulster.rugby<br />
57
RAVENHILL PARK GARDENS<br />
Important:<br />
ONSLOW PARADE<br />
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all supporters,<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> would ask all supporters to follow the latest public health<br />
guidance in relation to COVID-19 restrictions.<br />
SPIRIT OF ‘99<br />
THE 1924<br />
TURNSTILES<br />
Please DO NOT attend Kingspan Stadium if you are<br />
experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19.<br />
PROMENADE 1<br />
PROMENADE 2<br />
Clean Hands Keep Distance Wear Face Covering<br />
ABBEY AUTOLINE FAMILY STAND<br />
EAST TERRACE<br />
FOOD<br />
VILLAGE<br />
ADMIN’<br />
BUILDING<br />
When travelling around the Stadium, please wear a face covering,<br />
make use of hand sanitisation stations, and be distance-aware and<br />
respectful of other supporters.<br />
A&L GOODBODY LOUNGE / VIP BOXES<br />
ISOLATION<br />
ROOM<br />
C-19 MEDIC<br />
Respect Policy<br />
Stadium Facilities<br />
Catering<br />
TURNSTILES<br />
Audio Descriptive Commentary<br />
We are passionate<br />
in our support<br />
We are silent during kicks<br />
at goal<br />
We respect the match<br />
officials’ decisions<br />
We drink<br />
responsibly<br />
The Food Village will be in operation,<br />
serving a variety of cuisines, while the Cool<br />
FM Crew will provide the soundtrack for<br />
the evening.<br />
A new stretch tent has been added to the<br />
Fan Zone, where supporters can enjoy a<br />
covered, well ventilated space.<br />
Audio descriptive match commentary to<br />
enhance the match experience for people<br />
affected by sight or hearing loss will be<br />
available. Earpieces can be collected from<br />
the admin building reception prior to the<br />
game, or you can book your equipment<br />
by calling Jen on (028) 9049 3222.<br />
We do not tolerate<br />
abusive or discriminatory<br />
language<br />
We respect opposition<br />
players, management<br />
& supporters<br />
We are mindful<br />
of our language<br />
INCIDENT HOTLINE<br />
07790<br />
200 200<br />
Kukri Store<br />
The Kukri Store will be open until 30<br />
minutes post-match.<br />
OUR Club<br />
The activity centre for our Junior Season<br />
Ticket holders will not be in operation for<br />
this fixture.<br />
ulster.rugby<br />
59
Thank You!<br />
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 />
Kit Sponsor<br />
Official Sponsors<br />
Domestic Sponsors<br />
Official Partners<br />
Official On-kit Sponsors<br />
H Glasgow Fri 24 Sep W 35-29 URC<br />
A Zebre Sat 2 Oct W 3-36 URC<br />
H Benetton Fri 8 Oct W 28-8 URC<br />
H Emirates Lions Fri 15 Oct W 26-10 URC<br />
A Connacht Sat 23 Oct L 36-11 URC<br />
A Leinster Sat 27 Nov W 10-20 URC<br />
A Ospreys Sat 4 Dec L 19-13 URC<br />
A <strong>Clermont</strong> Sat 11 Dec W 23-29 HCC<br />
H Northampton Saints Fri 17 Dec W 27-22 HCC<br />
A Munster Sat 8 Jan L 18-13 URC<br />
A Northampton Saints Sun 16 Jan W 20-24 HCC<br />
H <strong>Clermont</strong> Sat 22 Jan 5.30pm HCC<br />
H Scarlets Fri 28 Jan 7.35pm URC<br />
H Connacht Fri 4 Feb 8.15pm URC<br />
A Dragons Sun 20 Feb 2.00pm URC<br />
H Cardiff Fri 4 Mar 7.35pm URC<br />
H Leinster Sat 12 Mar 7.35PM URC<br />
A DHL Stormers Sat 26 Mar 1.00pm URC<br />
A Vodacom Bulls Sat 2 Apr 1.00pm URC<br />
H Munster Fri 22 Apr 7.35pm URC<br />
A Edinburgh Sat 30 Apr 7.35pm URC<br />
H Cell C Sharks 20-22 May TBC URC<br />
BACK<br />
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