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ULSTER<br />
Offical <strong>Match</strong> <strong>Day</strong> <strong>Programme</strong><br />
v OSPREYS<br />
Sat 8 Oct 2022, 7.35pm<br />
Kingspan Stadium
In this Issue<br />
7<br />
Our Official<br />
Mascots<br />
10 Supporting<br />
Horatio’s Garden<br />
14<br />
Player Q&A:<br />
Ben Moxham<br />
16<br />
2022/23 Men’s<br />
Senior Squad<br />
Welcome back to Kingspan Stadium,<br />
the home of Ulster Rugby, where tonight the<br />
Ulster men will host <strong>Ospreys</strong> in Round 4 of<br />
the BKT United Rugby Championship.<br />
Both Ulster and <strong>Ospreys</strong> have enjoyed mixed fortunes in the opening three<br />
rounds with a mixture of scintillating rugby, impressive wins and narrow losses.<br />
With every point proving crucial in the <strong>UR</strong>C, both teams will be keen to improve<br />
their standing with a victory tonight. The supporters at<br />
Kingspan Stadium will no doubt be in for a treat with a host of<br />
household name internationals in action.<br />
Earlier this week the Danske Bank Ulster’s Schools competitions were<br />
launched at Kingspan Stadium. These competitions are among the most<br />
eagerly anticipated in the domestic rugby calendar, with this year’s crop once<br />
again trying to make their way through to the showpiece finals on the hallowed<br />
turf of Kingspan Stadium. Best of luck to all involved in their<br />
respective competitions.<br />
To the Ulster players and management, we wish you the best of luck tonight<br />
and for the upcoming block of away games, which includes a trip to South<br />
Africa. To Ulster’s committed supporters, enjoy the game and let’s make it<br />
another night to remember at Kingspan Stadium.<br />
22<br />
Last Time<br />
Out<br />
26 Team<br />
Announcements<br />
30 <strong>Ospreys</strong><br />
Ones to Watch<br />
33 Half-Time<br />
Exhibition Game<br />
36<br />
46<br />
50<br />
52<br />
Ulster’s Centres<br />
of Attention<br />
Referees’ Society<br />
Update<br />
Ulster Rugby<br />
Academy<br />
Danske Bank Schools’<br />
Cup Launch<br />
10<br />
22<br />
30<br />
52<br />
3
President’s<br />
Welcome<br />
<strong>UR</strong>C <strong>UR</strong>COFFICIAL <strong>UR</strong>COFFICIAL <strong>UR</strong>C<br />
We’re back at Kingspan Stadium tonight<br />
for Round 4 of the BKT United Rugby<br />
Championship. With both teams keen<br />
to secure a victory, and keep building<br />
momentum in the league, it’s set to be an<br />
exciting Saturday night in Belfast.<br />
After their first loss of the season in<br />
challenging conditions, Dan McFarland’s<br />
men will be looking to get back to winning<br />
ways. With a high-energy Welsh clash<br />
against Scarlets already under our belt this<br />
season, we can expect a similar battle tonight<br />
with their neighbours, <strong>Ospreys</strong>, who will be<br />
wanting to back-up their first 2022/23 win<br />
last weekend over Glasgow Warriors.<br />
The last time the <strong>Ospreys</strong> came to town, we<br />
were playing behind closed doors, so the roar<br />
of the home crowd is something the team<br />
will not be taking for granted. Let’s hope the<br />
weather is kinder to us this weekend!<br />
On a domestic front, this week saw the<br />
official launch of our Danske Bank Schools’<br />
Rugby competitions for 2022/23. An event<br />
was held at Kingspan Stadium, which saw<br />
the holders of five of our schools’ trophies in<br />
attendance. This included the Boys Schools’<br />
Cup holders Methodist College, the Girls<br />
Schools’ Cup champions Erne Integrated<br />
College, Medallion Shield holders Campbell<br />
College, inaugural Schools’ U16 Cup winners<br />
Ballymena Academy, and the U16 High<br />
Schools Cup holders Bangor Academy.<br />
Also in attendance was Richard Caldwell,<br />
representing Danske Bank. This season<br />
marks our 18th in collaboration with Danske<br />
Bank in what’s been a long and successful<br />
partnership. Together, we look forward to<br />
another wonderful season of schools’ rugby<br />
at all levels, with a wide range of trophies<br />
on the line for both male and female players<br />
across the province.<br />
I am also pleased with a positive first round<br />
of AIL games for our Ulster clubs, with seven<br />
wins from twelve fixtures last weekend. My<br />
best wishes to all for Round 2 this Saturday.<br />
Speaking of young talent, my congratulations<br />
go out to the Ulster players involved in<br />
the recent Emerging Ireland wins over the<br />
Griquas and then the Pumas, especially Rob<br />
Baloucoune, Stewart Moore, Dave McCann,<br />
and Jake Flannery, who all crossed the<br />
whitewash in the back-to-back victories.<br />
With a trip to South Africa for Ulster on the<br />
agenda for next week, it’s encouraging to<br />
see all of our players involved in this tour<br />
performing well in the Ireland set-up.<br />
Good luck to Dan McFarland, the players,<br />
and support staff for this evening. It’s set<br />
to be an exciting clash, and I am confident<br />
that the hard work and preparation of this<br />
week will pay dividends – and thank-you to<br />
everyone continuing to support our club,<br />
both here at Kingspan Stadium, at home,<br />
and from around the world.<br />
#SUFTUM<br />
Philip Gregg<br />
President, IRFU Ulster Branch<br />
5
Mascots<br />
Name: Max McShane<br />
Age: 9<br />
From: Lurgan<br />
Favourite Player: Jacob Stockdale<br />
I am looking forward to meeting the<br />
players and walking out onto the<br />
pitch at Kingspan Satdium in front of<br />
all of the supporters.<br />
When I grow up, I’d like to be<br />
a Teacher.<br />
Name: Flynn Jackson<br />
Age: 12<br />
From: Belfast<br />
Favourite Player: Iain Henderson<br />
Playing rugby at school sparked<br />
my interest in the game and I have<br />
since enjoyed following Ulster.<br />
It will be an great fun and honour to<br />
lead the team out against <strong>Ospreys</strong>.<br />
7
9
Ulster Rugby to Support<br />
Horatio’s Garden<br />
in Season Ahead<br />
Ulster Rugby has announced its support<br />
for charity, Horatio’s Garden, across the<br />
2022/23 season – with the aim of raising<br />
funds for a therapeutic garden for spinal<br />
injury patients at Musgrave Park Hospital.<br />
Patients with spinal injuries at Musgrave Park<br />
Hospital in Belfast are set to benefit from a<br />
new partnership between Ulster Rugby and<br />
Horatio’s Garden, a charity that creates and<br />
nurtures therapeutic gardens in NHS spinal<br />
injury centres across the UK.<br />
Last week marked the launch of the club’s<br />
commitment to help raise the final £100k<br />
needed to build and open the NI garden, with<br />
the fundraising appeal across the province<br />
set to be boosted by an anonymous donor’s<br />
pledge to double all donations made by<br />
Ulster Rugby staff, players, and supporters<br />
throughout the season.<br />
The Spinal Injuries Unit at<br />
Musgrave Park Hospital<br />
in Belfast supports over<br />
1,200 patients from across<br />
Northern Ireland affected<br />
by spinal injury each<br />
year. Once opened, the<br />
garden will have multiple<br />
restorative benefits for<br />
patients and their families.<br />
As part of the partnership, Ulster Rugby<br />
are set to visit the unit, with a calendar of<br />
engagement planned with the charity over<br />
the coming months.<br />
Dr Olivia Chapple, Founder and Chair of<br />
Trustees of Horatio’s Garden set up in<br />
memory of her son said:<br />
“With Ulster Rugby having such a huge<br />
presence across the province, and<br />
being passionate supporters of the local<br />
community too, we couldn’t think of better<br />
partners to help our final efforts to build,<br />
and open Horatio’s Garden Northern Ireland<br />
in 2023. My son, Horatio, who loved sports<br />
would be hugely grateful to the players, staff,<br />
and fans of Ulster Rugby for their support<br />
this season.”<br />
CLICK HERE<br />
Jonny Petrie, Ulster Rugby CEO, said:<br />
“In the year ahead, we look forward to playing<br />
our part in supporting Horatio’s Garden to<br />
create its next garden, which will benefit<br />
the many patients who receive treatment<br />
at Musgrave Park Hospital following a lifechanging<br />
spinal injury.<br />
“From speaking to the team, and hearing<br />
about the impact that previous projects<br />
have already had, it’s an opportunity for<br />
our staff, players, and supporters to make a<br />
real difference to those affected across the<br />
province.”<br />
Dr Suzanne Maguire, a Consultant in Rehabilitation<br />
at the Spinal Cord Injuries Unit said:<br />
“It is my hope having a Horatio’s Garden at<br />
the spinal unit in Musgrave Park Hospital<br />
will transform the lives<br />
of patients during their<br />
time in rehabilitation. The<br />
presence of a garden will<br />
allow people to escape<br />
the clinical environment<br />
and experience the<br />
happiness and freedom<br />
brought about by the<br />
outside world. I am<br />
delighted Ulster Rugby is<br />
supporting the building of such an important<br />
place for spinal patients admitted here from<br />
across NI. The benefits go beyond words.”<br />
Horatio’s Garden Northern Ireland, designed<br />
by nine-time RHS Chelsea gold medallist<br />
Andy Sturgeon will give patients, their loved<br />
ones, and NHS staff a social and recreational<br />
place to spend time together.<br />
It will also offer people the chance to enjoy<br />
horticultural therapy, along with a variety of<br />
creative workshops, live music, and seasonal<br />
events. It will be a home away from home<br />
for patients and their families, helping them<br />
to adjust to living with life-changing injuries<br />
throughout their months in hospital.<br />
To donate to the Horatio’s Garden’s Northern Ireland appeal,<br />
and show your support for everyone affected by spinal injury<br />
11
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Player<br />
Q&A<br />
Favourite moment of career<br />
so far?<br />
My first cap, against Connacht<br />
Any habits or rituals before a<br />
game?<br />
I would always go on the<br />
same walk in the morning, and<br />
definitely music before the<br />
game.<br />
Least favourite drill at training?<br />
Breakdown drills<br />
Best player you have played<br />
with?<br />
Duane Vermeulen<br />
Favourite stadium to visit?<br />
Principality Stadium<br />
Most used emoji?<br />
Favourite TV show/<br />
Film<br />
Peaky blinders<br />
If you had to stuck<br />
on an island with a<br />
teammate, who would<br />
you pick and why?<br />
Nathan Doak, I’d say<br />
we’d have great craic.<br />
Zero survival<br />
skills between us<br />
however…<br />
Apart from rugby, what other<br />
sports do you like?<br />
Football<br />
One thing you can’t live<br />
without?<br />
My phone<br />
Most used app on your phone?<br />
Instagram<br />
Ben Moxham<br />
ulster.rugby 15
Utility Back<br />
20/08/1992<br />
185cm<br />
93kg<br />
26<br />
5<br />
Will<br />
Addison<br />
Hooker<br />
26/05/1993<br />
180cm<br />
103kg<br />
97<br />
John<br />
Andrew<br />
Wing<br />
19/08/1997<br />
193cm<br />
93kg<br />
47<br />
2<br />
Rob<br />
Baloucoune<br />
Lock<br />
27/07/1995<br />
205cm<br />
120kg<br />
Frank<br />
Bradshaw-Ryan<br />
Fly Half<br />
13/06/1994<br />
183cm<br />
87kg<br />
77<br />
7<br />
Billy<br />
Burns<br />
Lock<br />
10/09/1989<br />
201cm<br />
116kg<br />
42<br />
AUS 16<br />
Sam<br />
Carter<br />
Scrum Half<br />
01/05/1990<br />
178cm<br />
86kg<br />
103<br />
11<br />
John<br />
Cooney<br />
Fly Half / Centre<br />
26/03/1998<br />
178cm<br />
92kg<br />
22<br />
Angus<br />
Curtis<br />
Scrum Half<br />
17/12/2001<br />
185cm<br />
85kg<br />
25<br />
Nathan<br />
Doak<br />
Fly Half<br />
07/06/1999<br />
183cm<br />
91kg<br />
Jake<br />
Flannery<br />
Wing<br />
11/03/1991<br />
183cm<br />
90kg<br />
207<br />
10<br />
Craig<br />
Gilroy<br />
Lock<br />
21/02/1992<br />
199cm<br />
116kg<br />
132<br />
68<br />
Iain<br />
Henderson<br />
C<br />
Hooker<br />
27/04/1990<br />
185cm<br />
105kg<br />
218<br />
26<br />
Rob<br />
Herring<br />
Centre<br />
07/09/1998<br />
188cm<br />
98kg<br />
62<br />
3<br />
James<br />
Hume<br />
Lock<br />
28/01/2000<br />
201cm<br />
117kg<br />
8<br />
Cormac<br />
Izuchukwu<br />
Back Row<br />
13/01/1996<br />
196cm<br />
106kg<br />
38<br />
Greg<br />
Jones<br />
Full Back<br />
20/08/1998<br />
170cm<br />
76kg<br />
69<br />
1<br />
Mike<br />
Lowry<br />
Wing<br />
28/01/1997<br />
175cm<br />
85kg<br />
57<br />
Rob<br />
Lyttle<br />
Fly Half<br />
21/03/1989<br />
179cm<br />
89kg<br />
32<br />
30<br />
Ian<br />
Madigan<br />
Centre<br />
03/03/1991<br />
180cm<br />
95kg<br />
150<br />
11<br />
Luke<br />
Marshall<br />
Back Row<br />
13/06/2000<br />
193cm<br />
108kg<br />
15<br />
David<br />
McCann<br />
Centre<br />
06/08/1992<br />
193cm<br />
111kg<br />
161<br />
6<br />
Stuart<br />
McCloskey<br />
Scrum Half<br />
24/06/1999<br />
178cm<br />
95kg<br />
Michael<br />
McDonald<br />
Full Back/Wing<br />
10/08/2000<br />
188cm<br />
89kg<br />
37<br />
Ethan<br />
McIlroy<br />
MEN’S SENIOR SQUAD<br />
17<br />
ulster.rugby
Prop<br />
15/12/1992<br />
191cm<br />
130kg<br />
16<br />
Gareth<br />
Milasinovich<br />
Hooker<br />
15/09/1996<br />
183cm<br />
112kg<br />
2<br />
Declan<br />
Moore<br />
Prop<br />
01/03/1991<br />
178cm<br />
123kg<br />
78<br />
10<br />
Marty<br />
Moore<br />
Centre<br />
08/08/1999<br />
184cm<br />
91kg<br />
33<br />
Stewart<br />
Moore<br />
Wing/Centre<br />
09/09/1991<br />
191cm<br />
100kg<br />
20<br />
Ben<br />
Moxham<br />
Back Row<br />
22/04/1991<br />
188cm<br />
106kg<br />
56<br />
30<br />
Jordi<br />
Murphy<br />
Full Back<br />
15/07/1999<br />
181cm<br />
90kg<br />
Shea<br />
O’Brien<br />
Lock<br />
10/09/1992<br />
196cm<br />
110kg<br />
160<br />
Alan<br />
O’Connor<br />
Prop<br />
30/11/1995<br />
185cm<br />
117kg<br />
89<br />
1<br />
Eric<br />
O’Sullivan<br />
Prop<br />
23/09/1998<br />
184cm<br />
121kg<br />
81<br />
3<br />
Tom<br />
O’Toole<br />
Centre<br />
03/04/2002<br />
193cm<br />
93kg<br />
Jude<br />
Postlethwaite<br />
Back Row<br />
08/09/1997<br />
188cm<br />
109kg<br />
28<br />
Marcus<br />
Rea<br />
Back Row<br />
21/09/1993<br />
193cm<br />
114kg<br />
79<br />
Matty<br />
Rea<br />
Back Row<br />
04/11/1998<br />
180cm<br />
99kg<br />
1<br />
Sean<br />
Reffell<br />
Prop<br />
06/01/1999<br />
183cm<br />
116kg<br />
11<br />
Callum<br />
Reid<br />
Wing<br />
24/08/2000<br />
188cm<br />
92kg<br />
6<br />
Aaron<br />
Sexton<br />
Scrum Half<br />
20/06/1993<br />
175cm<br />
78kg<br />
83<br />
Dave<br />
Shanahan<br />
Hooker<br />
11/01/2001<br />
183cm<br />
103kg<br />
6<br />
Tom<br />
Stewart<br />
Wing/Full Back<br />
03/04/1996<br />
191cm<br />
102kg<br />
86<br />
35<br />
Jacob<br />
Stockdale<br />
Back Row<br />
01/08/1995<br />
188cm<br />
113kg<br />
107<br />
2<br />
Nick<br />
Timoney<br />
Prop<br />
19/11/1990<br />
192cm<br />
128kg<br />
1<br />
NZ 1<br />
Jeffery<br />
Toomanga-Allen<br />
Lock<br />
06/11/1995<br />
198cm<br />
115kg<br />
128<br />
8<br />
Kieran<br />
Treadwell<br />
Back Row<br />
03/07/1986<br />
193cm<br />
118kg<br />
17<br />
SA 60<br />
Duane<br />
Vermeulen<br />
Prop<br />
12/03/1991<br />
178cm<br />
117kg<br />
159<br />
Andrew<br />
Warwick<br />
MEN’S SENIOR SQUAD<br />
19<br />
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21
Last Time Out<br />
A tense finish as Leinster hold-out to beat<br />
Ulster, 20 points to 13, on a wet night at<br />
Kingspan Stadium.<br />
Luke Marshall, Ulster born and bred, led<br />
the charge last weekend, together with his<br />
young son, as he hit his 150th cap for the<br />
province.<br />
There was an expectant crowd at Kingspan<br />
Stadium as the top two in the new season<br />
BKT United Rugby Championship played it<br />
out in some terrible conditions.<br />
After two bonus point wins for the home<br />
team, it was another Interpro derby<br />
following the win over Connacht two<br />
weeks ago at home.<br />
A poor scrum, which Ulster chose to take,<br />
having won the freekick meant Leinster<br />
pushed Ulster down into their own 22. After<br />
some Leinster pressure and some slick<br />
passing, it led a try in the corner for their<br />
number 6, Ryan Baird, in the 7th minute.<br />
Ross Byrne produced a kick right between<br />
the posts from a difficult touchline angle to<br />
add the 2 points.<br />
Fri 30 Sep<br />
13 - 20<br />
From a kickable penalty option to go for<br />
the lineout seemed to be the right option<br />
in the 15th minute as the Ulster forwards<br />
showed a great show of strength and<br />
persistence to try to get themselves over<br />
the line however, we were held up over<br />
the line<br />
From the ensuing drop out by Leinster it<br />
ended up being an Ulster penalty in front<br />
of the posts which John Cooney gladly<br />
took advantage of. 3-7 in the 18th minute<br />
of the game.<br />
A reversal of fortune for the Leinster<br />
forwards as a lineout in the 20th minute of<br />
the game led their number 2 Dan Sheehan<br />
to get over the line. Byrne added the extras<br />
making it 3-14.<br />
In the 26th minute, the skies opened, but<br />
the game continued.<br />
With the weather saw a change in<br />
strategy as more high balls began to<br />
come into the game.<br />
The weather may have been cold and<br />
wet but the heat in the game was fiery as<br />
Leinster won a scrum penalty leading to a<br />
little bit of to and fro amongst the forwards,<br />
breathing a bit of life into the Kingspan<br />
faithful as they began to raise their voices<br />
once more.<br />
However, cheers of optimism turned to<br />
groans of discontent as Leinster managed<br />
to win another penalty which Ross Byrne<br />
added to his perfect kicking record for the<br />
evening making it 3-17 going in at half time.<br />
Half Time: Ulster 3 – Leinster 17<br />
A lot of defensive work for Ulster led to an<br />
offside penalty to allow Leinster to get the<br />
first points of the second half, making it<br />
3-20 in the 46th minute<br />
The high balls continued but this time it<br />
was Ulster’s turn to see how Leinster would<br />
respond. A scrum inside the Leinster 22<br />
allowed Ulster the chance to get back in<br />
this game. But with a key turnover from<br />
Van der Flier, it led to a kick and chase<br />
putting Ulster back into their own territory<br />
Further pressure from the men in blue<br />
couldn’t be turned into points followed a<br />
wayward lineout throw 5 metres from the<br />
Ulster white line.<br />
It was time for the men in white to show<br />
their resilience and character and that<br />
they did. Following a period of pressure<br />
lifting the crowd, it led to a yellow card for<br />
Leinster’s number 15 Jimmy O’Brien to put<br />
belief back into the home team once again.<br />
They showed real heart and converted the<br />
one-man advantage immediately with a<br />
John Andrew try with Cooney added the<br />
conversion. 10-20 at the start of the final<br />
quarter of the game<br />
Momentum had well and truly shifted as<br />
the crowd were standing up for the Ulster<br />
men after a well worked back move led to<br />
winger Aaron Sexton sliding in the corner.<br />
They were made to sit down after the TMO<br />
ruled it out.<br />
The chance of a comeback was still on<br />
when John Cooney stepped up to kick a<br />
penalty in the 72ndminute to make it 13-20.<br />
The last flicker of hope was given with a<br />
scrum to Ulster on the halfway line in the<br />
dying seconds however it wasn’t to be as<br />
the game finished with a 7-point victory to<br />
Leinster after a strong finish by Ulster.<br />
A chance to redeem this result comes next<br />
Saturday with another home game, this<br />
time against the <strong>Ospreys</strong>.<br />
Full Time: Ulster 13 – Leinster 20<br />
23
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RUGBY<br />
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25
1<br />
2<br />
3<br />
1<br />
2<br />
3<br />
4<br />
Eric O’Sullivan<br />
5<br />
John Andrew<br />
C<br />
Marty Moore<br />
4<br />
Gareth Thomas<br />
5<br />
Dwei Lake<br />
Tom Botha<br />
6<br />
Alan O’Connor<br />
8<br />
7<br />
Sam Carter<br />
6<br />
Rhys Davis<br />
8<br />
Huw Sutton<br />
C<br />
7<br />
11<br />
Rob Lyttle<br />
Nick Timoney<br />
Duane Vermeulen<br />
John Cooney<br />
Jordi Murphy<br />
9<br />
10<br />
OFFICIALS<br />
Referee: Ben Blain<br />
AR 1: Paul Haycock<br />
AR 2: Andrew Fogarty<br />
TMO: Andrew McMenemy<br />
11<br />
Keelan Giles<br />
Will Griffiths<br />
Dan Lydiate<br />
9<br />
Reuben Morgan Williams<br />
Jac Morgan<br />
10<br />
Replacements<br />
16 Declan Moore<br />
Ian Madigan<br />
12<br />
Replacements<br />
16 Scott Baldwin<br />
Stephen Myler<br />
12<br />
17 Andrew Warwick<br />
18 Tom O’Toole<br />
19 Frank Bradshaw-Ryan<br />
20 Marcus Rea<br />
Stuart McCloskey<br />
13<br />
17 Nicky Smith<br />
18 Rhys Henry<br />
19 Jack Regan<br />
20 Morgan Morris<br />
Michael Collins<br />
13<br />
21 David Shanahan<br />
22 Billy Burns<br />
23 Aaron Sexton<br />
15<br />
Luke Marshall<br />
14<br />
21 Rhys Webb<br />
22 Jack Walsh<br />
23 Joe Hawkins<br />
15<br />
Owen Watkins<br />
14<br />
Craig Gilroy<br />
Luke Morgan<br />
ulster.rugby<br />
Mike Lowry<br />
Max Nagy<br />
27
A FRESH<br />
TAKE ON<br />
REFRESHMENT<br />
#NOWYOUCAN<br />
GREAT TASTE.<br />
ZERO ALCOHOL.<br />
29
Rhys Webb<br />
Ones to Watch<br />
09/12/1988 1.83 91 kg<br />
Keelan Giles<br />
The international Scrum-half has been a key player<br />
for the <strong>Ospreys</strong> for well over a decade, also spending<br />
time in Toulon for the 2018-20 seasons in between.<br />
Last weekend Webb marshalled the back line well and<br />
was very much a key play-maker in their 32-17 victory<br />
over Glasgow Warriors.<br />
29/01/1998 1.73 m 76 kg<br />
Player of the <strong>Match</strong>, Giles scored two tries against<br />
Glasgow Warriors in Swansea last weekend. One of<br />
which was a chased kick from Webb into the 22 from his<br />
own 10-metre line, where Giles outpaced seven Glasgow<br />
players to snatched the ball and score at the posts. His<br />
pace, paired with his ability to read the bounce of the<br />
ball was a stand-out moment of the game.<br />
Dan Lydiate<br />
18/12/1987 1.93 m 115 kg<br />
Tonight’s Captain has been with the <strong>Ospreys</strong> since 2014,<br />
has made 68 international appearances and featured<br />
several times for the British and Irish Lions during their<br />
2013 tour of Australia.<br />
The versatile Back-row is a powerful ball-carrier, but is<br />
known for his relentless tackling, particularly the ‘choptackle’,<br />
which halts any ball carrier.<br />
NAME Position DOB HEIGHT WEIGHT<br />
Anscombe Gareth Fly-half 10 May 91 1.83m 87kg<br />
Aubrey Matthew Scrum-half 4 Jun 97 1.73m 81kg<br />
Beard Adam Lock 7 Jan 96 2.03m 117kg<br />
Botha Tom Prop 30 Aug 90 1.78m 110kg<br />
Collins Michael Centre /Fullback 3 Jun 93 1.86m 99kg<br />
Cross Sam No.8 26 Aug 92 1.9m 101kg<br />
Cuthbert Alex Wing 5 Apr 90 1.99m 104Kg<br />
Davies Bradley Lock 9 Jan 87 1.98m 122kg<br />
Davies Cai Back-row 23 Nov 00 1.9m 114Kg<br />
Davies Rhys Lock 9 Nov 98 1.97m 116Kg<br />
Edwards Dan Fly-half 5 Jul 03 1.77m 75kg<br />
Evans Cai Fly-half 23 Jun 99 1.85m 84Kg<br />
Evans Dan Fullback 15 Nov 88 1.83m 93kg<br />
Fackrell Ellis Prop 6 Nov 03 1.85M 111Kg<br />
Florence Tom Centre 19 Mar 03 1.88m 95kg<br />
Francis Tomas Prop 27 Apr 92 1.85m 120kg<br />
Giles Keelan Wing 29 Jan 98 1.73m 77kg<br />
Griffiths Will Lock 25 Dec 98 1.93m 105kg<br />
Hawkins Joe Centre 11 Jun 02 1.83m 98Kg<br />
Henry Rhys Prop 8 Sep 98 1.73m 114kg<br />
Hickey Will Back Row 31 Oct 01 1.91m 108kg<br />
Hopkins Iestyn Fullback 4 Apr 02 1.73m 88kg<br />
Houston Harri Wing 27 Nov 03 1.75m 80kg<br />
Jones Alun Wyn Lock 19 Sep 85 1.95m 118kg<br />
Jones Lewis Lock 19 Jul 02 2m 102kg<br />
Knott Osian Centre 7 Jan 00 1.89m 102kg<br />
Lake Dewi Back-row 16 May 99 1.85m 110kg<br />
Lloyd Lewis Hooker 5 Sep 96 1.85m 110kg<br />
Lydiate Dan Back-row 18 Dec 87 1.93m 115kg<br />
Morgan Harri Scrum-Half 16 Mar 00 1.78m 84kg<br />
Morgan Jac Back-row 27 Jan 00 1.80m 102kg<br />
Morgan Luke Wing 16 May 92 1.75m 81kg<br />
Morgan-Williams Reuben Scrum-Half 3 Feb 98 1.78m 84kg<br />
Morris Morgan Back-row 28 Aug 98 1.83m 102kg<br />
Morse Morgan Back-row 18 Jan 05 1.80m 102kg<br />
Myler Stephen Fly-half 21 Jul 84 1.80m 95Kg<br />
Nagy Max Wing 13 Jun 99 1.93m 95Kg<br />
Nash Harvey Scrum-Half 1.78m 79kg<br />
North George Wing 13 Apr 92 1.93m 109kg<br />
Parry Sam Hooker 17 Dec 91 1.85m 114kg<br />
Phillips Garyn Prop 14 May 01 1.84m 184Kg<br />
Protheroe Mathew Wing /Fullback 10 Oct 96 1.8m 78kg<br />
Regan Jack Lock 9 May 97 1.99m 114Kg<br />
Roots Ethan Back-row 10 Nov 97 1.88m 110kg<br />
Smith Nicky Prop 7 Apr 94 1.83m 116kg<br />
Taione Elvis Hooker 25 May 83 1.8m 112Kg<br />
Thomas Gareth Prop 2 Aug 93 1.88m 116kg<br />
Thomas-Wheeler Tiaan Fullback 19 Nov 99 1.9m 100kg<br />
Tipuric Justin Back-row 6 Aug 89 1.88m 102kg<br />
Warren Ben Prop 2 Apr 00 1.85M 118Kg<br />
Walsh Jack Fly-half 11 Jan 00 1.75m 98Kg<br />
Watkin Owen Centre 12 Oct 96 1.88m 100kg<br />
Webb Rhys Scrum-Half 9 Dec 88 1.83M 91Kg<br />
Williams Keiran Centre 12 Apr 97 1.78m 96kg<br />
ulster.rugby<br />
31
Half-Time | Exhibition Games<br />
Newforge Taggers<br />
1 Christopher Campbell 5 Adam Smyth<br />
9 Ryan Craig<br />
2 David Wharry<br />
6 Jack McKeown<br />
10 Jordan Kerr<br />
3 Andrew Bates<br />
7 Barbara Norris<br />
11 Ross Stewart<br />
4 Ryan Myles<br />
8 Andrew Hornsby 12 Jasmine Barrett<br />
Coaches: Tim Craig, Jackie Wharry, Lauren McAteer<br />
Ballyclare Hares<br />
Memorial End<br />
1 Fintan McErlean<br />
2 Daniel Osler<br />
3 Leon Hawthorne<br />
4 Christopher Hawthorne<br />
5 Paul Field<br />
6 James Dorman<br />
7 Matthew Davidson<br />
8 Sarah Gilmore<br />
9 Alfie Moore<br />
10 Daniel Purse<br />
11 Owen Pickett<br />
12 Kaden James<br />
Coaches: Gary Dorman, Kris James, Emma Gault<br />
33
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35
Guest article:<br />
Rod Nawn<br />
which to select. I just hope I can be part of<br />
that!”<br />
McCloskey will surely be one of the first<br />
names on the team sheet for this weekend’s<br />
important fixture against the <strong>Ospreys</strong>, and<br />
it’s an opposition he feels will pose more<br />
threats than in recent seasons.<br />
“In previous years the Wales internationals<br />
were very often left out when we took them<br />
on, and in that big win last Saturday over<br />
Glasgow the top guys were there. George<br />
North, Rhys Webb, Gareth Anscombe<br />
started. Up front, where their set-piece is so<br />
good - Tomas Francis, Scott Baldwin, Adam<br />
Beard, Alun Wyn Jones and Dan Lydiate<br />
were all available.<br />
“And Justin Tipuric may well play so we<br />
will all have to be at our best on Saturday<br />
evening,” he says.<br />
for his country, and national coach Andy<br />
Farrell called him into the tour squad which<br />
so memorably won the series against New<br />
Zealand in the summer.<br />
Ulster’s Centres<br />
of Attention<br />
Stuart McCloskey, when pressed, accepts<br />
he is probably playing the best rugby of<br />
his career.<br />
Today he hopes he can demonstrate<br />
his excellent form of late against what<br />
he regards as a strong <strong>Ospreys</strong> outfit.<br />
Last week’s reverse at home to Leinster<br />
disappointed the supporters but the hurt<br />
was felt most in the dressing room by<br />
players and coaches.<br />
“As individuals and collectively we didn’t<br />
get to grips with Leinster,” says McCloskey,<br />
“and the weather meant we didn’t get to<br />
show what we have been doing in attack.<br />
Yes, the mood afterwards was quiet, but<br />
every game teaches you lessons.<br />
“We will take those on board and there’s<br />
a strong belief in this group that we can<br />
achieve one of my personal ambitions for<br />
the season – winning the <strong>UR</strong>C league title.<br />
Each year under Dan McFarland we have<br />
improved, and this is certainly the strongest<br />
squad in my eight years with Ulster.<br />
“There is competition in every position<br />
now,” he says, “just look at the backline for<br />
instance. To name a few, we have Jacob<br />
Stockdale, Robert Baloucoune, James<br />
Hume, Ethan McIlroy, Stewart Moore and<br />
Will Addison, and the real bonus of Luke<br />
Marshall returning from his injury problems.<br />
“Aaron Sexton, Craig Gilroy and Rob Lyttle<br />
are just some of the others who have real<br />
quality, for me that’s a great pool from<br />
He admits that, as one of the more<br />
experienced players, he feels a real<br />
responsibility to the team, and he’s a<br />
physically imposing inside centre with an<br />
often under-rated range of skills. There was<br />
a time when he was too glibly described as<br />
a ‘battering ram’ but though that used to<br />
frustrate him, the stats show he’s a prolific<br />
and inventive passer, while his powerful runs<br />
and stunning off-loads get the Kingspan<br />
Stadium crowd on its feet.<br />
First capped by Ireland in 2016 against<br />
England, he’s played a further five times<br />
“I know where I stand with the coach, we<br />
talk often, and I understand what he wants<br />
from me. A lot was made of the game with<br />
Leinster and Robbie Henshaw and I vying<br />
for that inside centre role with Ireland, but<br />
in a match, we had minimal contact with<br />
each other, and he’s a great player.<br />
“That I’m in the conversation for Ireland<br />
with Robbie, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki<br />
and so on is good. There was a time when I<br />
might have felt frustrated about not getting<br />
more opportunities but all I can do is play as<br />
well as I can for Ulster, primarily.<br />
“I want to win a title<br />
with Ulster this year<br />
and, obviously, I’d like<br />
to make the World Cup<br />
squad for France next<br />
autumn,” he says.<br />
McCloskey’s route to the Ulster senior squad<br />
hasn’t followed the conventional route of<br />
the professional era. At Bangor Grammar<br />
he didn’t particularly catch the eye and he<br />
played no age-grade representative rugby.<br />
ulster.rugby<br />
37
He smiles as he recalls that in one schools<br />
game he and John Andrew were in direct<br />
opposition – at scrumhalf!<br />
“We laugh about it now that he’s one of our<br />
top hookers, but when I was younger, I was<br />
considered small, and I played a lot at scrum<br />
or out-half.<br />
“But I did want to play at the best level, and I got<br />
the chance to join Dungannon where I remember<br />
our backline included Paddy Jackson, Peter<br />
Nelson and Chris Farrell - not bad!”<br />
At a strapping six feet four inches Stuart has<br />
grown in many ways and though other clubs<br />
have come calling he has never come close<br />
to leaving Ulster. “It’s my team, my club and<br />
I know this sounds a cliché, but I just love<br />
playing rugby and I want to do that with this<br />
great group of players,” he says with real<br />
conviction.<br />
“And this is home, my own young family is<br />
here, we’re building a new home, so I’m not<br />
preparing to go anywhere.”<br />
The genial McCloskey has worked with<br />
several coaches at Ulster, all of whom he<br />
says have genuinely helped him improve,<br />
on and off the pitch. He credits Neil Doak,<br />
when he was in charge, of having a huge<br />
influence in his early days in the senior setup.<br />
“And it’s great he’s back and involved<br />
with the club again, he was great for me.”<br />
Jared Payne, now working in France,<br />
concentrated so intensely on defence, and<br />
the recently departed Dwayne Peel gave him<br />
new attacking insights, and he says that the<br />
relationship with both became that of friends.<br />
He’s delighted that new defence specialist<br />
Jonny Bell has re-joined the coaching group,<br />
returning to Ulster where he was a European<br />
Cup winner, an Ireland international and, like<br />
McCloskey, a centre of huge rugby intelligence.<br />
It’s seven years since Bell left Ulster to take on a<br />
new challenge with Gloucester, then struggling<br />
in the English Premiership. He helped turn the<br />
side into one of the most entertaining in the<br />
country and a force in Europe.<br />
He’s absolutely delighted to be back<br />
‘home’ after further senior coaching roles<br />
at Glasgow Warriors and at Worcester,<br />
for whom he has a lasting affection and is<br />
saddened by that club’s current crises.<br />
“There are some exceptionally good people<br />
and players at Worcester, the problems<br />
there have had a devastating effect on<br />
everyone on the staff. I’ve good friends<br />
there and to see them out of a job, without<br />
a club, is heart breaking.”<br />
Bell announced himself to the Ulster public as<br />
a player in the winning Schools’ Cup colours<br />
of Coleraine Inst’ in 1992, his performance<br />
at full-back – and a spectacular length-ofthe-pitch<br />
try – helping to thrust him into the<br />
Ireland side within two years.<br />
“That’s a long time ago,” says Bell, the most<br />
engaging and modest of men but always<br />
demanding of himself as a player and of<br />
those he now coaches. “I loved playing, of<br />
course, but when I was retired in 2005 it<br />
was good for me that I was lucky enough to<br />
get a teaching job at Campbell College, to<br />
be outside the Ulster playing environment<br />
for a while.<br />
“Inevitably, I suppose, I engaged in coaching<br />
the school team and that certainly gave me<br />
a lot of satisfaction.”<br />
He returned to the Ulster environment fully<br />
as Assistant Coach in 2011 and though it<br />
was a challenging time for the club on the<br />
pitch he earned himself a reputation for<br />
his creative approach, particularly to the<br />
defensive demands of the game.<br />
Four years later the opportunity at<br />
Gloucester came along and his attention to<br />
detail, his famed organisational skills, and<br />
“This is home,<br />
my own young<br />
family is here,<br />
we’re building<br />
a new home,<br />
so I’m not<br />
preparing to<br />
go anywhere.”<br />
ulster.rugby<br />
39
the most engaging of personalities helped<br />
transform the fortunes at Kingsholm. He<br />
was appointed interim Head Coach there in<br />
2017, an indication of just how he’d brought<br />
his thoughtful, dedicated approach to a<br />
sport he so clearly loves.<br />
In 2020 he and his wife Emma, settled and<br />
happy in Cheltenham, decided to accept the<br />
offer of Attack Coach at Glasgow Warriors,<br />
demonstrating just what a versatile and<br />
regarded coach he was at the highest level<br />
of the game.<br />
“It was a big change for Emma and our<br />
young family, moving from the edge of<br />
the English Cotswolds to a townhouse in<br />
Glasgow but the Covid pandemic came<br />
along and life for everyone was challenging.<br />
“The move really didn’t work out for us as<br />
a family and in 2021 Worcester Warriors<br />
offered me the Defence Coach role at<br />
Sixways. The club was not in a great place<br />
but there was potential, and there was the<br />
bonus that Emma and the children could<br />
return to live in Cheltenham.”<br />
The Bells were to be on the move yet<br />
again very soon! “When Jared announced<br />
early this year he was leaving Ulster for<br />
Montpellier I had a long discussion with<br />
Emma. If I was going to throw my hat in the<br />
ring for the Defence job at Ulster it could<br />
mean three moves in as many years.”<br />
Ironically he had only very recently sold<br />
the original family home in Belfast, but<br />
within weeks he was offered the Ulster job<br />
to his delight.<br />
“We were so pleased on various levels.<br />
I felt I might be able to offer something<br />
to the club I regarded as mine, and from<br />
the family’s point of view they were back<br />
close to relatives and friends and we were<br />
fortunate to find good schools and a lovely<br />
new home.”<br />
He was warmly received back in the Ulster<br />
coaching box, and he has been struck, very<br />
genuinely, by the humility and work ethic of<br />
all the staff in Belfast.<br />
“Everyone is driven, which is great for any<br />
coach, and Dan McFarland has done such a<br />
fantastic job in the last few years, in many<br />
respects. To work with him, to see his clarity<br />
in getting his message across is a privilege.<br />
“As a coaching group we are all encouraged<br />
to contribute new ideas, and as a collective I<br />
honestly believe this is an excellent group of<br />
really good and talented people,” says Bell.<br />
“Assistant Coach Dan Soper is loved by the<br />
players, and his record of developing players<br />
is well-known, while Roddy Grant with the<br />
forwards, and Craig Newby, the Skills Coach,<br />
has such experience as an outstanding<br />
player in New Zealand, Japan and at the top<br />
level in England.”<br />
There is a group of players that Bell first<br />
coached in his first stint at Ulster who are still<br />
key to the side. “For instance, Rob Herring,<br />
a very young Michael Lowry, Ethan McIlroy<br />
and James Hume were clearly driving their<br />
own and others’ high standards,” he recalls<br />
with obvious pleasure.<br />
The return from injury of Luke Marshall has<br />
particularly delighted the new Defence<br />
Coach. “Luke has been through the mill with<br />
injuries and it’s great to see him back in that<br />
midfield, as combative and as enterprising<br />
as ever.<br />
“I honestly believe that his best years may be<br />
ahead of him and given the players around<br />
him that can only be a good thing for the<br />
club. He’s always sacrificed himself for the<br />
team, and that character still shines through.”<br />
Bell has nothing but praise too for McCloskey<br />
and the pair seem to be on the same page<br />
on the training pitch and on matchdays.<br />
“Stuart is a leader. He doesn’t need to talk<br />
a lot in the changing room or on the pitch,<br />
but he’s a really top player with a good<br />
personality, a role model for any younger<br />
players. He too has so much more to give to<br />
Ulster and Ireland.”<br />
To meet Jonny Bell is a real life-enhancing<br />
experience: he’s thoroughly professional<br />
in his work but his instinctive ability to see<br />
opportunity for others, to raise spirits is<br />
contagious.<br />
Welcome home, Jonny!<br />
ulster.rugby<br />
41
HELP TO SUPPORT<br />
HORATIO’S GARDEN NORTHERN IRELAND<br />
Andy Sturgeon’s design for Horatio’s Garden<br />
Horatio’s Garden Northern Ireland is<br />
coming to The Spinal Cord Injuries Unit at<br />
Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast.<br />
As the official charity partner of<br />
Ulster Rugby, we need your help to raise<br />
the final £100,000 needed to bring<br />
Horatio’s Garden Northern Ireland to life!<br />
Every £1 you donate will be doubled by an<br />
anonymous donor, so by giving generously,<br />
you’ll be helping to change the lives of<br />
thousands of people affected by spinal<br />
injury from right across Northern Ireland.<br />
TO DONATE TODAY, PLEASE SCAN THE<br />
QR CODE BELOW OR TEXT ‘RUCK’ TO<br />
70450 TO DONATE £5. THANK YOU.<br />
Texts cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate<br />
message and you’ll be opting in to hear more from us. If you<br />
would like to donate but don’t wish to hear more from us, please<br />
text RUCKNOINFO instead.<br />
Horatio’s Garden is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registered Charity Number 1151475/SC045386.<br />
ulster.rugby www.horatiosgarden.org.uk | Follow @horatiosgarden on<br />
43
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ulster.rugby 45
The Ulster Society<br />
of Rugby Football<br />
Referees<br />
We welcome Ben Blain (SRU) and his team<br />
of officials to the Kingspan Stadium for this<br />
evenings BKT <strong>UR</strong>C match against <strong>Ospreys</strong>.<br />
With the competitive rugby season<br />
now underway, Ulster Rugby’s Referee<br />
Development Manager, Richard Kerr, would<br />
like to remind all club and school coaches<br />
about the IRFU’s policy on refereeing matches.<br />
Richard explains, “It is vitally important that<br />
everyone involved in coaching or managing<br />
teams at clubs and schools throughout the<br />
province adhere to the IRFU’s policy.<br />
“It states all rugby matches played under<br />
the Laws of the Game (including U19<br />
Variations) are refereed by Members of<br />
the Branch Referee Association/Society. or<br />
IRFU Affiliate Referees (appointed by their<br />
club/school).”<br />
To clarify, any match played at Under 13<br />
level or above should be facilitated by a<br />
qualified Affiliate Referee, or an officially<br />
appointed USRFR referee.<br />
Unfortunately, the Ulster Society of Rugby<br />
Football Referees are not in a position to<br />
appoint officials to every single match that<br />
takes place each week.<br />
This is where the Affiliate Referee<br />
scheme allows teachers and coaches, and<br />
indeed any interested person, to referee<br />
these matches after completing a basic<br />
refereeing qualification.<br />
Please refer to the IRFU Affiliate Referee<br />
policy for further details.<br />
In the past, anyone interested in becoming<br />
an Affiliate Referee had to attend an in<br />
person workshop every four years. The<br />
process has now changed, and Richard<br />
is keen to remind people that the course<br />
is now accessed online, via the IRFU’s<br />
Gainline platform.<br />
IRFU’s Gainline Platform<br />
Whilst there is a small fee to complete the<br />
course, the benefits of completing it online<br />
are huge.<br />
The course can be completed in a person’s<br />
own time and at a time and place that suits<br />
them. Another benefit of the online course<br />
is that individuals, as well as their club<br />
and/or school can keep an exact record of<br />
whether they are qualified or not, via the<br />
Gainline platform which every registered<br />
individual will have access to.<br />
There are two parts to the course:<br />
Step One - Modules<br />
Laws of the game<br />
Concussion Awareness for General Public<br />
Step Two – Complete the IRFU Affiliate<br />
Referee course<br />
Once completed and certification is achieved,<br />
the qualification lasts for two full years.<br />
Richard would specifically highlight the<br />
importance of the Concussion module and<br />
remind anyone completing the course,<br />
and indeed the wider rugby public, that a<br />
referee has the power to remove a player<br />
under Law 3.24 ‘Recognise and Remove’.<br />
Another exciting development with<br />
the Affiliate Referee course is that the<br />
minimum age requirement for completing<br />
the course has been reduced to 16.<br />
This will enable any club or school to appoint<br />
suitably qualified and able individuals to<br />
referee matches within their own club/<br />
school at a level appropriate to them.<br />
Richard comments: “This is an exciting<br />
development within our refereeing<br />
structures in Ireland. Whilst the onus will<br />
very much be on each individual club<br />
or school to manage all of their Affiliate<br />
Referees carefully, particular attention<br />
should be paid to the policy around 16-18<br />
years olds.”<br />
“Moving forward, this can only benefit the<br />
overall quality and quantity of referees in<br />
the province and I am hopeful that many<br />
young referees will consider joining the<br />
USRFR when they turn 18.”<br />
To assist Affiliate Referees with some<br />
practical skills and some further<br />
information, the Ulster Rugby Development<br />
Department plan to hold workshops.<br />
The next course is in Omagh on Monday<br />
24 October at 6pm. REGISTER HERE<br />
If anyone is interested in refereeing,<br />
or you wish to take your refereeing<br />
a step further and join the USRFR,<br />
please contact<br />
Richard Kerr<br />
Referee Development Manager<br />
richard.kerr@irfu.ie<br />
07493 868 388<br />
ulster.rugby<br />
47
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Academy<br />
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Centre<br />
24/02/2002<br />
183cm<br />
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Crothers<br />
Back Row<br />
28/01/2002<br />
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16/03/2004<br />
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03/04/2002<br />
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21/09/2001<br />
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29/08/2003<br />
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51
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’<br />
Rugby Competitions Launched<br />
Last season’s Danske Bank U16 High Schools’<br />
Cup was won by Bangor Academy, who beat<br />
Castlederg 20 points to 5 in their Kingspan<br />
showdown back in March. Representing<br />
Bangor Academy in today’s event was captain<br />
Jonah Topping, who served as vice-captain<br />
during last year’s successful cup run. The<br />
Ulster Schools’ Committee was represented<br />
by Barney McGonigle, who welcomed those<br />
in attendance which included Campbell<br />
College Assistant Coach Sam McBurney,<br />
Ballymena Academy Director of Rugby John<br />
Nicholl, Erne Integrated College Coach Rory<br />
Hill, and Bangor Academy Head of Rugby<br />
Stephen Montgomery.<br />
Ulster Schools’ Committee Chairman Richard<br />
Clingan said:<br />
“We’re delighted to officially launch this<br />
season’s schools’ competitions and continue<br />
our long affiliation with Danske Bank.<br />
“Our first competitions of the season, the<br />
U16 Schools’ Cup and Plate, are already<br />
under way and have produced some superb<br />
rugby so far, and we eagerly await the Cup<br />
final on Wednesday 19 October.<br />
“We also expect another exciting campaign<br />
in the Danske Bank Boys Schools’ Cup, as<br />
the competition returns to a group stage<br />
format. All teams that have previously taken<br />
part in the competition are involved this<br />
year and Bangor Academy will take part for<br />
the first time, meaning a total of 35 teams<br />
will participate.”<br />
Richard Caldwell, Managing Director, GB &<br />
Corporate Strategy at Danske Bank, said:<br />
“It’s a privilege to be back at Kingspan<br />
Stadium for the launch of the 2022/23<br />
season of Ulster Schools’ rugby.<br />
“This marks the 18th year of our partnership<br />
with Ulster Rugby, and forms a central<br />
part of our support for local communities<br />
throughout Northern Ireland. Each year,<br />
we watch on with pride as the competition<br />
grows in popularity – and, with an exciting<br />
new format offering even more competitive<br />
opportunities, we can’t wait for another<br />
season of high-quality schools’ rugby.”<br />
The launch of the 2022/23 Danske Bank<br />
Ulster Schools’ Rugby competitions took<br />
place at Kingspan Stadium on Tuesday 4<br />
October.<br />
In attendance were representatives from five<br />
of last season’s trophy winners.<br />
The defending champions of the Danske<br />
Bank Boys Schools’ Cup, Methodist College,<br />
were represented by 1st XV captain, Josh<br />
Stevens, who started in last season’s final.<br />
The Belfast school staged an impressive<br />
comeback to overturn a 17-7 deficit against<br />
Campbell College and win 20-17 in the<br />
traditional St Patrick’s <strong>Day</strong> event at Kingspan<br />
Stadium.<br />
The Danske Bank Girls Schools’ Cup was<br />
settled last season by a clash of local rivals<br />
as Erne Integrated College beat Enniskillen<br />
Royal Grammar School 9-8. Representing<br />
Erne IC at today’s launch event was captain<br />
Hope Milligan, who played in their cup win.<br />
Campbell College are the current holders of<br />
the Danske Bank Medallion Shield, and were<br />
represented by last season’s winning captain<br />
Ethan Kennedy. They got their hands on the<br />
silverware after beating Ballymena Academy<br />
23-5 in March’s final which was played in<br />
torrid conditions at Queen’s Sport.<br />
Ballymena Academy had already secured<br />
a trophy by that stage last season, as they<br />
emerged as the winners of the inaugural<br />
Danske Bank Schools’ U16 Cup after beating<br />
Methodist College 29-17 in the showpiece at<br />
Kingspan. The school was represented in the<br />
launch event by their captain on that day of<br />
the final last November, Stevie Bristow.<br />
ulster.rugby<br />
53
Wooden Spoon ulster<br />
an evening with david campese<br />
Thursday 17 November 2022 | 7pm for 7.30pm start<br />
Venue: Europa Hotel, Great Victoria St, Belfast BT2 7AP<br />
Includes:<br />
• Three course meal<br />
• Entertainment<br />
• Raffle & Auction<br />
AWAY DAYS<br />
WITH ULSTER<br />
Cost: £75 per person / £750 for a table of 10<br />
Also available: complimentary drink, meet and greet with David Campese –<br />
AY DAYS<br />
price on application<br />
Willie John McBride as well as current and past Ulster Rugby players will be<br />
SHOP ONLINE<br />
in attendance!<br />
www.ulsterrugbyshop.com<br />
2022/23 ALTERNATE KIT<br />
Click and Collect Available<br />
OUT NOW<br />
For more information and to secure your place contact Peter Wood on:<br />
KINGSPAN SHOP OPENING HO<strong>UR</strong>S<br />
Mob: 07799711914 or Email: peterwood444@btinternet.com<br />
9am-5pm Tuesday to Friday<br />
WWW.ULSTERRUGBYSHOP.COM<br />
9am-4pm Saturday<br />
Company No 1847860, Registered in England<br />
Charity Registration No 326691 (England & Wales) and SC039247 (Scotland)<br />
55
RAVENHILL PARK GARDENS<br />
ABBEY AUTOLINE FAMILY STAND<br />
Catering<br />
SPIRIT OF ‘99<br />
PROMENADE 1<br />
EAST TERRACE<br />
A&L GOODBODY LOUNGE / VIP BOXES<br />
The Food Village will be in operation,<br />
serving a variety of cuisines, while the<br />
Cool FM Crew will provide the soundtrack<br />
for the evening.<br />
All five public bars will also be in operation,<br />
with live entertainment in the Clubhouse Bar.<br />
Kukri Store<br />
The Kukri Store will be open from gates<br />
open until 30 minutes after full-time.<br />
THE 1924<br />
PROMENADE 2<br />
Audio<br />
ONSLOW PARADE<br />
T<strong>UR</strong>NSTILES<br />
FOOD<br />
VILLAGE<br />
T<strong>UR</strong>NSTILES<br />
Audio descriptive match commentary to<br />
enhance the match experience for people<br />
affected by sight or hearing loss will be<br />
available.<br />
Earpieces can be collected from the admin<br />
building reception prior to the game, or<br />
you can book your equipment by calling on<br />
(028) 9049 3222.<br />
Kingspan Stadium is now fully cashless,<br />
with all bars and catering outlets<br />
operating via card payments only.<br />
Live music will be available pre & post-match in the Clubhouse Bar<br />
ADMIN’<br />
BUILDING<br />
2022/23 FIXT<strong>UR</strong>ES<br />
H Connacht Fri 17 Sep W 36-10 <strong>UR</strong>C<br />
A Scarlets Sat 24 Sep W 39-55 <strong>UR</strong>C<br />
H Leinster Fri 30 Sep L 13-20 <strong>UR</strong>C<br />
H <strong>Ospreys</strong> Sat 8 Oct 7.35pm <strong>UR</strong>C<br />
A Emirates Lions Sat 15 Oct 1.00pm <strong>UR</strong>C<br />
A Cell C Sharks Sat 22 Oct 5.15pm <strong>UR</strong>C<br />
A Munster Sat 29 Oct 5.15pm <strong>UR</strong>C<br />
H Zebre Parma Fri 25 Nov 7.35pm <strong>UR</strong>C<br />
A Leinster Sat 3 Dec 7.35pm <strong>UR</strong>C<br />
A Sale Sharks Sun 11 Dec 1.00pm HCC<br />
H La Rochelle Sat 17 Dec 5.30pm HCC<br />
A Connacht Fri 23 Dec 7.35pm <strong>UR</strong>C<br />
H Munster Sun 1 Jan 5.15pm <strong>UR</strong>C<br />
A Benetton Sat 7 Jan 1.00pm <strong>UR</strong>C<br />
A La Rochelle Sat 14 Jan 5.30pm HCC<br />
H Sale Sharks Sat 21 Jan 8.00pm HCC<br />
H DHL Stormers Fri 27 Jan 7.35pm <strong>UR</strong>C<br />
A Glasgow Warriors Fri 17 Feb 7.35pm <strong>UR</strong>C<br />
A Cardiff Sat 4 Mar 7.35pm <strong>UR</strong>C<br />
H Vodacom Bulls Sat 25 Mar 7.35pm <strong>UR</strong>C<br />
H Dragons Fri 14 Apr 7.35pm <strong>UR</strong>C<br />
H Edinburgh Fri 21 Apr 7.35pm <strong>UR</strong>C<br />
*UK/IRE Time<br />
Respect<br />
Policy<br />
Incident hotline<br />
07790<br />
200 200<br />
We are<br />
passionate in<br />
our support<br />
We are silent<br />
during kicks<br />
at goal<br />
We respect the<br />
match officials’<br />
decisions<br />
We drink<br />
responsibly<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 />
57
Thank You!<br />
Ulster Rugby wish to thank all of our sponsors<br />
and partners for their continued support.<br />
Main Sponsor<br />
Kit Sponsor<br />
Official On-kit Sponsors<br />
Official Sponsors<br />
Domestic Sponsors<br />
Official Partners<br />
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