ICC-Ulster Rugby Match Day Programme v-Racing92

ULSTER 

Offical Match Day Programme 

v RACING 92 

Sat 16 Dec 2023, 8pm 

Kingspan Stadium

In this Issue 

5 Mascots 

6 President’s Welcome 

10 Referees’ Corner 

12 Last Time Out 

18 Squad Stats 

25 Half-Time 

Exhibition Games 

26 Teams 

30 

Picture Gallery: 

Training Session 

33 Ulster Rugby Gift Guide 

30 

35 Christmas Market 

38 

Racing 92 

Players to Watch 

37 Christmas Market 

38 

Racing 92 


42 

40 Spot the Difference 

42 

Player Interview: 

Stuart McCloskey 

46 Remembering 

Dr Syd Millar CBE 

50 Guest Article 

55 

Player Q&A: 

Scott Wilson 

57 

Mental Wellness Day 

at Newforge Taggers 

57 

46 

3

Mascots 

Name: Ethan Darragh 

Age: 12 

From: Coleraine 

I am very excited to be Ulster’s 

mascot. To feel the atmosphere at 

Kingspan Stadium from the pitch will 

be a brilliant memory to have. 

Tom Stewart is my favourite player 

and when I grow up I’d like to play 

for Ulster. 

Kingspan Welcome 

Name: Charlotte Clarke 

Age: 8 

Location: Banbridge 

Welcome back to Kingspan Stadium, the 

home of Ulster Rugby, for tonight’s game 

against Racing 92. 

The first home fixture in the Investec 

Champions Cup is always an eagerly 

anticipated occasion for Ulster supporters 

and the draw of France’s current league 

leaders will be stirring all sorts of emotions 

among the home faithful. 

Despite defeat at Bath in the opening 

round last weekend, the Ulster men will 

still be looking forward to tonight’s game, 

inspired by many positive memories of 

unforgettable victories over big French 

clubs in recent years. 

While you are sampling the Christmas 

themed activity in the fan zone pre-match, 

please check out the Kingspan Try-Cycle 

challenge and have a go - either for fun or 

to try and earn a place on the leaderboard. 

There are some fantastic prizes up for 

grabs, including an away trip with the 

Ulster team. 

If you want to test out your rugby skills, 

the Kingspan Passing Challenge will be in 

operation on the Aquinas 3G pitch behind 

the Family Stand. This fun challenge is 

open to all ages and abilities, and you can 

even pick up some tips from Ulster Rugby 

coaches and players. 

Best of luck to the Ulster players and 

management tonight. I have no doubt that 

Kingspan Stadium will be buzzing with 

excitement and anticipation, so let’s hope 

it is another night to remember! 

Mel Courtney 

Managing Director 

Kingspan Water & Energy 

I am a big sports fan, so it will be 

brilliant to be Ulster’s mascot. 

I enjoy watching sport and taking part 

in swimming and ballet. 

I met Rory Best before and he was 

really nice. 

When I grow up I want to be a vet. 

5

I have great pleasure in welcoming Laurent 

Travers, the President of Racing 92, his 

players, coaching staff and supporters to 

the Kingspan Stadium for tonight’s vital 

encounter against Ulster in the Investec 

Champions Cup. No doubt our supporters 

will be as vociferous as ever as they “Stand 

Up For The Ulstermen”. Our thanks to all of 

you who have attended tonight. 

Our four opponents in a very tough group 

are Bath, Harlequins, Racing and Toulouse. 

The sixth team in the group is Cardiff, against 

whom we have no fixture. In such a group 

there can be little margin for error, especially 

as we both lost our opening round matches, 

so we need to make home advantage count. 

There is added spice tonight as dual World 

Cup winners Stephen Kitshoff and Siya Kolisi 

meet on opposite sides. 

Following a difficult run of games in the 

Women’s AIL, it was great to see Cooke 

record a superb bonus point win away to 

Galwegians last Saturday. This raised them 

off the bottom of the league and will no doubt 

lift their spirits as they enter their winter break 

from the league. 

The Ulster Women leagues are now well 

advanced. At the top of the Premiership, only 

a point separates Enniskillen from Malone. 

Cooke 2 and Lisburn are locked together 

in Championship “A”, although Cooke have 

a game in hand. Things are also very tight 

in Championship “B”, Virginia being a point 

ahead of Clogher Valley, who have played 

one match less. 

Ballynahinch remain in the top half of A1, but 

after a promising start, Armagh have slipped 

to ninth. Queen’s have also gone through a 

bad patch recently are only four points off 

bottom in 1B. In 2A, Ballymena and Malone are 

bottom, but with only five points separating 

the bottom five teams, there is still plenty to 

play for. 

At the beginning of the week Ulster lost one 

of its greatest rugby personalities when Dr 

Syd Millar passed away. Hugely successful as 

a player, coach, manager and administrator, 

his achievements are too numerous to be 

recorded in the space available. Despite all 

he achieved and the awards he received, 

including the Légion d’honneur, the highest 

French order of merit, Syd remained very 

humble and approachable, and retained 

his great interest in club rugby throughout 

his life. Having been born and raised in 

Ballymena and having played for Ballymena 

RFC throughout his career, most of his time 

was spent at Eaton Park. However, he freely 

gave up his time to help other clubs who 

regularly sought his advice and assistance. 

Our deepest condolences go to his children 

Lesley, Peter and Johnny and to the wider 

family circle. 

In remembrance of Syd, a moment’s applause 

will be observed prior to kick-off. 

Denis Gardiner 

President, IRFU Ulster Branch 

A warm welcome to this Round 2 match 

in the 2023/24 Investec Champions Cup. 

This promises to be a compelling 29th 

season as we acknowledge the landmark 

addition of Investec to our suite of bluechip 

sponsors as tournament title partner. 

We are certain that the long-term support 

of the leading international bank and 

wealth manager will serve to enhance a 

tournament which is widely regarded as 

the pinnacle of global club cup rugby. 

In further hugely positive developments, 

the brewing giant, Heineken, are 

continuing their historic association with 

the competition as a premium partner, 

DHL have renewed their long-standing 

partnership with EPCR and Georgia Rugby 

Marketing Hub have come on board as an 

official partner as we continue to expand 

our footprint into new markets. 

We can also look forward to 24 elite 

clubs, with 40 EPCR titles between them, 

battling it out initially over four rounds in a 

multi-pool format, and then four knockout 

stages, as all roads lead to the London 2024 

Finals which will be staged at the stateof-the-art 

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 

Friday 24 and Saturday 25 May next year. 

We are 

delighted to 

be joined on the 

journey to London by 

Investec, by Heineken, and by our 

official partners, DHL, IHG Hotels & Resorts 

and Georgia Rugby Marketing Hub, as well 

as our official supporters, Tissot, Gilbert 

and Kappa, and also by our official airline 

partner in South Africa, Qatar Airways. 

TNT Sports, ITV and RTÉ in the UK 

and Ireland, beIN SPORTS and France 

Télévisions in France, and SuperSport 

in South Africa, will continue to provide 

comprehensive and innovative broadcast 

coverage, while S4C in Wales and FloRugby 

in the USA and Canada will showcase the 

matches to even more viewers. 

To our world-class players who continue to 

create so many unforgettable moments, 

to the staff of the competing clubs, to 

the match officials, to the fans, to the 

media and to all our stakeholders, we 

wish everyone a truly memorable Investec 

Champions Cup season. 

Yours in rugby, 

Dominic McKay 

EPCR Chairman 

7

9

want to take a moment to remind everyone of 

our #respectURgame campaign and join me 

ahead of the game in thanking Luke and his 

team for their efforts this evening. 

So far this season, I have seen some great 

performances from USRFR referees across the 

international competitions and domestically 

across Ireland. 

Our professional referee, Chris Busby on 

returning to the province shared his experience 

from the Rugby World Cup in France. It was 

fascinating to learn about his preparation, 

the pressure involved in delivering quality 

officiating and the world of the “bunker”. 

Chris is an exceptional referee and a great 

role for our other referees aspiring to follow 

in his footsteps. 

High School – in a year I don’t wish to disclose! 

Moving on to play senior rugby for Academy 

RFC before taking up the whistle following a 

shoulder dislocation. I was encouraged to take 

up refereeing by a work colleague, Dermot 

Davey, who when I told him “I don’t know the 

rules, I can’t referee”, he promptly responded, 

“That would be correct, they are Laws!”. And 

what a journey it’s been, and it hasn’t stopped! 

I’ve spent a number of years progressing in 

provincial refereeing before progressing to 

the IRFU National Panel. I thoroughly enjoyed 

my time as an official, I have had some great 

experiences and met some incredible people. 

I am not only a member and President of 

USRFR but also a member of Rainey Old Boys 

RFC, supporting the club in Magherafelt since 

moving there 25 years ago. 

There is never a truer saying that without match 

officials there is no game. And I thank each and 

every member of the society for their efforts to 

serve the game every weekend of the season. 

So, as you enjoy tonight’s game, consider, what 

would you give to get closer to the action? 

Have you thought about taking up the whistle? 

If you ask me, you’ll never look back! 

If you are interested in becoming a member 

of the USRFR, please reach out to our Referee 

Development Manager, Richard Kerr (details 

can be found below) 

Alistair Magowan 

USRFR President 

Referees’ Corner 

We welcome Luke Pearce (RFU) and his 

team of officials to Kingspan Stadium for this 

evening’s Investec Champions Cup match 

against Racing 92. 

In this week’s match programme, we profile 

Alistair Magowan who is the President of the 

Ulster Society of Rugby Football Referees for 

season 2023/24... 

It’s hard to believe that it’s December and 

our season is well underway. It has been an 

absolute privilege to take up the Presidency of 

the Ulster Society of Rugby Football Referee’s 

(USRFR) this season. 

The European competitions, hold a special 

place in my rugby heart as a former match 

official, officiating as an Assistant Referee in 

Europe, brings back great memories. And who 

can forget the 1999 European Cup win, a very 

memorable weekend in our house, as we also 

found out we were expecting our third child! As 

we stand up for the Ulster men again tonight, I 

Our Referee Development Manager, Richard 

Kerr and Trainee Referee Coordinator, Lee 

Evans, have successfully recruited 23 new 

referees so far this season. Seeing these new 

recruits of all rugby backgrounds, ages and 

gender, develop their skill base and confidence 

has given me personally, great satisfaction 

to know the future of our game is in good 

officiating hands! 

I am incredibly proud of the 135 referees that 

are currently serving our game, and as an active 

referee Evaluator it is really a joy to offer advice, 

support and encouragement. I am also very 

grateful for the encouragement and support 

of the Ulster Branch President Denis Gardiner. 

Before taking on my current role as USRFR 

President and Evaluator, I played for Ballyclare 

If interested in refereeing, please contact: 

Richard Kerr 

Referee Development Manager 

richard.kerr@irfu.ie | 07493 868 388 

U.S.R.F.R 

11

Last Time Out 

Ulster’s Investec Champions Cup campaign 

started with a defeat against English 

Premiership side, Bath Rugby, at The Rec. 

Ulster had a let-off after fourteen minutes, 

following a sustained period of pressure 

in the visitor’s 22 earned Bath a penalty, 

but Scottish out-half Finn Russell couldn’t 

land his kick. 

Sat 9 Dec 

37 - 14 

The opening quarter remained scoreless 

despite both teams creating opportunities 

in attack only for accuracy to let them 

down at the crucial moment. 

Bath finally broke the deadlock on 27 

minutes, a 50:22 from Russell earned the 

home side an attacking line. 

They executed a catch and drive move with 

the forwards probing at the line, before 

eventually Ulster infringed and conceded 

a penalty in the shadow of the posts. 

Bath opted for a scrum, Alfie Barbeary 

controlled the ball at the base before 

feeding Ben Spencer. The scrum half 

threw a looping pass wide for winger Joe 

Cokanasiga to touch down in the corner. 

Spencer failed to convert. 

Great defence from Rob Baloucoune three 

minutes later stopped a second Bath try, 

Spencer made a line break and hacked the 

ball on, but the Ulster winger won the foot 

race and touch down in goal. 

Bath then won a penalty and Spencer made 

no mistake from in front of the posts. 

With a penalty advantage, Nathan Doak 

flung a pass wide, Bath centre Ollie 

Lawrence tried to hack it clear, but the 

ball came off Billy Burns knees and sat up 

kindly for the out half to gather and go 

over for Ulster’s first try with Doak adding 

the conversion. 

Ulster turned the game on its head with a 

second try on 37 minutes. 

Full back, Stewart Moore, fed Jacob 

Stockdale the ball, and the Irish winger set 

off on a counter-attack. 

Stockdale fed James Hume and the centre 

exchanged passes in a confined space with 

Baloucoune. 

Hume galloped clear before providing the 

scoring pass for Doak to run in under the 

posts. 

Doak’s simple conversion gave Ulster a 

14-8 at the interval. 

Half-Time: Bath 8-14 Ulster 

Bath regained the lead five minutes after 

the restart with their second try. 

Ulster conceded a penalty in their own 22, 

the home side went to the corner, Bath 

set up a driving maul from the lineout and 

hooker Tom Dunne with the help of a few 

backs was propelled over with Spencer 

landing the conversion. 

Spencer added an easy three points 

from a penalty in front of the posts on 58 

minutes after Ulster captain Iain Henderson 

infringed at the ruck. 

Spencer missed the chance to extend 

Bath’s lead as he sent a penalty wide on 

62 minutes. 

Replacement flanker Matty Rea was yellow 

carded on 65 minutes on his own try line. 

Bath made their numerical advantage count 

four minutes later, Ulster had conceded 

three scrum penalties under their own 

posts, from the third one Barbeary drove 

from the base, he was stopped short but 

replacement prop Thomas Du Toit barged 

over with Spencer converting. 

Jake Flannery kicked the restart out on the 

full gifting Bath a scrum on halfway. 

From the scrum, Russell came onto 

the ballat pace in midfield, he released 

Lawernce, the centre galloped into the 22 

before popping the ball to Cokanasiga for 

the winger to go over for his second and 

Bath’s bonus point try. 

Bath rounded off the victory with a fifth try 

in the final minute, replacement backrow 

Jaco Coetzee punched a hole in the Ulster 

defence the ball was quickly recycled and 

full back Matt Gallagher had an easy walk in 

with Orlando Bailey adding the conversion 

with the last kick of the game. 

Full-Time: Bath 37-14 Ulster 

Ulster hit back immediately, South African 

Rugby World Cup winner, Steven Kitshoff, 

won a turnover as Bath tried to run the 

restart out of their own 22, and the forwards 

probed at the line. 

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS 

13

15

NEXT 

GAME 

ulster.rugby/matchtickets 

17

Utility Back 

20/08/1992 

185cm 

93kg 

30 

5 

Will 

Addison 

Hooker 

26/05/1993 

180cm 

103kg 

113 

- 

John 

Andrew 

Wing 

19/08/1997 

193cm 

94.5kg 

60 

4 

Rob 

Baloucoune 

Fly Half 

13/06/1994 

183cm 

87kg 

102 

7 

Billy 

Burns 

Centre 

24/02/2002 

183cm 

101kg 

1 

- 

Ben 

Carson 

Scrum Half 

01/05/1990 

178cm 

86kg 

125 

11 

John 

Cooney 

Back Row 

28/01/2002 

184cm 

99kg 

3 

- 

Reuben 

Crothers 

Fly Half/Centre 

26/03/1998 

178cm 

88kg 

25 

- 

Angus 

Curtis 

Scrum Half 

17/12/2001 

185cm 

85kg 

52 

- 

Nathan 

Doak 

Back Row 

03/11/1990 

193cm 

126kg 

6 

- 

Dave 

Ewers 

Fly Half 

07/06/1999 

183cm 

91.5kg 

9 

- 

Jake 

Flannery 

Prop 

13/06/1994 

185cm 

123kg 

2 

- 

James 

French 

Lock 

21/02/1992 

199cm 

118kg 

143 

77 

Iain 

Henderson 

Hooker 

27/04/1990 

185cm 

105kg 

232 

39 

Rob 

Herring 

Centre 

07/09/1998 

188cm 

97kg 

84 

3 

James 

Hume 

ULSTER RUGBY MEN’S SENIOR SQUAD 

Lock 

28/01/2000 

201cm 

117kg 

17 

- 

Cormac 

Izuchukwu 

Backrow 

13/01/1996 

196cm 

105kg 

42 

- 

Greg 

Jones 

Prop 

10/02/1992 

183cm 

120kg 

3 

Steven 

Kitshoff 

Full Back 

20/08/1998 

170cm 

77kg 

89 

1 

Mike 

Lowry 

Centre 

03/03/1991 

180cm 

98.5kg 

161 

11 

Luke 

Marshall 

Back Row 

13/06/2000 

193cm 

109.5kg 

33 

- 

David 

McCann 

Centre 

06/08/1992 

193cm 

112kg 

177 

14 

Stuart 

McCloskey 

Hooker 

08/01/2002 

183cm 

107kg 

- 

- 

James 

McCormick 

Wing 

10/08/2000 

188cm 

88kg 

53 

- 

Ethan 

McIlroy 

Scrum Half 

20/03/2001 

183cm 

85kg 

- 

- 

Conor 

McKee 

Prop 

01/03/1991 

178cm 

122kg 

90 

10 

Marty 

Moore 

Centre 

08/08/1999 

184cm 

92kg 

59 

- 

Stewart 

Moore 

Wing 

09/06/2001 

191cm 

101.5kg 

31 

- 

Ben 

Moxham 

Fullback 

15/07/1999 

181cm 

89kg 

- 

- 

Shea 

O’Brien 

Lock 

10/09/1992 

196cm 

114kg 

185 

- 

Alan 

O’Connor 

Prop 

30/11/1995 

183cm 

117kg 

108 

1 

Eric 

O’Sullivan 

SA 


Prop 

23/09/1998 

184cm 

122kg 

92 

12 

Tom 

O’Toole 

19

Centre 

03/04/2002 

193cm 

101kg 

4 

- 

Jude 

Postlethwaite 

Back Row 

08/09/1997 

188cm 

109kg 

41 

- 

Marcus 

Rea 

Back Row 

21/09/1993 

193cm 

115kg 

88 

- 

Matty 

Rea 

Back Row 

04/11/1998 

180cm 

100kg 

3 

- 

Sean 

Reffell 

Prop 

06/01/1999 

183cm 

116.5kg 

18 

- 

Callum 

Reid 

Wing 

24/08/2000 

188cm 

92kg 

9 

- 

Aaron 

Sexton 

Scrum Half 

20/06/1993 

177cm 

77kg 

89 

- 

Dave 

Shanahan 

Back Row 

21/09/2001 

195cm 

116.5kg 

13 

Harry 

Sheridan 

Hooker 

11/01/2001 

183cm 

102kg 

30 

2 

Tom 

Stewart 

Wing 

03/04/1996 

191cm 

102kg 

107 

37 

Jacob 

Stockdale 

Back Row 

01/08/1995 

188cm 

109kg 

131 

3 

Nick 

Timoney 

Lock 

06/11/1995 

198cm 

115kg 

148 

11 

Kieran 

Treadwell 

Prop 

12/03/1991 

178cm 

116.5kg 

179 

- 

Andrew 

Warwick 

Prop 

01/05/2003 

187cm 

115kg 

- 

Jack 

Boal 

Prop 

10/07/2004 

186cm 

113kg 

- 

Jacob 

Boyd 


Back Row 

26/06/2004 

189cm 

104kg 

- 

Tom 

Briggs 

Prop 

17/12/2003 

189cm 

126kg 

- 

Cameron 

Doak 

Wing /Fullback 

27/04/2004 

181cm 

78.5kg 

- 

Ethan 

Graham 

Lock 

16/03/2004 

201cm 

108kg 

1 

Joe 

Hopes 

Fly Half 

14/11/2001 

185cm 

81kg 

- 

James 

Humphreys 

Lock 

28/01/2003 

203cm 

117kg 

- 

Charlie 

Irvine 


08/09/2004 

184cm 

93kg 

- 

Lucas 

Kenny 


04/10/2004 

174cm 

76.5kg 

- 

Back Row 

03/04/2002 

189cm 

110kg 

1 

Lorcan 

McLoughlin 

Back Row 

28/02/2003 

193cm 

115kg 

3 

James 

McNabney 

Prop 

01/11/2001 

185cm 

125kg 

- 

George 

Saunderson 

Hooker 

17/06/2004 

177cm 

97kg 

1 

Zac 

Solomon 

Hooker 

01/01/2003 

187cm 

101kg 

- 

Henry 

Walker 

Prop 

06/08/2002 

186cm 

125kg 

2 

Scott 

Wilson 

Ben 

McFarlane 

Back Row 

14/12/2004 

178cm 

93kg 

- 

Josh 

Stevens 


29/08/2003 

183cm 

92kg 

- 

Rory 

Telfer 

ULSTER RUGBY ACADEMY 

21

Bath v Ulster Fan Zone 

Organised by the South Wales Ulster Rugby Supporters’ Club, at The Assembly Inn, Bath 

Next Fan Zone: 

The Eel Pie 

Twickenham 

Sat 20 Jan 

from 10.30am 

Organised by 

ULSTER RUGBY SUPPORTERS’ CLUB 

SOUTH WALES 

23

Half-Time 

Exhibition Games 

Nevin Spence Memorial Stand End 

Ophir 

Kit: Red, Black & Yellow 

CIYMS 

Kit: Black & White 

1 Guy McQuitty 

2 Zach Holmes 

3 Jack Moffat 

4 Leo Bell 

5 Bobby Lucas 

6 Jonah Hughes 

7 Samuel Young 

8 Joseph Milligan 

9 Odhran Skillen 

10 Dean Murray 

11 Oliver McLaughlin 

12 Aaron Bevington 

1 Sam Dunlop 

2 Josh Adams 

3 Sam Stewart 

4 Paddy Clements 

5 Alexander Boyd 

6 Tom Barnes 

7 Freddie Hampton 

8 Daniel Bates 

9 Elliott Burns 

10 Aidan Jess 

11 Daniel McGimpsey 

12 Harry Black 

AbbeyAutoline Family Stand End 

Ballynahinch 

Kit: Green & Navy 

Civil Service 

Kit: Green 

1 Alan Wilson 

2 Charles Sneddon 

3 Cormac McNeill 

4 Fionn McCargo 

5 Fiontan McCann 

6 Frazer Kelly 

7 Gethyn Jones 

8 Harris Mathers 

9 Kris Pratt 

10 Will Orr 

11 Cian McKay 

12 Oliver Fitzsimons 

1 Andrew Foreman 

2 Rory Raetschus 

3 Gregor Scott 

4 Asher Zimbwa 

5 David Fagunwa 

6 Jacob Williams 

7 Jamie Lattimer 

8 Jaxon McMahon 

9 Noah Truesdale 

10 Cory Lister 

11 Kalin Magill 

12 Samael Sewell 

25

1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

Steven Kitshoff 

Rob Herring 

Tom O’Toole 

Hassane Holingar 

Janick Tarrit 

Trevor Nyakane 

4 

5 

4 

5 

Alan O’Connor 

Iain Henderson 

C 

Baptiste Chouzenoux 

Will Rowlands 

6 

8 

7 

6 

8 

7 

Dave Ewers 

Matty Rea 

Nick Timoney 

Cameron Woki 

Wenceslas Lauret 

Siya Kolisi 

9 

John Cooney 

Referee: Luke Pearce 

Assistants: Joe James & 

Jonathan Healy 

TMO: Tom Foley 

9 

Nolan Le Garrec 

10 

10 

11 

Billy Burns 

11 

Antoine Gibert 

Jacob Stockdale 

12 

Juan Imhoff 

12 


Henry Chavancy 

Replacements 

16 Tom Stewart 

13 

Replacements 

16 Eddy Ben Arous 

13 

17 Eric O’Sullivan 

18 Marty Moore 

James Hume 

17 Guram Gogichashvili 

18 Gia Kharaishvili 

Gaël Fickou 

C 

19 Kieran Treadwell 

19 Fabien Sanconnie 

20 Harry Sheridan 

21 Nathan Doak 

15 

14 

20 Ibrahim Diallo 

21 Maxime Baudonne 

15 

14 

22 Jake Flannery 

22 Tristan Tedder 

23 Stewart Moore 

Mike Lowry 

Rob Baloucoune 

23 Junior Tabuavou 

Max Spring 

Henry Arundell 

27

1 Billion 

PET bottles 

recycled into our 

manufacturing 

processes by 2025 

1bn 

Ambitious 

Target 

Areas 

Energy, 

Carbon, 

Circularity, 

Water 

4 

Kingspan’s Commitment 

to Sustainability 

Zero 

Company 

waste to 

landfill 

by 2030 

0 

100million 

Litres of rainwater 

harvested 

by 2030 

100m 

Read our 

Report 

here 

Five 

Ocean 

Cleanup Projects 

ECOALF, Seabin, 

Clearbot 

to date 

5 

One Legacy 

Leaving the planet 

in a better place 

through our Planet 

Passionate 

communities 

projects 1 

Danske Bank Schools’ Cup | Round of 16 Draw 

Last year’s finalists, Royal Belfast 

Academical Institution and Campbell 

College come head to head in the gripping 

next round... 

In a riveting Round of 16 draw for the Danske 

Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup and Bowl, last 

year’s cup finalists, Royal Belfast Academical 

Institution and Campbell College, are set to 

face off in the upcoming clash at Osborne 

Park. The anticipation is high after their 

intense showdown in the final, where former 

Captain Jacob Boyd secured victory with an 

injury-time winner, sealing the title for RBAI 

in a thrilling 22-17 triumph. 

The draw ceremony began with heartfelt 

speeches from IRFU Ulster Branch 

President Denis Gardiner and Schools’ 

Committee Chairman Richard Clingan. 

Denis paid tribute to rugby legend Dr 

Syd Millar CBE, emphasising his immense 

impact on the sport. 

Richard expressed gratitude to all 

involved, from schools and Danske Bank 

to coaching staff and board members, 

highlighting the values instilled through 

school rugby. He extended special thanks 

to Barney McGonigle, the Schools’ Rugby 

PRO, for tirelessly promoting Ulster 

schools’ rugby. 

Richard emphasised the significance of 

Ulster Rugby’s #respectURgame initiative, 

underscoring the importance of respect 

for players, officials, and volunteers in 

upholding the values of the sport. 

Ian Russell from Danske Bank spoke 

passionately about the bank’s longstanding 

support, marking their 

nineteenth year sponsoring the schools’ 

competitions. He acknowledged the 

pride Danske Bank takes in nurturing 

young players’ journeys and witnessing 

year-on-year talent development. 

The draw concluded with a reminder 

that all Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 

Cup and Bowl games must be played on 

or before Saturday, January 27, 2024. 

Get ready for an exhilarating display of 

skill, determination, and school pride 

as the teams vie for supremacy in this 

prestigious competition. 

29

TRAINING 

in Pictures 

31

Ulster Rugby Gift Guide 

With a little help from Ulster Rugby, you 

can save yourself that Christmas Eve 

dash around the shops. Here are the top 

Christmas gifts for the Ulster Rugby fan 

in your life… 

No one really needs another pair of socks, 

but we all need a plan of action for the 

new year. 

Match Tickets 

Ulster host European giants Toulouse on 

Saturday 13 January at 8pm in the Investec 

Champions Cup. A side that features former 

World Rugby Player of the Year, Antoine 

Dupont, newly signed Scottish full-back 

Blair Kinghorn and French international 

Romain Ntamack. The middle of January at 

Kingspan Stadium is likely to be anything 

but dreary. 

FIND TICKETS 

GamePass 

Our 2024 Game Pass will guarantee your 

place at each of the following five fixtures: 

• v Toulouse (Sat 13 Jan, 8pm) 

• v Dragons (Sat 2 Mar, 7.35pm) 

• v Cardiff (Fri 19 Apr, 7.35pm) 

• v Benetton (Fri 26 Apr, 7.35pm) 

• v Leinster (Sat 18 May, 7.35pm) 

Priced from just £100 for adults, £45 for 

Under 18s and £40 for Under 12s*, a Game 

Pass represents an average saving of 10% 

for adults and 30% for Juniors on the cost 

of purchasing individual match tickets. 

* Excluding £5 per ticket booking fee. 

GAMEPASS 

Gift Vouchers 

If you’d like to offer a loved one a ticket for 

a future Ulster game at Kingspan Stadium 

but aren’t sure which one would suit, a gift 

voucher is an ideal solution as it can be 

redeemed against the ticket price for any 

match between now and the end of the 

2023/24 season. 

GIFT VOUCHERS 

Ulster Rugby Kit | Kukri 

Your loved one will be looking the part, 

decked out in the latest Ulster Rugby 

gear! Designed and manufactured by 

Kukri Sports, there is the latest Alternate 

and European kits, plus the new Capsule 

range and a wide range of leisure wear. 

BROWSE SHOP 

STADIUM TOURS ALSO AVAILABLE 

33

Christmas Market 

A huge thank you to everyone who came 

along to our annual Christmas market 

at Kingspan Stadium on Wednesday 6 

December. It was great to see so many 

fans chatting, mingling and grabbing 

some gifts from the local traders whose 

eye-catching stalls made for quite the 

spectacle. 

Young ones also got the chance to meet 

Santa and his helper, our very own record 

appearance holding hooker, Rob Herring! 

Congratulations to David Harbinson, 

who won the club’s raffle draw, with all 

proceeds going towards the Ulster Rugby 

Foundation. David’s name was picked out 

by our festive centre, James Hume, who 

popped in to say hello. 

From everybody at Ulster Rugby, we wish 

our fans a very merry Christmas! 

35

Enjoy the 

big match 

in style 

ulster.rugby/hospitality 

37

RACING 92 


NAME POSITION DOB HEIGHT WEIGHT 

Cedate GOMES SA Prop 07/08/1993 1.85 m 113 kg 

Eddy BEN AROUS Prop 25/08/1990 1.83 m 110 kg 

Gia KHARAISHVILI Prop 13/02/1999 1.80 m 120 kg 

A team with new Coaches - former Leinster 

and England Head Coach, Stuart Lancaster, 

brings a wealth of experience to his new side, 

along with Paul Stridgeon, the ex-Wales Head 

of Strength and Conditioning, and former 

France out-half Freddie Michalak. 

Siya Kolisi 

The 32-year-old flanker is now a twotime 

World Cup winner, Captaining the 

Springboks to defeat New Zealand 12-11 

in Paris just weeks ago. 

Kolisi joined Racing 92 from South 

African side Sharks, immediately 

making an impact. 

Last weekend he set up a brilliant team 

try against Harlequins, all starting with 

a break that conveyed both his power, 

ball-carrying and pace. 

Saturday’s match will see him go up 

against his Springbok teammate, 

Steven Kitshoff. 

Home ground: París La Défense Arena 

Last season: 10th in Pool A 

Head Coach: Stuart Lancaster 

Nolann Le Garrec 

21-year-old scrum-half, 

Nolann Le Garrec, from Vannes, France, 

has been at Racing 92 since 2020, and 

has really grown in confidence over the 

past season. 

Last weekend Le Garrec was a constant 

threat to Harlequins, picking-up a brace 

of tries with some quick thinking and 

fast play. He also leads the stats table 

for most passes (72) and is second for 

points scored (18) in Round 1. 

Guram GOGICHASHVILI Prop 04/09/1998 1.83 m 112 kg 

Hassane KOLINGAR Prop 06/03/1998 1.86 m 116 kg 

Thomas LACLAYAT Prop 02/10/1997 1.77 m 125 kg 

Thomas MOUKORO Prop 01/01/2002 1.85 m 116 kg 

Trevor NYAKANE Prop 04/05/1989 1.78 m 122 kg 

Camille CHAT Hooker 18/12/1995 1.78 m 101 kg 

Janick TARRIT Hooker 29/10/1998 1.83 m 108 kg 

Peniami Nasali NARISIA Hooker 10/06/1997 1.87 m 104 kg 

Bernard LE ROUX Lock 04/06/1989 1.96 m 116 kg 

Boris PALU Lock 04/02/1996 1.94 m 113 kg 

Cameron WOKI Lock 07/11/1998 1.96 m 111 kg 

Veikoso POLONIATI Lock 27/08/1995 2.03 m 130 kg 

Will ROWLANDS Lock 19/09/1991 2.03 m 123 kg 

Anthime HEMERY Back row 09/01/2001 1.87 m 111 kg 

Baptiste CHOUZENOUX Back row 07/08/1993 2.02 m 107 kg 

Fabien SANCONNIE Back row 21/02/1995 1.95 m 114 kg 

Ibrahim DIALLO Back row 23/01/1998 1.93 m 109 kg 

Jordan JOSEPH Back row 31/07/2000 1.90 m 124 kg 

Kitione KAMIKAMICA Back row 27/04/1996 1.88 m 110 kg 

Maxime BAUDONNE Back row 12/07/2002 1.90 m 98 kg 

Siya KOLISI Back row 16/06/1991 1.89 m 104 kg 

Wenceslas LAURET Back row 28/03/1989 1.88 m 103 kg 

Clovis LE BAIL Scrum-half 29/11/1995 1.73 m 74 kg 

James HALL Scrum-half 02/01/1996 1.73 m 88 kg 

Nolann LE GARREC Scrum-half 14/05/2002 1.75 m 75 kg 

Antoine GIBERT Fly-half 31/12/1997 1.77 m 76 kg 

Martin MÉLIANDE Fly-half 20/12/2001 1.87 m 82 kg 

Tristan TEDDER Fly-half 17/04/1996 1.80 m 80 kg 

Francis SAILI Centre 16/02/1991 1.80 m 100 kg 

Gaël FICKOU Centre 26/03/1994 1.90 m 100 kg 

Henry CHAVANCY Centre 22/05/1988 1.81 m 97 kg 

Inia TABUAVOU Centre 31/08/2002 1.85 m 101 kg 

Josua TUISOVA Centre 04/02/1994 1.80 m 113 kg 

Olivier KLEMENCZAK Centre 01/06/1996 1.81 m 90 kg 

Christian WADE Winger 15/05/1991 1.78 m 89 kg 

Donovan TAOFIFENUA Winger 30/03/1999 1.79 m 84 kg 

New Players: 

Henry Arundell (full-back) 

James Hall (scrum-half) 

Siya Kolisi (back row) 

Thomas Laclayat (prop) 

Clovis Le Bail (scrum-half) 

Wame Naituvi (winger) 

Will Rowlands (lock) 

Tristan Tedder (out-half) 

Josua Tuisova (winger) 

Juan IMHOFF Winger 11/05/1988 1.85 m 90 kg 

Vinaya HABOSI Winger 30/01/2000 1.84 m 100 kg 

Wame NAITUVI Winger 18/05/1996 1.80 m 92 kg 

Henry ARUNDELL Fullback 08/11/2002 1.83 m 96 kg 

Max SPRING Fullback 15/03/2001 1.73 m 75 kg 

Paul LERAÎTRE Fullback 07/12/2000 1.90 m 92 kg 

39

Spot the Difference 

Can you spot the 5 differences? 

Answers: Mike Lowry’s number, ball in the air, Billy Burns’ arm, referee’s jersey, 

Heineken star on post pad 41


What are your reflections on last week’s defeat at Bath? 

xxxx 

We started well, a good first 45 minutes but we couldn’t follow 

that through. I feel the score didn’t reflect the match, it felt 

tighter than that but towards the end of the match we gave 

Last away weekend too many you unforced passedalf. errors, coughed the ball up and put 

our scrum under pressure. Those penalties cost us in the end. 

Racing 92 are a quality side who are top of the French Top 14, 

how will we prepare to beat them? 

They are a well-rounded side, you have to prepare for everything. 

With Stuart Lancaster there they have become more 

structured in what they do, it’s not just the flamboyant 

play. They have world class players like Henry Arundell 

and Siya Kolisi there now, so we have be prepare 

all round. At home we are pretty 

solid against these teams, 

so hopefully we can get a big 

victory. 

Ulster beat Racing 26-22 at Kingspan Stadium before in 

2019. You played in that match, what are your memories 

of it? 

I remember Will (Addison) had a kick near the end of the 

game, Jacob scoring a couple of really nice tries, when 

he was the hottest man in the world! He couldn’t put a 

foot wrong and I remember Dwayne Peel designed a play 

where it allowed Jacob to get the switch and get down 

the blindside. It didn’t work but Jacob bounced the player 

and chipped it over the full-back for the try. That’s how 

that year was going for him! 

How pumped are you to be 

facing these big names? 

It’s great. I have played 

them before but it’s always 

nice to bring it home, 

and we’ll hopefully get 

a good atmosphere 

here on Saturday. 

When we play 

the French teams 

at home and get 

a foothold in the 

game, the crowd 

really gets behind 

us. They seem to 

go down in the game 

when we have the 

crowd up so hopefully that 

happens at the weekend. 

How important is it that the fans make 

Kingspan Stadium a really intimidating place 

on a big European night? How much of a 

difference does that make to you on the pitch? 

It definitely makes a difference. Especially 

like now when the team have had a couple 

of tough weeks, a tough result at home that 

we wanted to bounce back from but didn’t 

against a top Bath side. The quicker we can 

get back to winning ways the better and I 

know it makes a real difference when the 

crowd is up at home with a good energy. We 

also have our part to play in that so hopefully 

we can put in a big performance. 

The quicker we can get back 

to winning ways the better and 

I know it makes a real difference 

when the crowd is up at home 

with a good energy. 

A huge few weeks upcoming with Racing, 

Connacht and Leinster to come, how excited are you 

for these challenging games? 

The biggest games of the year! Excited but nervous 

as well, they can be season-defining games. The guys 

will knuckle down, hopefully take our chances - we 

have been creating in recent weeks but maybe not 

showing things on the scoreboard. I feel it will click 

and hopefully this weekend will be the start. 

43

45

Millar went on to coach 

Ireland between 1973 

and 1975 and was the 

mastermind behind 

the Lions undefeated 

tour to South Africa in 

in 1974. He also served 

as Lions manager on 

the 1980 tour and as 

Ireland manager at the 

inaugural 1987 Rugby 

World Cup. 

His influence extended 

into the administration 

of the game serving as 

Ulster Branch President, 

after being appointed in 

1985, IRFU President in 1995, 

and then chairman of the British 

& Irish Lions from 1999 to 2002. 

He was appointed Chairman of the 

International Rugby Board (now World 

Rugby) in 2003 and served until 2007. 

Remembering 

Dr Syd Millar CBE 

Dr Millar was made a CBE in 2005 having 

previously been named an MBE and was 

inducted into the International Rugby Hall 

of Fame in 2009, as well as being awarded 

the Légion d’honneur in December 2007. 

Former Ulster, Ireland and British & Irish 

Lions rugby legend, Dr Syd Millar CBE, has 

passed away at the age of 89. 

On the passing of Dr Syd Millar CBE, President 

of the IRFU Ulster Branch, Denis Gardiner, said: 

“All those associated with the Ulster Branch 

were deeply saddened to learn of the passing 

of Syd Millar. On behalf of the Branch, I convey 

our sincere condolences to his children Lesley, 

Peter and Johnny, to the wider Millar family 

circle, and to all at Ballymena RFC. 

“Syd was widely regarded as the 

most important and influential 

rugby personality ever to come 

from Ulster. It would be easy 

for me to simply list his many 

incredible achievements as a player, 

coach, innovator, manager and 

administrator, but you already know 

of all those, and no doubt they will 

be listed elsewhere. I have instead 

chosen to look beyond those and 

write a few words about the kind 

of man I knew and respected. 

“A few years ago, I was tasked with organising 

the Annual Dinner at my club. I asked Syd if he 

would be prepared to come along as our guest 

speaker, and was delighted when he instantly 

said he would. I asked him how much his fee 

would be, and he paused briefly, appearing 

almost offended that I had even asked such 

a question, before replying that he had never 

asked for, nor accepted, any payment from any 

rugby club. Here we had the most important 

man in World Rugby, a man who could have 

commanded significant fees for speaking 

engagements, freely giving up his Friday night 

as the guest of a small provincial rugby club. 

This showed what a humble man Syd was and 

that despite all he had achieved on the world 

stage, he retained a huge commitment to the 

club game in Ulster. 

“In October 2019, although not in the best of 

health, Syd made his final trip to Kingspan 

Stadium to unveil the Syd Millar Pathway. 

Extending from a plaque in his honour to 

the Memorial Arch, it is a fitting tribute to 

someone who has given so much to the game 

in Ulster, Ireland and across the world. Syd will 

be greatly missed.” 

A stalwart of Ballymena Rugby Club and Ulster 

Rugby, Millar made his Ireland debut in 1958 

and won a total of 37 caps as well as playing 

on three British & Irish Lions tours – 1959, 1962 

and 1966. 

The Syd Millar Pathway was unveiled at 

Kingspan Stadium in 2019 in recognition 

of the incredible contribution that Millar 

made to the game. 

There will be 

an applause 

pre-match to 

celebrate the 

memory of 

Syd Millar. 

47

49

Europe 

& That 

French 

Connection! 

He will certainly have addressed this week 

the recurring issue with the concession of 

penalties, often at times when Ulster look 

to be in prime position and developing 

momentum. 

Guest Article: Rod Nawn 

Some are technical in the scrummage and 

at breakdown, and there is often a feeling 

that Ulster’s reputation goes before them, 

that officials perceive offence. That may 

or not be true, but what is definitely at 

play is individual players allowing their 

frustrations to boil over in some closequarter 

encounters and disadvantaging 

their own team with rushes of blood. 

In Henderson the team has one of the 

game’s best communicators with his own 

teammates and with officials. 

Alright, we all hear – and some make – the 

‘noise’ that surrounds Ulster in a particularly 

disappointing sequence of games. 

The loss in the opening weekend of 

the Investec Champions Cup at Bath is 

somehow an example of how the side 

has shown initiative and verve, some 

impressive amendments at scrum-time, 

and demonstrated an instinct for attacking, 

intelligent running. 

True, Finn Russell, now in Bath colours, was 

clever with his variations in kicking and 

with ball in hand. But the trickster Scot was 

hardly – if you watch the game again – more 

positive than Billy Burns, an understated 

presence who has a range of skills with 

which Russell will have no trick: tackling 

hard, sometimes at personal cost, racing 

into space and taking thunderous ‘hits’ yet 

still offering McCloskey-esque offloads. 

Iain Henderson was a high-class performer 

last week, and his own sheer presence will 

be something all opponents know, as they 

are aware that his rugby brain is always 

working. In conjunction with the rest of 

the forward pack they mainly resolved the 

scrum issues in the first half. 

But though others never faltered in their 

energy and commitment to a European 

cause close to every Ulster rugby supporter’s 

heart, the reality is it was a heavy defeat; 

29 points ceded in the second half as the 

visitors failed to register a single point after 

leading at the break. 

Most fans, sometimes thrown a little by 

Head Coach’s team selections would have 

been mainly happy with what looked like 

a strong fifteen which would test Bath, 

now enjoying a renaissance under former 

Munster boss Johann van Graan. His style 

there wasn’t always lauded, and to be fair 

he was slotted into the Head Coach job at 

Thomond Park by the sudden, tragic loss 

of Anthony ‘Axel’ Foley. 

Now van Graan has assembled a squad 

which can be quite blisteringly effective as 

last weekend’s quickfire tries in the second 

half evidenced, even though Ulster were 

doing little wrong except, as McFarland 

rightly said, inaccuracy of execution in too 

many phases of set piece and broken play. 

With Ireland when he is in charge and, 

usually with his club, he runs an organised, 

disciplined side, one which knows what it 

can do so well and what it cannot, must 

not do, undermining carefully designed 

responses to certain situations, in attack 

or in defence. 

This afternoon Racing 92 will be a stern 

opponent. Losing last weekend in their pool 

opener with Harlequins was most definitely 

not part of any grand plan to conquer 

Europe, albeit through the Champions 

Cup’s rather awkward fixture schedule. 

But Ulster fans who will hope to see a 

backrower who has skippered South Africa 

to successive World Cup triumphs will also 

prefer that Siya Kolisi’s athletic strengths at 

the breakdown can somehow be contained. 

Of course, he will be facing an important 

cog in those two World Cup wins, new 

Ulster recruit Steven Kitshoff. The two have 

a unique bond, but you can guarantee that 

full pleasantries will wait unto they catch 

up after the game. 

Kolisi, with his polished eye for even more 

silverware has never collected Europe’s 

biggest club prize and with his all-action 

style he’ll give the Ulster half-backs and 

back row plenty to think about. 

Behind the scrum threats are everywhere, 

and fans will relish the idea of Stuart 

McCloskey facing the midfield magic of 

Gael Fickou, and Henry Arundell’s arrival 

gives the Parisians power, a free-scoring 

spirit and a considerably physical presence. 

At scrum-half young Nolann Le Garrec will 

be a dangerous, sniping runner, a speedster 

with an eye for an opening however small. 

His three tries against ‘Quins were sharply 

taken, and he has a guile which seems to 

be in the DNA of the top French pivots. 

But on big occasions Ulster have shown 

they can compete with the very best. 

They have perhaps their most complete, if 

underperforming, squad for a generation. 

It may be that wholesale success is not 

in the immediate future, but a win over 

Racing - setting the pace again in the 

Top 14 - then a festive defeat at Kingspan 

Stadium of Connacht could spark a 

New Year of real delight for players, 

management and supporters. 

We can remind ourselves of big nights at 

Ravenhill Park forever and a day, and next 

month that amazing squad, from which 

Harry Williams fashioned a European Cup 

triumph will mark the 25th anniversary of 

that Lansdowne Road win at a gala, blacktie 

evening at La Mon House. 

And so they should and most certainly will! 

That almost fairytale campaign of 1998/99 

remains a strong reminder to many who 

love the game of a group of men who most 

firmly had their roots in a sport which was 

only partially coming to terms with the idea 

51

of professionalism in rugby. 

A few gems were enticed home, David 

Humphreys, Alan Clarke and Jonny Bell, 

a small number of Ulster club players 

were offered very modest contracts, and 

so a group of players of extraordinary 

personality emerged, some individuals 

by happenstance, others by Williams’ 

shrewd recruitment and bold nurturing 

of partnerships. 

McFarland has a roster of entirely 

professional players, all now drilled in the 

mechanics, and the joys, of rugby. The 

coaching staff is innovative, the squad 

young and in so many cases signalling a 

sound foundation for sustained weekly 

performances and wins, and a long-term 

vision to contest for the big trophies. 

It should be an extraordinary atmosphere at 

Kingspan Stadium on Saturday, the arrival 

of any Gallic team seems to spawn a very 

unique expectation, perhaps born of those 

unforgettable days and nights when Stade 

Francais, Clermont and Toulouse saw the 

old and new roofs at Ravenhill almost lifted 

high in the chilly skies. 

somehow squeezed into an extraordinary 

89 years, and if it was at the high table of 

the sport or stopping for a quiet chat and 

a few wry jokes on Portstewart’s Strand, 

Syd was always, well, Syd. 

He transcended rugby’s ages, was as 

decisive an administrator as he was a 

player and businessman, he adapted and 

saw opportunities and took them. 

So many of his incredible range of talents 

are surely an inspiration to us all, and it 

would be so fitting if Ulster honoured 

him today with a performance of grit 

and discipline, of passion and style, and 

with a win to kickstart the Champions 

Cup campaign. 

His legacy is multi-faceted, but at its core 

was an honesty and commitment which 

translates to the pitch. 

Enjoy the game and think fondly of a man 

who helped guide rugby to its present preeminence. 

Of course, the match is being played 

against the background of the death this 

past week of a true Irish and Ulster legend, 

the titan that was Syd Millar. 

His exploits as a player for his province, 

country and the Lions, his eternal footprint 

on the administration of the world game, 

are well chronicled, as are his achievements 

as a coach and manager. 

A successful business and family life was 

53

PROUD TO BE OFFICIAL WATER 

& HYDRATION PARTNER OF 

ULSTER RUGBY 

Q&A 

Scott Wilson 

What’s your biggest fear? 

Spiders 

What’s your favourite takeaway? 

Pizza 

Favourite TV show? 

Breaking Bad 

What’s your biggest pet hate? 

Untidiness 

Apart From Rugby, What Other Sports Do 

You Like? 

Cricket, golf, American football 

One Thing You Can’t Live Without? 

Music 

Most used app on your phone? 

Instagram 

Most used emoji? 

If you could host a dinner party with three 

people, dead or alive, who would you invite? 

Michael Jordan, Robbie Williams, 

Morgan Wallen 

Favourite 2023/24 Ulster kit 

(White/Blue/Yellow)? 

White home kit 

If you were stuck on a desert island with a 

teammate, who would you pick and why? 

Hendy (Iain Henderson). He looks out for me 

around the stadium and particularly around 

my first cap. 

Any habits or rituals before a game? 

Lunch on the Ormeau Road and a coffee on 

the Lisburn Road. Same Spotify playlist. 

Least Favourite Drill At Training? 

Vibe - 3 team rotation drill 

Favourite game day meal? 

Toasted sourdough, eggs, bacon and avocado 

55

Mental Wellness Day at Newforge Taggers 

Newforge Taggers, a Belfast-based tag 

rugby club for individuals with learning 

disabilities, recently initiated a groundbreaking 

project aimed at addressing 

players’ mental health. The club’s primary 

focus is on the holistic well-being of 

its players, fostering confidence and 

development on and off the pitch within 

a family-like ethos. 

Stemming from a conversation with family 

abroad, the “How’s it goin?” event was 

inspired by an Australian school’s “R U OK 

Day”. The project encompassed physical 

fitness, nutrition, and social-emotional 

well-being, acknowledging their collective 

contribution to positive mental health. 

energy. The subsequent activities included 

stations on healthy diets, sensory food 

games, and creating fruit kebabs, fostering 

player engagement, smiles, and laughter. 

The day’s pinnacle featured a Q&A session 

on mental health, involving players, 

parents, and Ulster Rugby players Harry 

Sheridan and Stewart Moore. The session, 

backed by Belfast City Council’s grant, 

highlighted the importance of family 

and teammates’ support in addressing 

challenges, reinforcing the impact of a 

simple “How’s it goin?” can make. 

To encourage ongoing dialogue, the 

club provided each player and coach 

with custom-designed Taggers hats by 

Noggin, a brand dedicated to mental 

health awareness in sports. Gratitude was 

extended to Belfast City Council for their 

support, Vital Nutrition for exceptional 

contributions, and Ulster Rugby players 

for their professionalism and insights into 

the life of a professional athlete. 

The day kicked off with a workshop for 

parents, led by Jane McClenaghan from 

Vital Nutrition, exploring mood-boosting 

foods and budget-friendly healthy eating. 

Simultaneously, players engaged in 

inclusive outdoor games, emphasising 

teamwork and enjoyment. 

Vital Nutrition facilitated a fun and 

interactive session for players, offering 

smoothies and granola bars for sustained 

57

2023/24 2023/24 FIXTURES FIXTURES 

2023/24 FIXTURES 

A Zebre Parma Sat 21 Oct W 36-40 URC 

H Vodacom Bulls Sun 29 Oct W 26-19 URC 

A Connacht Sat 4 Nov L 22-20 URC 

H Munster Fri 10 Nov W 21-14 URC 

H Emirates Lions Fri 17 Nov W 24-17 URC 

A Glasgow Sat 25 Nov L 33-20 URC 

H Edinburgh Sat 2 Dec L 24-27 URC 

A Bath Rugby Sat 9 Dec L 37-14 ICC 

H Racing 92 Sat 16 Dec 8.00pm ICC 

H Connacht Fri 22 Dec 7.35pm URC 

A Leinster Mon 1 Jan 5.15pm URC 

H Stade Toulousain Sat 13 Jan 8.00pm ICC 

A Harlequins Sat 20 Jan 1.00pm ICC 

A Ospreys Sun 18 Feb 3.00pm URC 

H Dragons Sat 2 Mar 7.35pm URC 

A Hollywoodbets Sharks Sat 23 Mar 1.00pm URC 

A DHL Stormers Sat 30 Mar 5.15pm URC 

H Cardiff Fri 19 Apr 7.35pm URC 

H Benetton Fri 26 Apr 7.35pm URC 

A Scarlets Sat 11 May 3.05pm URC 

H Leinster Sat 18 May 7.35pm URC 

A Munster Sat 1 Jun 5.15pm URC 

59

Could you support 

Horatio’s Garden Northern Ireland? 

Opening this winter at 

Musgrave Park Hospital in 

Belfast, Horatio’s Garden 

Northern Ireland will 

nurture the wellbeing of 

people after spinal injury 

from across the province. 

Donate to Ulster Rugby’s 

official charity partner 

2023/24 today at 

horatiosgarden.org.uk 

Horatio’s Garden is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registered charity number 1151475/SC045386. 

Registered Office: Horatio’s Garden, 2 Throope Down Office, Blandford Road, Coombe Bissett, Salisbury, SP5 4LN 

01722 326834 | horatiosgarden.org.uk | info@horatiosgarden.org.uk | @horatiosgarden 

61

Thank You! 

Access to 

3G Pitch and 

Kingspan Pass 

Challenge 

SPIRIT OF ‘99 THE 1924 

HEINEKEN 

QUARTER BAR 

PROMENADE 1 

CLUBHOUSE 

BAR 

PROMENADE 2 

CLUBHOUSE 

KITCHEN 

Ulster Rugby wish to thank all of our sponsors 

and partners for their continued support. 

Main Sponsor 

ABBEY AUTOLINE 

FAMILY STAND 

RAVENHILL 

SUITE 

FAMILY TERRACE 

NEVIN SPENCE MEMORIAL TERRACE 

SCRUM 

BAR 

KUKRI 

SHOP 

LINEOUT 

BAR 

NEVIN SPENCE MEMORIAL STAND 

FAN ZONE / 

FOOD VILLAGE 

Kit Sponsor 

Official On-kit Sponsors 

EAST TERRACE 

BACKLINE 

BAR 

A&L GOODBODY LOUNGE 

CORPORATE BOXES 

Official Sponsors 

Catering 

The Food Village will be in operation, 

serving a variety of cuisines, while the 

Cool FM Crew will provide the soundtrack 

for the evening. 

All five public bars will also be in operation, 

with live entertainment in the Clubhouse Bar 

Kukri Store 

The Kukri Store will be open from gates 

open, until 30 minutes after full-time. 

Audio 

Audio descriptive match commentary to 

enhance the match experience for people 

affected by sight or hearing loss will be 

available. 

Earpieces can be collected from the admin 

building reception prior to the game, or 

you can book your equipment by calling 

on (028) 9049 3222. 

Domestic Sponsors 

Official Partners 

Kingspan Stadium is now fully cashless, with all bars and catering outlets operating 

via card payments only. 

Live music will be available pre & post-match in the Clubhouse Bar 

Respect 

Policy 

Incident hotline 

07790 

200 200 

We are 

passionate in 

our support 

We are silent 

during kicks 

at goal 

We respect the 

match officials’ 

decisions 

We drink 

responsibly 

We do not tolerate 

abusive or discriminatory 

language 

We respect opposition 

players, management 

& supporters 

We are mindful 

of our language 

63

65

ICC-Ulster Rugby Match Day Programme v-Racing92

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