Ulster Rugby - Annual Report 2017-18

The Youth rugby season climaxed with the Ulster Carpets Cup Finals being played under the Kingspan Stadium sunshine on the last weekend in April, with Ballymena, Clogher Valley and Rainey taking home the U14, U16 and U18 titles respectively. Youth rugby is another crucial area for the development of the game, and it is heartening to see such a wide geographical spread of clubs involved in the latter stages of the Youth competitions. As always, we must pay tribute to the Ulster Society of Rugby Football Referees (USRFR) under the leadership of Shane Toolan, who are essential to the fulfilment of such an extensive rugby programme throughout the Province each year. The Society urgently require some new recruits and I would appeal in particular to young people who are nearing the end of their playing days to consider staying involved through refereeing. For the second year running, our charitable partnership with Include Youth has worked extremely well, with many disadvantaged young people having benefited greatly from our association. I record my thanks to all who have served on the Branch, Clubs and Management Committees as well as all the various sub-committees; the time you dedicate to serving the Ulster Branch as volunteers is immense and is much appreciated. My gratitude also goes to Paul Terrington, Chair of the Management Committee, who has done a sterling job in guiding us through some difficult times. I have certainly benefited greatly from his wise counsel and support throughout the season. Thanks also go to all of the Branch Officers, especially Denis Gardiner, Michael Boyd and Greg Irwin, who give so freely of their time to Branch matters, and for the additional support they have provided to me. I would also like to thank my two Vice-Presidents, Stephen Elliott and Gary Leslie, for all their assistance in covering games and Club functions, and for the friendships we have developed. I must also thank our CEO Shane Logan, his PA Maeve Bogie and the entire Ulster Branch staff for all their work throughout the year. To the countless volunteers throughout Ulster who are the lifeblood of our game; thank you for everything you do to make the game of rugby so enjoyable, inclusive and rewarding to all. Finally, thanks to my wife Lexi for her support and tolerance throughout what has been a very busy and sometimes stressful year. May I conclude by wishing Stephen Elliott all the best for his term as President. I hope that he and Heather have a successful and enjoyable year. Graffin Parke President IRFU Ulster Branch

Callum Black who are returning to South Africa and Worcester respectively and Charles Piutau who is Bristol bound. In their own individual ways, each has made an indelible impression at Ulster Rugby and we send our best regards to them, as well as to the rest of the players who are moving on. Another notable absentee who will be equally missed next season is Norman Pollock, or Sparky, as he is better known. For eighteen years Norman has volunteered as Ulster’s much loved mascot and we are indebted to him for his unique ability to create such a fun and enjoyable family friendly atmosphere at Kingspan Stadium. Without doubt the highlight of any Irish rugby supporter’s year was the historic Six Nations Grand Slam success, especially the climactic victory over England at Twickenham on St Patrick’s Day. It will certainly live long in the memory for all who were there to witness it and we congratulate Joe Schmidt, his management team and all of the players, especially the captain Rory Best and the other Ulster representatives Iain Henderson and Jacob Stockdale, who rounded off a dream Six Nations debut campaign by collecting the Player of the Championship award. Running concurrently were the U20 and Women’s Six Nations Championships, and we also congratulate the Ulster players who represented both teams with distinction. On the domestic scene, it was a very good year for Ulster clubs in the Ulster Bank All Ireland League, with Malone winning Division 2A and a further four Ulster sides making it all the way to the promotion play-off finals. Unfortunately Banbridge, Rainey and Omagh fell at the final hurdle, but City of Armagh won their decider to secure back-to-back promotions and a place in Division 1B next season. The Armagh men added their name to the First Trust Senior Cup for the first time with victory over Ballymena in the Kingspan Stadium showpiece, before rounding off another superb season by beating Malone in their final match of the season to retain the Stevenson Shield and the title of SONI Ulster Rugby Premiership Champions. Ballynahinch 2nd XV retained their Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup title. The Kukri Ulster Rugby Championship was won by Instonians, who saw off Ballyclare following a thrilling run-in to the campaign. For Ballyclare, there was success in the RiverRock Towns Cup, in what was one of seven Club cup finals to be played at Kingspan Stadium on Easter week. Malone and Ballynahinch held the honour of playing in the first ever Women’s Club final to be played at the home of Ulster Rugby, and it was Malone who emerged as Women’s Junior Cup Champions. In Schools’ rugby, Campbell College was crowned Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup champions as they defeated Royal School Armagh in an exciting and closely contested final. Monaghan Collegiate won the re-formed Ulster Girls X7s Senior Cup with a 12-8 final win over Enniskillen Royal Grammar School. There is considerable work being done in High Schools’ rugby in a bid to get more schools involved, and the U18 High Schools’ title was won by Sperrin Integrated College, Magherafelt, who beat Carndonagh Community College in the final, while Ballyclare Secondary School lifted the U16 High Schools’ Trophy.

IRFU ULSTER BRANCH ANNUAL REPORT 2017/18

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