Ulster Rugby Annual Report

— Public Health Agency and Active Belfast. Further applications have been submitted to Active Belfast and the Public Health Agency totalling £36,000 to build upon last year’s successful projects. If successful, the project will offer various recreational rugby variations, partnering Ulster Rugby with community groups and domestic rugby Clubs to engage those with little or no involvement in or access to physical activity. — The National Lottery Community Fund; Empowering Young People Programme. An application will be submitted for circa £80,000 to support the development of a tag rugby programme in Special Educational Needs (SEN) Schools across Northern Ireland. The aim of the project is to improve self-confidence, reduce loneliness and provide a platform of fun and enjoyment for young people with learning disabilities. — Alpha Programme. This project revolves around the development of a ‘Reading Room / Interactive Suite’ within the Ulster Rugby Nevin Spence Centre (NSC) facility. It will consist of a space where individuals and groups can comfortably use the IT equipment on offer to conduct their own sporting and cultural research, browse a vault of historical information, conduct class educational projects and deliver group inclusion projects. Women’s Rugby This year we have had more women playing rugby in Ulster more often than before. With 95% of all Adult Female team sheets being returned, a more accurate picture of the number of women participating in rugby, on a weekly basis, in the province can be ascertained. We now have Clubs fielding teams at four different levels throughout the year. One Ulster side competed in The Women’s AIL, six in Division One of the Ulster Rugby Championship, seven in Division Two, while two sides met in the newest level of the Ulster Rugby Conference/Development.

develop an innovative ‘behind the scenes’ virtual reality experience. Using state of the art Oculus Virtual Reality headsets, fans can now experience the players preparing as they arrive at the stadium, warming up before a game and get a flavour of the team talk from a unique perspective inside the home changing room. The virtual reality experience will roll out at home match nights and fans can head along to the Abbey Insurance Family Stand to check it out. As part of our Rugby in the Community strand, expect to see the technology out and about at local Clubs, Schools and further afield to provide as many people as possible with the opportunity to gain a unique experience of our Professional Team. — Local Authorities. As referred to above, a number of local authorities provided financial assistance which contributed to Club, School and Community Outreach programmes, aimed at enhancing physical activity and exercise through rugby. — Club support. Staff have supported Clubs in achieving approximately £200,000 for facility upgrades, including improved changing rooms, floodlights, pitch maintenance and equipment. Work is ongoing with Clubs to support their further development through access to external funding programmes. There has also been a programme of work undertaken throughout the year in the development of bids to other funding programmes. The IRFU (Ulster Branch) is currently waiting for decisions regarding the following applications - — The Executive Office . An application worth £48,000 has been submitted to the Central Good Relations Fund through The Executive Office to build upon the successful ‘Uniting through Rugby’ programme. If successful, this one-year project will focus on key stage two pupils from some of the hardest to reach Primary Schools across Northern Ireland.

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