Ulster Rugby Annual Report

€250000 into School rugby. This is the same amount that was put in initially but the scheme additionally pays the insurance premium on behalf of Schools. This has risen significantly since the scheme was introduced in 1998. These thirty five schools are recorded as fielding over three hundred and fifty teams with eight thousand six hundred and fifty four boys involved which is 48% of the total boys enrolled. One interesting figure that has emerged from the summary of returns is that Ulster has the highest percentage at 54% of teacher coaches compared to the other provinces. Finally, the thanks of the Schools’ Committee are recorded to Chris Webster, Barry Willis, Lesley McGaughey, Jill McCullough, Laura-Jane O’Neill, Pamela Wilkes, Sara-Louise Bowman, Paul Whitten and other staff at the Ulster Branch who worked with the Schools on a weekly basis to ensure the smooth running of Schools’ rugby. HIGH SCHOOLS RUGBY This was another very successful year for High Schools’ rugby, where they again entered new ground expanding the U16 Pollock Cup competition. The Pollock Cup historically was played in a series of regional qualifying blitzes, culminating in a finals blitz at Ballymena RFC. However, this year the High Schools Committee recommended that this competition be played as full sixty minute matches in regional groups with the top eight teams across all groups qualifying for the knockout quarter finals, thus ensuring that significantly more rugby was played across the province at Under 16 level. There was a notable increase in the number Schools which entered the U14 High Schools Shield, also expanded as full fifty minute matches in regional groups with the top eight teams progressing to the knockout stages of the Shield competition and the remaining teams competing in the knockout stages of the second tier Trophy competition. The 2018/19 season also saw the continuation of the U18 High Schools’ Cup and U15 High School Sevens. It also saw four High Schools enter the Medallion Shield. Eight teams entered the Under 18 High Schools’ Cup which was won by Carndonagh CS, who defeated Shimna in the final. The Under 16 High Schools’ Trophy and Plate competitions attracted twenty eight entries, with Craigavon Senior High School defeating Ballyclare Secondary in the Trophy Final played at the Kingspan Stadium on Thursday 14th March 2019. Dunclug defeated Devenish at Portadown RFC in the final of the Plate. A magnificent twenty five Schools entered the U16 Pollock Cup competition and weekly fixtures took place between October and December, culminating in a very entertaining final at Dromore RFC on Wednesday 19th December 2018 in which Craigavon SHS defeated Ballyclare Secondary. This was a great advert for High Schools’ rugby. The Under 15 High Schools’ Sevens competition took place on Tuesday 30th April at Meadowbank Arena and Rainey Old Boys’ RFC. Craigavon SHS won the tournament, completing a hat-trick of trophies this season.

The U14 Shield and Trophy competitions got underway in October and ran through to February with twenty three schools participating in fortnightly fixtures. Lurgan JHS defeated Sperrin Integrated in an entertaining Shield final played at Queen’s University, while Bangor Academy defeated Clounagh JHS in the U14 High Schools’ Trophy, played at Belfast Harlequins RFC. The U14 Bowl with nineteen entries, bringing the total at that age-group to a very healthy forty two was played in three regional blitzes. Once again eight Schools qualified for Finals Day at Ballymena RFC with Cullybackey High School coming out on top. The U12 High School Shield competition was entered by fifty six Schools, sixteen of which qualified from their regional groups for the finals day at Lurgan RFC. Killicomaine defeated Clounagh JHS in the final. Sincere thanks are extended to the teachers, High Schools’ Committee, CCROs and the Regional Development Officers for the very hard work and commitment they have all shown. YOUTH RUGBY The development of Youth (U14, U16 and U18) rugby was delivered by meaningful, challenging competitive games in the form of League and Cup Competitions. The Youth Committee, now in its thirty-fifth year, continued to help the growth of the game and to hopefully supply players for the Domestic adult game. At the Monthly Youth Committee meetings, chaired by Paul Hart, Youth Representatives were updated on law changes, health and safety and general rugby information. This was also a time that the Youth Representatives could share best practice with each other and a forum for the Clubs to feed their views back to the Ulster Branch. The Youth Competition Committee organised all of the Youth League and Cup Games. It also arranged and controlled the League Finals (U14, U16 & U18) at the Mid-Ulster Sports Arena. The winners of the U16 and U18 League went on to represent Ulster in the Clubs All Ireland Youth Finals. Armagh U16 lost to Gorey in the semi-finals, and Belfast Met U18 lost to Navan in their semi also. Our thanks go to Banbridge for hosting both semi-finals. During April Mid-Ulster Sports Arena was also the venue for the Plate, Bowl and Shield Finals while the cup finals were held in the Kingspan Stadium in May. We are grateful for the continued sponsorship by Ulster Carpets of the Youth League & Cup Competitions and also for the monthly Ulster Carpets Awards in recognition of work done by the Youth sections of our Clubs. The Youth Committee and the Clubs worked closely with the Elite Player Development Program and management team to identify potential players from league games, with the Regional Development Squads, in the hope that some go on to achieve provincial and national representative honours MINI RUGBY Forty two clubs provided mini rugby at the start of the season, ensuring that right across the province children were given the opportunity to participate in the sport.

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