Ulster Rugby v Cardiff Blues

OFFICIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME £3

V CARDIFF BLUES SATURDAY 1ST DECEMBER 2018 KINGSPAN STADIUM, BELFAST KICK OFF 3.00PM

Welcome back to Kingspan Stadium, the home of Ulster Rugby, where the Ulster squad welcome Cardiff Blues for Round 10 of the Guinness PRO14 Championship. Ulster will be looking to get back to winning ways and bounce back from last weekend’s loss away to Scarlets. Lying third in Conference B, the Ulstermen have the opportunity to leapfrog Scarlets once again, should the Welsh outfit slip up against Conference A table-toppers, Glasgow Warriors. With a number of Ulster Rugby stars returning to the squad after a clean sweep in the November Series, this afternoon’s game is sure to be full of excitement, skill, and bravery. The Blues squad and travelling supporters also deserve a very warm welcome and we look forward to a thrilling game. Finally, on behalf of Kingspan, I would like to wish the Ulster Rugby squad and management team the very best this afternoon as they continue to give their all in every facet of the game. To Ulster’s committed fans, enjoy the game, lead the way and help ensure that this is a day to remember at Kingspan Stadium.

IN THIS ISSUE...

TODAY'S MASCOTS

2 3 5 8 11

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME GUINNESS PRO14WELCOME INTERVIEW: ROB HERRING ULSTER SCHOOLS' CUP LAUNCH

8

Q&A: STUART McCLOSKEY

13 17 19

ACADEMY SQUAD

WOMEN'S JUNIOR CUP LAUNCH

13

MATCH PREVIEW

22 24 28 29 30 35 39 40

ULSTER SQUAD PROFILES

ULSTER TEAM

CARDIFF BLUES TEAM CARDIFF BLUES PROFILES

STAFF PROFILE: PAMELAWILKES CLUB Q&A: CIVIL SERVICE RFC GUEST ARTICLE: ROD NAWN INCLUDE YOUTH CHRISTMAS PRESENT APPEAL

29

45 46

INTERVIEW: GREG JONES

SEASON SO FAR IN PICS SUBWAY HALF TIME TEAMS ULSTER RUGBY IN NUMBERS

49 50

51

46

URSC UPDATE

52

STADIUM INFORMATION 53 2018/19 COMPETITION STANDINGS 54 FIXTURES 55 SPONSORS AND PARTNERS 56

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TODAY’S MASCOTS

JAY NUGENT (8) Jay goes to Kingspark Primary School and enjoys cycling and BB. He is very excited about being one of this week’s mascots. His favourite player is Rory Best because he has played over 200 games and when Jay is older he would like to be on X Factor.

CALUM HEALEY (12) Calum goes to Lurgan Junior High and plays rugby for the school. His other interests include football and playing his PS4. His favourite player is Jacob Stockdale because he thinks he is the best and he lives in Lurgan. When Calum is older he would like to be a policeman or a rugby player.

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PRESIDENT’S WELCOME On behalf of Ulster Rugby, it is a pleasure to welcome ‹o† -ѴѴ |o bm]vr-m "|-7b†l =ou |_bv -[;umoomĽv †bmm;vv ! ƐƓ l-|1_ -]-bmv| -u7b@ Ѵ†;vĺ ); ;Š|;m7 - ‰-ul &Ѵv|;u ‰;Ѵ1ol; |o |_; ˆbvbঞm] rѴ-‹;uvķ v|-@ -m7 oL1b-Ѵvķ r-uঞ1†Ѵ-uѴ‹ _ubv ѴѴ;mķ -u7b@Ľv oll;u1b-Ѵ -m-];uĺ

For the third successive year, &Ѵv|;u !†]0‹ bv v†rrouঞm] Include Youth as it’s chosen charity partner. Include Youth supports children and young people in care or from 7bv-7ˆ-m|-];7 1oll†mbঞ;vķ and we have been delighted to help their work in the past two seasons. Thanks to all the rѴ-‹;uvķ v|-@ -m7 v†rrou|;uv ‰_o have assisted and contributed to the fund raising. If you would like to support these young people this Christmas, we will be 1oѴѴ;1ঞm] †m‰u-rr;7 _ubv|l-v ru;v;m|v †r †mঞѴ ub7-‹ ƐƓ|_ December. Further details are in this programme. We prefer to play our home matches on Friday evenings when the club players, volunteers and supporters can come along to Kingspan Stadium or at least watch the matches on television. Unfortunately, we have no control over the -uu-m]bm] o= |_; CŠ|†u;v -m7 ‰; ‰bv_ -ѴѴ |_ov; r-uঞ1br-ঞm] in schools or club matches this weekend well. We do have two mouth-watering games coming up on successive Fridays in December against Scarlets and Munster, and it would be great to have full houses to get behind the team and cheer them to victory. Thank you all =ou -‚;m7bm] |o7-‹ -m7 =ou ‹o†u 1omঞm†bm] v†rrou|ĺ "|;r_;m ѴѴbo‚ President, IRFU Ulster Branch

We are delighted to have with us a large number of P7 pupils who have accepted Ulster Rugby’s o@;u o= 1olrѴbl;m|-u‹ ঞ1h;|v bm u;1o]mbঞom o= |_; ;m7 o= |_; transfer tests. Well done on all your hard work and enjoy the day out! Since our last home league game against Dragons, what was largely an Academy team had a very encouraging victory oˆ;u |_; &u†]†-‹ m-ঞom-Ѵ |;-l bm ;Š|u;l;Ѵ‹ 7bL1†Ѵ| ‰;-|_;u 1om7bঞomvĺ ); u;v†l;7 o†u PRO14 campaign last week against Scarlets with what ruoˆ;7 |o 0; - 7bv-rrobmঞm] defeat. However, with Edinburgh -m7 ;m;‚om -Ѵvo vѴbrrbm] †rķ we remain in third place in our conference. We hope to get back on track today before ]obm] bm|o 0-1hŊ|oŊ0-1h CŠ|†u;v against Scarlets in the Heineken Champions Cup. During the break in the league we have seen Ireland win all four o= |_; oˆ;l0;u bm|;um-ঞom-Ѵv to cement second place in the world rankings. I was privileged to be at the three home matches and, like all those present, will never forget the win over the All Blacks. The atmosphere in the Aviva Stadium was something else that evening. om]u-|†Ѵ-ঞomv |o -ѴѴ |_; &Ѵv|;u players involved, with special l;mঞom |o 1-r|-bm !ou‹ ;v|ķ and to Jacob Stockdale for that l-]mbC1;m| |u‹ĺ

IRFU ULSTER BRANCH 2018/19 OFFICERS "|;r_;m ѴѴbo‚ President Gary Leslie Senior Vice President Philip Gregg Junior Vice President Denis Gardiner Honorary Secretary Michael Boyd Honorary Treasurer Greg Irwin olr;ঞঞomv ";1u;|-u‹ EXECUTIVE TEAM Chris Webster Head of Rugby Development Audrey Robinson Head of Finance ş r;u-ঞomv Fiona Hampton ;-7 o= "-Ѵ;v ş -uh;ঞm] Bryn Cunningham r;u-ঞomv bu;1|ou

Kingspan Stadium, 134 Mount Merrion Avenue Belfast, BT6 0FT T +44 (0)28 9049 3222 ulsterrugby.com

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The arrival of Round 10 means we are almost at the half-way point of the regular season and teams right across the Guinness PRO14 still have so much to play for. The introduction of the Conference format was a necessity when we expanded into South Africa, but one of the knock-on benefits was the expansion of the Guinness PRO14 Final Series which means that more teams have more to play for. In Conference A right now, everyone fromMunster down to Cardiff Blues will feel confident they can join GlasgowWarriors in reaching the knock-out stages. It’s been another terrific start to the season for the Warriors under Dave Rennie who has his entire squad playing off the same hymn sheet. During the international window Rennie’s men have returned two bonus-point victories which speaks to the calibre of their squad and the quality of young players coming through. It’s a mirror image in Conference B with Leinster setting the pace and also picking up maximum points in the past month. Scarlets, Ulster, Edinburgh and Benetton Rugby are battling for what looks like two Final Series berths which puts so much emphasis on this weekend before we head into the Festive derby matches. An indication of the improvement of the Championship this season can be seen in the competitiveness of the teams lower down in the Conference tables. Teams outside of the top three in each conference have an average of 17.5 points which compares to only 14 points after Round 9 and that’s really pleasing especially with every side having managed at least one victory. On the international front, it would be remiss of me not to congratulate our teams and players on an incredible November. Firstly, Ireland after beating the All Blacks have now been named World Rugby Team of the Year, thanks in part to their Coach of the Year Joe Schmidt and Player of the Year, Leinster’s Johnny Sexton. That’s a sensational achievement for everyone involved and great to know that all of those players ply their trade in the Guinness PRO14. Ireland, Scotland and Wales also combined to win seven of eight fixtures against top-tier Southern-Hemisphere opposition (South Africa, Australia, New Zealand & Argentina) with nine players from the Championship also making their Test debuts. As for this weekend, we have games taking place in Ireland, Scotland and Wales with Connacht and Benetton Rugby finishing up their two-match tours in South Africa. The Toyota Cheetahs and Isuzu Southern Kings will enter their mid-season break after this weekend and get back to action in January, so they will be eager to sign-off on a winning note. Right now the excitement and warm-weather atmosphere of the Guinness PRO14 Final might seem a long way away, but every team in the tournament is dreaming of winning the trophy at Celtic Park on May 25. However, without even making a tackle you can guarantee your place by going direct to bit.ly/glasgow2019 to get your tickets. In the last week we have seen a huge number of you take advantage of our Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers so make sure to our official accounts on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for future offers. Enjoy the game, Martin Anayi Chief Executive Officer

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HERRING HIT

Not too many players reach the milestone of 150 caps for the Province, but having served seven seasons with Ulster and been a regular -m7 u;Ѵb-0Ѵ; orঞom -| _ooh;uķ |o7-‹ ;uubm] will reach that mark. Since joining in 2012, he has been a regular in match-day squads and has been there for the highs and the lows, playing a key role in play- o@ u†mv 0o|_ 7ol;vঞ1-ѴѴ‹ -m7 bm †uor;ķ -m7 is now a fan favourite at Kingspan Stadium. Ş |ŝv vm†1h †r om l; - Ѵb‚Ѵ; 0b|ĴŞ _; -7lb|v ‰_;m -vh;7 -0o†| _bমm] ƐƔƏĺ Ş ŝˆ; u;-ѴѴ‹ enjoyed my seven seasons here. "I moved here when I was 22 and I don't have -m‹ bm|;mঞomv |o ]o _ol; -| |_; lol;m|ĺ |_bmh 7;Cmb|;Ѵ‹ b|ŝv - 1Ѵ†0 ŝl u;-ѴѴ‹ ruo†7 |o play for and I recognise that it's a massive rubˆbѴ;]; ;ˆ;u‹ ঞl; r†ѴѴ om |_-| f;uv;‹ĺ "The players and the people of this Province, what it represents, it's something that grows with you since. It's massively special to get to 150 but it's a massive privilege to play every ঞl;ķ ;vr;1b-ѴѴ‹ -| _ol;ĺŞ Of course, when reaching a milestone, it's -Ѵ‰-‹v blrou|-m| |o u;Y;1| om |_; _b]_Ѵb]_|vķ of which Herring surely has many from an already storied career at the Province. "There's been a couple," he recalls. "You look at those European games, Harlequins last year, l‹ Cuv| ঞl; 1-r|-bmbm] &Ѵv|;u ‰-v - ]u;-|

lol;m| |_-| ŝѴѴ -Ѵ‰-‹v _-ˆ;ĺ $_;u;ŝv 7;Cmb|;Ѵ‹ a few along the way that stand out." omŝ| ];| _bl v;mঞl;m|-Ѵ |_o†]_ķ 0;1-†v;ķ as Herring himself is keen to point out, there's business to be done over the next few weeks for Ulster in both the Guinness PRO14 and Heineken Champions Cup. [;u |_; Ѵ†;v 1ol;v |_; †uor;-m 7o†0Ѵ;Ŋ header against Scarlets, followed by three =;vঞˆ; bm|;uruoˆbm1b-Ѵ ]-l;v -m7 |_;m |_; Cm-Ѵ |‰o †uor;-m l-|1_;v Ŋ ;b]_| _†]; ]-l;v |_-| 1o†Ѵ7 7;Cm; |_; v;-vom -_;-7ĺ "oķ om1; |_; rolr -m7 1;u;lom‹ o= _bমm] his milestone is out of the way, it's all about the game for Herring. "I think we had a small chat about it as a group, this next block is massively important," says the hooker, who returns from bm|;um-ঞom-Ѵ 7†|‹ |_bv ‰;;hĺ "I think if you look at the league now, we need |o v|-u| hb1hbm] om -m7 r†v_bm] =ou |_ov; Cuv| |‰o vro|vĺ |ŝv v;মm] †v †r =ou |_; ;m7 o= |_; season if you start to push on. "Obviously we need to take it game by game but we have to recognise how important this 0Ѵo1h bv -m7 _or;=†ѴѴ‹ bm ;b]_| ‰;;hvĽ ঞl; ‰; 1ol; o†| Ѵoohbm] ru;‚‹ v|uom]ĺŞ One of the things that has impressed him recently, however, has been the form of young

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S 150 hooker Adam McBurney, who has stepped up admirably in the absence of Herring and Rory Best 7†; |o bm|;um-ঞom-Ѵ 7†|‹ĺ The former Abbey Insurance Academy prospect has graduated

onto a development deal this season and has been impressive when given a shot in the senior side. And Herring believes it's only good for the squad to have these kind of players pushing through, r-uঞ1†Ѵ-uѴ‹ 7†ubm] bm|;um-ঞom-Ѵ windows. "I think Adam has come in, he played a few games last year and and really taken his chance," praised Herring. "The depth at hooker in this club is incredible. As one of those hookers it's really good. You can never rest on your laurels, even in training. Ş v - †mb|ķ ‰;ŝѴѴ h;;r ];মm] 0;‚;u -m7 h;;r r†v_bm] ;-1_ other. In terms of the club, that's - l-vvbˆ; rovbঞˆ;ĺŞ

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The GUINNESS word and associated logos are trade marks © Guinness & Co.2015.

2018/19 DANSKE BANK ULSTER SCHOOLS’ RUGBY COMPETITIONS LAUNCHED $_; Ѵ-†m1_ o= |_; ƑƏƐѶņƐƖ -mvh; -mh &Ѵv|;u "1_ooѴvĽ !†]0‹ 1olr;ঞঞomv took place at Kingspan Stadium on Monday 19th November, in the company of u;ru;v;m|-ঞˆ;v =uol |_; o‹v "1_ooѴvĽ †rķ buѴv "1_ooѴvĽ †rķ ;7-ѴѴbom "_b;Ѵ7 -m7 b]_ "1_ooѴvĽ $uor_‹ĺ

The draw for the opening two rounds of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, the world’s v;1om7ŊoѴ7;v| u†]0‹ 1olr;ঞঞomķ -Ѵvo |ooh place in front of the 1st XV captains from each o= |_; ƒƒ r-uঞ1br-ঞm] v1_ooѴvĺ Last season, John McKee led Campbell College |o - ƐƖŊƐƒ Cm-Ѵ ˆb1|ou‹ oˆ;u $_; !o‹-Ѵ "1_ooѴ ul-]_ķ v;1†ubm] - Cuv| ঞ|Ѵ; vbm1; ƑƏƐƐ =ou

-lr0;ѴѴķ -m7 |_;bu ƑƓ|_ o†|ub]_| 1olr;ঞঞom success. First won by The Royal School Armagh back in 1876, the Schools’ Cup has been competed =ou ;ˆ;u‹ ‹;-u vbm1;ķ ‰b|_ Ɛƕ 7b@;u;m| v1_ooѴv having collected the famous cup, while Methodist College sit on top of the roll of _omo†u ‰b|_ ƒƔ o†|ub]_| ঞ|Ѵ;vĺ

2018/19 DANSKE BANK ULSTER SCHOOLS’ CUP

ROUND 1 Saturday 15th December 2018

ROUND 4 Saturday 9th February 2019

Antrim Grammar v Carrickfergus Grammar Strabane Academy v Wellington College

The eight winners from Round 3 will be joined in the Round 4 draw by: Ballymena Academy, Campbell College, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, Methodist oѴѴ;]; ;Ѵ=-v|ķ !o‹-Ѵ ;Ѵ=-v| 1-7;lb1-Ѵ mvঞ|†ঞomķ Royal School Armagh, Sullivan Upper School and Wallace High School.

ROUND 2 Saturday 12th January 2019

Limavady Grammar v Larne Grammar Grosvenor Grammar v Friends’ School Cambridge House v Banbridge Academy

QUARTER-FINALS Saturday 23rd February 2019

Lurgan College v Foyle College Dromore HS v Regent House

Antrim Grammar / Carrickfergus Grammar v Down HS Belfast HS v Strabane Academy / Wellington College

SEMI-FINALS Tuesday 5th March 2019, 2.30pm at Kingspan Stadium Wednesday 6th March 2019, 2.30pm at Kingspan Stadium FINAL Monday 18th March 2019, 3.00pm at Kingspan Stadium

ROUND 3 Saturday 26th January 2019

The seven winners from Round 2 will be joined in the Round 3 draw by: Ballyclare High School, Bangor Grammar School, Belfast Royal Academy, Coleraine Grammar School, Dalriada School, Omagh Academy, Portadown College, Rainey Endowed School and Royal School Dungannon.

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Q&A S T U A R T M c C L O S K E Y QUICKFIRE Favourite rugby memory? ;-ঞm] $o†Ѵo†v; -‰-‹ bm †uor; Favourite place to eat in Belfast? Il Pirata Tv programme you can’t miss? Game of Thrones $_; Cuv| l†vb1 -Ѵ0†l ‹o† ;ˆ;u 0o†]_|ĵ Too young to remember albums The last movie you watched? Lord of the Rings )_o bv ‹o†u vrouঞm] _;uo -m7 ‰_‹ĵ Lebron James Favourite thing about playing for Ulster? Banter with the guys If you could swap places with a celebrity for a day who would it be and why? Andrew Warwick If you could have dinner with anyone (dead or alive) who would it be and why? Lebron James - I’d just like to see how big he really is Favourite post - match meal? McDonalds – two double cheese burgers and large fries Goal for this season? To win a trophy for Ulster The key to success is… Working hard and trying not to do anything stupid BROWN SAUCE / RED SAUCE SUN / SNOW SING / DANCE NIGHT OWL / EARLY BIRD COFFEE / TEA FORWARDS / BACKS FACEBOOK / TWITTER SNAPCHAT / INSTAGRAM HORROR MOVIE / COMEDY DINE IN / DELIVERY

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Year 2 Back Three ƐƖĺƏѶĺƖƕ 193cm 89kg Ballymena

STEWART MOORE MARCUS REA JAMES HUME AZUR ALLISON Year 1 Centre ƏѶĺƏѶĺƖƖ 183cm 91kg Malone Year 3 Back Row ƏѶĺƏƖĺƖƕ 189cm 105cm Ballymena Year 2 Centre ƏƕĺƏƖĺƖѶ 184cm 95kg Banbridge Year 1 Back Row ƐƖĺƏƓĺƖƖ 192cm 99kg Ballymena

Year 3 Hooker ƐƏĺƏƑĺƖƔ

AARON HALL MATTHEW DALTON JACK REGAN Year 3 Back Row ƑѵĺƏѵĺƖѶ 193cm 98kg Ballynahinch Year 2 Flanker ƐѵĺƐƐĺƖѶ 197cm 112kg Malone Year 2 2nd Row ƏƖĺƏƔĺƖƕ

Year 2 Scrum Half ƐƑĺƏƖĺƖƖ 174cm 85kg Malone GRAHAM CURTIS ERIC O’SULLIVAN IWAN HUGHES Year 2 Prop ƒƏĺƐƐĺƖƔ 186cm 115kg Banbridge Year 1 Back Three ƏѵĺƏƓĺƖƖ 173cm 77kg Ballynahinch

DAVID McCANN ZACK McCALL JOE DUNLEAVY MATTHEW AGNEW Year 1 Back Row ƐƒĺƏѵĺƏƏ 190cm 94kg Banbridge 180cm 100kg Ballynahinch Year 2 Flanker ƑƑĺƐƑĺƖѶ 190cm 101kg Malone Year 1 Back Row ƑƏĺƐƐĺƖѶ 180cm 95kg Malone

ROBERT BALOUCOUNE MICHAEL LOWRY BRUCE HOUSTON Year 2 Fly Half ƑƏĺƏѶĺƖѶ 170cm 81kg Banbridge Year 1 Fly Half ƐѵĺƏѶĺƖƖ 192cm 92kg Ballymena

197cm 112kg Ballynahinch

ABBEY INSURANCE ULSTER RUGBY ACADEMY SQUAD 2018/19

Year 1 Wing ƏƑĺƏƒĺƖƖ 181cm 94kg Queen's

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

ANGUS KERNOHAN

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WOMEN’S JUNIOR CUP LAUNCHED AT KINGSPAN STADIUM

$_; Ѵ-†m1_ o= |_; )ol;mĽv †mbou †r -m7 7u-‰ =ou |_; or;mbm] uo†m7 o= |_; 1olr;ঞঞom |ooh rѴ-1; -| bm]vr-m "|-7b†l om $†;v7-‹ ƑƏ|_ oˆ;l0;uĺ

The draw as conducted by Pamela Stevenson, _-bu o= |_; &Ѵv|;u )ol;mĽv ollb‚;; -m7 Philip Gregg, IRFU Ulster Branch Junior Vice- u;vb7;m|ķ bm |_; 1olr-m‹ o= u;ru;v;m|-ঞˆ;v =uol ;-1_ o= |_; Ɛѵ 1olr;ঞm] |;-lvĺ

-v| ‹;-u |_; )ol;mĽv †mbou †r Cm-Ѵ 0;1-l; |_; Cuv| ‰ol;mĽv 1Ѵ†0 Cm-Ѵ |o 0; rѴ-‹;7 -| Kingspan Stadium, and the showpiece decider will once again return to the home of Ulster Rugby this season.

2018/19 WOMEN’S JUNIOR CUP

ROUND 1 Sunday 9th December 2018 Dungannon v Lisburn Belfast Harlequins v Randalstown Queen’s University v Portadown Cooke 2 v North Down Malone 2 BYE

Quarter-Finals Sunday 10th February 2019 (Round 2 winners will be joined by top two Division 1 teams – Malone & Ballynahinch) Quarter-Final losers will fall into the Junior Shield.

Losers from Round 1 will fall into Rejenerate Cup, with the losers of those games falling into Rejenrate Shield.

SEMI-FINALS Sunday 24th February 2019 FINAL Saturday 13th April 2019 at Kingspan Stadium

ROUND 2 Sunday 6th January 2019

Ő!o†m7 Ɛ ‰bmm;uv -m7 -Ѵom; Ƒ ‰bѴѴ 0; fobm;7 0‹ Cˆ; Division 1 teams for Round 2 – Omagh, Carrick, City of Derry, Enniskillen & Cavan)

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ULSTER V CARDIFF BLUES SATURDAY 1ST DECEMBER 2019, KO 3.00PM KINGSPAN STADIUM, BELFAST

Both teams are looking to bounce back from Round 9 defeats to push their way up the Conference |-0Ѵ;v -m7 Ѵooh ‰;ѴѴŊl-|1_;7 orrom;m|v _-ˆbm] 7u-‰m |_; Ѵ-v| ঞl; |_bv CŠ|†u; ‰-v rѴ-‹;7 bm ;Ѵ=-v| ŐƑƓŊƑƓ bm rubѴ ƑƏƐƕőĺ $_; Ѵ†;v Ѵov| o†| -| Ѵ-v]o‰ )-uubouv ƓƏŊƐƔ Ѵ-v| ঞl; o†|ķ ‰b|_ -uuo7 ˆ-mv -m7 ubvঞ-m -1;‹ |o†1_bm] 7o‰mķ ‰_bѴ; -ˆ; "_-m-_-m -m7 omm‹ "|;‰-u| 0o|_ v1ou;7 |ub;v bm Ulster’s 29-12 defeat to Scarlets. WHAT’S AT STAKE?

CURRENT STANDINGS

LAST TIME

3 5

17 35

24.03.18 CARDIFF ARMS PARK

HEAD TO HEAD

ULSTER RUGBY PRO14 FORM GUIDE

CARDIFF BLUES PRO14 FORM GUIDE

29 15 13 1

29 13 15 1

PLAYED

WIN

DRAW LOST

WIN

DRAW LOST

WINS

LOSSES

LAST 3 MATCHES

LAST 3 MATCHES

DRAWS

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

ULSTER SCORERS

BLUES

DATE VENUE

U

C

SCORERS

Dave Shanahan T John Cooney 4P

ubvঞ-m -1;‹ T Jarrod Evans T/3C/3P

ƑƓĺƏƒĺƐѶ -u7b@ ulv -uh

Ɛƕ ƒƔ

Dillon Lewis T Blaine Scully T

Paddy Jackson T/3C/P Luke Marshall T Penalty Try T Kyle McCall T Stuart McCloskey T Charles Piutau T Chris Henry T Ruan Pienaar 5C Louis Ludik T

Rey Lee-Lo 2T Gareth Anscombe 3C/P Sam Warburton T

07.04.17 Kingspan Stadium

24 24

Willis Halaholo T Steve Shingler P ubvঞ-m -1;‹ T Alex Cuthbert T Nicky Robinson 2C

ƏƒĺƐƑĺƐѵ -u7b@ ulv -uh

ƒƔ ƑƑ

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DID YOU KNOW?

» The Ulstermen have lost only once in Belfast since February: 15-22 to Connacht in round 6. » Only one Welsh team has won at Kingspan Stadium since February 2013: Scarlets by a single point in the PRO14 in February 2016. » -u7b@ Ѵ†;vĽ |‰o 7;=;-|v bm |_;bu Ѵ-v| vbŠ †bmm;vv ! ƐƓ l-|1_;v ‰;u; 0o|_ -‰-‹ =uol _ol;ķ to Cheetahs in round 7 and to Glasgow in round 9. » The Blues have not been victorious outside Wales in the Championship since a visit to Southern Kings in April. » The last three encounters between the two sides have been evenly split with one win apiece, plus a draw, whilst Blues most recent victory in Belfast was in April 2010, although they did draw there last April.

CHAMPIONSHIP STATISTICS

TRY SCORER 1st Rabs Maxwane Cheetahs

OFFLOADS 1st Thomas Farrell Connacht 4th Stuart Mccloskey Ulster

7 5 4

15 12

Rey Lee-Lo -u7b@ Dave Shanahan Ulster

18th Rey Lee-Lo -u7b@

7

POINTS SCORER 1st Sam Davies Ospreys

CLEAN BREAKS 1st Sibhale Maxwane Cheetahs

73 57 49

15 13

Gareth Anscombe -u7b@

2nd Jason Harries -u7b@ 20th Henry Speight Ulster

9

John Cooney Ulster

TACKLES 1st Nico Lee Cheetahs 5th Alan O’Connor Ulster 9th Olly Robinson -u7b@ CARRIES 1st Villiame Mata Edinburgh 3rd Marcell Coetzee Ulster ƐƓ|_ ubvঞ-m -1;‹ -u7b@ DEFENDERS BEATEN 1st Jordan Williams Dragons 7th Willis Halaholo -u7b@

METRES 1st Jordan Williams Dragons 5th Henry Speight Ulster 15th Jason Harries -u7b@

109 101

109 428 382

98

LINEOUT STEALS 1st Junior Sipato Pokomela Cheetahs 7 15th Iain Henderson Ulster 2 15th Seb Davies -u7b@ 2

125 107

72

TURNOVERS WON 1st Olly Robinson -u7b@ 2nd Marcell Coetzee Ulster

30 21 19

15 13

15th Craig Gilroy Ulster

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WILL ADDISON &ঞѴb|‹ -1h 20.08.1992 186cm 94kg

Hooker 26.05.1993

Hooker 15.08.1982 180cm 106kg 212 Ireland 113

BILLY BURNS Outhalf

RORY BEST

13.06.1994 185cm 85kg 10 —

JOHN ANDREW

181cm 104kg 48 —

5 3

DARREN CAVE Centre

&ঞѴb|‹ -1h 03.02.1994 183cm 90kg 4 —

JOHN COONEY Scrumhalf 01.05.1990 178cm 87kg 31 Ireland 4

Back Row 08.05.1991 192cm 114kg 15 S Africa 28

05.04.1987 183cm 96kg 216 Ireland 11

DAVID BUSBY

MARCELL COETZEE

ULSTER SQUAD 2018/19

ANGUS CURTIS Centre 26.03.1998 178cm 90kg 7 —

IAIN HENDERSON Second Row 21.02.1992

Prop 05.07.1988 180cm 117kg 76 —

CRAIG GILROY Wing

11.03.1991 183cm 91kg 168 Ireland 10

199cm 117kg 97 Ireland 42

WIEHAHN HERBST

ROB HERRING Hooker

ROSS KANE Prop

ROB LYTTLE Wing

Back Row 13.01.1996

GREG JONES

27.04.1990 185cm 102kg 149 Ireland 7

14.10.1994 179cm 116kg 29 —

28.01.1997 174cm 83kg 14 —

196cm 106kg 7 —

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Centre 03.03.1991 181cm 97kg 119 Ireland 11

Hooker 05.09.1996

KYLE McCALL Prop

&ঞѴb|‹ -1h 08.10.1986 182cm 90kg 79 —

LOUIS LUDIK

02.01.1992 176cm 108kg 49 —

182cm 102kg 10 —

LUKE MARSHALL

ADAM McBURNEY

ULSTER SQUAD 2018/19

Outhalf 13.03.1997 179cm 85kg 16 —

Prop 01.03.1991 178cm 119kg 2 Ireland 10

Centre 06.08.1992

Second Row 19.06.1995

MARTY MOORE

194cm 108kg 91 Ireland 3

191cm 103kg

JOHNNY McPHILLIPS

STUART McCLOSKEY

— —

CALEB MONTGOMERY

Back Row 22.04.1991 188cm 105kg 3 Ireland 23

IAN NAGLE Lock

Full Back 05.10.1992 180cm 87kg 53 —

ALAN O’CONNOR Second Row 10.09.1992

17.10.1988 201cm 114kg 1 —

JORDI MURPHY

PETER NELSON

197cm 114kg 74 —

Back Row 21.09.1993 193cm 114kg 22 —

TOM O'TOOLE Wing

JACK OWENS Wing

Prop 05.10.1993 183cm 118kg

MATTY REA

23.09.1998 185cm 113kg 13 —

04.10.1995 188cm 94kg 1 —

TOMMY O’HAGAN

— —

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Back Row 10.05.1989

Back Row 14.06.1989

Scrumhalf 20.06.1993 174cm 90kg 30 —

Wing 24.03.1988 186cm 97kg 7 Australia 19

CLIVE ROSS

SEAN REIDY

182cm 103kg 90 Ireland 2

192cm 110kg 63 —

HENRY SPEIGHT

DAVE SHANAHAN

ULSTER SQUAD 2018/19

Scrumhalf 20.02.1998 174cm 77kg 8 —

&ঞѴb|‹ -1h 03.04.1996 191cm 103kg 46 Ireland 14

ALEX THOMPSON Second Row 21.11.1995 201cm 115kg

NICK TIMONEY Back Row 01.08.1995 190cm 113kg 33 —

JONNY STEWART

JACOB STOCKDALE

— —

Keep up to date with the latest player profiles, career stats and squad news at ulsterrugby.com

Second Row 06.11.1995

Prop 04.12.1990

Prop 12.03.1991

198cm 118kg 55 Ireland 3

182cm 114kg 3 —

179cm 112kg 106 —

ANDREW WARWICK

KIERAN TREADWELL

SCHALK VAN DER MERWE

UlsterRugby

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OfficialUlsterRugby

#SUFTUM

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15

1

MICHAEL LOWRY

ANDREW WARWICK

14

2

HENRY SPEIGHT

ROB HERRING

13

3

MARTY MOORE

JAMES HUME

12

4

ALAN O’CONNOR (C)

STUART McCLOSKEY

ULSTER RUBGY

11

5

LOUIS LUDIK

KIERAN TREADWELL

6

10

SEAN REIDY

BILLY BURNS

7

9

JORDI MURPHY

JOHN COONEY

REPLACEMENTS 16 17 18 19 R BEST E O’SULLIVAN R KANE I NAGLE

20 21 22 23

N TIMONEY D SHANAHAN J McPHILLIPS J STOCKDALE

8

MARCELL COETZEE

*TEAMS CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINT

TODAY’S OFFICIALS

REFEREE STUART BERRY SARU ASSISTANT REFEREES NIGEL CORRELL IRFU | PAUL HAYCOCK IRFU TMO LEO COLGAN IRFU

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1

15

MATTHEW MORGAN

BRAD THYER

14

2

ALED SUMMERHILL

KRISTIAN DACEY

CARDIFF BLUES

3

13

GARYN SMITH

SCOTT ANDREWS

4

12

SEB DAVIES

WILLIS HALAHOLO

11

5

JASON HARRIES

GEORGE EARLE

6

10

JOSH TURNBULL

JARROD EVANS

7

9

OLLY ROBINSON

LLOYD WILLIAMS (C)

REPLACEMENTS 16 17 18 19 E LEWIS R CARRE D LEWIS J DOWN

20 21 22 23

S MANOA L JONES S SHINGLER B SCULLY

8

NICK WILLIAMS

*TEAMS CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINT

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Prop ƏƐĺƏѶĺƐƖѶƖ

Fly Half ƐƏĺƏƔĺƐƖƖƐ 183cm 87kg

DIMITRI ARHIP Prop

Prop ƒƏĺƏѵĺƐƖƖƕ 178cm 117kg

ƐƑĺƐƐĺƐƖѶѶ 183cm 120kg

188cm 120kg

SCOTT ANDREWS

KEIRON ASSIRATTI

GARETH ANSCOMBE

Hooker 28/04/1996

Back Row ƑƕĺƐƐĺƐƖƖƒ

RHYS CARRE Prop

Lock ƒƐĺƐƑĺƐƖƖƐ

ƏѶĺƏƑĺƐƖƖѶ 191cm 132kg

LIAM BELCHER

SION BENNETT

178cm 104kg

191cm 102kg

193cm 112kg

MACAULEY COOK

Hooker ƑƔĺƏƕĺƐƖѶƖ 188cm 119kg

Prop ƐƖĺƏƖĺƐƖƖѵ 183cm 118kg

JAMES DOWN Lock

SEB DAVIES Lock

29/08/1987 201cm 122kg

ƐƕĺƏƔĺƐƖƖѵ 198cm 116kg

KRISTIAN DACEY

COREY DOMACHOWSKI

CARDIFF BLUES SQUAD 2018/19

DAN FISH

Lock ƏƖĺƏƐĺƐƖѶƕ 198cm 117kg

Fly half ƑƔĺƏƕĺƐƖƖѵ 178cm 86kg

Full Back ƐƖĺƐƑĺƐƖƖƏ 185cm 86kg

RHYS GILL Prop

ƒƏĺƐƏĺƐƖѶѵ 180cm 115kg

JARROD EVANS

GEORGE EARLE

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Centre ƏѵĺƏƕĺƐƖƖƏ 180cm 105kg

Centre ƐƓĺƏƑĺƐƖѶƖ

TOM JAMES Wing

Back Row ƑƖĺƏƓĺƐƖƖƒ

ƐƕĺƏƓĺƐƖѶƕ 183cm 98kg

ELLIS JENKINS

JASON HARRIES

191cm 105kg

185cm 100kg

WILLIS HALAHOLO

CARDIFF BLUES SQUAD 2018/19

Prop ƐƕĺƐƐĺƐƖѶƏ

Scrum Half ƑƓĺƐƐĺƐƖƖƑ 175cm 75kg

OWEN LANE Wing

REY LEE-LO Centre

ƑƏĺƐƑĺƐƖƖƕ 185cm 100kg

ƑƏĺƏƑĺƐƖѶѵ 180cm 90kg

LEWIS JONES

188cm 122kg

GETHIN JENKINS

Prop ƏƓĺƏƐĺƐƖƖѵ 183cm 118kg

ETHAN LEWIS Hooker

SAMU MANOA Lock

Centre ƐƕĺƏѶĺƐƖƖѵ 180cm 94kg

ƑѶĺƏƒĺƐƖƖƓ 180cm 105kg

ƐƔĺƏƒĺƐƖѶƔ 198cm 125kg

DILLON LEWIS

HARRI MILLARD

Fly Half ƑƒĺƏƓĺƐƖƖƑ 173cm 78kg

BEN MURPHY Lock

KIRBY MYHILL Hooker

JOSH NAVIDI Flanker

ƑƏĺƏƐĺƐƖƖѵ 196cm 120kg

ƏƔĺƏƑĺƐƖƖƑ 183cm 108kg

ƒƏĺƐƑĺƐƖƖƏ 185cm 105kg

MATTHEW MORGAN

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Prop ƐѶĺƏƖĺƐƖѶƕ 183cm 121kg

Hooker ƏƖĺƐƑĺƐƖѶƏ 188cm 109kg

Centre ƑƏĺƐƐĺƐƖƖƐ 173cm 90kg

Flanker ƑƐĺƏƕĺƐƖƖƐ

JACK ROBERTS

MATTHEW REES

185cm 105kg

OLLY ROBINSON

ANTON PEIKRISHVILI

Full Back ƑƖĺƏƑĺƐƖѶѶ 193cm 92kg

Fly Half ƑƏĺƏѵĺƐƖƖƐ 191cm 93kg

GARYN SMITH Centre

Full Back ƑƑĺƐƐĺƐƖƖƓ 188cm 91kg

ƐƑĺƏƕĺƐƖƖƔ 180cm 90kg

BLAINE SCULLY

STEVE SHINGLER

ALED SUMMERHILL

Lock ƐѵĺƏƒĺƐƖƖƔ

BRAD THYER Prop

Back Row ƐƑĺƏƒĺƐƖѶѶ 193cm 99kg

LLOYD WILLIAMS Scrum half ƒƏĺƐƐĺƐƖѶƖ 183cm 87kg

ƏƕĺƏƑĺƐƖƖƒ 180cm 113kg

201cm 115kg

JOSH TURNBULL

RORY THORNTON

CARDIFF BLUES SQUAD 2018/19

Back Row ƏƑĺƐƑĺƐƖѶƒ

Full Back ƏƔĺƏѵĺƐƖƖƕ 185cm 87kg

Wing ƏƑĺƏƓĺƐƖƖƐ 183cm 86kg

Scrum half ƏƐĺƏƐĺƐƖƖƔ 178cm 87kg

TOM WILLIAMS

NICK WILLIAMS

191cm 130kg

RHUN WILLIAMS

TOMOS WILLIAMS

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STAFF PROFILE

NAME: PAMELA WILKES ROLE: DOMESTIC ADMINISTRATION OFFICER

Describe your role within Ulster Rugby? -l om; o= =o†u ol;vঞ1 7lbmbv|u-ঞom |;-l l;l0;uvĺ ‹ vr;1bC1 uoѴ; bm1Ѵ†7;v ruoˆb7bm] -7lbmbv|u-ঞˆ; _;Ѵr -m7 ]†b7-m1; |o bm|;um-Ѵ -m7 external customers within the areas of: coaching courses; youth ID cards; Ulster Rugby Camps; and permission for rugby tours in/out of Ulster. Describe your career / employment history? I am a total newbie to the world of rugby. I studied at the University of Strathclyde and was then part of the Opening Crew at EuroDisney (now bvm;‹Ѵ-m7 -ubvőĺ Ѵ;[ |o ‰ouh bm |o†ubvl -| CDG airport and then worked in Brussels as part o= |_; ŠrѴou;uvĽ Šrou| -uh;ঞm] uo]u-ll;ĺ Including my years in England, I have spent more than 18 years away from ‘home’ and have worked =ou ‰ouѴ7‰b7; m-l;v bm lo0bѴ; 1oll†mb1-ঞomvķ -ˆb-ঞom -m7 u;|-bѴĺ Favourite thing about your job? I love the variety of the role and the contact with the people ‘on the ground’, i.e. the wonderful volunteers who keep the amateur game of rugby -Ѵbˆ; bm &Ѵv|;uĺ Ѵ|_o†]_ -l oL1;Ŋ0-v;7 _-ˆ; daily contact with the clubs, schools and colleges. In this way, I have the opportunity to foster u;Ѵ-ঞomv_brv -m7 blruoˆ; 1oll†mb1-ঞom 0;|‰;;m the Branch and its members. What do you enjoy most about working for Ulster Rugby? I have the most wonderful bunch of colleagues so look forward to coming into work every day. I also love dealing (fairly!) with our members in all parts

of Ulster - from ‘just around the corner’ to the far- Y†m] 1oum;uv o= |_; uoˆbm1;ĺ What is your biggest achievement to date? -l ruo†7 o= l‹ vom ‰_o bv 7;Ѵb]_†Ѵ 1olr-m‹ and brightens every day. What is the most challenging aspect of your role? m |_; |_b1h o= |_; v;-vomķ bm 1-m 0; 7bL1†Ѵ| |o ruboubঞv; ;ˆ;u‹om;Ľv †u];m| ŐѴ-v| lbm†|;Ĵő u;t†;v|v for youth ID cards, tour permissions, coaching 1o†uv; -rrѴb1-ঞomv ;|1ĺ | bv 1_-ѴѴ;m]bm] |u‹bm] |o deduce and meet the requests of 24/7 dedicated volunteers during my working week... but I try my best. What are your plans/goals for the upcoming season? I plan to put my knowledge from last season to good use by providing more concise guidance to l;l0;uv u;t†bubm] -7ˆb1;ĺ bm|;m7 |o 1omঞm†; |o blruoˆ; |_; 1oll†mb1-ঞom 0;|‰;;m |_; u-m1_ -m7 b|v l;l0;uv |o ruoˆb7; -m ;L1b;m| -m7 Ѵ;vv =u†v|u-ঞm] ;Šr;ub;m1; =ou -ѴѴ bmˆoѴˆ;7ĺ Who is your favourite Ulster player? | _-v |o 0; |_; u;1;m|Ѵ‹ u;ঞu;7 _ubv ;mu‹ because he was a Malone mini!

To get in touch with Pamela, email r-l;Ѵ-ĺ‰bѴh;vŠ†Ѵv|;uu†]0‹ĺ1ol

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CONTACT US FOR A QUOTATION THE BEST CLUBS WEAR MACRON WHY DON’T YOU?

www.macron.com

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Q&A CLUB Who is your President? Michael Heath Who is your Head Coach? Laurence Kelly

Civil Service NI RFC

What is your Club logo and what does it represent? Our crest is the coat of arms of Northern Ireland o‰ l-m‹ |;-lv 7o ‹o† C;Ѵ7ĵ $‰o v;mbou |;-lvķ ‰b|_ - |_ubˆbm] lbmb v;1ঞom Most successful achievement? Winning Senior League in 1969/70 and having |_u;; u;Ѵ-m7 bm|;um-ঞom-Ѵv -v 1Ѵ†0 1-r|-bmv Ŋ Henry O’Hara O’Neill (30/31), Dudley Higgins (47/49) and Lawrence Hunter (69/71). Proudest moment? Having our old kit gain a new life, at Hotspring RFC in Fiji! Tell us something unique that not everyone knows about the club? The club is open to all, you don’t need to be a civil servant to join!

1st XV Captain? Hamish Matheson Number of members? 100+ (senior, mini, non-playing) Name 3 players to watch? omm‹ -uuoѴѴķ ;l †bm|oķ -‚_;‰ Cuthbertson Who is your longest serving member? Walter Lindsay Who is the ‘Club Clown’ and why? Thomas ‘Dinger’ Bell, though referees don’t always see his funny side Who is the hardest trainer? Simon Hoskins Club’s unsung hero and why? Philip Anderson. Currently 1st XV Team Manager/Kit Salesman and whatever else is needed, but has also been previously been a player, mini coach and youth coach. What is your Club song? It’s Got To Be… Service (to the tune of It’s Got To Be Perfect)

Email address: bm=oŠ1vmbu=1ĺ1oĺ†h Website: ‰‰‰ĺ1vmbu=1ĺ1oĺ†h CivilServiceNIRFC

Š1vmbu=1 Š1vmbu=1

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R O D N A W N

Ireland and Wales have emerged from wonderful autumn bm|;um-ঞom-Ѵ 1-lr-b]mvķ -m7 0o|_ 1o†m|ub;v ‰bѴѴ _or; |_-| |_; ;Š1;ѴѴ;m1; o= r;u=oul-m1;v -m7 u;v†Ѵ|v ‰bѴѴ mo‰ 0; u;Y;1|;7 bm |_;bu 1Ѵ†0vĽ bllbm;m| 7ol;vঞ1 -m7 †uor;-m 1_-ѴѴ;m];vĺ

WELSH CHALLENGES DEMAND FOCUS

o@;ubm] |_; 1o-1_;v rovbঞˆ; vb]mv |_-| here is the depth of talent at the Arms Park which might be associated with Europe’s Challenge Cup winners in 2018. ;‹ rѴ-‹;uv ‰;u; 1om|ub0†ঞm] _;-ˆbѴ‹ to Wales’ ‘sweep’ through the autumn, but the Conference B leaders’ 25-point drubbing of the Blues was a clear signal |_-| |o7-‹Ľv |;-lv m;;7 bm7b1-ঞomv |_-| |_; Y-l; o= ! ƐƓ v†11;vv ŋ ;ˆ;m b= u;Ѵ-ঞˆ; ŋ 1-m 0; h;r| -Ѵbˆ;ĺ Ulster fans will possibly believe that their team will be hugely strengthened by the u;|†um bm r-u| o= b|v u;Ѵ-m7 1omঞm];m|ķ and the presence of Rory Best, Rob Herring, John Cooney, Jordi Murphy, Jacob Stockdale and Stuart McCloskey in the l-|1_Ŋ7-‹ vt†-7 ‰bѴѴ 0; lou; vb]mbC1-m| than the Blues returnees. )bѴѴ 77bvomĽv ;l;u];m1;ķ -[;u - =;‰ months as an Ulster player, as a genuine contender for a place in Ireland’s World Cup plans promised so much for his club, but his concussion in the game with the USA has delayed his reappearance in white. But, on very much the plus side, Louis †7bh bv 0-1h -m7 _bv u;Ѵb-0bѴb|‹ķ ˆ;uv-ঞѴb|‹ -m7 †m7;uˆ-Ѵ†;7 -‚-1hbm] vhbѴѴv;| ‰bѴѴ guarantee the visitors will have to devote

Somewhat under the media radar, Ulster, -m7 |_bv -[;umoomĽv ˆbvb|ouv |o bm]vr-m "|-7b†l bm |_; †bmm;vv ! ƐƓķ -u7b@ Ѵ†;vķ _-ˆ; _-7 bm|;ulb‚;m| 0†| blrou|-m| Ѵ;-]†; o0Ѵb]-ঞomvĺ m |_; Cuv| ‰;;h;m7 of November, with both squads diluted 0‹ bm|;um-ঞom-Ѵ 1-ѴѴvķ ! ƐƓ ‰bmv ‰;u; u;1ou7;7 -]-bmv| |-Ѵb-m orrovbঞomĺ Dan McFarland’s young Ulster squad returned with a narrow win against ;m;‚omķ ruo0-0Ѵ‹ _-rr‹ -| |_; ruovr;1| o= |_u;;Ŋ‰;;h 1olr;ঞঞˆ; 0u;-hķ ‰_bѴ; Blues’ Head Coach John Mulvihill – like 1 -uѴ-m7 bm _bv Cuv| =†ѴѴ |;ul bm 1_-u]; Ŋ oˆ;uv-‰ - lou; ;lr_-ঞ1 ˆb1|ou‹ -| home to Zebre. However, neither side nor management believed that the quest for cohesion and more consistency had made much tangible progress. $_; |;-lv ‰;u; 0-1h bm -1ঞom Ѵ-v| weekend, and neither camp will have salvaged much succour: Ulster’s unfamiliar line-up blooded more youngsters whose futures will include more good nights than bad, but Scarlets in Llanelli, minus some of Warren Gatland’s choices for Wales, proved just too strong and ‘savvy’ in key areas. The Blues had an even more scarring trip to Glasgow, losing heavily and rarely

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r;uvomm;Ѵ -m7 ঞl; om -u]†-0Ѵ‹ &Ѵv|;uĽv lov| consistent performer of the last three seasons. b1_-;Ѵ o‰u‹ķ m]†v †uঞvķ -l;v †l; -m7 Robert Baloucoune have shown their paces in |_; 0-1hѴbm; =ou |_; 0;‚;u ‹;-uv |o 1ol;ķ -m7 ‰b|_ bѴѴ‹ †umv v;‚Ѵbm] bm|o |_; o†|Ŋ_-Ѵ= vro|ķ the Head Coach has raw, improving players to back up, and learn from, McCloskey, Stockdale, the indomitable Darren Cave, Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall when he returns, Henry Speight and Ludik. Up front, Best and Henderson add such quality -m7 _;[ |_-| |_; r-1h bv -Ѵlov| |u-mv=oul;7ķ r-uঞ1†Ѵ-uѴ‹ b= ";-m !;b7‹Ľv o†|v|-m7bm] =oul bv l-bm|-bm;7 -m7 -u1;Ѵ o;|Œ;; 1omঞm†;v |o o@;u v†1_ 1olr;mv-ঞom =ou _bv Ѵom]ķ =u†v|u-ঞm] absences. It’s now almost impossible to imagine a back row without Nick Timoney, and Jordi Murphy’s arrival from the RDS has been rewarded with a recall to the green jersey. John Cooney is another who has fast established himself in Ulster colours and his quite spectacular |‰o v;-vomv -| v1u†lŊ_-Ѵ= _-v 0;;m vo o[;m |_; 7b@;u;m1; 0;|‰;;m -m &Ѵv|;u ‰bm ou =u†v|u-ঞm] defeat. He too is fresh from another Ireland ‘cap’, his form is key to his club’s fortune and could well see him lever himself into the Word Cup squad next year. "oķ om |_; =-1; o= b|ķ |_bv "-|†u7-‹ -[;umoom 1o†Ѵ7 v;; &Ѵv|;u 0;‚;u -ul;7 |o =-v|;m - |or three spot in Conference B of the POR14 while adding to the Blues’ inconsistent woes in the o|_;u 7bˆbvbom o= |_bv ;Ѵ-0ou-|; 1olr;ঞঞˆ; construct. Mulvihill will have reinforcements from the Wales 1-lrķ 0†| ŋ vo vb]mbC1-m|Ѵ‹ ŋ _; ‰bѴѴ 7;Cmb|;Ѵ‹ 0; ‰b|_o†| 1-r|-bm ѴѴbv ;mhbmvķ |_; Y-mh;u - =ou1; of nature in last weekend’s win over South Africa 0†| mo‰ v;| =ou - Ѵom] Ѵ-‹Ŋo@ -[;u v†@;ubm] - v;ubo†v 1u†1b-|; bmf†u‹ bm -u7b@ĺ Gareth Anscombe, if available, always has plenty o= loঞˆ-ঞom ‰_;m _; Ѵbm;v †r -]-bmv| &Ѵv|;uķ and centres Willis Halaholo and Rey Lee-Lo have mesmerised the best in the game with their wide vr;1|u†l o= -‚-1hbm] ]b[v -ѴѴb;7 |o u;-Ѵ r_‹vb1-Ѵ presence. And one player sure to get a rousing Kingspan "|-7b†l ‰;Ѵ1ol; ‰bѴѴ 0; bm |_; orrovbঞom u-mhvķ

and Nick Williams will want to impress at the back of the scrum – but his former team-mates will hope to limit his rampaging runs and carries. ;Š| ‰;;h b|Ľv |_; Cuv| o= 0-1hŊ|oŊ0-1h Champions Cup engagements, as Ulster take on the Scarlets in Wales before the return six days Ѵ-|;uķ |_; =o†u|_ ঞl; |_; |;-lv ‰bѴѴ _-ˆ; l;| vbm1; |_; Cuv| 7-‹ o= ";r|;l0;uĺ The Blues would appear to have the most 7-†mঞm] 1-Ѵ;m7-uķ v†11;vvbˆ; CŠ|†u;v -]-bmv| Saracens, and they’ll look for encouragement and lol;m|†l |_bv -[;umoom bm ;Ѵ=-v|ĺ Big occasions await, but today’s game could provide the most useful signal of what this season promises for each club.

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ULSTER RUGBY / INCLUDE YOUTH CHRISTMAS PRESENT APPEAL "_-u; ‹o†u =;vঞˆ; 1_;;u ‰b|_ - ‹o†m] r;uvom bm 1-u; |_bv _ubv|l-v 0‹ 7om-ঞm] -m †m‰u-rr;7 ]b[ |o &Ѵv|;u !†]0‹Ľv _ubv|l-v u;v;m| rr;-Ѵĺ

For children and young people living in care or away from their families, Christmas can be quite 7bL1†Ѵ| -m7 |_;‹ o[;m lbvv o†| om u;1;bˆbm] ]b[vĺ "o &Ѵv|;u !†]0‹ _-v om1; -]-bm |;-l;7 up with Include Youth to ensure that they have something under the tree this Christmas. &Ѵv|;u v†rrou|;uv -‚;m7bm] |_; _ol; l-|1_;v ˆ;uv†v -u7b@ |o7-‹ ou "1-uѴ;|v Ő ub7-‹ 14th December) are encouraged to buy an †m‰u-rr;7 ]b[ =ou - ‹o†m] r;uvom bm 1-u; -m7 0ubm] b| -Ѵom] ‰b|_ |_;lĺ om-ঞomv o= _ubv|l-v ru;v;m|v 1-m 0; l-7; bm |_; l-bm !;1;rঞom building at Kingspan Stadium (opposite the ;loub-Ѵ "|-m7ő 0;=ou;ķ 7†ubm] ou -[;u ;-1_ game. = ‹o† -u; †m-0Ѵ; |o -‚;m7 |_;v; l-|1_ mb]_|v ‹o† 1-m vঞѴѴ r-uঞ1br-|; bm |_bv ‰ou|_‹ 1-†v; 0‹ 7uorrbm] ‹o†u †m‰u-rr;7 ]b[ bm|o |_; l-bm !;1;rঞom 0†bѴ7bm] -| bm]vr-m "|-7b†lķ between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, up †mঞѴ ub7-‹ ƐƓ|_ ;1;l0;uĺ Paddy Mooney, Director at Include Youth, said: ľ ˆ;u‹ ‹;-u v|-@ -| m1Ѵ†7; +o†|_ ou]-mbv; a Christmas party for all the young people involved in our projects, which usually involves a dinner followed by lots of fun and games. “Following the huge success of last year’s Christmas Present Appeal, we are once again asking Ulster Rugby’s generous fan base to buy -m ;Š|u- ]b[ =ou - |;;m-];u ou ‹o†m] -7†Ѵ| bm order to help us ensure that each young person has something to open on Christmas morning. “To get involved, simply buy a present suitable for a young person aged 16-24 years, valued at £10-£15 and bring it along to one of the matches before Christmas.” &Ѵv|;u !†]0‹ u;vb7;m|ķ "|;r_;m ѴѴbo‚ķ -77;7Ĺ ľ$_; =-m|-vঞ1 ‰ouh o= m1Ѵ†7; +o†|_ bv r-uঞ1†Ѵ-uѴ‹ rob]m-m| -| _ubv|l-v ঞl; ‰_;m =;;Ѵbm]v o= bvoѴ-ঞom 1-m 0; ‰ouv| =ou |_ov; ‰_o don’t have families around them. We encourage -ѴѴ =-mv |o 1omvb7;u ];মm] bmˆoѴˆ;7 bm |_bv ˆ;u‹ ‰ou|_‰_bѴ; 1-†v; -m7 _;Ѵr †v 0ubm] - Ѵb‚Ѵ; =;vঞˆ; fo‹ |o ‹o†m] r;orѴ; bm 1-u; |_bv ‰bm|;uĺ Thank you in advance for your support.”

GIFT SUGGESTIONS: » Toiletries (no sharp objects) » om=;1ঞom-u‹ » Pyjamas/Nightwear » Slippers » Socks » Vouchers » Hats/Gloves » Earphones/Portable chargers GIFTS SHOULD BE: » Unwrapped » Suitable for a male or female aged 16 to 24 years » Be valued from £10 to £15

m1Ѵ†7; +o†|_ v†rrou|v -rruoŠbl-|;Ѵ‹ 500 young people every year, who are in or leaving care or from disadvantaged vb|†-ঞomvķ |_uo†]_ ;lrѴo‹-0bѴb|‹ ruof;1|v ;-1_ ‹;-uĺ m1Ѵ†7; +o†|_ _-v vbŠ oL1;v bm ;Ѵ=-v|ķ Ards, Armagh, Omagh, Derry and -ѴѴ‹l;m-ĺ -m‹ o= m1Ѵ†7; +o†|_Ľv ruof;1|v -u; delivered in partnership with the health and social care trusts, community-based ‹o†|_ ou]-mbv-ঞomv -m7 u;vromvb0Ѵ; 0†vbm;vv 1_-ubঞ;vĺ ou lou; bm=oul-ঞom om |_; ou]-mbv-ঞom rѴ;-v; ˆbvb| www.includeyouth.org or follow Include Youth on Facebook and $‰b‚;u ŐŠ m1Ѵ†7;‹o†|_őĺ

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-ˆbm] 0;;m bmˆoѴˆ;7 bm |_; Ѵ-v| |_u;; ]-l;v o@ |_; 0;m1_ķ 0-1h uo‰ =ou‰-u7 u;] om;v bv ;-];u |o 1omঞm†; l-hbm] |_; lov| o= _bv 1_-m1;v bm |_; &Ѵv|;u vt†-7ĺ JONES STAKING A CLAIM FOR MORE SENIOR ACTION

“I played a bit for the A team and then got called in against the Dragons, I've just been thankful for the chance and I've been trying to make the most of it. Ş"o =-u b|ŝv 0;;m ru;‚‹ rovbঞˆ;ķ ŝl u;Ѵ-ঞˆ;Ѵ‹ _-rr‹ ‰b|_ _o‰ ŝˆ; rѴ-‹;7 1olbm] o@ |_; bench. Outside of that you have to keep training as if you will be playing at the weekend and then when that chance comes you have to take it. "Every week I'm training as hard as I can and trying to impress as much as possible." Last season was a tough one for the former u;Ѵ-m7 &m7;uŊƑƏv v|-uķ ‰b|_ orrou|†mbঞ;v =;‰ -m7 =-u 0;|‰;;m -[;u |_ov; 0ub;= cameos, with this year seeing him receive lou; 1omvbv|;m| ]-l; ঞl;ĺ o‰;ˆ;uķ _; 7b7 Cm7 _blv;Ѵ= ];মm] vol; one-to-one help from Marcell Coetzee in |u-bmbm] |_-| _; 1u;7b|v ‰b|_ ];মm] _bl |o where he is right now, and Jones believes |_; 1olr;ঞঞom bm |_; 0-1h uo‰ bv _;Ѵrbm] with the success of the team. "Marcell was so helpful, taking me through 7b@;u;m| 7ubѴѴv -m7 _;Ѵrbm] l; blruoˆ;ķ -m7

The Dublin-born player graduated onto a development contract at the start of this v;-vom -[;u blru;vvbm] bm - 1o†rѴ; o= 1-l;ov Ѵ-v| ‹;-uķ -m7 _;ŝv 1omঞm†;7 |_-| form this campaign. [;u 1olbm] o@ |_; 0;m1_ -]-bmv| |_; u-]omv 0;=ou; |_; bm|;um-ঞom-Ѵ 0u;-hķ _; kept his spot in the squad for the games -]-bmv| ;m;‚om -m7 "1-uѴ;|v 7†ubm] |_; †|†lm m|;um-ঞom-Ѵvĺ In fact, he's making such an impression that Sean Reidy named him as the player to watch out for over the next few weeks at a u;1;m| l;7b- 0ub;Cm]ĺ "It's brilliant," laughs Jones. "I was really happy to hear him say that!" The 22-year-old, however, isn't concerning himself with personal praise, rather he's only 1om1;m|u-ঞm] om l-hbm] |_; lov| o= _bv chances whenever they come along. Ş _-ˆ; |o ‰-b| =ou l‹ orrou|†mbঞ;v 7†ubm] |_; †|†lm m|;um-ঞom-Ѵv -m7 |_; "bŠ -ঞomv ‰_;m ]†‹v v|;r o†| =ou u;Ѵ-m7ĺ That's when I got my chance for my debut against Treviso and it's similar to this year as well," he explains.

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b| ‰-v ]u;-| |o Ѵ;-um o@ _bl Ѵ-v| ‹;-uķŞ v-‹v Jones. Ş$_bv ‹;-u |_;u;ŝv ]u;-| 1olr;ঞঞomķ ;ˆ;u‹om;ŝv thriving in it because if you want to be 1olr;ঞm] =ou |uor_b;v |_;m ‹o† _-ˆ; |o _-ˆ; 1olr;ঞঞom = Now Ulster f ;b]_| ]-l;v |_-| ‰bѴѴ 7;Cm; |_;bu v;-vomķ with their remaining four European pool ]-l;v -m7 |_u;; =;vঞˆ; bm|;uruov =oѴѴo‰bm] |_bv ‰;;h;m7ŝv 1Ѵ-v_ ‰b|_ |_; -u7b@ Ѵ†;vĺ By the end of January, Ulster they stand in Europe and they can take a big v|;r |o‰-u7v v;1†ubm] - rѴ-‹Ŋo@ vro| bm |_; Guinness PRO14 too. |o v|-h ‰b|_ - Cuv| v|-u| bm |_; ‰_b|; f;uv;‹ - 1Ѵ;-u ]o-Ѵķ the team. "There's a feeling we've done well so far but we haven't really been that consistent," admits Jones. ourselves coming soon and we feel like we're ]obm] bm |_; ub]_| 7bu;1ঞomķ 0†| ‰; f†v| _or; that performance comes soon where we put in away. Ş$_;u;ŝv - Ѵo| o= 0;Ѵb;= -m7 1omC7;m1; ‰b|_bm bad blocks, and we want to get that 80-minute performance in. Ş ŝl -‰-u; |_-|ķ ‰_;m ;ˆ;u‹om;ŝv C|ķ ŝl mo| bm the top four back rows in the squad, so for me b|ŝv -ѴѴ -0o†| ];মm] 0;‚;u -m7ķ b= l‹ 1_-m1; comes, take it.

"I'm not looking too far ahead but if I have that in the back of my head then I know the chances will come."

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IN PICS: THE SEASON SO FAR

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Subway proudly welcomes mini rugby’s finest from across the Province at half time. We’d like to say a big thank you to the coaches, parents, and volunteers who dedicate their time to mini rugby - you’re creating the future stars of Ulster Rugby. Fresh talent

Family End

Memorial End

Limavady RFC Club colours

Clogher Valley RFC Club colours NavyandGreen Team Philip Crawford Ben Forster Andrew Armstrong

Inishowen RFC Club colours Green & White Team Tom Diver Aaron Diver Paul Doherty Keela Donaghy Erin McConalogue Pierce McConalogue Alva McLaughlin Samuel Smyth Conor McNally Jack McClean Coaches Tara McConalogue Anthony Diver Kodi McDaid Cian Doogan

Virgina RFC Club colours Black and Yellow Team : Aaron Brady Alex Curran Alex O'Neill Danny Pienaar Dylan Levy-Valensi Eoghan Keoghan Lorcan Caffrey Mason Tynan Oliver Hjert Oscar Longmore Pat Crawley

Black Team

Finn Bateson Ben Brennan Killian Brolly Dillon Forbes Max Gault Alexander Howe Harry Kealey James Mackey SamMcMichael Anna O’Neill Christopher Smyth Emily Smyth Coaches Ryan Brolly Mark McMichael Warren Smyth

Ryan Eagleson Thomas Barnett Andrew Brown Josh Byres Ellie Farrell Sarah Corey Rhys Henderson Euan Stewart Shane Irvine Coaches Paul Eagleson Keith Todd Clive Morrow

Coaches Maurice Hjert Ronan Crawley

ULSTER RUGBY IN NUMBERS

15,522 Home Match Attendance*

54 Affiliated

2.1 MILLION population

Rugby Clubs

10,303 Season Ticket Holders*

16K Retail Jerseys Sold*

38K Players

96 Affiliated Schools

*Last 3 years average

KEY TERRITORIES

92K Average Broadcast Audience

400K Social Media followers

IRELAND UK EUROPE S. AFRICA

100 HOURS of live coverage across channels

35K Ezine Subscribers

For sponsorship enquiries, contact Fiona.Hampton@ulsterrugby.com

ULSTER RUGBY SUPPORTERS CLUB (URSC) NEWS

2018 BIG BALLOT PRIZE LIST

JOIN THE URSC TODAY!

Bank of Ireland package: ˆ;umb]_| v|-‹ Ő ş ő =ou |‰o bm |_; -vঞm]v u-m7 Central Hotel Taxi from the hotel to Kingspan Stadium Ƒ u-m7v|-m7 ঞ1h;|v =ou &Ѵv|;u ˆ !-1bm] ƖƑ bm |_; European Cup on 9th January 2019 Ѷ r;uvom-Ѵ C|m;vv v;vvbomv oˆ;u - Ɠ ‰;;h r;ubo7 with Jennie Hales, Personal Trainer, Newtownabbey ‘The Last Stand’ print by Love Images NI Signed Perpignan shirt from Paddy Jackson A Canine Massage Session at NI Clinical Canine Massage, Newtownabbey A massage at LM Therapies, Carrickfergus A Podiatry Treatment at Happy Feet, Belfast A Dog Groom at The Barker Shop, Belfast ŬƒƏ (o†1_;u =ou "bѴ_o†;‚; o†ঞt†;ķ ;Ѵ=-v| ŬƒƏ (o†1_;u =ou oѴѴ‹;vķ Ѵ;m]oulѴ;‹ Ɠ 1bm;l- ঞ1h;|v =ou -m‹ CѴl -| lmbrѴ;Š bm;l-v A canine swim session -| t†-7o] ‹7uo|_;u-r‹ |7ĺķ bv0†um £25 voucher for Ke Nako Bilton g at Ballylagan Farm, Straid Breakfast for 2 at Five Percent Café from Rob Herring Sooo Jammy Christmas Hamper fromWendy Smith 6 doughnuts =uol †bѴ| $ubr o@;; ş om†|v from Darren Cave £10 Voucher for Italian ice cream at W J Desano, Belfast Golf Cap signed by Rory McIlroy ubঞv_ Ѵ‹lrb1 1-r vb]m;7 0‹ †vঞm !ov;ķ !bo Ѵ‹lrb1 ]oѴ= ]oѴ7 l;7-Ѵbv|ĸ ;mubh "|;mvomķ !bo vbѴˆ;u l;7-Ѵbv| ş -‚ †1_-uķ !bo 0uomŒ; l;7-Ѵbv| Nike golf cap signed by Niall Horan "b]m;7 1or‹ o= Ɠ ঞl; ‰ouѴ7 v†r;u 0bh; 1_-lrbom Jonathan Rea's autobiography

Membership costs £12 for adults, £6 for juniors or £30 for a family. +o† ‰bѴѴ Cm7 =†ѴѴ 7;|-bѴv om _o‰ |o fobm -| membership.ursc.co m |_bv v;-vomĽv l;l0;uv_br r-1h ‹o† ‰bѴѴ Cm7Ĺ » A membership card » a members’ badge » - 1-u vঞ1h;u » and a drawstring gym bag The Jack Kyle Bursary (currently worth £2,500) is awarded annually to support the ‰ouh o= |_; &Ѵv|;u !†]0‹ 1-7;l‹ĺ $_; Big Ballot is the URSC's main fundraiser in v†rrou| o= |_-| †uv-u‹ĺ This year's Big Ballot will close on 16th December and will be drawn on 18th ;1;l0;u ƑƏƐѶĺ m1; -]-bm ‰; _-ˆ; vol; |;uubC1 rubŒ;v Őv;; Ѵbv|ő Ŋ 1o†u|;v‹ o= o†u =-m|-vঞ1 -m7 ];m;uo†v 7omouvĺ The URSC would like to thank our donors -m7 vromvouvķ -m7 ‰; ;m1o†u-]; o†u members to support these businesses whenever possible. Tickets priced £1 each, are available at the URSC Info Point on match nights up to 16th ;1;l0;uĺ Big thanks to Dwayne Peel and youngsters $ol ŝ$ooѴ;ķ b1_-;Ѵ o‰u‹ķ -‚_;‰ !;- ş Adam McBurney for coming along to the Meet the Players event on Tuesday. Plenty of chat =oѴѴo‰;7 0‹ v;ѴC;v -m7 -†|o]u-r_vĺ ]u;-| night's fun. MEET THE PLAYERS THE 2018/19 BIG BALLOT

ou lou; bm=oul-ঞom om &!" ķ rѴ;-v; ˆbvb| membership.ursc.co or email l;l0;uv_brŠ†uv1ĺ1oĺ†hĺ

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