Ulster Rugby v Scarlets

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME On behalf of Ulster Rugby, it is a pleasure to welcome everyone to Kingspan Stadium for this evening’s Heineken Champions Cup match against Scarlets. We are delighted to have some of the Scarlets directors with us and to them, the players, staff and supporters, we extend a warm Ulster welcome. We hope that you enjoy your visit to Belfast during this festive season.

IRFU ULSTER BRANCH 2018/19 OFFICERS Stephen Elliott President Gary Leslie Senior Vice President Philip Gregg Junior Vice President Denis Gardiner Honorary Secretary Michael Boyd Honorary Treasurer Greg Irwin Competitions Secretary EXECUTIVE TEAM Jonny Petrie Chief Executive Officer Audrey Robinson Head of Finance & Operations Fiona Hampton Head of Sales & Marketing Bryn Cunningham Operations Director Chris Webster Head of Rugby Development

inexperienced players and without exception all have performed admirably. It was therefore great to see that there are further talented young men on the conveyor belt as evidenced by the win by Ulster U19s over the touring Australia Schools team. Up against a physically bigger team, the Ulster boys put in a spirited and structured performance to gain a first ever win by an Ulster age grade team over Australia. I recently attended a very well organised launch of this season’s Danske Bank Schools’ competitions which are now underway and I wish all those boys and girls taking part all the best at whatever level they are playing. Best of luck also to our club players young and old as they continue to take part in club competitions in what are often difficult conditions during attendance and support this evening and I hope you enjoy the match and the Kingspan Stadium entertainment. Stephen Elliott President, IRFU Ulster Branch these winter months. Thank you all for your

This is of course the second trip to Kingspan Stadium this season for Scarlets and we are getting to know each other very well, as we have also been to Llanelli twice in three weeks! Last week the Ulster team put in a magnificent display to bring home a bonus point victory and keep our hopes of qualification from the group very much alive. Those efforts will have been in vain if it is not followed up by another committed performance this evening, as anything less than that will not be good enough against what is a very dangerous attacking team. It was great to see all the hard work which the players and coaches have put in in training come to fruition on the pitch last Friday. I would like to thank the supporters who travelled to Wales last week. The passion which they showed in the stands mirrored that of the players during the match. We have two massive Friday night games with Scarlets and then Munster next week, and we need all the support we can attract so bring your friends and family along and create a real festive atmosphere.

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

This season Ulster has had to use a lot of young and

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