Ulster Rugby v Southern Kings

OFFICIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME £3

V SOUTHERN KINGS SATURDAY 23RD MARCH 2019 KINGSPAN STADIUM, BELFAST KICK OFF 5.30PM

Welcome back to Kingspan Stadium, the home of Ulster Rugby, where the Ulster squad welcome Southern Kings for Round 18 of the Guinness PRO14. The Ulster men lie third in Conference B, just a point from second place, meaning a win this evening could be crucial in the make-up of the table. Southern Kings will be looking for an upturn in form, having struggled of late, but as ever, they will not allow the Ulster men to have it all their own way and are sure to provide a tough and entertaining encounter. With a number of internationals rested following the Six Nations finale, this fixture provides the perfect platform for Ulster’s rising stars to stake their claim to be involved in next week’s Champions Cup quarter-final against Leinster. As ever, I encourage the home faithful to give the Southern Kings squad and travelling supporters a very warm welcome. Finally, on behalf of Kingspan, I would like to wish the Ulster Rugby squad and management team the very best this evening as they continue to give their all in the race for a play-off place. To Ulster’s committed fans, enjoy the game, lead the way and help ensure that this is an evening to remember at Kingspan Stadium.

IN THIS ISSUE...

8

TODAY'S MASCOTS

2 3 5 8 11

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME GUINNESS PRO14 WELCOME INTERVIEW: DARREN CAVE Q&A: KIERAN TREADWELL INTERVIEW: BILLY BURNS STATISTICAL PREVIEW SCHOOLS' CUP FINAL

13 14 16

14

ACADEMY SQUAD

19

NORTH DOWN WOMEN COMBINE FOR NEW CLUB

21

ULSTER SQUAD PROFILES

24 28

ULSTER TEAM

SOUTHERN KINGS TEAM 29 SOUTHERN KINGS SQUAD PROFILES 30 STAFF PROFILE: CHRIS HAGAN 35 CLUB FOCUS: PORTADOWN RFC 39 GUEST ARTICLE: ROD NAWN 40

40

INTERESTED IN TAKING UP THE WHISTLE...

43 47 49 53 54 55 56 51

URSC UPDATE

LISBURN COMMUNITY CHOIR SUBWAY HALF TIME TEAMS

STADIUM INFORMATION

2018/19 COMPETITION STANDINGS

FIXTURES

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

1

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

TODAY’S MASCOTS

RYAN PAVLOVIC (9) FROM NEWTOWNABBEY

CHARLIE THOMPSON (11) FROM DROMORE

Ryan attends Templepatrick PS and plays rugby for Academy RFC. As well as playing rugby Ryan also loves to swim and read. His favourite player is Craig Gilroy because he is fast like him and when Ryan grows up he would like to be a winger or fly-half for Ulster.

Charlie attends Wallace Prep and plays rugby for Lisburn RFC. As well as playing and watching rugby, Charlie also enjoys playing golf. His favourite player is Jacob Stockdale and when he grows up he would like to be a sports journalist.

UNMISSABLE MOMENTS 2019/20 Season Tickets

On Sale Now!

UlsterRugby.com /SeasonTickets

2

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

Since our last home PRO14 game against Zebre, when we had an excellent bonus point win, we travelled to Newport and produced - 0-‚Ѵbm] r;u=oul-m1; |o -1_b;ˆ; -mo|_;u Cˆ; robm|v -]-bmv| |_; Dragons. We have had another two-week break while the Six -ঞomv ‰-v 1olrѴ;|;7 -m7 mo‰ Ѵooh =ou‰-u7 |o |_; Cm-Ѵ v;ub;v o= l-|1_;v ‰_;m t†-ѴbC1-ঞom =ou |_; rѴ-‹Ŋo@v -m7 m;Š| v;-vomĽv Champions Cup will be decided. We start this evening with the Southern Kings, who we beat earlier in the season during our trip to South Africa. This will not be an easy game but we need a ‰bm |o v;| †v †r =ou |_; 7bL1†Ѵ| -‰-‹ ]-l;v oˆ;u |_; m;Š| |_u;; weeks. $_; "bŠ -ঞomv _-lrbomv_br _-v mo‰ 0;;m 1olrѴ;|;7 ‰b|_ Wales winning the Grand Slam and Triple Crown, while Ireland Cmbv_;7 |_; |o†um-l;m| bm 7bv-rrobmঞm] =-v_bom ‰b|_ - 0;Ѵo‰ r-u r;u=oul-m1; bm -u7b@ĺ or;=†ѴѴ‹ |_;u; ‰bѴѴ 0; - rovbঞˆ; response as we look forward to the World Cup in the Autumn. om]u-|†Ѵ-ঞomv |o |_; &Ѵv|;u rѴ-‹;uv ‰_o |ooh rѴ-‹;7 bm |_; matches and especially captain Rory Best, in what was his last Six -ঞomv _-lrbomv_brĺ $_; ubv_ &ƑƏv 1-rr;7 o@ - l-]mbC1;m| "bŠ -ঞomv 1-lr-b]m ‰b|_ - ‰bm oˆ;u )-Ѵ;v |_-| v;-Ѵ;7 - u-m7 "Ѵ-l ঞ|Ѵ;ĺ †u 1om]u-|†Ѵ-ঞomv ]o |o o†u 1-7;l‹ -m-];u b;u-m -lr0;ѴѴķ who is part of the coaching group, as well as all the Ulster players involved. $_; -mvh; -mh &Ѵv|;u "1_ooѴvĽ 1olr;ঞঞomv _-ˆ; mo‰ 0;;m largely completed with a number being played at Kingspan Stadium. Last week the girls from Enniskillen Royal GS beat Loreto "" ;‚;uh;mm‹ |o ‰bm |_; buѴv *ƕv ";mbou †r -m7 Ѵ-|;u |_-| 7-‹ u-b]-ˆom " " 7;=;-|;7 -ѴѴ‹1Ѵ-u; "" bm |_; &Ɛѵ b]_ "1_ooѴvĽ $uor_‹ Cm-Ѵĺ $_; "1_ooѴvĽ †r Cm-Ѵ ‰-v rѴ-‹;7 om om7-‹ Ѵ-v| ‰_;m ;|_o7bv| oѴѴ;]; ‰;u; ˆb1|oubo†v oˆ;u -lr0;ѴѴ oѴѴ;]; before a large crowd. And on Wednesday, Sullivan Upper beat -m]ou " bm |_; Cm-Ѵ o= |_; "†0vb7b-u‹ "_b;Ѵ7ĺ om]u-|†Ѵ-ঞomv |o -ѴѴ |_; ‰bmm;uv -m7 ‰;ѴѴ 7om; |o -ѴѴ ‰_o r-uঞ1br-|;7ĺ -m‹ |_-mhv |o o†u vromvouv -mvh; -mh -m7 |o |_; "1_ooѴv ollb‚;; =ou |_;bu _-u7 ‰ouh bm ou]-mbvbm] |_; 1olr;ঞঞomvĺ $_;u; -u; l-m‹ 1Ѵ†0 Cm-Ѵv o= l;mĽvķ ‰ol;mĽv -m7 ‹o†|_ 1†rv |o be played over the course of the next few weeks and good luck to all those who are taking part. The leagues are also reaching crucial v|-];v -m7 ‰bv_ ;ˆ;u‹ v†11;vv |o |_ov; v;;hbm] ruoloঞom ou v|ubˆbm] |o -ˆob7 u;Ѵ;]-ঞomĺ $_-mhv |o -ѴѴ |_ov; _;u; |_bv ;ˆ;mbm] =ou ‹o†u 1omঞm†bm] v†rrou| and I look forward to seeing many of you at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin next Saturday, standing up for the Ulster men in what will hopefully be a great game against Leinster. "|;r_;m ѴѴbo‚ President, IRFU Ulster Branch PRESIDENT’S WELCOME On behalf of Ulster Rugby, I would like to welcome everyone to Kingspan Stadium for this evening’s Guinness PRO14 match against Isuzu Southern Kings, all the way from Port Elizabeth. We welcome their oL1b-Ѵvķ rѴ-‹;uvķ v|-@ -m7 v†rrou|;uv |o ;Ѵ=-v| -m7 hope that you enjoy your visit.

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 Jonny Petrie _b;= Š;1†ঞˆ; L1;u Dan McFarland Head Coach Bryn Cunningham r;u-ঞomv bu;1|ou Chris Webster Head of Rugby Development Audrey Robinson Head of Finance & r;u-ঞomv Fiona Hampton ;-7 o= "-Ѵ;v ş -uh;ঞm]

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

3

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

As we return to Guinness PRO14 action, it could not be any more fitting that we are hosting two Welsh derbies in Round 18, fresh fromWales’ Grand Slam success in the Guinness Six Nations. It’s a phenomenal achievement by Warren Gatland to claim his third Grand Slam as coach of Wales in 11 years, and the country’s fourth in 14 years. I can’t claim to speak much Welsh, but clearly Llongyfarchiadau is in order! On a wider note it also marks two successive Grand Slams for Guinness PRO14 unions with six of the previous eight Six Nations titles being shared between Ireland and Wales. That’s a pretty good pulse check of their playing strength and even though Ireland are looking off form now, the World Cup looks like it will be more competitive than ever. It’s also pleasing to hear that many of the stars of Wales’ Six Nations campaign will be back in action this weekend for our two Welsh derbies in Cardiff and Swansea. The Six Nations and Triple Crown trophies are expected to be on show and hopefully some of our regional fans might get a glimpse of the Guinness PRO14 trophy by the end of May with Cardiff Blues, Ospreys and Scarlets all competing for a place in the Final Series. The good news fromWales has been quite relentless, too. Scarlets have re-signed Ken Owens, Jon Davies and Rob Evans, Cardiff Blues are bringing Josh Adams back to his homeland and Ospreys have ensured their breakout star Luke Morgan is on board for another two seasons. Speaking of the Final Series, I’m pleased to say that Dacia have signed up as the Official Car Partner for the Guinness PRO14 Final Series. It’s just another piece of good news on the commercial front that points to the health and interest in the Championship which bodes well for the future. The race for the Final Series itself shows no sign of letting up with 10 teams fighting to join Leinster in the knock-out stages. Our defending champions showed their muscle by claiming a home Semi-Final with their recent win over the Toyota Cheetahs and it’s going to take a serious effort by any team to wrestle this trophy away from them. With only four rounds left almost every game looks like a must-win encounter. A loss for either Cardiff Blues or Scarlets in their derby could have serious repercussions for their title ambitions while Connacht and Benetton have it all to play for in Galway with both chasing a Final Series berth from their respective conferences. I’m especially looking forward to the return of some of our more recently heralded talents in the Guinness PRO14 who have launched themselves into the Test arena during the Six Nations. Yes, our teams are stocked with rock stars, but it’s so pleasing to see the next generation taking their chances in their national colours. Connacht’s Jack Carty, Wales’ Adam Beard, Scotland’s Darcy Graham have impressed in addition to the Italian quartet of Dave Sisi, Federico Ruzza, Marco Zanon and Sebastian Negri. They certainly top the bill for our #PRO14PROUD campaign on social media and they will continue to build on their reputations in the Championship. Of course, with so many teams still in contention for the knock-out stages the Guinness PRO14 Final is coming up into view at Celtic Park on May 25. Without even making a tackle you can guarantee your place by going direct to bit.ly/glasgow2019 to get your tickets. The Guinness PRO14 Final has become a great event for supporters of all our clubs and if you fancy treating yourself, or perhaps surprising that passionate rugby fan in your life, then a trip to Celtic Park on May 25 should do the trick! Enjoy the game, Martin Anayi Chief Executive Officer

)_;m -uu;m -ˆ; Ѵ-v| |ooh |_; C;Ѵ7 _;u; -| bm]vr-m "|-7b†lķ b| ‰-v - u;7ŊѴ;‚;u 7-‹ =ou |_; ;Šr;ub;m1;7 lb7C;Ѵ7;uĺ DARREN CAV

foh; -0o†| |_; r-1; ‰; _-7 bm ,;0u; ]-l; with Rob and Rob on the edge and me in the 1;m|u;Ĵ "It probably suits them having me (for experience) but it’s vice-versa as well. For me it's great to have guys that I can get the ball in their hands and then try for second touches or create a bit of space for them and watch when they get half a yard and Cmbv_ o@ĺ Ş = Ľl -0Ѵ; |o _;Ѵr |_;l rovbঞom-ѴѴ‹ ‰b|_ a few pictures, then that’s great, but I love playing with those guys as well." ou ‹o†m] ]†‹v Ѵbh; ‹‚Ѵ; -m7 -Ѵo†1om;ķ next week's massive game against Leinster bm |_; _-lrbomv †r t†-u|;uŊCm-Ѵ ‰bѴѴ 0; - Cuv|ķ 0†| -ˆ; 1-m 1o†m| _blv;Ѵ= as a veteran of such occasions having been around for the achievement of four 1omv;1†ঞˆ; Ѵ-v| ;b]_| ঞ;v 0;|‰;;m ƑƏƐƐ and 2014. Having worked so hard to get themselves ub]_| bm|o |_; |_b1h o= |_; ! ƐƓ rѴ-‹Ŋo@ u-1; Ŋ ‰_;u; - |or |_u;; Cmbv_ ]†-u-m|;;v - rѴ-1; bm †uor;ŝv |or ঞ;u m;Š| v;-vom Ŋ thanks to banking 16 points from the last four games, Cave says the side have made a point of ensuring they are in the right frame of mind to take care of business against ˆbvbঞm] "o†|_;um bm]v |_bv ;ˆ;mbm]ĺ Ş | bv -m bm|;u;vঞm] om;ķŞ v-‹v |_; =-m favourite who played in a Heineken Cup Cm-Ѵ v;ˆ;m ‹;-uv -]oĺ Ş |_bmh ;ˆ;m -v -

"|-uঞm] |_; ]-l; -]-bmv| ,;0u; Ѵ-v| lom|_ at outside centre, the Holywood man was pulling on the Ulster jersey for a remarkable ƑƑƑm7 ঞl;ķ v;;bm] _bl v†ur-vv !o];u )bѴvom bm |_; uoˆbm1;ŝv -ѴѴŊঞl; -rr;-u-m1; charts. Closing in on Andrew Trimble at the top of the list, the 31-year-old believes playing in front of the home faithful means even more to him now than it did as a fresh-faced youngster. "I love playing as much as I ever did," said |_; l-m ‰_o vঞѴѴ ‰omŝ| 0; ƒƑ †mঞѴ m;Š| month. "Probably even more than I did because I do not take it for granted as much. $_;u; ‰-v ruo0-0Ѵ‹ - ঞl; bm |_; lb77Ѵ; o= my career where I thought I was going to be playing forever. "I am not sure how close the end is right mo‰ 0†| ‰o†Ѵ7 0; v†urubv;7 b= ‰-v vঞѴѴ ]obm] bm Cˆ; ‹;-uvĴŞ )_bѴ; |_;u;ŝv vঞѴѴ rѴ;m|‹ o= Ѵb=; bm |_; Ѵ;]v yet, as evidenced by a few of those breaks -]-bmv| ,;0u;ķ |_; ƐƐŊঞl;v 1-rr;7 ubv_ bm|;um-ঞom-Ѵ bv u;Ѵbv_bm] |_; 1_-m1; |o 0; an elder statesman among a youthful panel this season, especially during the recent Six -ঞomv ‰bm7o‰ ‰_;m _; _-7 Yb;uv Ѵbh; !o0 -Ѵo†1o†m; -m7 !o0 ‹‚Ѵ; u†mmbm] Ѵbm;v o@ his shoulder. “For me it’s something that I enjoy," he says. "Young guys bring so much enthusiasm and speed. I put something on social media as a

8

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

coaching team and a playing group, how do you approach it? Do you l;mঞom b|ķ 7o ‹o† mo| l;mঞom it? But there is no hiding it, next

week is a big game. We have not been at that top table in †uor; =ou Cˆ; ‹;-uvķ that is too many.

"But I think if we are looking at the big picture, this is a club that needs to be playing in the Champions Cup. As big as the game is next week, we need points in the league and I have been saying that. "We got 16 in our last four games thankfully and that has been great, but we need points in the league and we need to be playing Champions Cup rugby (next year). There is no point bm ];মm] |o |_; Cm-Ѵķ ou - v;lbŊCm-Ѵ ou 0;-ঞm] ;bmv|;u -m7 |_;m vѴb7bm] down the PRO14 and not making the Champions Cup for next season. "That is not what this club is all about. Every game is a big game for the rest of the season."

9

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

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

METHODY CLAIM SCHOOLS’ CUP GLORY Methodist College Belfast have won the 2019 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup ঞ|Ѵ;ķ ‰b|_ - v†r;u0 ƐƕŊƓƔ ‰bm oˆ;u -lr0;ѴѴ oѴѴ;]; -| bm]vr-m "|-7b†l om om7-‹ -[;umoomĺ

;|_o7‹ u-m bm v;ˆ;m |ub;vķ Cˆ; bm |_; v;1om7 _-Ѵ=ķ |o ;Š|;m7 |_;bu Ѵ;-7 -| |_; |or o= |_; "1_ooѴvĽ †r uoѴѴ o= _omo†u om ƒѵ o†|ub]_| ঞ|Ѵ;vĺ ;|_o7‹ ]o| o@ |o - 0ub]_| v|-u| ‰b|_ Ѵo1h ;m Gourley powering over from close range on 11 lbm†|;vķ ‰b|_ |_-m 1 Ѵuo‹ -77bm] |_; 1omˆ;uvbomĺ Campbell responded six minutes later when hooker -uu‹ -1hvom ‰-v -| |_; 0o‚ol o= |_; rbѴ; -[;u - lineout maul crashed over. Conor Rankin then sent oˆ;u - 1omC7;m|Ѵ‹ v|u†1h 1omˆ;uvbomĺ Rankin then sent Campbell into the lead with a ƑƏ|_ lbm†|; r;m-Ѵ|‹ -[;u 1 Ѵuo‹ ‰-v r;m-Ѵbv;7 -m7 v†0v;t†;m|Ѵ‹ ‹;ѴѴo‰ 1-u7;7 =ou - ঞr |-1hѴ;ĺ m ƒƐ lbm†|;vķ o†uѴ;‹Ľv v;1om7 uo‰ r-u|m;u -Š ‹‚Ѵ; 1_-u];7 oˆ;u =ou -mo|_;u 1omˆ;u|;7 |u‹ķ |_;m Cˆ; lbm†|;v Ѵ-|;u Y‹Ŋ_-Ѵ= $_ol-v ulv|uom] u-m bm - v†r;u0 ;@ou| †m7;u |_; rov|v ‰_b1_ ;7];7 ;|_o7‹ ƐƏŊƑƐ bm =uom| -| _-Ѵ=Ŋঞl;ĺ bˆ; lbm†|;v -[;u |_; u;v|-u| v1u†lŊ_-Ѵ= -ѴѴ†l Davidson dived over in the corner to extend the ;|_o7‹ Ѵ;-7ĺ -ˆb7vomĽv orrovb|; m†l0;uķ -u- -vhbm vmbr;7 over from close range just three minutes later for Campbell, who were more than playing their part in - =-m|-vঞ1 1om|;v|ķ |o m-uuo‰ |_; 7;C1b| |o ƐƕŊƑѵĺ m |_; Cm-Ѵ ƐƑ lbm†|;v ;|_o7‹ u-m bm |_u;; lou; |ub;vĺ buv|Ѵ‹ķ Y-mh;u -ˆb7 o7;m ruoC|;7 =uol - v_ou| Ѵbm;o†| |o v1ou; bm |_; Ѵ;[ 1oum;uķ |_;m u;rѴ-1;l;m| $bl bѴѴ-u ]o| oˆ;u |_; ‰_b|;‰-v_ v_ou|Ѵ‹ -[;u ;m|;ubm] |_; -1ঞomĺ $_; Ѵ-v| |u‹ o= |_; 7-‹ ‰-v -mo|_;u o†|v|-m7bm] Cmbv_ =uol ulv|uom]ķ ‰b|_ 1 Ѵuo‹ 1omˆ;uঞm] |_; Ѵ-v| |‰o scores.

CAMPBELL COLLEGE SCORERS Tries Harry Jackson, Dara Gaskin Cons Conor Rankin (2) Pens Conor Rankin CAMPBELL COLLEGE TEAM (15-9): Conor Rankin, Kieran Harkness- Robertson, Rex Tinsley (C), Harry Owens, Danny Williamson, Ollie Ralston, Dara Gaskin; (1-8): John Gildea, Harry Jackson, Patrick 1 Ѵrbm;ķ ‹Ѵ; bѴѴķ -1h "ঞmvomķ -l;v Johnston, Ben Rainey, Tobi Olaniyan. Replacements Jack Boal, Luke Collins, -‚_;‰ oouķ ommou 1 -†Ѵ;‹ķ -lb; Brennan, Harry Bell, Finlay Parks, Hugh bm=ou7ĺ METHODIST COLLEGE SCORERS Tries ;m o†uѴ;‹ķ -Š ‹‚Ѵ;ķ $_ol-v Armstrong (2), Callum Davidson, David o7;mķ $bl bѴѴ-u Cons |_-m 1 Ѵuo‹ ŐƔő METHODIST COLLEGE TEAM ŐƐƔŊƖőĹ |_-m 1 Ѵuo‹ķ $ol Ľ o_;u|‹ķ !o00b; Armstrong, John Fletcher, Chris Larmour, Thomas Armstrong, Callum Davidson; (1-8): Ben Crangle, Daniel Humphreys, -‚_;‰ †m|;uķ -Š ‹‚Ѵ;ķ ;m o†uѴ;‹ķ -ˆb7 o7;mķ 7-l !;b7ķ ;ˆbm 1 -0o; Ő őĺ Replacements Jack Watson, Patrick Johnston, Dan Dougan, Adam Simms, Tom bѴѴ-uķ †h; "bllvķ †h; u-_-lķ o†bv bѴѴ-uĺ

11

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

Q&A K I E R A N T R E A D W E L L

Favourite rugby memory? First cap for Ireland Favourite place to eat in Belfast? ;m;u-Ѵ ;u1_-m|v TV programme you can’t miss? Love Island First music album you ever bought? Chilled R&B Last movie you watched? Darkest Hour )_o bv ‹o†u vrouঞm] _;uo -m7 ‰_‹ĵ Roger Federer - top of his game for such a long r;ubo7 o= ঞl; Favourite thing about playing for Ulster? $_; =;;Ѵbm] -[;u - 0b] ‰bm If you could swap places with a celebrity for a day who would it be and why? Tony Stark - he's rich and a superhero If you could have dinner with anyone (dead or alive) who would it be and why? bl -uu;‹ Ŋ _;ŝv ˆ;u‹ =†mm‹ -m7 bm|;u;vঞm] Favourite post-match meal? Pizza Goal for this season? Win the PRO14 The key to success is… Belief

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

QUICKFIRE

13

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

BILLY BURNS:

“WE BACK OURSELVES ANYONE AT HOME”

Ulster’s out-half is in bullish mood ahead of today’s clash against the Kings – but knows from experience that the South Africans bring a real threat.

=uol -m‹‰_;u;ĺ "o =ou †v b|ĽѴѴ 0; ˆ;u‹ l†1_ about containing them and making sure |_-| o†u -‚-1hbm] ]-l; bv -Ѵvo ˆ;u‹ v|uom] 0;1-†v; |_;‹Ľu; vo r_‹vb1-Ѵ |_-| ‹o† 1-mĽ| f†v| u†m bm|o |_;v; 0o‹vķ ‹o†Ľˆ; ]o| |o loˆ; |_; 0-ѴѴ -m7 1_-ѴѴ;m]; |_;l bm 7b@;u;m| ‰-‹vĺ “But,” he concludes, “we back ourselves -]-bmv| -m‹om; -| _ol;ĺ "o ‰;ĽѴѴ 0; 1omC7;m|ķ 0†| ‰;ĽѴѴ hmo‰ |_-| ‰; _-ˆ; |o ঞ1h -ѴѴ |_; 0oŠ;v |o ];| - ]oo7 u;v†Ѵ|ĺĿ With 18 senior appearances and 34 points under his belt since joining the Province from Gloucester in the close season, the 24-year- oѴ7 _-v m;;7;7 Ѵb‚Ѵ; ঞl; |o -7-r| |o - m;‰ club and a new league – one he feels suits _bv ]-l; r;u_-rv 0;‚;u |_-m |_; m]Ѵbv_ Premiership did. ľ$_;u;Ľv mo| - _†]; -lo†m| o= 7b@;u;m1;ķĿ _; v†]];v|vķ ľ0†| oˆ;u _;u; Ľ7 v-‹ |_;u;Ľv lou; individual brilliance in games, whereas the Premiership is more set-piece driven. I think |_; t†-Ѵb|‹ bv -v ]oo7 b= mo| 0;‚;u oˆ;u _;u;ķ -m7 Ľl ;mfo‹bm] |_; v|‹Ѵ; o= u†]0‹ ‰;Ľu; trying to play. ľ |Ľv l‹ Cuv| ‹;-u bm |_; 1olr;ঞঞom vo _-ˆ;mĽ| ]o| -m‹ ru;ˆbo†v ;Šr;ub;m1;ķ 0†| from speaking to the boys, I think the quality o= |_; vb7;v ‰_o ‰;u; ro|;mঞ-ѴѴ‹ Ѵo‰;u

Billy Burns has seen enough in his inaugural season at Ulster Rugby to know no Guinness PRO14 rival should be taken for ]u-m|;7 ŋ mo| Ѵ;-v| |_bv ;ˆ;mbm]Ľv orrom;m|v the Southern Kings – a side that Ulster v|u†]]Ѵ;7 |o Cmbv_ o@ bm |_; -‰-‹ CŠ|†u; Ѵ-v| September. -m 1 -uѴ-m7Ľv vb7; u-m o†| ;ˆ;m|†-Ѵ ‰bmm;uv 0‹ ƑѶ robm|v |o ƕ |_-| 7-‹ -| |_; ;Ѵvom -m7;Ѵ- -‹ "|-7b†lķ 0†| -v †umv recalls, the Ulstermen had it far from their own way, leading by a slender two points ]obm] bm|o |_; Cm-Ѵ t†-u|;u 0;=ou; Ѵ-|; |ub;v =uol -u1;ѴѴ o;|Œ;;ķ m]†v ;umo_-m -m7 m]†v †uঞv r†| 1Ѵ;-u 7-‹Ѵb]_| 0;|‰;;m |_; teams. “The game we played over there was hugely 1_-ѴѴ;m]bm] =ou ѵƏŋƕƏ lbm†|;v 0;=ou;ķ Ѵ†1hbѴ‹ enough, we managed to pull away,” admits Burns. “The Kings have got huge amounts of talent -ѴѴ oˆ;u |_; r-uhĺ $_;‹Ľu; 0b] 0o‹v -m7 |_;‹Ľˆ; ]o| vol; u-rb7 0-1hvķ vo ‰;Ľu; ]obm] to have to focus on ourselves and try to get a result. ľ$_; ‰;-|_;u bv v|-uঞm] |o 7u‹ †r -m7 |_; rb|1_ bv ];মm] Cul;u vo |_; |;-lv |_-| Ѵbh; to play ball-in-hand rugby can be a threat

14

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

AGAINST

down in years gone by has really improved while |_; |or |;-lv _-ˆ; 1omঞm†;7 |o ];| 0;‚;uķ so there are no easy games any more in the 1olr;ঞঞomĺ “You see a lot of sides beat each other which is l-hbm] b| u;-ѴѴ‹ ঞ]_|ĺ $_-|Ľv ]u;-| =ou |_; =-mvķ guess, and for us it keeps us on our toes. It also means we have to get another good result this weekend!” $_; -|_ m-ঞˆ; _-v -Ѵvo 0;;m lomb|oubm] _bv individual performances throughout the season, -m7 =;;Ѵv _; vঞѴѴ _-v rѴ;m|‹ |o Ѵ;-umķ u;=;uubm] |o his own game as a “work in progress”. ľ |Ľv -0o†| hmo‰bm] ‰_;m |o v_o‰ |_-| Y-bu -m7 when to pull the trigger, but also about managing |_; |;-l -v ‰;ѴѴķĿ _; ;ŠrѴ-bmvĺ ľ Ľl mo| ‰_;u; m;;7 |o 0; 0†| Ľl 1;u|-bmѴ‹ om |_; |u-1hĺ v - |;-l ‰; 7b7mĽ| _-ˆ; l†1_ ঞl; ‰b|_ -m Ő 1 -uѴ-m7ő -| |_; v|-u| o= |_; v;-vom vo |_bmh ‰;Ľˆ; ]u-vr;7 b| ru;‚‹ ‰;ѴѴĺ $_;u;Ľv rѴ;m|‹ o= ]uo‰|_ =ou †v vঞѴѴ bm o†u ]-l; 0†| ‰;Ľu; v;;bm] improvements week on week, and if we can 1omvbv|;m|Ѵ‹ h;;r 7obm] |_-| ‰;ĽѴѴ 0; bm - ru;‚‹ good spot come the business end. ľ ˆ;u‹ ]-l; mo‰ bv - 1†r Cm-ѴķĿ _; 1om1Ѵ†7;vĺ “We need to win them all. Where you want to be at this stage is in with the chance of playing rѴ-‹Ŋo@ u†]0‹ ŋ |_-| ‰-v o†u -bl -| |_; v|-u| o= the season. ľ);ĽѴѴ _or; |o ];| - ]oo7 v|-u| |_bv ‰;;h;m7 -m7 0†bѴ7 vol; lol;m|†l =uol |_;u;ĺ );Ľu; rѴ;-v;7 |o 0; C]_ঞm] om -ѴѴ =uom|v 0†| ‰; hmo‰ the challenges that are ahead of us.”

15

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

ULSTER V SOUTHERN KINGS STATISTICAL PREVIEW

$_; bm]v _-ˆ; m;ˆ;u 0;-|;m |_; &Ѵv|;ul;m bm |_u;; ru;ˆbo†v l;;ঞm]vĺ $_; ubv_ vb7; 1o†Ѵ7 7o ‰b|_ |_bv u;1ou7 1omঞm†bm] -v |_;‹ -bl |o 1-|1_ ;m;‚om bm |_;bu 1Ѵov; 0-‚Ѵ; =ou |_; _ol; t†-u|;uŊCm-Ѵ spot in Conference B. Ulster have not lost in four whilst the Southern Kings have not won in four. WHAT’S AT STAKE?

CURRENT STANDINGS 3 6

LAST TIME

7 28

16.09.18 NELSON MANDELA BAY

HEAD TO HEAD

ULSTER RUGBY PRO14 FORM GUIDE

SOUTHERN KINGS PRO14 FORM GUIDE

3 3 0 0

3 0 3 0

PLAYED

WIN

DRAW LOST

WIN

DRAW LOST

WINS

LOSSES

LAST 3 MATCHES

LAST 3 MATCHES

DRAWS

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

ULSTER SCORERS

SOUTHER KINGS

DATE

VENUE

U SK

SCORERS

Billy Burns C Angus Kernohan T John Cooney 3P -u1;ѴѴ o;|Œ;; T Peter Nelson C m]†v †uঞv T Craig Gilroy 3T "|†-u| 1 Ѵovh;‹ T !o0 ‹‚Ѵ; 2T John Cooney 7C Kieran Treadwell T Darren Cave T o_mm‹ 1 _bѴѴbrv T

bh; )bѴѴ;lv; T -vbŠoѴ; -m7- C

ƐѵĺƏƖĺƐѶ ;Ѵvom -m7;Ѵ- -‹

ƑѶ ƕ

-vbŠoѴ; -m7- P Harlon Klaasen T Benhard Janse van Rensburg C

09.02.18 Kingspan Stadium

59 10

Sean Reidy T Clive Ross T

b1_-;Ѵ -h-v; T Oliver Zono 3C/P Yaw Penxe 2T Kurt Coleman C Berton Klaasen 2T

ƏƓĺƐƐĺƐƕ v--1 )oѴ=vom "|-7b†l Ɠƒ ƒѵ

John Cooney T/C John Andrew 2T _ubvঞ-m ;-Ѵbŝb=-mo 3C Andrew Trimble T Robbie Diack T

16

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

» &Ѵv|;u -u; †m0;-|;m bm |_;bu Ѵ-v| vbŠ Cuv| |;-l ]-l;v vbm1; |_;bu u;ˆ;uv-Ѵ |o ;bmv|;u -| |_; ! " Arena in early January. » The Ulstermen have lost just once at Kingspan Stadium in any tournament in the last thirteen months: 15-22 to Connacht in Round 6 of the Guinness PRO14. » Southern Kings have lost their last four matches since their 25-21 win at home to Edinburgh in late January. » bm]v -u; vঞѴѴ ‰b|_o†| - ‰bm om |_; uo-7 vbm1; |_;‹ fobm;7 |_; †bmm;vv ! ƐƓ -| |_; v|-u| o= Ѵ-v| season. » &Ѵv|;uĽv u;1ou7 -]-bmv| "o†|_ =ub1-m orrom;m|v bm |_; _-lrbomv_br bv ‰om =o†uķ 7u-‰m om; ‰b|_ three of those victories coming against the Kings. DID YOU KNOW?

CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERS

TRY SCORER

DEFENDERS BEATEN

1

1

RABS MAXWANE (CHEETAHS)

13

DUHANVANDERMERWE (EDINBURGH) 61

YAW PENXE

7

STUART McCLOSKEY

36

ROB HERRING

6

MASIXOLE BANDA

33

POINTS SCORER

OFFLOADS

1

1

SAM DAVIES (OSPREYS)

124

TOM FARRELL (CONNACHT)

26

STUART McCLOSKEY

19

MASIXOLE BANDA

103

MASIXOLE BANDA

14

JOHN COONEY

76

CARRIES

TACKLES

1

1

BILL MATA (EDINBURGH)

221

OLLY CRACKNELL (OSPREYS)

225

STUART McCLOSKEY

170

TIENIE BURGER

220

RUAN LERM

140

NICK TIMONEY

191

METRES GAINED

TURNOVERS WON

1

1

MALCOLM JAER (CHEETAHS)

996

OLLY ROBINSON (CARDIFF BLUES) 23

STUART McCLOSKEY

654

MARCELL COETZEE

17

MASIXOLE BANDA

643

CJ VELLEMAN

11

17

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

Year 2 Back Three ƐƖĺƏѶĺƖƕ 193cm 89kg Ballymena

STEWART MOORE MARCUS REA JAMES HUME AZUR ALLISON Year 1 Centre 08.08.99 183cm 91kg Malone Year 3 Back Row ƏѶĺƏƖĺƖƕ 189cm ƐƏƔ1l Ballymena Year 2 Centre ƏƕĺƏƖĺƖѶ 184cm ƖƔh] Banbridge Year 1 Back Row 19.04.99 192cm 99kg Ballymena

Year 3 Hooker ƐƏĺƏƑĺƖƔ

AARON HALL MATTHEW DALTON JACK REGAN Year 3 Back Row 26.06.98 193cm 98kg Ballynahinch Year 2 Flanker 16.11.98 ƐƖƕ1l 112kg Malone Year 2 2nd Row ƏƖĺƏƔĺƖƕ

Year 2 Scrum Half 12.09.99 ƐƕƓ1l ѶƔh] Malone GRAHAM CURTIS ERIC O’SULLIVAN IWAN HUGHES Year 2 Prop ƒƏĺƐƐĺƖƔ 186cm ƐƐƔh] Banbridge Year 1 Back Three 06.04.99 Ɛƕƒ1l ƕƕh] Ballynahinch

DAVID McCANN ZACK McCALL JOE DUNLEAVY MATTHEW AGNEW Year 1 Back Row 13.06.00 190cm 94kg Banbridge 180cm 100kg Ballynahinch Year 2 Flanker 22.12.98 190cm 101kg Malone Year 1 Back Row 20.11.98 180cm ƖƔh] Malone

ROBERT BALOUCOUNE MICHAEL LOWRY BRUCE HOUSTON Year 2 Fly Half 20.08.98 ƐƕƏ1l 81kg Banbridge Year 1 Fly Half 16.08.99 192cm 92kg Ballymena

ƐƖƕ1l 112kg Ballynahinch

ABBEY INSURANCE ULSTER RUGBY ACADEMY SQUAD 2018/19

Year 1 Wing 02.03.99 181cm 94kg Queen's

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

ANGUS KERNOHAN

19

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

A leadingEnergy provider offering excellent value Electricity &Gas to Commercial customers throughout NI &ROI

Business Industrial

Farming

CALLTODAYFORTHE MOSTCOMPETITIVEQUOTE, JUSTLIKEOURFUEL…

028 8676 0600

www.gopower.co.uk

@ GoPower_Energy

ThePower behind…

NORTH DOWN WOMEN COMBINE FOR NEW CLUB

North Down Women are a newly formed team comprised of female players from Donaghadee, Ards and Bangor Rugby Clubs. Each club -Ѵu;-7‹ _-7 - vl-ѴѴ 0†| ;m|_†vb-vঞ1 ]uo†r o= ‰ol;mķ ;-];u |o 7;ˆ;Ѵor their game but did not have enough numbers to form a team of their own. By joining together, they have been able to enter a development team in Division 2 of the Ulster Women’s League. for the upcoming Rejenerate Shield Final, and all |_; vb]mv -u; robmঞm] |o - 0ub]_| =†|†u;ĺ

$u-7bঞom-ѴѴ‹ ubˆ-Ѵv =uol lbmbv †rķ |_; |_u;; 1Ѵ†0v have bonded, playing and socialising together, while enjoying the undivided support of their u;vr;1ঞˆ; 1Ѵ†0vĺ | |_; v-l; ঞl;ķ |_; rѴ-‹;uv _-ˆ; 0;;m -0Ѵ; |o u;|-bm |_;bu 1Ѵ†0 b7;mঞঞ;v -m7 allegiances, which are so important to them. $_; ou|_ o‰m )ol;mĽv |;-l bm1Ѵ†7;v - wide variety of playing experience; some had previously only played touch rugby, some were more experienced, while others were brand new to the game. $_; Cuv| v;-vom _-v 0;;m - v|;;r 0†| ;mfo‹-0Ѵ; learning curve, which has seen the club qualify

If you are in the North Down area and ‰o†Ѵ7 Ѵbh; |o ]bˆ; ‰ol;mĽv u†]0‹ -| |u‹ķ Cm7 North Down Women’s Rugby on Facebook -m7 mv|-]u-l =ou lou; bm=oul-ঞomĺ Ѵ|;um-ঞˆ;Ѵ‹ķ |o Cm7 |_; m;-u;v| ‰ol;mĽv team near you, contact Ulster Rugby ;l-Ѵ; !†]0‹ L1;u ;-Ѵ o_mv|om om Əƕƕѵƕ ƐƐƔƕѵƓ ņ ;-Ѵĺ o_mv|omŠ ulsterrugby.com.

21

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

WILL ADDISON &ঞѴb|‹ -1h 20.08.1992 186cm 94kg 11 Ireland 3

Hooker 26.05.1993

Hooker 15.08.1982 180cm 106kg 218 u;Ѵ-m7 ƐƐƕ

BILLY BURNS Outhalf

RORY BEST

13.06.1994 185cm 85kg 18 —

JOHN ANDREW

181cm 104kg 52 —

DARREN CAVE Centre

&ঞѴb|‹ -1h 03.02.1994 183cm 90kg 4 —

JOHN COONEY Scrumhalf 01.05.1990 ƐƕѶ1l Ѷƕh] 39 Ireland 8

Back Row 08.05.1991 192cm 114kg 22 S Africa 28

ƏƔĺƏƓĺƐƖѶƕ 183cm 96kg 223 Ireland 11

DAVID BUSBY

MARCELL COETZEE

ULSTER SQUAD 2018/19

ANGUS CURTIS Centre 26.03.1998 ƐƕѶ1l 90kg ƕ —

IAIN HENDERSON Second Row 21.02.1992

Prop ƏƔĺƏƕĺƐƖѶѶ 180cm ƐƐƕh] ƕѶ —

CRAIG GILROY Wing

11.03.1991 183cm 91kg 168 Ireland 10

199cm ƐƐƕh] 101 Ireland 44

WIEHAHN HERBST

ROB HERRING Hooker

ROSS KANE Prop

Back Row 13.01.1996

&ঞѴb|‹ -1h 08.10.1986 182cm 90kg 90 —

LOUIS LUDIK

GREG JONES

ƑƕĺƏƓĺƐƖƖƏ 185cm 102kg 160 u;Ѵ-m7 ƕ

14.10.1994 ƐƕƖ1l 116kg 35 —

196cm 106kg 11 —

24

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

ROB LYTTLE Wing

Centre 03.03.1991 181cm Ɩƕh] 119 Ireland 11

Hooker 05.09.1996

KYLE McCALL Prop

ƑѶĺƏƐĺƐƖƖƕ ƐƕƓ1l 83kg 19 —

02.01.1992 Ɛƕѵ1l 108kg 52 —

182cm 102kg 12 —

LUKE MARSHALL

ADAM McBURNEY

ULSTER SQUAD 2018/19

Outhalf ƐƒĺƏƒĺƐƖƖƕ ƐƕƖ1l 85kg 23 —

Prop 01.03.1991 ƐƕѶ1l 119kg 16 Ireland 10

Centre 06.08.1992

Second Row 19.06.1995

MARTY MOORE

194cm 108kg 102 Ireland 3

191cm 103kg 1 —

JOHNNY McPHILLIPS

STUART McCLOSKEY

CALEB MONTGOMERY

Back Row 22.04.1991 188cm 105kg 13 u;Ѵ-m7 Ƒƕ

IAN NAGLE Lock

Full Back 05.10.1992 180cm Ѷƕh] 58 —

ALAN O’CONNOR Second Row 10.09.1992

ƐƕĺƐƏĺƐƖѶѶ 201cm 114kg 8 —

JORDI MURPHY

PETER NELSON

ƐƖƕ1l 114kg 82 —

Back Row 21.09.1993 193cm 114kg 24 —

TOM O'TOOLE Prop

JACK OWENS Wing

Prop 05.10.1993 183cm 118kg 1 —

MATTY REA

23.09.1998 185cm 113kg 18 —

04.10.1995 188cm 94kg 1 —

TOMMY O’HAGAN

25

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

Back Row 10.05.1989

Back Row 14.06.1989

Scrumhalf 20.06.1993 ƐƕƓ1l 90kg 38 —

Scrumhalf 20.02.1998 ƐƕƓ1l ƕƕh] 11 —

CLIVE ROSS

SEAN REIDY

182cm 103kg 99 Ireland 2

192cm 110kg 69 —

JONNY STEWART

DAVE SHANAHAN

ULSTER SQUAD 2018/19

&ঞѴb|‹ -1h 03.04.1996 191cm 103kg 51 Ireland 19

Second Row 21.11.1995

Second Row 06.11.1995

NICK TIMONEY Back Row 01.08.1995 190cm 113kg 44 —

201cm 115kg

198cm 118kg 66 Ireland 3

ALEX THOMPSON

JACOB STOCKDALE

KIERAN TREADWELL

— —

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

Prop 12.03.1991

ƐƕƖ1l 112kg 114 —

ANDREW WARWICK

GET SOCIAL. FOLLOW US.

UlsterRugby

OfficialUlsterRugby

#SUFTUM

27

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

15

1

LOUIS LUDIK

ANDREW WARWICK

14

2

ROBERT BALOUCOUNE

ROB HERRING

13

3

MARTY MOORE

DARREN CAVE

12

4

ALAN O’CONNOR (C)

STUART McCLOSKEY

ULSTER RUBGY

11

5

IAN NAGLE

ROB LYTTLE

6

10

MATTHEW REA

BILLY BURNS

7

9

NICK TIMONEY

DAVID SHANAHAN

REPLACEMENTS 16 17 18 19 J ANDREW W HERBST T O’TOOLE K TREADWELL

20 21 22 23

C ROSS J COONEY M LOWRY A KERNOHAN

8

MARCELL COETZEE

Ŗ$ " $

!

$ $

! $

TODAY’S OFFICIALS

REFEREE LLOYD LINTON SRU ASSISTANT REFEREES SAM GROVE-WHITE SRU | GRAEME ORMISTON SRU TMO ANDREW McMENEMY SRU

28

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

15

1

MASIXOLE BANDA

SCHALK FERREIRA

2

14

YAW PENXE

MICHAEL WILLEMSE

SOUTHERN KINGS

3

13

DE-JAY TERBLANCHE

MELI ROKOUA

4

12

ANDRIES VAN SCHALKWYK

TERTIUS KRUGER

5

11

JOHN-CHARLES ASTLE (C)

BJORN BASSON

6

10

HENRY BROWN

BADER PRETORIUS

7

9

STEFAN UNGERER

TIENIE BURGER

REPLACEMENTS 16 17 18 19 A VAN ROOYEN A TSHAKWENI L MGUCA S GREEFF

20 21 22 23

A NTSILA R VAN ROOYEN H KLAASEN U BEYERS

8

RUAAN LERM

Ŗ$ " $

!

$ $

! $

29

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

JC ASTLE

Lock 30.08.90

Hooker ƏƕĺƏƒĺƖѵ

Fullback 11.06.88 168cm ƕѵh] 31

Wing 11.02.85 188cm 92kg 13

BJORN BASSON

198cm 115kg Ɛƕ

183cm 103kg 12

TANGO BALEKILE

MASIXOLE BANDA

ULRICH BEYERS Fullback 22.01.91 191cm 95kg 21

Loose Forward 16.11.94 183cm 99kg ƕ

Loose Forward 01.11.93

Loose Forward 01.01.92 183cm 105kg 6

TIENIE BURGER

HENRY BROWN

193cm 108kg Ƒƕ

STEPHAN DE WIT

Flyhalf ƑƔĺƏƕĺѶѶ 183cm 90kg Ɛƕ

Prop 09.02.84 188cm 115kg 33

Lock 24.12.89 198cm 114kg 29

Flyhalf 24.01.90 185cm 96kg 34

NTABENI DUKISA

STEPHAN GREEFF

BERTON KLAASEN

SCHALK FERREIRA

SOUTHERN KING SQUAD 2018/19

Flyhalf 13.08.93 183cm 94kg 22

Centre 09.08.93 ƐƕѶ1l 90kg 13

Loose Forwards 25.03.92 91cm 105kg 29

Centre 20.01.90 183cm 92kg Ɛƕ

RUAAN LERM

TERTIUS KRUGER

MICHAEL MAKASE

HARLON KLAASEN

30

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

Prop ƑƔĺƏƓĺƖƕ

Loose Forward ƏƕĺƐƐĺƖƒ 183cm 98kg 30

Lock 02.11.88

Prop 19.11.96

ANDISA NTSILA

ƐƕƔ1l 112kg 9

196cm 115kg —

183cm 126kg 5

LUPUMLO MGUCA

SCHALK OELOFSE

SOUTHERN KING SQUAD 2018/19

NICOLAAS OOSTHUIZEN

YAW PENXE Wing

Flyhalf ƐѵĺƏƔĺƖƕ 180cm 90kg 5

Scrumhalf 18.04.84 ƐƕƔ1l 83kg 59

Prop 16.10.92

ƏƒĺƏƓĺƖƕ 180cm 82kg 35

ƐƕƔ1l 113kg 26

LUVUYO PUPUMA

SAREL PRETORIUS

BADER PRETORIUS

MELI ROKOUA Centre 24.01.94 184cm 93kg 8

Prop 20.03.94

Prop 25.06.85

Prop 26.09.98

185cm 130kg 15

185cm 121kg 4

ƐƕƔ1l 101kg 8

PIETER SCHOLTZ

DE-JAY TERBLANCHE

ALULUTHO TSHAKWENI

Scrum half 23.11.93 185cm 84kg 9

Scrum half 31.05.93 ƐƕѶ1l 85kg 1

Hooker 23.08.96

Scrumhalf 05.02.92 183cm 84kg 20

183cm 106kg 19

STEFAN UNGERER

RUDI VAN ROOYEN

RUAN VAN RENSBURG

ALANDRE VAN ROOYEN

31

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

Keep up to date with the latest player profiles, career stats and squad news at www.skings.co.za

Lock 21.12.84

Loose Forward 24.02.95 180cm 95kg 10

Hookers 14.02.93 183cm 105kg 26

CJ VELLEMAN

193cm 108kg 98

MICHAEL WILLEMSE

SOUTHERN KING SQUAD 2018/19

DRIES VAN SCHALKWYK

33

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

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

www.macron.com

STAFF PROFILE

NAME: CHRIS HAGAN ROLE: SENIOR GPS & DATA ANALYST

Describe your role within Ulster Rugby? Provide support in the way of GPS data to our S&C coaches, physios and coaching team to help inform athlete management procedures. Also provide relevant GPS data feedback to players on on-field performance metrics. In addition to GPS, general data analysis and video performance analysis provision supplied to the coaching team on relevant player / team performance. Describe your career / employment history? Internship at Statsports in 2011 for 1 year. Presented with opportunity to join Ulster Rugby in 2012, became GPS analyst for 3 years and then change of role to GPS & Data Analysis in 2016. Favourite thing about your job? Being part of the jigsaw in trying to aid athlete r;u=oul-m1; om l-|1_Ŋ7-‹ĺ -|1_Ŋ7-‹ bv -Ѵ‰-‹v |_; best day! What do you enjoy most about working for Ulster Rugby? $_; r;orѴ; ‰ouh ‰b|_ om - 7-bѴ‹ 0-vbvĺ ou; |_-m just colleagues, they are now my friends.

What is your biggest achievement to date? Being part of the management team to go to the PRO14 final and also the unbeaten run in that season. Winning six from six in our European group the year after was also pretty special. What is the most challenging aspect of your role? Time management. There are a lot of different moving aspects within a day and week. Separating the signal from the noise within large data sets to provide quality information to make quality decisions for our coaches. What are your plans/goals for the upcoming season? Learn a new stats programming software and continue to progress in professional development

within the sports science discipline Who is your favourite Ulster player? Iain Henderson - the man knows his stats.

To get in touch with Chris, email 1_ubvĺ_-]-mŠ†Ѵv|;uu†]0‹ĺ1ol

GET SOCIAL. FOLLOW US.

UlsterRugby

OfficialUlsterRugby

#SUFTUM

35

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

Easter tours from £5.50

Book an all-access tour of Kingspan Stadium • Get a fully guided tour of the home of Ulster Rugby and see the working environment of a professional sports team • Take a look around the world class gym and training facilities • Sit in the Ulster Rugby team changing rooms and immerse yourself in a Virtual Reality team-talk from Rory Best* • Walk in the footsteps of legends down the famous players tunnel • Test your rugby skills with the interactive challenges in The Nevin Spence Centre

UlsterRugby.com/Tours

* Subject to availability

Who is your President? Clive Bowles Head Coach? Richard Hedley FOCUS CLUB

P O R T A D O W N R F C

Who is your Club mascot? Panther o‰ l-m‹ |;-lv 7o ‹o† C;Ѵ7ĵ Ɠ 7†Ѵ| ;mĽvķ Ɛ 7†Ѵ| -7b;vķ ƒ o‹v +o†|_ -m7 1 Youth Girls Most successful achievement? Winning AIL Division 3 Winning the Stevenson Shield Proudest moment? Winning AIL Division 3 Tell us something unique that not everyone knows about the club? The original pitches of Portadown were built on - u;1‹1Ѵ;7 |o‰m u;=†v; vb|; -m7 |_; Cuv| rov|v were installed by army helicopter

1st XV Captain? Gary Hall Number of members? 400 3 players to watch? ;m -|1_;‚ķ ub-m ouubv-Ѵ and Karim Ahizoun Longest serving member? George Douglas Who is the ‘Club Clown’? -uh Ő _†mh-ő ;bѴѴ‹ ŋ -m7 _bv l;-m u;m7bঞom of The Gambler Hardest trainer? Gary Hall Club’s unsung hero? Sid Rowe – always working at the club ground What is your Club song? Walking down the Portadown Road What is your Club logo and what does it represent? ]ubLmķ - uov; -m7 ƒ 7b-lom7v Ŋ 7;moঞm] |_; Ѵo1-Ѵ uov; ]uo‰bm] =-lbѴ‹ķ 1 u;-7‹ -m7 †h; o= -m1_;v|;u

Website: www.portadownrugbyclub.com PortadownRugbyFootballClub Š ou|-7o‰m!

39

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

|Ľv |_; Cuv| "-|†u7-‹ o= o†u oL1b-Ѵ "rubm]ķ -m7 vo 1ol; brightening hopes of Ulster Rugby’s fortunes. R O D N A W N

TITLE CHASE DEMANDS KINGS’ HEAD

"or;u -m7 b-ѴѴ -Ѵom; 0;-ubm] _bv ˆ;u‹ r-uঞ1†Ѵ-u blrubm|Ĺ 7;l-m7bm]ķ ruo=;vvbom-Ѵ and forward-looking. While some performances and results this v;-vom bm |_; ! ƐƓ _-ˆ; 0;;m 7bvঞm1|Ѵ‹ o@Ŋ1oѴo†uķ 1 -uѴ-m7Ľv Ѵ;-7;uv_br bv ˆ;u‹ much in the credit column: he has harnessed experienced players and younger talent alike to produce sides which play to strengths, ;Šbvঞm] -m7 |_ov; vol;_o‰ lbvѴ-b7 bm 7bL1†Ѵ| ঞl;vĺ The revived driving maul as an Ulster staple has enthused the fans and forwards, who might have appeared ill-equipped to face the v|uom];v| orrovbঞomķ -u; mo‰ - 7;v;uˆ;7Ѵ‹ ;@;1ঞˆ; -m7 =;-u;7 †mb|ķ r-uঞ1†Ѵ-uѴ‹ ‰_;m injuries and availability allow. Ulster is a more stable environment now, for the players entrusted with wearing the shirt, |_; 1o-1_;v ;lrѴo‹bm] Cul 0†| bm|;u;vঞm] l;|_o7v |o blruoˆ; -m7 l-Šblbv; |_; ]b[v of a panel of players with some established bm|;um-ঞom-Ѵv -m7 ‰b|_ -m ;Šr-m7bm] ]uo†r of genuinely promising youngsters from the Academy and by way of shrewd recruitment. So, with Rory Best and Iain Henderson 1Ѵ;-uѴ‹ ļ0†‹bm]Ľ bm|o |_; m;‰ u;]bl;ķ |_;‹Ľˆ; found Robert Baloucoune, Will Addison, Billy †umvķ Ѵ-m Ľ ommou -m7 b1h $blom;‹ķ =ou instance, companion devotees to a culture at Kingspan Stadium which is built for the long term but has a responsible eye on the blrou|-m| l-‚;u o= |_; ru;v;m|ĺ !;v†Ѵ|ĵ ];m†bm; ļv_o|Ľ -| u;|†umbm] |o |_; rѴ-‹Ŋo@v bm |_; ! ƐƓ u;]†Ѵ-uѴ‹ -m7ķ b= - Ѵb‚Ѵ; unexpected, a deserved place in the knockout v|-];v o= †uor;Ľv 0b]];v| |o†um-l;m|ĺ

There are just four games remaining in what we must, presumably, call the regular season in the Guinness PRO14. Next month trips to Glasgow and Edinburgh beckon before the Cm-Ѵ bm]vr-m "|-7b†l CŠ|†u; bv v1_;7†Ѵ;7 |o be a visit from table-topping Leinster. m7 o= 1o†uv; |_;u;Ľv |_; Ѵb‚Ѵ; l-‚;u o= - |ubr to Dublin next weekend for the Champions †r t†-u|;uŊCm-Ѵ ‰b|_ ;bmv|;u ŋ vo bm v;ˆ;u-Ѵ ways the reigning European kingpins will have - 1omvb7;u-0Ѵ; v-‹ bm &Ѵv|;uĽv v;-vomĺ †| f†v| mo‰ |_; =o1†v o= -m 1 -uѴ-m7Ľv ;mঞu; rѴ-‹bm] vt†-7 -m7 l-m-];l;m| |;-l will be on the visit of South African visitors, |_; "o†|_;um bm]vĺ "bমm] v;1om7Ŋ=uolŊ 0o‚ol o= |_; 7bˆbvbomķ &Ѵv|;u v|-uঞm] |_; weekend in a vulnerable third place, the Kings do not overtly appear to pose a real obstacle to the home side extending its three-match winning run. That try-bonus points were picked up at home to Zebre and away to the Dragons lb]_| ‰;ѴѴ ruoˆ; 1ubঞ1-Ѵ |o - |orŊ|_u;; rѴ-‹Ŋ o@ vro|ķ -m7 - vblbѴ-u Cˆ;Ŋrobm| u;|†um ‰o†Ѵ7 most certainly be welcomed by supporters |_bv ;ˆ;mbm]ĺ ;-7 o-1_ 1 -uѴ-m7 7o;vmĽ| Ѵbh; |o 7;v1ub0; ]-l;v -v ļl†v| ‰bmĽ 1om|;v|vĸ _bv |_o†]_†Ѵķ -rr;-Ѵbm] -rruo-1_ |o _bv fo0 1om1;m|u-|;v om |_; |-vh -| _-m7ĺ ;ঞ1†Ѵo†v ru;r-u-ঞom bv _bv |u-7;l-uhķ 0†| _; |u-mvlb|v his ideas to a squad which has welcomed his personable manner and the enterprise he encourages in his players. Before his eleventh-hour arrival last summer, he had ensured the pre-season training and skills sessions were conducted by Dwayne Peel, forwards coach Aaron Dundon, Dan

40

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

|Ľv mo| -m -11b7;m|ķ lou; - _-rr‹ķ ;-uѴ‹ 1omv;t†;m1; o= ]oo7 _-0b|v |-hbm] Cul uoo|ķ of good management being coherent and ru-]l-ঞ1 ‰b|_o†| Ѵovbm] r-vvbomķ -m7 - m;‰ Ѵ;-7;uv_br bm |_; oL1;v o= u†]0‹ bm &Ѵv|;uĺ -m 1 -uѴ-m7 -m7 omm‹ ;|ub;ķ |_; m;‰ _b;= Š;1†ঞˆ;ķ ruoˆb7; - u;=u;v_bm]ķ _-u7‰ouhbm] dynamic at the heart of the club, and the game itself in the Province. The standard-bearing Ulster side will hopefully demonstrate the good health of the sport – on |_; C;Ѵ7 -m7 bm |_; v;-|v -m7 om |_; |;uu-1;v of Kingspan Stadium this evening with a full- throated display and convincing win over the Kings. $_; orrovbঞom ‰bѴѴ _-ˆ; &Ѵv|;uĽv u;vr;1|Ĺ -m‹ side which has beaten Glasgow and Edinburgh -m7 u†m ;bmv|;u -m7 o|_;u ļ0b] ]†mvĽ 1Ѵov;ķ merits regard. †| |_; _ol; |;-lĽv lou; 7bv1brѴbm;7 r-1h -m7 b|v u;7bv1oˆ;u;7 r;m1_-m| =ou 1omC7;m|ķ successful set-pieces will surely prevail -]-bmv| |_; u;Ѵ-ঞˆ;Ѵ‹ bm;Šr;ub;m1;7 ˆbvbঞm] ļ;b]_|Ľĺ m7 |_; &Ѵv|;u 0-1hvķ even if not featuring some prominent performers, have a maturity and intelligence which has been so evident in the play and leadership of Darren -ˆ;ķ "|†-u| 1 Ѵovh;‹ -m7 o†bv †7bhķ |o name just three. Billy Burns is an out-half who has ‘the vision |_bm]Ľķ -m7 - ]uo‰bm] r_‹vb1-Ѵ ru;v;m1;ķ Dave Shanahan is a scrum-half growing in 1omC7;m1;ķ ‰_bѴ; !o0 ‹‚Ѵ;ķ b1_-;Ѵ o‰u‹ -m7 -Ѵo†1o†m; -u; f†v| r-u| o= -m ;Š1;rঞom-Ѵ -ulo†u‹ -ˆ-bѴ-0Ѵ; |o 1 -uѴ-m7ĺ †h; -uv_-ѴѴ bv |o u;|†um ˆ;u‹ voomķ vo |_; lb7C;Ѵ7 1_ob1;v -u; l†ѴঞrѴ; -m7 ;Š1bঞm]ĺ |_ubѴѴbm] lom|_ bv bm prospect. But tonight, the Kings must be dethroned.

41

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

More info at www.ulsterrugbyshop.com

INTERESTED IN TAKING UP THE WHISTLE FOR THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE AT THE BEST SPORT IN THE WORLD? The Ulster Society of Rugby Football Referees (USRFR) can help - ‰_;|_;u ‹o† f†v| ‰-m| |o v|-‹ bmˆoѴˆ;7 bm |_; ]-l; -[;u ‹o†u rѴ-‹bm] 7-‹v -u; oˆ;u ou ‹o† _-ˆ; -vrbu-ঞomv |o 0; |_; m;Š| )ouѴ7 †r Cm-Ѵ u;=;u;;ĺ $_;u; -u; orrou|†mbঞ;v =ou l-Ѵ; -m7 =;l-Ѵ; u;=;u;;v -| -ѴѴ Ѵ;ˆ;Ѵv of the game in Ulster and beyond.

$_; &"! ! u†m - 1olru;_;mvbˆ; m7†1ঞom Programme, which starts with a one-day course 1oˆ;ubm] -ѴѴ |_; h;‹ -vr;1|v o= u;=;u;;bm]ĺ +o†ĽѴѴ then be coached and mentored through a selected range of games including touch judge 7†ঞ;v -m7 orrou|†mbঞ;v |o v_-7o‰ ;Šr;ub;m1;7 u;=;u;;vĺ m 1omf†m1ঞom ‰b|_ ;Šr;ub;m1; om |_; rb|1_ ‹o†ĽѴѴ -‚;m7 - m†l0;u o= ‰ouhv_orv =o1†vbm] om h;‹ -u;-v bm1Ѵ†7bm] 1oll†mb1-ঞomķ control, game management, Law and other technical aspects of the game. If you think ‹o†Ľu; -Ѵu;-7‹ - u†]0‹ ;Šr;u| ‰_‹ mo| |;v| yourself? Throughout the process experienced referee assessors will support you with formal and informal advice, helping you focus on your personal development. Self-assessment is also ˆb|-Ѵ bm |_; ruo1;vv |o u;-1_ ‹o†u =†ѴѴ ro|;mঞ-Ѵ as a referee. The USRFR meet regularly as a society and in smaller area groups to discuss and share experiences and on-going |orb1-Ѵ u;=;u;;bm] bvv†;vĺ +o†ĽѴѴ -Ѵvo _-ˆ; |_; opportunity to make new friends through a u-m]; o= vo1b-Ѵ -1ঞˆbঞ;vĺ b| bv ruoˆb7;7 =ou -ѴѴ l;l0;uv -m7 ]u-7†-ঞom to full membership gives you access to 7bv1o†m|;7 &Ѵv|;u !†]0‹ v;-vom ঞ1h;|v -v ‰;ѴѴ -v - ļub]_| |o 0†‹Ľ _ol; bm|;um-ঞom-Ѵ ঞ1h;|vĺ Depending on your availability, commitment, -rঞ|†7; -m7 C|m;vv ‹o†ĽѴѴ _-ˆ; |_; orrou|†mb|‹ to progress at the pace that suits you and to achieve your goals as a referee including reaching the top levels of the professional game. This season 30 new referees have been taken |_uo†]_ |_; m7†1ঞom uo]u-ll;ķ vol; o=

whom are already refereeing at higher levels o= |_; 7ol;vঞ1 ]-l; bm &Ѵv|;uķ ‰b|_ u;-Ѵbvঞ1 -vrbu-ঞomv |o loˆ; om =†u|_;uĺ !†]0‹ bm &Ѵv|;u needs new referees every season, so why not challenge yourself and give something back to the game you love? ou =†u|_;u bm=oul-ঞom 1om|-1| !b1_-u7 ;uuķ Ulster Rugby Referee Development Manager om ub1_-u7ĺh;uuŠbu=†ĺb; ņ ƏƕƓƖƒ ѶѵѶƒѶѶķ ou visit www.ulsterrugby.com/referees.

43

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

SOLDOUT

To book, visit: ulsterrugby.com/camps

Junior Camps - suitable for boys & girls aged 6-11 (P3-P7) Digital Camps - suitable for boys & girls aged 8-11 (P5-P7) Camp fees include a tour of Kingspan Stadium and the Nevin Spence Centre *Euro applies to ROI

ULSTER RUGBY SUPPORTERS CLUB (URSC) NEWS

JOIN THE URSC TODAY! 1076 ALREADY HAVE.

URSC is running 4 buses to this match, 7;r-uঞm] om|]ol;u‹ !o-7 -| ƐƑ moom ‰b|_ rb1hŊ†rv -| "ru†1;C;Ѵ7ķ -m0ub7];ķ and Newry. Cost: HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP QUARTER FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER – SATURDAY 30TH MARCH

;l0;uv_br 1ov|v ŬƐƑ =ou -7†Ѵ|vķ Ŭѵ =ou f†mbouv -m7 ŬƒƏ =ou - =-lbѴ‹ĺ ;l0;uv ];| - l;l0;uv_br 1-u7ķ 0-7];ķ 1-u vঞ1h;u -m7 7u-‰ v|ubm] ]‹l 0-]ĺĺĺ -m7 Ѵo|v o= o|_;u 0;m;C|vĴ +o† ‰bѴѴ Cm7 =†ѴѴ 7;|-bѴv om _o‰ |o fobm -| membership.ursc.co

WIN JOHN COONEY'S SHIRT!

Adult members £20 Non-members £25 Juniors (under 18) £10

URSC are running a members-only ballot to win the shirt worn by John Cooney in Ulster's incredible win against Glasgow on 21st April. This unique shirt has been signed by John, too. $b1h;|v -u; ŬƐ ou ѵ =ou ŬƔķ -m7 -u; -ˆ-bѴ-0Ѵ; -| |_; &!" bm=oul-ঞom robm| om l-|1_ 7-‹vĺ Proceeds from the ballot will be donated to |_; ѴŒ_;bl;uĽv "o1b;|‹ -m7 ‰bѴѴ 0; l-|1_;7 by Bank of Ireland.

Each bus will have a free ballot to win a Springboks number 8 shirt signed by Marcell Coetzee. $o 0ooh -m7 r-‹ķ v;; ‰‰‰ĺ†uv1ĺ1o

47

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

WOMEN’S RUGBY SUPER SUNDAY SUNDAY 7 TH APRIL | CARRICKFERGUS RFC

ReJenerate Shield Belfast Harlequins v North Down K.O. 1pm

ReJenerate Cup

Junior Shield Cooke 2

Carrickfergus v Dungannon K.O. 1pm

v QUB K.O. 3pm

UlsterRugby.com

LISBURN COMMUNITY CHOIR

They want to welcome the Southern Kings to &Ѵv|;u -m7 r-uঞ1†Ѵ-uѴ‹ |o bm]vr-m "|-7b†lķ the home of Ulster Rugby. The choir have been vromvou;7 0‹ |_; -ঞom-Ѵ o‚;u‹ oll†mb|‹ †m7 =ou vol; o= |o7-‹Ľv ;t†brl;m| m;;7vķ bm1Ѵ†7bm] |_;bu ‰-ul f-1h;|v -m7 |_; =-m|-vঞ1 sound system from Forfey. $_; 1_obuĽv l†vb1-Ѵ 7bu;1|ouķ †Ѵb; -ur;uķ started the choir in 2013 with 30 people. Today the choir has over 100 members and a very -1ঞˆ; 1_bѴ7u;mĽv 1_obu u;ru;v;mঞm] -ѴѴ v;1ঞomv of our community. $_; 1_obu u;_;-uv;v ;ˆ;u‹ om7-‹ -| bv0†um Cathedral with a palpable atmosphere of enjoyment and friendship. Although the choir 1†uu;m|Ѵ‹ _-v - ‰-bঞm] Ѵbv| =ou m;‰ =;l-Ѵ; members, they are always on the lookout for new male members. a variety of pieces including some =ub1-m l†vb1 -m7 - m;‰ u;m7bঞom o= ‘Stand up for the Ulster Men’. Lisburn Community Choir entertains us today from the corner of the Memorial Stand and East Terrace with

49

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

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

Instonians RFC Club colours Yellow, Black, Purple Team Willam Allen Will Parks Guy Morrow Ben McCausland Josh Thompson Darcy Donnelly Scott Thomson Tom Galbraith Max Willmott Charlie Grant Zak Molyneaux Joseph McClelland Coaches Don Thompson Graeme McCausland

Dungannon RFC Club colours Blue and White Team James Adamson Daniel Loane James Coyle Zach Mcdonald Eli Mckirgan Zachary Rooney Thomas Mcallister Callum Boyd Josh Sloss Max Patterson D’arcy Reid Coaches Ted Rooney David Adamson Rodney Mckirgan

Donaghadee RFC Club colours Red and Green Team Patrick McClure Isaac Lowe Jamesy Morrison Eoin Boyd Lewis Downie Matthew Aiston Ashton Gally Joshua Fields Reece Thompson Jordan Abel Charlie McInerney Joel Black Coaches Dyfed Wallis Donald MacVicar

Bangor RFC Club colours Amber and Blue Team Harley Foley Frank Tweedie

Daniel Barr Blair Archer Harrison McGrogan Rory Fulton Rudi Weatherup Tom Parker Cameron McCracken Luke Graham Taylor Lockheart Isaac Irvine Coaches

Liam Foley David Barr