Ulster Rugby v Zebre

OFFICIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME £3

V ZEBRE RUGBY CLUB SATURDAY 23RD FEBRUARY 2019 KINGSPAN STADIUM, BELFAST KICK OFF 7.35PM

Welcome back to Kingspan Stadium, the home of Ulster Rugby, where we welcome Italian outfit Zebre for Round 16 of the Guinness PRO14. The Ulster men lie fourth in Conference B, but with just two points separating them from second place, this evening’s result could see Ulster climb up the rankings. Zebre will be disappointed with their recent run of results and determined to get back to winning ways, making for a stern challenge for the Ulster squad. With a number of Ulster’s household names playing a key role in the Guinness Six Nations, this evening’s fixture gives an exciting opportunity for fans to watch some of the rising stars in action. As ever, I encourage the Kingspan Stadium faithful to give the Zebre 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

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME GUINNESS PRO14 WELCOME 5 INTERVIEW: STUART McCLOSKEY 8 LAST TIME OUT: OSPREYS 11 Q&A: ROB LYTTLE 13 INTERVIEW: JAMES HUME 15 STATISTICAL PREVIEW 16

ACADEMY SQUAD

19

CLUB OF THE MONTH: BALLYMENA RFC ULSTER SQUAD PROFILES

21

24 28

ULSTER TEAM

ZEBRE RUGBY TEAM 29 ZEBRE RUGBY SQUAD PROFILES 30 STAFF PROFILE: MAEVE BOGIE 35 CARE DAY: INCLUDE YOUTH 37 CLUB FOCUS: INISHOWEN RFC 39 GUEST ARTICLE: ROD NAWN 40

40

48

REFEREE Q&A: ROBBIE McGREER 43 URSC UPDATE 47 VIEW FROM THE CAVE: ERIC O'SULLIVAN 48 SUBWAY HALF TIME TEAMS 51 STADIUM INFORMATION 53 2018/19 COMPETITION STANDINGS 54 FIXTURES 55 SPONSORS AND PARTNERS 56

1

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

TODAY’S MASCOTS

JESS VAUGHAN (10) FROM LISBURN

JAMES REID (9) FROM BELFAST

Jess attends Maghaberry Primary School and loves horse riding. Her favourite player is Jacob Stockdale as he is young and has played so well for Ulster and Ireland (he is also her Nanny’s favourite). When Jess grows up she would like to be a top Show Jumper.

James attends St. Bride's Primary School and plays rugby for Malone. Besides playing rugby, James also enjoys running, Judo, football and swimming. His favourite player is Jacob Stockdale because he can run, tackle, pass and score lots of interceptions. When James grows up he would like to be an Ulster Rugby player.

REMAINING HOME FIXTURES

SAT 27 APR 5.15PM

SAT 23 MAR 5.30PM

ULSTERRUGBY.COM /BUYTICKETS

2

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

"bm1; o†u Ѵ-v| Ѵ;-]†; ]-l; -]-bmv| ;m;‚omķ ‰_;m ‰; v-Ѵˆ-];7 - 7u-l-ঞ1 Ѵ-|; 7u-‰ķ |_;u; ‰-v - |‰o ‰;;h 0u;-h ‰_bѴ; |_; "bŠ -ঞomv Championship got underway. Those players not involved in the Ireland vt†-7 _-7 -m orrou|†mb|‹ |o u;1_-u]; |_; 0-‚;ub;v -m7 u;1oˆ;u =uol |_; hmo1hv ‰_b1_ -ѴѴ rѴ-‹;uv v†@;u =uolĺ ); u;|†um;7 |o ! ƐƓ -1ঞom Ѵ-v| ub7-‹ bm ub7];m7 ‰b|_ - _-u7 =o†]_| ˆb1|ou‹ oˆ;u |_; vru;‹vĺ | ‰-v ]u;-| |o _-ˆ; -bm ;m7;uvom 0-1h bm |_; |;-l -[;u |_; bmf†u‹ ‰_b1_ ‰-v ;Šr;1|;7 |o h;;r _bl om |_; vb7;Ѵbm;v =ou l†1_ Ѵom];uĺ Tonight’s game is crucial for Ulster as we need to pick up points in the m;Š| |_u;; l-|1_;v |o ;mv†u; |_-| ‰; -u; bm - v|uom] rovbঞom 0;=ou; ;l0-uhbm] om o†u 7bL1†Ѵ| u†m bmĺ v ‰; _-ˆ; v;;mķ |_;u; -u; mo ;-v‹ ]-l;v bm |_bv 1olr;ঞঞom -m7 ,;0u; ‰bѴѴ mo 7o†0| ruoˆb7; vঞ@ orrovbঞomĺ u;Ѵ-m7 v|-u|;7 |_; "bŠ -ঞomv ‰b|_ - 7;=;-| |o m]Ѵ-m7 ‰_o ‰;u; |_; 0;‚;u |;-l om |_; 7-‹ĺ $_;‹ ]o| 0-1h om |u-1h 0‹ 0;-ঞm] "1o|Ѵ-m7 bm 7bm0†u]_ -m7 _or;=†ѴѴ‹ ‰bѴѴ ‰bm -]-bm |olouuo‰ -]-bmv| |-Ѵ‹ bm !ol;ĺ ;|Ľv _or; )-Ѵ;v 1-m ];| - u;v†Ѵ| -]-bmv| m]Ѵ-m7 |o h;;r |_; 1_-lrbomv_br _or;v -Ѵbˆ;ĺ om]u-|†Ѵ-ঞomv |o |_; &Ѵv|;u rѴ-‹;uv who have been involved in the matches to date with Jacob Stockdale h;;rbm] †r _bv l-]mbC1;m| v1oubm] u;1ou7ĺ om]u-|†Ѵ-ঞomv |o Ѵ-bu; oѴ;v -m7 -|_u‹m -m; ‰_o l-7; |_;bu 7;0†|v =ou u;Ѵ-m7 )ol;m oˆ;u |_; Cuv| |‰o ‰;;hv o= |_; Championship. Their progress is testament to the great work being 7om; 0‹ o†u 7;ˆ;Ѵorl;m| v|-@ bm ]uo‰bm] |_; =;l-Ѵ; ]-l;ĺ Ѵvo ‰;ѴѴ 7om; |o |_; u;Ѵ-m7 &ƑƏv ‰_o _-ˆ; v|-u|;7 |_;bu "bŠ -ঞomv 1-lr-b]m ‰b|_ |‰o ‰bmv o†| o= |‰oĺ $_; &Ѵv|;u u;ru;v;m|-ঞom _-v been diminished due to injuries but hopefully those players who would have been involved will return during the course of the tournament. $_; ѴѴ u;Ѵ-m7 ;-]†; u;v†l;7 Ѵ-v| "-|†u7-‹ -[;u - |‰o ‰;;h 0u;-h -m7 o†u 1Ѵ†0v 1omঞm†; |o v|ubˆ; =ou ruoloঞom -m7 rѴ-‹o@ rѴ-1;vĺ Good luck to them and to all club players as we head towards the business end of the season. ‹ |_; ঞl; ‹o† u;-7 |_bv ‰; ‰bѴѴ hmo‰ |_; v;lb Cm-Ѵbv|v bm |_; -mvh; -mh &Ѵv|;u "1_ooѴvĽ †r ‰b|_ |_; t†-u|;u Cm-Ѵv _-ˆbm] 0;;m rѴ-‹;7 ;-uѴb;u |o7-‹ĺ ѴѴ |_; v1_ooѴv 1olr;ঞঞomv -u; †r |o 7-|; -m7 |_-mh |_; ollb‚;; -m7 -ѴѴ |_; ou]-mbv;uv ‰_o ;mv†u; |_-| ;ˆ;u‹|_bm] ]o;v according to plan. I hope that all the boys and girls who are taking part -u; ;mfo‹bm] |_;bu u†]0‹ĺ ); Ѵooh =ou‰-u7 |o _ovঞm] |_; "1_ooѴv †r v;lb Cm-Ѵv -m7 Cm-Ѵ -| bm]vr-m "|-7b†lĺ v ;ˆ;u |_-mh -ѴѴ |_; v†rrou|;uv =ou -‚;m7bm] |_bv ;ˆ;mbm] -m7 =ou ];মm] 0;_bm7 |_; |;-lĺ $_; rѴ-‹;uv -rru;1b-|; b| -m7ķ -v ‰; v-‰ -]-bmv| !-1bm] ƖƑķ ‹o†u 0-1hbm] 1-m bmY†;m1; |_; o†|1ol;Ĵ "|;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 Zebre. We welcome |_; |u-ˆ;ѴѴbm] oL1b-Ѵvķ rѴ-‹;uvķ v|-@ -m7 v†rrou|;uv |o Belfast and 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

Round 16 will have a lot to live up to after the standards set last weekend across the Guinness PRO14, where we saw some terrific rugby and some very tense finishes. It was the final game of the round between Cardiff Blues and GlasgowWarriors in the Welsh capital that stood out as a contender for the game of the season. It was a game that had a bit of everything including a hat-trick from Aled Summerhill, end-to-end rugby, sensational pieces of individual brilliance and the Blues almost snatched it right at the end having cut a 16-point deficit to just four points. We’ve all heard arguments in the past that club rugby isn’t as good during the international windows but I don’t accept that. Cardiff Blues have some fine young talents making their mark in the Guinness PRO14 with Jarrod Evans, Owen Lane and Harri Millard really showing off their abilities against GlasgowWarriors. The 2015 champions were littered with quality throughout and it is a credit to head coach Dave Rennie’s approach that no matter who pulls on the Warriors jersey, their style of play is always so effective. But it wasn’t the only eye-catching affair of the weekend with Benetton v Scarlets and Connacht v Toyota Cheetahs combining entertainment with tight finishes. The quality on the pitch is a great reminder to our organisation to ensure we’re providing the best tournament possible for our clubs, their players and the fans. It’s worth noting that in the past three years we’ve raised revenues and put more money back into the pockets of our clubs through record levels of sponsorship and broadcast deals. It was very pleasing to read this week that Robbie Henshaw had signed a new contract with Leinster and the IRFU – the significance of this is that it marked the 20th of our 26 squad members from the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour who has either been re-signed or been repatriated to their home union. In Wales not only have a host of top-name players renewed their contracts but we’ve seen Jonathan Davies, George North, Leigh Halfpenny and Ross Moriarty all return to regional rugby and having front-line Test players back in the principality helps grow the interest in the game. As for this weekend, we’ve got three games on Friday night with the rest split across Saturday and Sunday to ensure there’s no direct clashes with the Guinness Six Nations. The competition to reach the Guinness PRO14 Final Series is getting more intense but with just six rounds remaining time is running out. It’s a big weekend for Benetton who will be looking to keep up their terrific run of 23 points from their last six games, while Edinburgh and Cardiff Blues will meet with both teams desperate to keep in touch at the top of their Conferences. There’s no difference for GlasgowWarriors who face Connacht and Munster who travel to Ospreys – every point counts right now so you just can’t take your eyes off the Championship. 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

STUART McCL

ˆ;uŊ7;r;m7-0Ѵ; &Ѵv|;u 1;m|u; "|†-u| 1 Ѵovh;‹ u-1h;7 †r ‹;| -mo|_;u l;lou-0Ѵ; v_b[ bm Ѵ-v| ub7-‹Ľv _-u7Ŋ=o†]_| ‰bm oˆ;u |_; vru;‹vķ 1om|ub0†ঞm] - l-mŊo=Ŋ|_; l-|1_ r;u=oul-m1; and the game’s only try to secure a crucial away ‰bm bm |_; †bmm;vv ! ƐƓĺ The result at Morganstone Brewery Field is just one of many highlights from the Bangor man’s Cuv| ƐƏƏ -rr;-u-m1;v bm ‰_b|; -m7 u;7 ŋ -m7 bm the form of his life at age 26, Ulster fans can be sure there is plenty more to come. !;Y;1ঞm] om |_; _b]_Ѵb]_|v o= _bv 1-u;;u |o 7-|;ķ McCloskey immediately thinks of some of the big †uor;-m ঞ;v =uol |_; r-v| Cˆ; v;-vomvĺ “There have been so many great days,” he says. ľ u;l;l0;u 0;-ঞm] Ѵ;ulom| -| _ol;ķ 0;-ঞm] Toulouse home and away, and obviously this year that Racing game at home. ľ †| |_;u; _-ˆ; 0;;m vol; ]oo7 ! ƐƓ om;v |ooķ Ѵbh; 7;=;-ঞm] ;bmv|;u -| _ol; |‰o ‹;-uv ago. We’ve had some good results in the last few years, and been unlucky with a few when maybe we could have gone further.” While last week’s performance in Bridgend may not live too long in the memory of many of the Ulster fanbase, McCloskey admits he couldn’t be _-rrb;u ‰b|_ |_; o†|1ol;ķ om 0o|_ - 1oѴѴ;1ঞˆ; and personal level. “I couldn’t really ask for much more,” he begins. “It was a good team performance, and keeping the score to zero away from home is always a ]oo7 |_bm]ķ vo -u;7 Ő -‹m;ķ ;=;m1; o-1_ő ‰bѴѴ be happy. There will be a few things to work on |_bv ‰;;hķ o0ˆbo†vѴ‹ķ bm -‚-1hķ vo ‰;ĽѴѴ 0†bѴ7 =uol there.”

1 Ѵovh;‹ ‰-v 0o|_ |_; -u1_b|;1| -m7 ;Š;1†|ou o= |_; l-|1_Ŋ7;Cmbm] |u‹ bm )-Ѵ;v ŋ 1u;-ঞm] |_; orrou|†mb|‹ ‰b|_ om; o= _bv |u-7;l-uh rbѴ;Ŋ 7ubˆbm] u†mv =uol lb7C;Ѵ7ķ -m7 rb1hbm] †r =uol ;|;u ;Ѵvom |o Cmbv_ o@ bm |_; 1oum;u ŋ 0†| -7lb|v 0;bm] =;-u=†Ѵ o= mo| ];মm] 1u;7b| =ou |_; v1ou;ķ ]bˆ;m |_; -rr-u;m| bm|;mঞom-Ѵ hmo1hŊom 0‹ vru;‹v ‰bm] †h; ou]-m bm |_; 0†bѴ7Ŋ†rĺ ľ ‰-v _-rr‹ |o 0; ]bˆ;m |_; |u‹ķĿ _; ;ŠrѴ-bmvĺ ľ thought it was going to be a penalty try, but I was glad to take it and pleased the referee gave it to me.” The score was McCloskey’s third of the season -m7 Ɛƕ|_ bm &Ѵv|;u 1oѴo†uvķ -m ;Š1;ѴѴ;m| u;|†um =ou ƐƏƏ -rr;-u-m1;vĺ )_;m -vh;7 b= _; _-7 imagined such an illustrious career when making _bv v;mbou 7;0†| -]-bmv| |_; u-]omv 0-1h bm ;0u†-u‹ ƑƏƐƓķ |_; 1;m|u; u;l-bmv |‹rb1-ѴѴ‹ grounded. ľ!b]_| -| |_; v|-u| ‰-vmĽ| |_bmhbm] -0o†| ];মm] ƐƏƏ 1-rvĿķ _; ;ŠrѴ-bmvĺ ľ ‰-v f†v| |_bmhbm] -0o†| ];মm] l‹ m;Š| om;ĺ †| om1; ‹o† ];| |o ƔƏ ‰_;m ‹o†Ľu; rѴ-‹bm] - 0b|ķ ‹o† |_bmh ƐƏƏ bv -1_b;ˆ-0Ѵ; -v Ѵom] -v ‹o† 7omĽ| ];| bmf†u;7ĺ ˆ;u the last two to three years I haven’t really had too many injuries, so I’ve been lucky to stay in the team. “It’s funny moving around the changing room,” he 1omঞm†;vĺ ľ); _-ˆ; o†u 1_-m]bm] uool vro|v based on the amount of caps you have, so I’ve loˆ;7 †r -0o†| ƐƏ rѴ-1;v bm |_; Ѵ-v| ‹;-uĴĿ As the interview progresses it becomes clear |_-| 1 Ѵovh;‹ _-v omѴ‹ vo l†1_ ঞl; =ou u;|uovr;1ঞomķ -m7 bv lou; bm|;u;v|;7 bm Ѵoohbm] |o |_; =†|†u; ŋ v|-uঞm] ‰b|_ |o7-‹Ľv ˆbvb|ouvķ Zebre, an opponent he refuses to underrate.

8

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

SKEY

ľ$_bv ]-l; -m7 |_; m;Š| |‰o games are massive for us to push our way up our side of the pool and hopefully into v;1om7 rovbঞom ]obm] bm|o the last few games,” he stresses.

“If you look at history, Zebre have done well, they showed it against Leinster last weekend -m7 ‰;u; ruo0-0Ѵ‹ †mѴ†1h‹ ŋ |_; v1ou;Ѵbm; 7b7mĽ| u;Y;1| _o‰ |_; ]-l; ‰;m|ĺ †| we don’t lose many games here. Treviso was a slight blip and we lost to Connacht earlier in the year with a red card (for -‚_;‰ !;-ő 0†| oˆ;u l‹ ঞl; _;u probably played 50 games at home, and I’d say we’ve only lost 5 or 6, which is great because the home crowd really gets you up for it. “With the new coaches there’s been a good energy about the place,” he 1om1Ѵ†7;vĺ ľ ѴѴ |_; m;‰ rѴ-‹;uv ŋ ou7b (Murphy), Will (Addison), Billy (Burns), Marty (Moore) have all been great for us. They’ve really added to the squad. 0ˆbo†vѴ‹ |_;u;Ľv - |u-mvbঞom-Ѵ r;ubo7 ‰b|_ the older guys leaving but I think all the new guys who have come in have done really well and there’s a good bond in the squad. ľ);Ľu; vঞѴѴ bm 0o|_ 1olr;ঞঞomv -| |_bv point so I don’t think you can really ask for much more at this point of the year with - vt†-7 |_-|Ľv |u-mvbঞombm] ‰b|_ ‹o†m];u players.”

9

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

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

LAST TIME OUT

GUINNESS PRO14 ROUND 15 OSPREYS 0 ULSTER 8 FRIDAY 15th FEBRUARY, 7.35pm AT MORGANSTONE BREWERY FIELD

Ulster left the Morganstone Brewery Field last Friday night with a crucial scalp in the Guinness ! ƐƓķ ]ubm7bm] o†| - ƏŊѶ ˆb1|ou‹ oˆ;u |_; vru;‹v |o loˆ; †r |o |_bu7 bm om=;u;m1; ķ omѴ‹ |‰o robm|v 0;_bm7 v;1om7ŊrѴ-1;7 7bm0†u]_ĺ "|†-u| 1 Ѵovh;‹ |u‹ om |_; o11-vbom o= _bv ƐƏƏ|_ 1-rķ |orr;7 †r 0‹ - o_m oom;‹ r;m-Ѵ|‹ om |_; v|uoh; o= =†ѴѴŊ|bl;ķ l-7; |_; 7b==;u;m1; bm - ‰-u o= -||ub|bom ‰_b1_ l-‹ mo| u;l-bm Ѵom] bm |_; l;lou‹ķ 0†| ‰bѴѴ v†u;Ѵ‹ rѴ;-v; ;-7 o-1_ -m 1 -uѴ-m7 -m7 ;=;m1; o-1_ -u;7 -‹m; bm |;ulv o= |_; uoˆbm1;Ľv v|†00oum u;vbv|-m1; |_uo†]_o†| |_; ѶƏ lbm†|;vĺ

15 14 13 12 11 10 9 1

DAN EVANS HANNO DIRKSEN CORY ALLEN TIAAN THOMAS-WHEELER

PETER NELSON ANGUS KERNOHAN DARREN CAVE STUART McCLOSKEY LOUIS LUDIK MICHAEL LOWRY JOHN COONEY ERIC O'SULLIVAN ROB HERRING MARTY MOORE ALAN O'CONNOR (C) IAIN HENDERSON CLIVE ROSS

LUKE MORGAN (C) SAM DAVIES MATTHEW AUBREY JORDAN LAY SCOTT BALDWIN TOM BOTHA LLOYD ASHLEY BRADLEY DAVIES OLLY CRACKNELL

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

SAM CROSS JAMES KING

JORDI MURPHY NICK TIMONEY

REPLACEMENTS

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

SCOTT OTTEN ROWAN JENKINS MA'AFU FIA

JOHN ANDREW ANDREW WARWICK TOM O'TOOLE KIERAN TREADWELL SEAN REIDY DAVID SHANAHAN JAMES HUME ROBERT LYTTLE

WILL GRIFFITHS ROB McCUSKER REUBEN MORGAN-WILLIAMS LUKE PRICE KEELAN GILES

11

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

Q&A R O B L Y T T L E

Favourite rugby memory? Playing in the Cooke Mini Rugby tournament with uolou; !†]0‹ Ѵ†0 Favourite place to eat in Belfast? )ohŊ Ŋ oѴ;‹ TV programme you can’t miss? Family Guy $_; Cuv| l†vb1 -Ѵ0†l ‹o† ;ˆ;u 0o†]_|ĵ Scissor Sisters )_o bv ‹o†u vrouঞm] _;uo -m7 ‰_‹ĵ omm‹ o‰7v Ŋ _; rѴ-‹v =ou l‹ Ѵo1-Ѵ 1ub1h;| |;-l -m7 bv |_; r;u=;1| ;Š-lrѴ; o= - ruo=;vvbom-Ѵ -|_Ѵ;|; bm _bv Ѵb=;v|‹Ѵ; -m7 ru;r-u-ঞom =ou l-|1_;v Favourite thing about playing for Ulster? = ‹o† 1o†Ѵ7 v‰-r rѴ-1;v ‰b|_ - 1;Ѵ;0ub|‹ =ou - 7-‹ ‰_o ‰o†Ѵ7 b| 0; -m7 ‰_‹ĵ -1o0 "|o1h7-Ѵ; Ŋ vo 1o†Ѵ7 ]o v_orrbm] |o Cm7 - _-| |_-| C|v = ‹o† 1o†Ѵ7 _-ˆ; 7bmm;u ‰b|_ -m‹om; Ő7;-7 ou -Ѵbˆ;ő ‰_o ‰o†Ѵ7 b| 0; -m7 ‰_‹ĵ omou ;ѴѴ‹ Ŋ _;Ľv - 7o1|ou mo| -m -1|ou and seems good craic Favourite post- match meal? -] o= ;ѴѴ‹ $o|vķ 0o‚Ѵ; o= oh; -m7 a McNugget meal Goal for this season? "|-‹ bmf†u‹ =u;; -m7 -1_b;ˆ; o†u 1oѴѴ;1ঞˆ; goals as a team The key to success is… Team work, hard work and honesty

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

Banbridge RFC clubman James Hume is the latest in a long and ru;v|b]bo†v Ѵbv| o= _ol;Ŋ]uo‰m 1;m|u;v |o ]u-7†-|; =uol |_; &Ѵv|;u 1-7;l‹ |o - v;mbou 1om|u-1| ŋ -Ѵ|_o†]_ |_; ƑƏŊ‹;-uŊoѴ7 is the first to admit his career is progressing more quickly than he ever imagined. JAMES HUME: ACADEMY GRADUATE LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

ˆbv†-Ѵbv-ঞomķĿ _; ;ŠrѴ-bmvĺ ľ ‰-|1_;7 - Ѵo| o= u†]0‹ ‰_;m ‰-v bmf†u;7 -m7 |_-|Ľv 7;Cmb|;Ѵ‹ helped, with thinking about defensive rovbঞombm] -m7 |_bmhbm] -0o†| ‰_-| ‹o† ‰o†Ѵ7 7o bm 1;u|-bm rovbঞomv bm -‚-1hĺ “Having access to the Integrated Services Team within the Academy was very ]oo7ĺ $orr;u Ő -l;v $orrbm]ķ Ѵb|; Ѵ-‹;u ;ˆ;Ѵorl;m| L1;uő 7b7 - Ѵo| ‰b|_ l; bm terms of videos, sending me clips to look at. 0ˆbo†vѴ‹ b|Ľv |u-mv=;uu;7 oˆ;u |o Ő -u;7 -‹m;ķ ;=;m1; o-1_ő -m7 ;;Ѵ;‹ Ő ‰-‹m; Peel, Assistant Coach Backs) this year for om;ŊomŊom; u;ˆb;‰vķ -Ѵom] ‰b|_ ‰-|1_bm] ]†‹v o= -m bm|;um-ঞom-Ѵ Ѵ;ˆ;Ѵ -m7 v_-7o‰bm] them during games.” ; -Ѵvo 0;Ѵb;ˆ;v |_; ঞlbm] o= |_; u;1;m| 1_-m];v |o 1o-1_bm] v|-@ ‰b|_bm |_; 1Ѵ†0 ŋ bm1Ѵ†7bm] |_; -uubˆ-Ѵ o= _bv =oul;u v1_ooѴ 1o-1_ -m "or;u bm |_; uoѴ; o= "hbѴѴv o-1_ Ŋ has worked in his favour. ľ -ˆbm] - 1Ѵ;-m vѴ-|; _-v 7;Cmb|;Ѵ‹ _;Ѵr;7ĺ |_bmh =ou |_; ‰_oѴ; vt†-7 b| ‰-v -m ;Š|u- 0oov| -m7 loঞˆ-ঞomķ |o v_o‰ - 7b@;u;m| set of coaches what you can really do, so I ;mfo‹;7 ru;Ŋv;-vom -v b| ‰-v - ]oo7 1_-m1; |o vঞ1h |_; _;-7 7o‰m -m7 r†| vol; ]oo7 work in. ľ -m _-v 0;;m 1Ѵ-vvķ -m7 ;ˆ;u‹om; bv u;-ѴѴ‹ ;mfo‹bm] _bl 1olbm] bm|o |_; v;|Ŋ†r ‰b|_ - Ѵo| o= vhbѴѴvŊ0-v;7 ‰ouhĸ =ou |_; =ou‰-u7vķ

oѴѴo‰bm] |_; Ѵbh;v o= -uu;m -ˆ;ķ "|†-u| 1 Ѵovh;‹ķ †h; -uv_-ѴѴķ "|†-u| Ѵ7bm] -m7 |_; vou;Ѵ‹ lbvv;7 ;ˆbm "r;m1;ķ |_; |_u;;Ŋ ঞl; ! "1_ooѴvĽ †r ‰bmm;u |_bv ‰;;h r;mm;7 - 7;ˆ;Ѵorl;m| 1om|u-1| -| bm]vr-m "|-7b†lĸ - l;|;oub1 ubv; ]bˆ;m |_-| _bv Cuv| year in the Academy was blighted by an ;b]_|Ŋlom|_ bmf†u‹ Ѵ-‹o@ĺ $_; 1om|u-1| -‰-u7 ‰-vķ _; ;ŠrѴ-bmvķ ľ- 0b| of a shock”. ľ ‰-vmĽ| ;Šr;1ঞm] -m‹|_bm] vo voomķ 0†| |_; _-u7 ‰ouh _-v r-b7 o@ĺ Ľˆ; -Ѵ‰-‹v 7u;-l| of playing for Ulster since I was involved in lbmbŊu†]0‹ķ -m7 -Ѵ‰-‹v 1-l; -m7 ‰-|1_;7 |_; ]-l;v _;u; -| bm]vr-m "|-7b†lķ vo b|Ľv been in my mind from a young age. ľ |_bmh ‰_;m 1-l; bm|o |_; †m7;u-]; v;|Ŋ †r -| Ɛƕ ‰-v ‰_;m b| u;-ѴѴ‹ v|-u|;7 Ŋ b| ‰-v step one to the dream coming true, as that’s ‰_;m ‹o† v|-u| ];মm] bmˆoѴˆ;7 -m7 v;;bm] what the environment is like.” †l; 1om1;7;v _bv Cuv| ‹;-u om |_; 1-7;l‹ 0oohv 7b7 mo| ;Š-1|Ѵ‹ ]o |o rѴ-m ŋ - v|u;vv =u-1|†u; |o |_; =oo| bm ru;Ŋv;-vom -m7 v†0v;t†;m| or;u-ঞom l;-m| _; lbvv;7 lov| o= |_; ƑƏƐƕņƐѶ 1-lr-b]m ŋ 0†| the youngster insists he was able to work on other aspects of his game during his u;_-0bѴb|-ঞomĺ “With things like video review there’s a Ѵo| ‹o† 1-m 7o o@ |_; rb|1_ bm |;ulv o=

14

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

‰ouhbm] om Ѵb‚Ѵ; r-vv;vķ -m7 =ou |_; 0-1hvķ ubrrbm] |_ov; Ѵom] r-vv;vĺ "o _;Ľv r†মm] - Ѵo| of focus on that, we’re doing it every day so it’s 0;;m 0;m;Cঞm] l‹ ]-l; -m7 o|_;uvĽ -v ‰;ѴѴĺĿ It’s clear that Hume has not looked back vbm1; ];মm] _bv Cuv| |-v|; o= v;mbou u†]0‹ bm ";r|;l0;uķ -l-vvbm] mbm; 1-rv ‰b|_ Cˆ; erprovincial clashes against Munster er and Connacht.

;u u;rѴ-1;l;m| uoѴ;v -| $_olom7 Park and at home against Connacht, |_; 1;m|u; ;-um;7 _bv Cuv| v|-u| bm ‚omķ 1om|ub0†ঞm] -

$oll-vo ;mˆ;m†ঞ |o h touch in a game the

;u bm

o win

ƐƔŊƐƏĺ †ѴѴ ѶƏŊlbm†|; v_b[v =oѴѴo‰;7 -]-bmv| "1-uѴ;|vķ -u7b@ Ѵ†;vķ ;bmv|;u -m7 -| _ol; |o ‚omķ ‰b|_ |_; rѴ-‹;u _blv;Ѵ= |-h;m -0-1h by the whirlwind speed at which his career has ľ ruo0-0Ѵ‹ ‰o†Ѵ7Ľˆ; 0b‚;m ‹o†u -ul o@ b= you had told me I would have nine caps at this stage,” he laughs. “Just to be given the opportunity is a blessing, and it’s a real loঞˆ-ঞom =ou l; |o h;;r ];মm] 0;‚;u through the small things that improve my game throughout the year.” When asked about his plans for the immediate =†|†u;ķ _o‰;ˆ;uķ |_; Ѵ-b7Ŋ0-1h ‹o†m]v|;u bv reluctant to get too far ahead of himself. “My goal is to push on and keep making

the most of every opportunity that I get,” he concludes. “Hopefully then b= r;u=oulķ |_; orrou|†mbঞ;v ‰bѴѴ

15

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

ULSTER V ZEBRE RUGBY CLUB STATISTICAL PREVIEW

&Ѵv|;u ŐƓ|_ bm om=;u;m1; ő ‰;Ѵ1ol; ,;0u; Őƕ|_ bm om=;u;m1; ő |o bm]vr-m "|-7b†lĺ -uuo‰ ˆb1|ouv -‰-‹ |o vru;‹v bm !o†m7 ƐƔķ -m 1 -uѴ-m7ŝv l;m 1ol; bm|o |_; 1Ѵ-v_ o@ |_; 0-1h o= - =o†uŊ ]-l; †m0;-|;m v|u;-h -m7 _-ˆ; |-v|;7 7;=;-| f†v| om1; bm ;Ѵ=-v| oˆ;u |_; r-v| ƐƑ lom|_vĺ )b|_ f†v| |‰o robm|v v;r-u-ঞm] &Ѵv|;u =uol 7bm0†u]_ bm v;1om7ķ |_; _ov|v ‰bѴѴ Ѵooh |o |-h; - 0b] v|;r |o‰-u7v bm-Ѵ ";ub;v t†-ѴbC1-ঞom -]-bmv| |_; |-Ѵb-mvĺ ,;0u;ķ =ou |_;bu r-u|ķ _-ˆ; ]om; ‰b|_o†| - ‰bm vbm1; !o†m7 ƕķ 0†| 1-m -| Ѵ;-v| robm| |o om; rovbঞˆ; ol;m -_;-7 o= |_; l-|1_ĸ |_; l;m =uol -ul- |-hbm] 0u-]]bm] ub]_|v |_; Ѵ-v| ঞl; |_; |‰o |;-lv l;| 0-1h bm ƑƏƐƕĺ WHAT’S AT STAKE?

CURRENT STANDINGS 4 7

LAST TIME

27 23

30.10.17 STADIO SERGIO LANFRANCHI

HEAD TO HEAD

ULSTER RUGBY PRO14 FORM GUIDE

ZEBRE RUGBY CLUB PRO14 FORM GUIDE

11 9 2 0

11 2 9 0

PLAYED

WIN

DRAW LOST

WIN

DRAW LOST

WINS

LOSSES

LAST 3 MATCHES

LAST 3 MATCHES

DRAWS

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

ULSTER SCORERS

ZEBRE

DATE VENUE

U

Z

SCORERS

John Cooney C/3P -uu;m -ˆ; T/C Andrew Trimble T

-ম- ;ѴѴbmb T Marcello Violi 2C Carlo Canna C/2P Renato Giammarioli T Giovanni Licata T m7u;- ; -u1_b T Guglielmo Palazzani 2C

ƒƏĺƐƏĺƐƕ "|-7bo ";u]bo -m=u-m1_b Ƒƒ Ƒƕ

Craig Gilroy T "|†-u| Ѵ7bm] T/3C Jacob Stockdale T Luke Marshall 2T Charles Piutau 2T John Andrew T Paul Marshall T Ruan Pienaar T/7C "|†-u| Ѵ7bm] T -ˆb7 †v0‹ T Jacob Stockdale T Chris Henry T Ruan Pienaar T/5C !o00b; b-1h T

ƐƐĺƏƒĺƐƕ bm]vr-m "|-7b†l ѵѶ ƑƐ

Guillermo Roan T ";-Cm ou7oѴb C Lloyd Greef T

Guglielmo Palazzani T/2C/P -ম- ;ѴѴbmb T

ƑѵĺƏƑĺƐƕ "|-7bo ";u]bo -m=u-m1_b ƓƏ Ɛƕ

16

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

» &Ѵv|;u !†]0‹ -u; †m0;-|;m bm |_;bu Ѵ-v| =o†u l-|1_;v bm -ѴѴ 1olr;ঞঞomv vbm1; |_;bu 7;=;-| |o ;bmv|;u -| |_; ! " u;m- bm !o†m7 Ɛƒ o= |_; †bmm;vv ! ƐƓĺ » $_; &Ѵv|;ul;m _-ˆ; Ѵov| omѴ‹ om1; bm ;Ѵ=-v| bm |_; Ѵ-v| |‰;Ѵˆ; lom|_vĹ ƐƔŊƑƑ |o omm-1_| bm |_; _-lrbomv_br bm 1|o0;uĺ » ,;0u; !†]0‹ _-ˆ; mo| 0;;m ˆb1|oubo†v bm |_; †bmm;vv ! ƐƓ vbm1; !o†m7 ƕ ‰_;m |_;‹ oˆ;u1-l; 7bm0†u]_ bm -ul- ƒƓŊƐѵĺ » $_; |-Ѵb-mv _-ˆ; -1_b;ˆ;7 Cˆ; ru;ˆbo†v ˆb1|oub;v oˆ;u ubv_ orrom;m|v bm |_; _-lrbomv_brĸ |‰o -| home to Ulster and two at home and one away against Connacht. » ,;0u; 0;-| &Ѵv|;u ƑƕŊƑƒ bm -ul- |_; Ѵ-v| ঞl; |_;‹ l;| bm ";r|;l0;u ƑƏƐƕ 0†| _-ˆ; m;ˆ;u ‰om bm Cˆ; ru;ˆbo†v ˆbvb|v |o ;Ѵ=-v|ĺ DID YOU KNOW?

CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERS

TRY SCORER

DEFENDERS BEATEN

1

1

SIBHALE MAXWANE (CHEETAHS) 11

DUHANVANDERMERWE (EDINBURGH) 57

DAVID SHANAHAN

5

STUART McCLOSKEY

28

3

RENATO GIAMMARIOLI

24

F BRUMMER, C CANNA, A TAUYAVUCA

POINTS SCORER

OFFLOADS

1

1

SAM DAVIES (OSPREYS)

124

TOM FARRELL (CONNACHT)

24

STUART McCLOSKEY

17

CARLO CANNA

78

GIOVANNI LICATA

14

JOHN COONEY

65

CARRIES

TACKLES

1

1

BILL MATA (EDINBURGH)

205

OLLY CRACKNELL (OSPREYS)

188

MARCELL COETZEE

143

NICK TIMONEY

168

CARLO CANNA

103

GEORGE BIAGI

114

METRES GAINED

TURNOVERS WON

1

1

MALCOLM JAER (CHEETAHS)

996

OLLY ROBINSON (CARDIFF BLUES) 22

EDOARDO PADOVANI

584

MARCELL COETZEE

17

HENRY SPEIGHT

570

GEORGE BIAGI

6

17

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

Year 2 Back Three 19.08.97 193cm 89kg Ballymena

STEWART MOORE MARCUS REA JAMES HUME AZUR ALLISON Year 1 Centre 08.08.99 183cm 91kg Malone Year 3 Back Row 08.09.97 189cm 105cm Ballymena Year 2 Centre 07.09.98 184cm 95kg Banbridge Year 1 Back Row 19.04.99 192cm 99kg Ballymena

Year 3 Hooker 10.02.95

AARON HALL MATTHEW DALTON JACK REGAN Year 3 Back Row 26.06.98 193cm 98kg Ballynahinch Year 2 Flanker 16.11.98 197cm 112kg Malone Year 2 2nd Row 09.05.97

Year 2 Scrum Half 12.09.99 174cm 85kg Malone GRAHAM CURTIS ERIC O’SULLIVAN IWAN HUGHES Year 2 Prop 30.11.95 186cm 115kg Banbridge Year 1 Back Three 06.04.99 173cm 77kg 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 95kg Malone

ROBERT BALOUCOUNE MICHAEL LOWRY BRUCE HOUSTON Year 2 Fly Half 20.08.98 170cm 81kg Banbridge Year 1 Fly Half 16.08.99 192cm 92kg Ballymena

197cm 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…

MONTH ULSTER CARPETS CLUB OF THE

B A L L Y M E N A R F C

-0Ѵ; |o v|-u| - C[_v -7†Ѵ| |;-l -]-bm 7†; |o |_; number of players we are bringing through from &ƐѶ bm|o v;mbou u†]0‹ĺ v ‰;ѴѴ -v |_-|ķ ‰; _-ˆ; - |_ubˆbm] lbmb v;1ঞomķ ‰; _-ˆ; =;l-Ѵ; u†]0‹ and also the Bears disability team, so we are -0Ѵ; |o ruoˆb7; orrou|†mbঞ;v =ou -m‹om; bm o†u community to play rugby at whatever level suits them.” m |_; rb|1_ķ -ѴѴ‹l;m-Ľv ‹o†|_ |;-lv _-ˆ; enjoyed considerable success recently with the &ƐƓv ‰bmmbm] |_; &Ѵv|;u -ur;|v †r Cm-Ѵ -| bm]vr-m "|-7b†l Ѵ-v| ‹;-uķ -m7 |_bv ‹;-uĽv &ƐƓv -m7 &ƐѶv bm Ѵbm; |o ‰bm |_;bu u;]bom-Ѵ Ѵ;-]†;vĺ However, Tom is quick to point out there are other barometers for measuring success. “We’ve been fortunate to have some success om |_; C;Ѵ7 -| ‹o†|_ Ѵ;ˆ;Ѵ bm u;1;m| ‹;-uvķ but equally as important is that we are able |o ruoˆb7; orrou|†mbঞ;v =ou vo l-m‹ r;orѴ; who can join us and feel a part of the club, and hopefully they will be the future for Ballymena.” b1|†u;7 ru;v;mঞm] -ѴѴ‹l;m- ! ‰b|_ - bag of Ulster Carpets rugby balls is Ulster !†]0‹ !;]bom-Ѵ ;ˆ;Ѵorl;m| L1;u "_-†m ѴoolC;Ѵ7ĺ $_; 1Ѵ†0 ‰bѴѴ -Ѵvo u;1;bˆ; ƒƏ ঞ1h;|v |o -m &Ѵv|;u !†]0‹ ]-l; -| bm]vr-m "|-7b†lĺ

Ballymena RFC have been awarded the latest Ulster Carpets Youth Rugby Club of the Month -‰-u7ķ bm u;1o]mbঞom =ou |_; ļ ov| lruoˆ;7 !-mhbm]Ľ o= |_;bu ‹o†|_ v;1ঞomĺ Tom Wiggins, Honorary Secretary of Ballymena ! ķ ‰;Ѵ1ol;7 |_; -‰-u7Ĺ ľ | bv =-m|-vঞ1 |o ];| this award, and it is a great acknowledgement of the work being put in by our coaches and the ;@ou| o= |_; rѴ-‹;uvĺ );Ľˆ; ‰ouh;7 _-u7 oˆ;u the past ten years or so to build up our coaching and community rugby setup, which has resulted bm ]u;-| m†l0;uv -1uovv o†u &ƐƓvķ &Ɛѵv -m7 &ƐѶvĺ “At Ballymena we have focused on building our coaching and support networks for the hb7v |o ;mv†u; |_;u; -u; rѴ;m|‹ o= t†-ѴbC;7 1o-1_;v -ˆ-bѴ-0Ѵ; -m7 |_;u; -u; ]oo7 =-1bѴbঞ;v for them to come along and enjoy rugby in a quality environment. As a coach of youth rugby, I feel it is as much about making sure the kids enjoy themselves so they can easily make |_; |u-mvbঞom 0;|‰;;m |_; ˆ-ubo†v -];Ŋ]u-7; teams, then hopefully into adult rugby. In that u;vr;1|ķ‹o†|_ u†]0‹ bv -0voѴ†|;Ѵ‹ 1ubঞ1-Ѵ |o |_; future of all clubs in Ulster.” And that investment in the youth setup is paying dividends at adult level for Ballymena too, according to Tom: “This year, we have been

21

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

WILL ADDISON &ঞѴb|‹ -1h ƑƏĺƏѶĺƐƖƖƑ ƐѶѵ1l ƖƓh] ƐƐ Ireland 3

Hooker ƑѵĺƏƔĺƐƖƖƒ

Hooker ƐƔĺƏѶĺƐƖѶƑ ƐѶƏ1l ƐƏѵh] ƑƐѶ u;Ѵ-m7 ƐƐƔ

BILLY BURNS †|_-Ѵ=

RORY BEST

ƐƒĺƏѵĺƐƖƖƓ ƐѶƔ1l ѶƔh] Ɛƕ —

JOHN ANDREW

ƐѶƐ1l ƐƏƓh] 50 —

DARREN CAVE Centre

&ঞѴb|‹ -1h ƏƒĺƏƑĺƐƖƖƓ ƐѶƒ1l 90kg Ɠ —

JOHN COONEY Scrumhalf ƏƐĺƏƔĺƐƖƖƏ ƐƕѶ1l Ѷƕh] ƒѶ Ireland 6

Back Row ƏѶĺƏƔĺƐƖƖƐ ƐƖƑ1l ƐƐƓh] 22 " =ub1- ƑѶ

ƏƔĺƏƓĺƐƖѶƕ ƐѶƒ1l 96kg ƑƑƐ u;Ѵ-m7 ƐƐ

DAVID BUSBY

MARCELL COETZEE

ULSTER SQUAD 2018/19

ANGUS CURTIS Centre ƑѵĺƏƒĺƐƖƖѶ ƐƕѶ1l 90kg ƕ —

IAIN HENDERSON Second Row ƑƐĺƏƑĺƐƖƖƑ

Prop ƏƔĺƏƕĺƐƖѶѶ ƐѶƏ1l ƐƐƕh] ƕƕ —

CRAIG GILROY Wing

ƐƐĺƏƒĺƐƖƖƐ ƐѶƒ1l ƖƐh] ƐѵѶ u;Ѵ-m7 ƐƏ

ƐƖƖ1l ƐƐƕh] ƐƏƐ u;Ѵ-m7 ƓƑ

WIEHAHN HERBST

ROB HERRING Hooker

ROSS KANE Prop

Back Row ƐƒĺƏƐĺƐƖƖѵ

&ঞѴb|‹ -1h ƏѶĺƐƏĺƐƖѶѵ ƐѶƑ1l 90kg ѶѶ —

LOUIS LUDIK

GREG JONES

ƑƕĺƏƓĺƐƖƖƏ ƐѶƔ1l ƐƏƑh] ƐƔѶ u;Ѵ-m7 ƕ

ƐƓĺƐƏĺƐƖƖƓ ƐƕƖ1l ƐƐѵh] ƒƓ —

ƐƖѵ1l ƐƏѵh] ƐƏ —

24

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

ROB LYTTLE Wing

Centre ƏƒĺƏƒĺƐƖƖƐ ƐѶƐ1l Ɩƕh] ƐƐƖ u;Ѵ-m7 ƐƐ

Hooker ƏƔĺƏƖĺƐƖƖѵ

KYLE McCALL Prop

ƑѶĺƏƐĺƐƖƖƕ ƐƕƓ1l Ѷƒh] Ɛƕ —

ƏƑĺƏƐĺƐƖƖƑ Ɛƕѵ1l ƐƏѶh] 52 —

ƐѶƑ1l ƐƏƑh] ƐƑ —

LUKE MARSHALL

ADAM McBURNEY

ULSTER SQUAD 2018/19

†|_-Ѵ= ƐƒĺƏƒĺƐƖƖƕ ƐƕƖ1l ѶƔh] 22 —

Prop ƏƐĺƏƒĺƐƖƖƐ ƐƕѶ1l ƐƐƖh] ƐƓ u;Ѵ-m7 ƐƏ

Centre ƏѵĺƏѶĺƐƖƖƑ

Second Row ƐƖĺƏѵĺƐƖƖƔ

MARTY MOORE

ƐƖƓ1l ƐƏѶh] ƐƏƏ Ireland 3

ƐƖƐ1l ƐƏƒh] Ɛ —

JOHNNY McPHILLIPS

STUART McCLOSKEY

CALEB MONTGOMERY

Back Row ƑƑĺƏƓĺƐƖƖƐ ƐѶѶ1l ƐƏƔh] ƐƑ Ireland 26

IAN NAGLE Lock

Full Back ƏƔĺƐƏĺƐƖƖƑ ƐѶƏ1l Ѷƕh] 56 —

ALAN O’CONNOR Second Row ƐƏĺƏƖĺƐƖƖƑ

ƐƕĺƐƏĺƐƖѶѶ ƑƏƐ1l ƐƐƓh] 6 —

JORDI MURPHY

PETER NELSON

ƐƖƕ1l ƐƐƓh] ѶƏ —

Back Row ƑƐĺƏƖĺƐƖƖƒ ƐƖƒ1l ƐƐƓh] 23 —

TOM O'TOOLE Prop

JACK OWENS Wing

Prop ƏƔĺƐƏĺƐƖƖƒ ƐѶƒ1l ƐƐѶh] Ɛ —

MATTY REA

ƑƒĺƏƖĺƐƖƖѶ ƐѶƔ1l ƐƐƒh] ƐѶ —

ƏƓĺƐƏĺƐƖƖƔ ƐѶѶ1l ƖƓh] Ɛ —

TOMMY O’HAGAN

25

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

Back Row ƐƏĺƏƔĺƐƖѶƖ

Back Row ƐƓĺƏѵĺƐƖѶƖ

Scrumhalf ƑƏĺƏѵĺƐƖƖƒ ƐƕƓ1l 90kg 36 —

Scrumhalf ƑƏĺƏƑĺƐƖƖѶ ƐƕƓ1l ƕƕh] ƐƏ —

CLIVE ROSS

SEAN REIDY

ƐѶƑ1l ƐƏƒh] ƖѶ Ireland 2

ƐƖƑ1l ƐƐƏh] ѵƕ —

JONNY STEWART

DAVE SHANAHAN

ULSTER SQUAD 2018/19

&ঞѴb|‹ -1h ƏƒĺƏƓĺƐƖƖѵ ƐƖƐ1l ƐƏƒh] ƔƐ u;Ѵ-m7 Ɛѵ

Second Row ƑƐĺƐƐĺƐƖƖƔ

Second Row ƏѵĺƐƐĺƐƖƖƔ

NICK TIMONEY Back Row ƏƐĺƏѶĺƐƖƖƔ ƐƖƏ1l ƐƐƒh] ƓƑ —

ƑƏƐ1l ƐƐƔh]

ƐƖѶ1l ƐƐѶh] ѵƓ 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 ƐƑĺƏƒĺƐƖƖƐ

ƐƕƖ1l ƐƐƑh] ƐƐƑ —

ANDREW WARWICK

GET SOCIAL. FOLLOW US.

UlsterRugby

OfficialUlsterRugby

#SUFTUM

27

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

15

1

LOUIS LUDIK

ERIC O’SULLIVAN

14

2

ROBERT BALOUCOUNE

ROB HERRING

13

3

MARTY MOORE

DARREN CAVE

12

4

ALAN O’CONNOR (C)

STUART McCLOSKEY

ULSTER RUBGY

11

5

KIERAN TREADWELL

ROB LYTTLE

6

10

CLIVE ROSS

PETER NELSON

7

9

SEAN REIDY

DAVID SHANAHAN

REPLACEMENTS 16 17 18 19 J ANDREW A WARWICK R KANE I NAGLE

20 21 22 23

G JONES J STEWART J McPHILLIPS J HUME

8

NICK TIMONEY

Ŗ$ " $

!

$ $

! $

TODAY’S OFFICIALS

REFEREE MIKE ADAMSON SRU ASSISTANT REFEREES LLOYD LINTON SRU | SAM GROVE-WHITE SRU TMO KEN HENLEY-WILLIS IRFU

28

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

15

1

EDOARDO PADOVANI

DANIELE RIMPELLI

2

14

OLIVIERO FABIANI

PAULA BALEKANA

ZEBRE RUGBY

3

13

GIOSUE ZILOCCHI

JAMES ELLIOTT

4

12

SAMUELE ORTIS

TOMMASO BONI

5

11

GEORGE BIAGI

GABRIELE DI GIULIO

6

10

RENATO GIAMMARIOLI

FRANCOIS BRUMMER

7

9

JOSHUA RENTON

JOHAN MEYER

REPLACEMENTS 16 17 18 19 L LUUS D FISCHETTI D CHISTOLINI A TAUYAVUCA

20 21 22 23

J BROWN R RAFFAELE M AZZOLINI N DE BATTISTA

8

GIOVANNI LICATA

Ŗ$ " $

!

$ $

! $

29

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

Prop ƐƏĺƏѶĺƖƏ

Ѵ‹Ŋ_-Ѵ= ƐƔĺƐƏĺƖƔ ƐѶƑ1l 92kg Ɛѵ

Winger ƐѶĺƏƔĺƖƒ ƐƕѶ1l ƖѶh] Ɛƒ

&ঞѴb|‹ 0-1h ƏѶĺƏƑĺƖƓ

CRUZE AH-NAU

MATTIA BELLINI

ƐѶƐ1l ƐƐƓh] ƐƖ

ƐƖƑ1l ƐƏƏh] ƓƓ

MAICOL AZZOLINI

PAULA BALEKANA

Prop ƑƕĺƐƐĺƖƔ

Lock ƏƓĺƐƏĺѶƔ

Centre ƏƓĺƏƓĺƖƑ ƐѶƑ1l 93kg ѶƐ

Centre ƐƔĺƏƐĺƖƒ

GEORGE BIAGI

GIULIO BISEGNI

TOMMASO BONI

ƐƖƏ1l ƐƑƑh] Ѷ

ƐƖƖ1l ƐƐѵh] ƐƏƐ

ƐѶƕ1l ƐƏƔh] ƕƏ

EDUARDO BELLO

†l0;u Ѷ

Ѵ‹Ŋ_-Ѵ= ƐƕĺƏƔĺѶƖ ƐѶƒ1l ƖƐh] ƐƖ

Ѵ‹Ŋ_-Ѵ= ƑƔĺƏѶĺƖƑ ƐƖƏ1l 92kg ƕѵ

Centre ƐƓĺƏѶĺƖƐ ƐѶƓ1l ƐƏƑh] 53

ƏƐĺƏƒĺѶƕ ƐƖƔ1l ƐƐƐh] 3

CARLO CANNA

JAMES BROWN

ZEBRE RUGBY SQUAD 2018/19 FRANCOIS BRUMMER

TOMMASO CASTELLO

Hooker ƏƔĺƏƐĺƖƕ

Prop ƐƓĺƏƖĺѶѶ ƐѶƏ1l ƐƐƏh] ƐƐѵ

Centre ƏƕĺƏƐĺƖƐ ƐѶƏ1l 92kg 5

Winger ƒƏĺƏƓĺƖƓ ƐѶƔ1l Ѷѵh] ƒƓ

ƐѶѵ1l ƐƏƓh] ƐƔ

DARIO CHISTOLINI

MASSIMO CECILIANI

GABRIELE DI GIULIO

NICOLAS DE BATTISTA

30

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

Centre ƒƐĺƏѶĺƖƑ ƐѶƏ1l 90kg ƐƑ

Hooker ƐƒĺƏƕĺƖƏ ƐѶƏ1l ƖѶh] ƐƏƐ

Flanker 23.03.95 ƐѶѶ1l ƐƐƐh] Ƒƕ

Lock ƏƐĺƏƔĺƖѵ

JAMIE ELLIOTT

ƐƖѶ1l ƐƐѵh] ƑѶ

OLIVIERO FABIANI

LEONARD KRUMOV

ZEBRE RUGBY SQUAD 2018/19

RENATO GIAMMARIOLI

Flanker ƐѶĺƏƑĺƖƕ

Prop ƑѶĺƏƕĺѶƖ ƐѶƒ1l ƐƐƒh] Ѷƒ

Hooker ƐƒĺƐƐĺƖƔ ƐѶѵ1l ƐƐƔh] 30

Flanker ƐƏĺƏƓĺƖƒ

ƐƖƒ1l ƐƏƕh] 23

ƐѶƖ1l ƐƏƑh] ƒƕ

LUHANDRE LUUS

GIOVANNI LICATA

MAXIME MBANDÀ

ANDREA LOVOTTI

Flanker 26.02.93

Fullback ƏƓĺƏѵĺƖѵ Ɛƕѵ1l ѶƓh] Ɛѵ

Lock ƐѶĺƐƑĺƖѵ

Fullback ƐƔĺƏƔĺƖƒ

JOHAN MEYER

SAMUELE ORTIS

ƐƖƒ1l ƐƏƕh] ƕѶ

ƐƖѶ1l ƐƏƕh] ƐƑ

ƐƖƐ1l ƐƏƏh] 69

MATTEO MINOZZI

EDOARDO PADOVANI

Scrum half ƐƐĺƏƓĺƖƐ Ɛƕƒ1l Ѷƕh] ƐƑƑ

Scrum half ƐѶĺƏƕĺƖѵ ƐƕƖ1l ѶƔh] 9

Scrum half ƑƔĺƏƔĺƖƓ ƐƕƓ1l ѶƑh] ƐƐ

Prop ƑƒĺƏѵĺƖƕ

ƐѶƕ1l ƐƐѵh] ƑƐ

JOSHUA RENTON

DANIELE RIMPELLI

RICCARDO RAFFAELE

GUGLIELMO PALAZZANI

31

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

†l0;u Ѷ

Lock ƏƓĺƏƐĺƖƒ ƐƖѶ1l ƐƐƕh] ƐѶ

Prop ƑƔĺƏƐĺƖƏ

Flanker ƏƑĺƏƐĺѶѶ ƐѶƒ1l ƐƐƒh] ƐƔ

DAVID SISI

05.02.93 ƐƖƔ1l ƐƑƑh] ƓƏ

JIMMY TUIVAITI

ƐѶƑ1l ƐƏѶh] 22

ROBERTO TENGA

APISAI TAUYAVUCA

ZEBRE RUGBY SQUAD 2018/19

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

Winger ƑƕĺƏƒĺƖƏ

Scrum half ƐƐĺƐƏĺƖƒ Ɛƕѵ1l ѶƓh] 53

Prop ƐƔĺƏƐĺƖƕ

ƐѶƕ1l ƐƐƏh] ƕƕ

ƐѶƖ1l ƐƐƑh] ƐƔ

MARCELLO VIOLI

GIOSUÉ ZILOCCHI

GIOVANBATTISTA VENDITTI

33

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

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

www.macron.com

STAFF PROFILE

NAME: MAEVE BOGIE ROLE: PA TO THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

;v1ub0; ‹o†u uoѴ; ‰b|_bm &Ѵv|;u !†]0‹ĵ ‹ l-bm uoѴ; 7-‹Ŋ|oŊ7-‹ bv -v |o |_; ĺ m addition, I provide administrative support and take the minutes at a range of meetings and process all the charity requests that come in to the organisation. I also look after the arrangements for hospitality in the President’s Suite on a match night and the bonus is that I get to watch most of the l-|1_ =uol |_; ollb||;; oŠĺ "ol;|bl;v =;;Ѵ Ѵbh; |_; o==b1; ļl†ll‹Ľ ‰b|_ r;orѴ; -vhbm] l; - variety of things but I am always willing to help out when I can. ;v1ub0; ‹o†u 1-u;;u ņ ;lrѴo‹l;m| _bv|ou‹ĵ Having worked in Amsterdam for a year before university, I wanted to travel and thought having secretarial skills would give me the chance to work anywhere. I started off in London working for the o= |_; m]Ѵbv_ $o†ubv| o-u7ķ l;| l‹ =†|†u; _†v0-m7 -m -m7 ;m7;7 †r Ѵbˆbm] bm bѴѴbm1_‹ Ŋ mo| quite the international lifestyle I had envisaged. I was ‰ouhbm] =ou |_; o= ub|bv_ $;Ѵ;1ol bm ;Ѵ=-v| when we started our family and I gave up work for v;ˆ;u-Ѵ ‹;-uv -v ‰-m|;7 |o 0; - =†ѴѴŊ|bl; l†lĺ When the children started school I did a variety of r-u|Ŋ|bl; fo0vķ lov| u;1;m|Ѵ‹ ‰b|_ &Ѵv|;u )bѴ7Ѵb=;ķ before moving to Ulster Rugby four years ago. Favourite thing about your job? $_; ˆ-ub;|‹ ŋ mo |‰o 7-‹v -u; |_; v-l; -m7 0;1-†v; my role has so many strands it is never dull. I have

also been lucky enough to travel to some of the away games with the team to see how other clubs run their hospitality. )_-| 7o ‹o† ;mfo‹ lov| -0o†| ‰ouhbm] =ou &Ѵv|;u !†]0‹ĵ v om; o= |_; ļoѴ7;uĽ l;l0;uv o= v|-== u;-ѴѴ‹ ;mfo‹ working with such a great bunch of younger people. We all get on really well and you can always call on people to help out if you need to. )_-| bv ‹o†u 0b]];v| -1_b;ˆ;l;m| |o 7-|;ĵ $_; )ol;mĽv !†]0‹ )ouѴ7 †r bm ƑƏƐƕ ‰-v - ]u;-| ;ˆ;m| |o _-ˆ; -| bm]vr-m "|-7b†lĺ ‰-v bm |_; President’s Suite where the dignitaries were being entertained and I was involved in helping to ensure -ѴѴ o†u ]†;v|v _-7 |_; 0;v| rovvb0Ѵ; ;Šr;ub;m1;ĺ What are your plans/goals for the upcoming season? My main task will be helping the new Chief Š;1†|bˆ;ķ omm‹ ;|ub;ķ v;||Ѵ; bm |o |_; ou]-mbv-|bomĺ Who is your favourite Ulster player? u-b] bѴuo‹ ŋ _; v;;lv |o Ѵb]_| †r |_; rb|1_ ‰_;m he gets the ball and always goes for the try line.

To get in touch with Maeve, email maeve.bogie@ulsterrugby.com

GET SOCIAL. FOLLOW US.

UlsterRugby

OfficialUlsterRugby

#SUFTUM

35

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

CELEBRATING CARE DAY WITH INCLUDE YOUTH

This is the third year that Ulster Rugby has helped Include Youth to celebrate Care Day. By displaying Include Youth’s Care Day Flag before tonight’s match, Ulster Rugby is helping to champion the 3000+ young people who are currently in care, those who _-ˆ; Ѵ;[ 1-u;ķ -m7 ‹o†m] r;orѴ; =uol vo1b-ѴѴ‹ 7bv-7ˆ-m|-];7 0-1h]uo†m7vĺ

This is just one of the ways that Ulster Rugby has supported Include Youth and their young people vbm1; 0;bm] molbm-|;7 -v |_; oL1b-Ѵ 1_-ub|‹ r-u|m;u bm ";r|;l0;u ƑƏƐѵĺ ;m;uo†v &Ѵv|;u !†]0‹ v†rrou|;uv _-ˆ; 7om-|;7 _ubv|l-v ]b[v to the present appeal for the last three years; bought copies of the charity cook book and -†|o]u-r_ 0oohĸ 7om-|;7 |o 0†1h;| 1oѴѴ;1ঞomv -| |_; v|-7b†lĸ -m7 -‚;m7;7 |_; -lbѴ‹ †m -‹v bm huge numbers. Former Ulster player Paul Marshall has organised two successful charity golf days supported by vromvouv -m7 rѴ-‹;uv -Ѵbh;ķ -m7 &Ѵv|;u !†]0‹ v|-@ have provided mock interviews, work tasters and stadium tours. &Ѵv|;u rѴ-‹;uv _-ˆ; -‚;m7;7 |_; ‹o†m] r;orѴ;Ľv _ubv|l-v bmm;u -| bm]vr-m "|-7b†l =ou |_; Ѵ-v| |_u;; ‹;-uv -m7 l-7; -rr;-u-m1;v -| ;Ѵ;0u-ঞom ˆ;m|v |o ru;v;m| 1;uঞC1-|;vĺ &Ѵv|;u !†]0‹ vromvouvķ v†1_ -v -Ѵ; -ul -m7 $o0;ulou; _-ˆ; provided work place tours for young people. Young people have had the opportunity to take part in ‰;;hѴ‹ u†]0‹ C|m;vvķ vrou|v 1o-1_bm] -m7 m†|ubঞom v;vvbomv -| -Ѵom; ! †m7;u |_; ļ&! -l;Ľ programme and have been provided with match ঞ1h;|vĺ ov| o= |_; ‹o†m] r;orѴ; _-7 m;ˆ;u |ub;7 out the sport or seen a match before so this has 0;;m - =-m|-vঞ1 orrou|†mb|‹ĺ

‘Give and Take’ is one of Include Youth main programmes. The Give and Take scheme improves the employability and increases |_; v;Ѵ= ;v|;;l -m7 1omC7;m1; o= ‹o†m] people age 16+. Include Youth support more than 400 young people each year |_uo†]_ |_bv v1_;l;ĺ ;u;ķ †uঞvķ ƐѶ =uol County Armagh, talks about his experience "Before coming to Include Youth’s Give and Take scheme I was doing nothing and didn't know what I wanted to do in the future. I have now achieved my Maths and English t†-ѴbC1-ঞomv -m7 v;ˆ;u-Ѵ -‰-u7vĺ -l -Ѵvo 1olrѴ;ঞm] ‰ouh ;Šr;ub;m1; bm u;|-bѴ which I really enjoy. Include Youth have _;Ѵr;7 l; ];| - 0b| o= v|u†1|†u; -m7 uo†ঞm; into my life and I feel more prepared for future learning and work."

37

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

FOCUS CLUB

I N I S H O W E N R F C

Who is your Club mascot? †u ‰;; lbmbv warrior princess Caitlin McGilloway… injured at present with a broken arm o‰ l-m‹ |;-lv 7o ‹o† C;Ѵ7ĵ Ɛ ";mbouķ ƒ Youth and 3 Minis Most successful achievement? Buying our Club Grounds at Moss Road uo†7;v| lol;m|ĵ †u &ƐѶv ‰bmmbm] |_bv ‹;-uv High Schools’ Cup Tell us something unique that not everyone hmo‰v -0o†| |_; 1Ѵ†0ĵ Inishowen RFC is the most Northerly Club in Ireland

)_o bv ‹o†u u;vb7;m|ĵ mm; "1o‚ ;-7 o-1_ĵ Adrian Thompson 1st XV Captain? ;ulo| 1 om-]Ѵ; Number of members? ƐƕƔ Ŋ ƑƏƏ -l; ƒ rѴ-‹;uv |o ‰-|1_ĵ PJ Callaghan, Mark "1o‚ķ "|;r_;m -ѴѴ-]_-m Who is your longest serving member? John ;uub‚ )_o bv |_; ļ Ѵ†0 Ѵo‰mĽ -m7 ‰_‹ĵ Alan Pienaar always up for a joke and laugh )_o bv |_; _-u7;v| |u-bm;uĵ All of our Minis ";1ঞom Ѵ†0Ľv †mv†m] _;uo -m7 ‰_‹ĵ ); _-ˆ; |‰o Ŋ Ѵb 1 -†]_Ѵbmķ o†u ! 7obm] -l-Œbm] ‰ouh |_uo†]_ |_; v1_ooѴv -m7 m];Ѵ- ;ѴѴ‹ =ou ];মm] all members registered on Clubhouse What is your Club song? Carn Fair )_-| bv ‹o†u Ѵ†0 Ѵo]o -m7 ‰_-| 7o;v b| represent? $_; o_;u|‹ -lbѴ‹ u;v|

l-bѴ -77u;vvĹ info@inishowenrugby.ie );0vb|;Ĺ www.inishowenrugby.ie

@InishowenRFC @InishowenRFC

39

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

R O D N A W N

For fans of Ulster and of Ireland, this weekend’s rugby focus is om |-Ѵb-m orrovbঞomķ -m7 bm |_; †bmm;vv ! ƐƓķ -v bm |_; "bŠ -ঞomvķ |_;u;Ľv - v;mv; b| lb]_| 0; - 7;Cmbm] ƑƓ _o†uvĺ

TRIES, TRIES AND TRIES AGAIN

);ĽѴѴ Ѵ;-ˆ; |_; bm|;um-ঞom-Ѵ vb7; |o its own devices for the moment and 1om1;m|u-ঞom |_bv ;ˆ;mbm] -| bm]vr-m Stadium will most certainly be on Ulster’s 1-r-1b|‹ |o 1-v_ bm om |_; -‚-1hbm] =uom|ķ ‰_bѴ; ;m;‚om -m7 |_; "1-uѴ;|v _-ˆ; Ѵ†m1_ঞl; 7-|;v ‰b|_ |_; v|u†]]Ѵbm] u-]omv -m7 |_; =u;;Ŋv1oubm] _;;|-_v u;vr;1ঞˆ;Ѵ‹ĺ Zebre and the hosts will again be at less |_-m =†ѴѴ v|u;m]|_ 0;1-†v; o= bm|;um-ঞom-Ѵ 7;l-m7vķ 0†| &Ѵv|;u ;-7 o-1_ -m McFarland will surely believe he has more t†-Ѵb|‹ u;vo†u1;v -| _bv 7bvrov-Ѵ |o CѴѴ -m‹ vacuums than his counterpart Michael Bradley. $_; |;-lv l;;| -[;u ˆ;u‹ 7b@;u;m| ;Šr;ub;m1;v bm |_; ! ƐƓ Ѵ-v| ‰;;hĹ &Ѵv|;u u;|†um;7 =uol |_; vru;‹v ‰b|_ - ˆ-Ѵ†-0Ѵ; ѶŊƏ ‰bmķ |_o†]_ b|Ľv - ]-l; -m7 performance unlikely to live long in the memory. Zebre, by contrast, played a full r-u| bm - =u;;Ŋu†mmbm] ƑƓŊƓƏ _ol; 7;=;-| by runaway Conference B leaders Leinster ŋ -m7 |_; _ol; vb7; ‰-v f†v| |‰o robm|v -7ub[ -| |_; bm|;uˆ-ѴĴ Tonight the formbook suggests that Ulster should prevail and, even with the radical changes McFarland does choose to make |o _bv v;Ѵ;1ঞomķ |_; |-Ѵb-mv ˆbvb|ouv ‰bѴѴ surely be outmuscled up front and the home backline will have the armoury to dominate the scoreboard. Stuart McCloskey’s touchdown against the

Certainly Joe Schmidt’s side cannot -@ou7 - vѴbrŊ†r bm !ol; |olouuo‰ b= b|v Championship hopes are to survive, while &Ѵv|;uĽv 7-†mঞm] 1_-ѴѴ;m]; o= v;1†ubm] - top three spot in the league’s Conference B resumes with tonight’s visit from Zebre. ou 0o|_ |_; m-ঞom-Ѵ -m7 uoˆbm1b-Ѵ |;-l |_; ļ0†vbm;vv ;m7Ľ o= |_;bu |o†um-l;m|v 0;]bm _;u;ķ -m7 |_o†]_ ‰bmv -u; ;vv;mঞ-Ѵķ so too are the bonus points which now l-h; v†1_ - 7b@;u;m1;ĺ "1oubm] |ub;v -rѴ;m|‹ ]†-u-m|;;v l-Šblbvbm] |_; u;|†um from a win, and Ireland has yet to reach |_-| l-]b1-Ѵ =o†uŊ|u‹ |-u];|ĺ Ulster sits fourth in the table, two points 0;_bm7 v†urubv; r-1h;|v ;m;‚omķ |_; ]-r 0;|‰;;m |_; |;-lv ;ŠrѴ-bm;7 rubl-ubѴ‹ by a remarkable disparity in bonus points ]-bm;7Ĺ ;m;‚om _-v 1uovv;7 |_; Ѵbm; =o†u ঞl;v ou lou; |_bv v;-vom om =o†u o11-vbomvķ &Ѵv|;u |‰b1;ķ ‰_bѴ; |_; $u;ˆbvoŊ 0-v;7 o†|C| _-v 1oѴѴ;1|;7 |_u;; Ѵovbm] 0om†v robm|v |o &Ѵv|;uĽv vbm]Ѵ; 1omvoѴ-ঞom point. Indeed, from both Conferences, no club _-v 0;m;C‚;7 Ѵ;vv |_-m &Ѵv|;u ‰b|_ |_u;; 0om†v robm|vķ -m7 bm ļvt†;-h‹ 0†lĽ ঞl; this can be telling. Tucked in just behind the men in white, the Scarlets remain a real challenger for a top three spot and -m ;m7Ŋo=Ŋv;-vom rѴ-‹Ŋo@ķ ‹;| |_; );Ѵv_ side has lost eight matches to Ulster’s Cˆ; ŋ 0†| _-v ]-|_;u;7 ;b]_| robm|v bm |_; ļ0om†vĽ 1-|;]ou‹ĺ

40

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

vru;‹v _-v or;m;7 †r - ˆbv|- oˆ;u |_; m;Š| lom|_ |_-| 1o†Ѵ7 0; -v ;m|;u|-bmbm] -v b| bv 1ubঞ1-Ѵ |o ! ƐƓ rѴ-‹Ŋo@Ŋ -l0bঞomvĺ ;Š| ‰;;h !o7m;‹ -u-7; 0;1homvķ mo| -Ѵ‰-‹v |_; _-rrb;v| o= _†mঞm] ]uo†m7vķ -m7 |_; u-]omv ‰omĽ| u;Ѵbv_ &Ѵv|;uĽv enterprise, while a week later at home |_; "o†|_;um bm]v ‰bѴѴ rov; l-m‹ -‚-1hbm] t†;vঞomvķ 0†| 1 -uѴ-m7Ľv coaching team and players will know the South Africans can be defensively porous -m7 vol;ঞl;v |-1ঞ1-ѴѴ‹ m-ठˆ;ĺ "oķ - ,;0u; ‰b|_o†| Y‹Ŋ_-Ѵ= -uѴ- -mm- |_bv ;ˆ;mbm] 1o†Ѵ7 0; |_; Cuv| -]]u;vvbˆ; step to what hopefully will be a trio of Cˆ;Ŋrobm| u;|†umv -[;u |_; bm]vĽ -uubˆ-Ѵ om |_; r;m†Ѵঞl-|; ‰;;h;m7 bm -u1_ĺ ˆ;uŊorঞlbvঞ1ĵ -‹0;ĺ !;-Ѵbvঞ1ĵ ;Cmb|;Ѵ‹ķ -m7 |_-| vou| o= =oul -m7 reward would certainly set the pace in |_; u-1; |o |_; |or |_u;;Ĵ m7 ‰_-| - rѴ-oul |_-| ‰o†Ѵ7 0; for the last Saturday in March and the glamour Heineken Champions Cup t†-u|;uŊCm-Ѵ -]-bmv| ;bmv|;u bm †0Ѵbmĺ 1 -uѴ-m7Ľv v_u;‰7 m;]oঞ-ঞom o= |_bvķ _bv Cuv| =†ѴѴ v;-vom bm 1_-u];ķ _-v 0;;m -v blru;vvbˆ; -v _bv v;Ѵ;1ঞomv _-ˆ; o[;m 0;;m v†urubvbm]ķ -v ‹o†m];u -m7 bm;Šr;ub;m1;7 rѴ-‹;uv _-ˆ; 0;;m challenged to be valued parts of the &Ѵv|;u v;|Ŋ†rĺ †| _;ĽѴѴ hmo‰ |_-| b= u;1;m|Ѵ‹ †m=-lbѴb-u rѴ-‹Ŋo@ 1om|;v|v are to be reached his squad requires |_; Ѵ;-ˆ;mbm] ru;v;m1; o= -uu;m -ˆ;ķ McCloskey, Louis Ludik, Rob Herring and Andy Warwick. Soon Luke Marshall and Craig Gilroy may 0; 0-1h bm _-um;vvķ |_; bm|;um-ঞom-Ѵv ‰bѴѴ return to the fold. If all the pieces fall kindly it’s a season’s ;m7 |o u;Ѵbv_Ĵ

41

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM

More info at www.ulsterrugbyshop.com

Q&A REFEREE )_‹ 7b7 ‹o† 7;1b7; |o |-h; †r |_; ‰_bv|Ѵ;ĵ A fellow player at Ballymena, John Nicholl, who is Head of Rugby at Cambridge House School, convinced me to take the affiliate referee’s course -m7 u;=;u;; |_;bu Ɛv| *( l-|1_;vĺ | |_bv 1o†uv;ķ l;| -ˆb7 )bѴhbmvom ‰_o 1omˆbm1;7 l; |o |-h; refereeing a step further and do the new recruits 1o†uv; bm -m†-u‹ ƑƏƐƒĺ )_-| bv |_; 0b]];v| |_bm] ‹o† _-ˆ; Ѵ;-um;7 vbm1; ‹o† v|-u|;7 u;=;u;;bm]ĵ Managing a game, managing myself and managing the players on the field during a game. Also, that |_;u; -u; -0o†| ƐƏ 7b==;u;m| ‰-‹v |o 0Ѵo‰ - ‰_bv|Ѵ;Ĵ What is your favourite thing about refereeing? v|bѴѴ 7u;-l o= rѴ-‹bm]ķ vo =ou l; b| bv |_; ]-l;rѴ-‹ Ŋ being as close to the action as I can get. What is the most memorable game you have u;=;u;;7 vo =-uĵ That would have to be my first game outside &Ѵv|;uķ ‰_b1_ ‰-v bѴ=;-1Ѵ; ˆv Ѵoml;Ѵķ _-7 0;;m lucky enough to play club rugby in the other three uoˆbm1;v 0†| u;=;u;;bm] b| ‰-v - 7b==;u;m| v|ou‹Ĵ What is your ambition as a referee? I would love to go as far as I can as referee. My current goal is to graduate from IPAS and get onto the National Panel and hopefully in the future, be the man in the middle for a Schools’ Cup Final.

R O B B I E M c G R E E R

)_-| 1o†Ѵ7 l-h; ‹o† blruoˆ; -v - u;=;u;;ĵ I think my communication could improve; sometimes I have a tendency to talk too much (in both life and u;=;u;;bm]Ĵőĺ Ѵ-‹;uv -m7 1o-1_;v -u; -Ѵ‰-‹v =bm7bm] ways to manipulate the game to do what they want so I think referees should remain students of the game and keep finding ways to improve their game. o‰ _-v ‹o†u v;-vom 0;;m ]obm] vo =-uĵ ‹ v;-vom vo =-u _-v 0;;m ;Š1;ѴѴ;m|ĺ _-ˆ; 1olrѴ;|;7 =bˆ; o= l‹ vbŠ " ]-l;v -m7 |_; v1ou;v have been good so I’m remaining positive that I will be in the running to get on the National Panel =ou m;Š| v;-vomĺ ‹ m;Š| " ]-l; bv Ѵoml;Ѵ v Bandon on Sunday 3rd March and I have been -rrobm|;7 |o u;=;u;; om; o= |_; $o‰mv †r v;lbŊ finals. )_-| bv " -m7 ‰_-| 7o;v b| bmˆoѴˆ;ĵ IPAS is the Inter Provincial Assessment Scheme; this is where the Society picks a number of their up and coming referees and sends them to the other provinces to be assessed three times before Christmas and three times after. In essence, it is to test referees to see if they meet the credentials to become a National Panel referee. $o Cm7 o†| lou; -0o†| u;=;u;;bm] bm &Ѵv|;uķ visit ‰‰‰ĺ†Ѵv|;uu†]0‹ĺ1olņu;=;u;;v or email Richard Kerr, Provincial Referee Development Manager, on ub1_-u7ĺh;uuŠbu=†ĺb;

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. ov|Ĺ HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP QUARTER FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER – SATURDAY 30TH MARCH

;l0;uv_br 1ov|v ŬƐƑ =ou -7†Ѵ|vķ Ŭѵ =ou juniors and £30 for a family. Members get a 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!

7†Ѵ| l;l0;uv ŬƑƏ omŊl;l0;uv ŬƑƔ †mbouv Նm7;u ƐѶő ŬƐƏ

&!" -u; u†mmbm] - l;l0;uvŊomѴ‹ 0-ѴѴo| |o win the shirt worn by John Cooney in Ulster's bm1u;7b0Ѵ; ‰bm -]-bmv| Ѵ-v]o‰ om ƑƐv| rubѴĺ 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 the Alzheimer’s Society and will be matched 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

UNMISSABLE MOMENTS 2019/20 Season Tickets

On sale Friday 1st March UlsterRugby.com

47

WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM