Ulster Rugby vs Barbarians

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CONTENTS

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME TONIGHT'S MASCOTS BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS BARBARIANS - LAST TIME OUT CELEBRATING VOLUNTEER STEWARDS WOMEN'S RUGBY WORLD CUP FAMILY FUN DAY 2017

3 5 9

11

13

15 16 18

MATCH PREVIEW

ULSTER SQUAD PROFILES

20 24 25 29 30 33 34 37 38 42 45 46 47 49 41

ULSTER TEAM

DOUBLE SIDED POSTER

BARBARIANS TEAM

BARBARIANS PROFILES BARBARIANS FAQ PLAYERS TO WATCH VISITOR EXPERIENCE

ULSTER JUNIORS SUMMER CAMPS

ROD NAWN GUEST ARTICLE

URSC NEWS

OUR CLUB NEWS

CENTRA HALF TIME RUGBY ULSTER RUGBY VALUES STADIUM INFORMATION

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THANK YOU

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This is the first time Ulster has played the Barbarians. There was a match in 1957 but that was against an Ulster Invitation XV so a piece of history is being made tonight. It is also the second time the Barbarians have been at Kingspan Stadium this season, having played Fiji here back in November. The Barbarians' great reputation for playing entertaining rugby is unequalled and with no competition pressures on the Ulster team tonight, we should be in for a great game. Three weeks ago, the Ulster team put in a tremendous performance to defeat our old rivals Leinster and give Ulster greats Ruan Pienaar and Roger Wilson a fitting send-off. Apart from Ruan and Roger, we also say good-bye to a number of players who will not be with us next season. Angus Lloyd, Dan Tuohy and Sam Windsor left us during the current season, as did assistant coach Joe Barakat. To them and to Franco van der Merwe, Ricky Lutton, Stevie Mulholland, John Donnan, Conor Joyce, Mark Best, Lorcan Dow, Johnny Murphy and Callum Patterson we offer our thanks and appreciation for all their efforts, and wish them well in the future. Two other great Ulstermen are also leaving at the end of the season - Neil Doak and Allen Clarke. These two stalwarts have made very significant contributions to Ulster Rugby, both as players and more lately as coaches. They deserve our thanks for all their efforts over so many years and they have our best wishes for the future. Congratulations go to the Ulster Junior team who won the inter- provincial title with three wins out of three against the other provinces over the past month – a great achievement. At the recent 2017 Northern Ireland Tourism Awards, the award for ‘Best Event or Festival Experience’ went to Ulster Rugby for its staging of the memorable European Champions Cup tie against Clermont Auvergne last December at Kingspan Stadium. We beat off stiff competition from the likes of the Belfast Christmas Market and the Balmoral Show. Our congratulations go to Event Co-ordinator Anita Bayne and the Ulster Rugby staff who were involved for this great achievement. Finally, I want to thank our fans for the tremendous support they have given the team throughout the season. I know it has been a slightly disappointing season in that we did not make the knockout stages of the European Champions Cup or the Guinness PRO12 play-offs but the support the team has received during the season has been superb. So, once more, let us get behind the Ulster team tonight and, again, a big It gives me great pleasure as President of the IRFU Ulster Branch to welcome everyone to Kingspan Stadium for this unique match between Ulster and the Barbarians. In particular, I extend a warm welcome to the Barbarian’s President Micky Steele-Bodger and to their players and officials. PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

IRFU ULSTER BRANCH 2016/17 OFFICERS John McKibbin President Graffin Parke Senior Vice President Stephen Elliott Junior Vice President Denis Gardiner Honorary Secretary Michael Boyd Honorary Treasurer Greg Irwin Competitions Secretary EXECUTIVE TEAM Shane Logan Chief Executive Chris Webster Domestic Rugby Manager Audrey Robinson Financial Controller Fiona Hampton Head of Sales & Marketing Les Kiss Director of Rugby

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

thank you to all our supporters. Stand Up For The Ulster Men! John McKibbin President IRFU (Ulster Branch)

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SPRING SALE Huge reductions on replica jerseys (Does not include European jersey)

TONIGHT’S MASCOTS

MASCOTS

COREY WATERS (9) Corey is from Monaghan and attends Scoil Ui Cheithearnaigh. He plays rugby at school as well as at Buccaneers RFC and also enjoys swimming and football. His favourite player is Monaghan native Tommy Bowe, because he is a great player! When Corey grows up he would like to be a professional rugby player.

SARAH BARTON (12) COMPETITION WINNER Sarah is from Tandragee and attends Tandragee Junior High School. She is a massive Ulster fan and tries to attend as many matches as she can. She also enjoys watching Ireland play and supporting the Ulster players in the squad. Sarah’s other hobbies include playing the piano and cars. Her favourite player is Rory Best.

GUARD OF HONOUR CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS EVENING’S GUARD OF HONOUR COMPETITION WINNERS:

NATHAN THOMPSON ERIN EAGLESON HARRY SCOTT JOY LEMON KATIE LESLIE SAM LESLIE JOSH JORDAN KIMBERLEY HAMILTON JESSICA HAMILTON EVAN LEMON JAMES MCILROY

CALEB MCCLUSKEY ADAM KANE AMY LOGAN BEN FORSYTHE-HORAN MAIA WELSH JORDAN MCGARVEY RHYS EAGLESON

GUY CAMPBELL REBEKAH WEBSTER ISAAC WEBSTER ALEX SHAW OLIVER WOODSIDE PATRICK WOODSIDE SAMUEL HARLAND RONNIE HARLAND TOM HARLAND

LUKE WILSON CODI TELFORD ETHAN BARRETT LEWIS GORDON

#SUFTUM

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2017/18 SEASON TICKETS

AVAILABLE NOW!

2018

2017

S E A S O N T I C K E T

ULSTERRUGBY.COM /SEASONTICKETS

BENEFITS

Guaranteed entry to 15 games including a pre-season fixture in August, 11 Guinness PRO12 fixtures and 3 European Rugby Champions Cup games Save money in comparison to buying on a match by match basis Receive a membership swipe card for convenient access to Kingspan Stadium Avail of convenient part-payment options Hassle free online booking and a one-off booking fee Conveniently manage your ticket via Ticketmaster Account Manager Priority booking on available final stage tickets, additional match tickets and other events at Kingspan Stadium Exclusive access to members-only events Benefit from the Ticket Exchange option to sell your Adult ticket on if you can’t attend a game First access to 2018/19 Season Tickets and a loyalty discount period

HOW TO BUY

In person at the Kingspan Stadium Ticket Office

Over the phone on 02890 493 222

Online at ulsterrugby.com /seasontickets

MondayS Kids eat free (1 child per paying adult)* WednesdayS 2 for 1 pizza (pizza of equal or less value)* FridayS The £5 lunch (Any Little Loco pizza & a soft drink)*

www.loco.pizza Dundonald Omni Park BT16 1XT

PROUD SUPPORTERS OF ULSTER RUGBY

*Offers in store only - *Terms & Conditions apply.

GET READY TO ROAR…

v NEW ZEALAND BARBARIANS Saturday 3 June 2017 19:35 NZST / 08.35 BST Toll Stadium, Whangarei Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia) v BLUES Wednesday 7 June 2017 19:35 NZST / 08.35 BST Eden Park, Auckland Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France) v CRUSADERS Saturday 10 June 2017 19:35 NZST / 08.35 BST AMI Stadium, Christchurch Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

v CHIEFS Tuesday 20 June 2017 19:35 NZST / 08.35 BST Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France) v NEW ZEALAND Saturday 24 June 2017 19:35 NZST / 08.35 BST Eden Park, Auckland Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS 2017

v HURRICANES Tuesday 27 June 2017 19:35 NZST / 08.35 BST

Westpac Stadium, Wellington Referee: Romain Poite (France)

v HIGHLANDERS Tuesday 13 June 2017 19:35 NZST / 08.35 BST

v NEW ZEALAND

Saturday 1 July 2017 19:35 NZST / 08.35 BST

Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Westpac Stadium, Wellington Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)

v MÁORI ALL BLACKS Saturday 17 June 2017 19:35 NZST / 08.35 BST Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

v NEW ZEALAND

Saturday 8 July 2017 19:35 NZST / 08.35 BST Eden Park, Auckland Referee: Romain Poite (France)

GOOD LUCK TO THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS SQUAD TOURING NEW ZEALAND INCLUDING RORY BEST,

IAIN HENDERSON AND JARED PAYNE! GO WELL BOYS! #URLIONS

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WHAT'S ON

#SUFTUM

TAKE AWAY A SOUVENIR PHOTO FROM THE PHOTO-BOOTH INSIDE THE UR SUPPORTERS TENT IN THE FAN ZONE GET YOUR FACE PAINTED IN TEAM COLOURS AT THE UR SUPPORTERS TENT IN THE FAN ZONE LOOKING FOR PIZZA OR PIES? THEN CHECK OUT OUR FOOD VILLAGE WITH 8 STREET FOOD VENDORS AT THE HEART OF THE FAN ZONE CHEER ON SPARKY AS HE COMPETES IN OUR PRE-MATCH MASCOT RACE ON THE PITCH FROM 7.20PM! CHECK OUT THE FREE WIFI AT _ULSTERRUGBY_WIFI AND SHARE YOUR PICS WITH #ULSVBAR AVAILABLE FROM INSIDE THE GROUNDS , JUST OUTSIDE RECEPTION. THIS SERVICE BEGINS AT 9.40PM THIS EVENING. ULSTER RUGBY IS ALSO OFFERING A COMPLIMENTARY BUS SERVICE (OPERATED BY BELFAST BUS COMPANY). THIS BUS WILL DEPART MOUNT MERRION AVENUE AT 9.30, 10.00, 10.30 AND 11PM, DROPPING OFF AT VICTORIA SQUARE ONLY.

POP UP PROSECCO FIZZ BAR IN THE CLUBHOUSE BAR RIVERROCK PASSING CHALLENGE IN THE FAN ZONE TICKET BALLOT TWO LUCKY TICKET HOLDERS WILL BE CHOSEN AT RANDOM TO WIN A SIGNED BARBARIANS TOUR JERSEY! MATCH PROGRAMME THE FIRST 300 PEOPLE TO BUY A MATCH PROGRAMME WILL GET A FREE ULSTER RUGBY SUPPORTERS SCARF! MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT FROM THE Q RADIO JEEP IN THE FAN ZONE

TRANSPORT

ULSTER RUGBY RUN A FREE PARK AND RIDE SERVICE, COURTESY OF BELFAST BUS COMPANY, FOR SUPPORTERS. IT OPERATES FROM MONTGOMERY ROAD (OPPOSITE PODIUM FOR SPORT) & PERRIE PARK STARTING 90 MINUTES BEFORE KICK-OFF AND RETURNING

FROM 9.15PM THIS EVENING. A FONACAB TAXI SERVICE IS

WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE LAST GAME OF THE 2016/17 SEASON AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU BACK TO KINGSPAN STADIUM NEXT SEASON!

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YOUNG ENGLAND KEEP BARBARIANS UNDER CONTROL

ENGLAND 28 BARBARIANS 14 The Barbarians opened their Spring tour in front of more than 50,000 supporters at Twickenham on Sunday afternoon against an England outfit that belied the massive difference in experience between the teams. The Barbarians showed plenty of endeavour in an open first half with former Ulster fan favourite Timoci Nagusa in particular causing havoc, however, they were denied by a combination of brave defence and rustiness. England took to the field with eight uncapped players and it was one of them who crossed for England’s first try after an opening 15 minutes that was largely dominated by the Barbarians. Jones' side sprang into life and after recycling the ball to the right wing, Sam James cut through Barbarians defence before passing inside to Saracens wing Earle who gratefully dotted down. Ford added the extras and a further two penalties before the break but it was the invitational side that came flying out of the blocks in the second half. Alex Goode found space down the left wing and released Ashley-Cooper to go over in the corner, which Madigan converted. Ford stretched England's advantage to nine points before Mikheil Nariashvili was sin binned for 10 minutes. England looked to have made the game safe with 13 minutes remaining, Saracens lock Isiekwe on the end of some fine handling with Ford's conversion stretching the lead to 16 points. However, the Barbarians were not to be denied with Tekori powering over which Madigan converted. It was England who had the final say of the match though, Care on the end of a decent team move, running a support line before Ford put him in.

ENGLAND TEAM (15-9): Mike Brown, Nathan Earle, Sam James, Alex Lozowski, Jonny May, George Ford, Danny Care; (1-8): Ellis Genge, Jack Singleton, Will Collier, Charlie Ewels, Nick Isiekwe, Chris Robshaw, Sam Underhill, Josh Beaumont. Replacements: George McGuigan, Ross Harrison, Jamal Ford-Robinson, Tom Ellis, Ben Curry, Mark Wilson, Richard Wigglesworth, Mike Haley. England Scorers: Tries: Earle, Isiekwe, Care. Conversions: Ford 2. Penalties: Ford 3. BARBARIANS TEAM (15-9): Alex Goode (Saracens & England), Timoci Nagusa (Montpellier & Fiji), Yann David (Toulouse & France), Frans Steyn (Montpellier & South Africa), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Bordeaux-Begles & Australia), Ian Madigan (Bordeaux-Begles & Ireland), Kahn Fotuali’i (Bath Rugby & Samoa); (1-8): Mikheil Nariashvili (Montpellier & Georgia), Richard Hibbard (Gloucester & Wales), Census Johnston (Toulouse & Samoa), Patricio Albacete (Toulouse & Argentina), Jeremy Thrush (Gloucester & New Zealand), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse & France, captain), Steffon Armitage (Pau & England), Facundo Isa (Lyon & Argentina). Replacements: Schalk Brits (Saracens & South Africa), Chris King (Pau), WP Nel (Edinburgh & Scotland), Joe Tekori (Toulouse & Samoa), Gillian Galan (Toulouse), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster & South Africa), Robbie Freuan (Bath Rugby), Horacio Agulla (Castres & Argentina). Barbarians Scorers: Tries: Ashley-Cooper, Tekori. Conversions: Madigan 2.

BARBARIANS - LAST TIME OUT

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FAMILY FUN DAY 2017 Join Sparky and the Ulster Rugby squad on Friday 28th July from 3pm to 6pm for our annual Family Fun Day, in association with Include Youth.

A BBQ provided by Yellow Door will be situated in the Fan Zone along with a Food Village providing a variety of food and soft drinks.

Fun Day 2017 will give supporters the chance to meet and greet the members of the 2017/18 squad and enjoy an action-packed afternoon of on and off pitch activities, whilst also helping us to raise much needed funds for our charity partner, Include Youth. Activities include: » » Rugby skills and tag sessions » » Funky Fun Inflatables » » Meet and Greet Sparky and Ulster players » » Face Painting » » Climbing Wall » » Archery » » Laser Tag » » Kidz Farm Petting Zoo » » Live music and entertainment from the Q Radio Bus » » A self-guided experience in The Nevin Spence Centre » » Photo competitions and giveaways … to name just a few!

TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets are available now priced at £5 for Adults and £3 for Children (U18). Please note children aged five years and under go FREE, as do all Junior Season Ticket Holders*. » » Visit ulsterrugby.com/buytickets » » Call 028 9049 3222 Option 2 » » Email tickets@ulsterrugby.com Visit the Ticket Office in person at Kingspan Stadium *Junior Season Ticket holders/ OUR Club members must log into Account Manager to access their complimentary ticket and print it out at home.

FAMILY FUN DAY

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CELEBRATING VOLUNTEER STEWARDS This season marks the end of the Ulster Branch voluntary stewards at Kingspan Stadium and we would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have given freely of their time to volunteer at the old Ravenhill and now Kingspan Stadium over the years, helping us to provide the best possible experience for our match day visitors.

We must recognise the last two volunteer stewards; Alan Willis and Ed Barton, who, after 9 and 24 years of service respectively, hung up their hi-vis jackets after the Leinster game on Saturday 6th May. Ed recalls the days gone by and the leadership of their Chief Steward at the time Jack Moon. He remembers taking orange segments onto the pitch at half time while the players remained huddled on the pitch, a far cry from the protocols of today. Before the game became professional, all games at Ravenhill were overseen by 20 to 30 volunteer stewards. Their duties included the checking of tickets, supervision of car parking, stewarding

the VIP area and changing rooms, being of assistance to the players and to the general public. As the game turned professional and the stadium developed, circumstances and legislation changed to require a professional stewarding outfit where there can now be upwards of 200 personnel ensuring the safe and enjoyable organisation of match days. However, we would like to thank all those who faithfully served over the years for their contribution and dedication to the game of rugby in Ulster and to the Ulster Branch. Thank you!

THANK YOU

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WOMEN'S RUGBY WORLD CUP 2017 BRING FAMILY, BRING FRIENDS, BRING PASSION… #BRINGIT

WHAT?

The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 kicks off in Dublin on Wednesday 9th August before moving to Belfast for the knock-out stages. This event is the perfect chance for all the family to experience the magic of an international rugby tournament right on your doorstep! England come into the tournament as defending champions having beaten Canada in France in 2014. The Irish team are hoping for a strong performance on home soil after their historic victory over New Zealand on their way to a best- ever finish of fourth three years ago. Tournament ambassador and former Ireland captain Fiona Coghlan, commented with two months to go:

“Excitement is building as the tournament is fast approaching. We have worked really hard to use this exciting and prestigious tournament to promote female rugby in Ireland and have engaged with over 2,000 players over the past 12 months. The WRWC trophy has also attended 164 events throughout the island, increasing its profile and inspiring the next generation of female Irish Rugby representatives. “The tournament itself will be a carnival full of diversity, atmosphere and good old Irish hospitality. It’s going to be a great occasion, so get down, enjoy the craic and cheer on your team!”

WRWC 2017

12 teams from three pools will compete against their pool rivals over three days at UCD Bowl or Billings Park UCD, Dublin. WHO? POOL A Canada Hong Kong New Zealand Wales POOL B England Italy Spain USA POOL C Australia France Ireland Japan

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WHERE & WHEN?

WHERE?

WHEN?

WEDNESDAY 9TH AUGUST England v Spain

UCD Bowl UCD Bowl UCD Bowl

14.00 14.30 19.00 14.45 17.15 19.45 14.45 17.15 19.45 12.00 14.30 17.00

USA v Italy

Ireland v Australia

New Zealand v Wales Canada v Hong Kong

Billings Park UCD Billings Park UCD Billings Park UCD

France v Japan

WRWC 2017

SUNDAY 13TH AUGUST USA V Spain

UCD Bowl UCD Bowl UCD Bowl

Ireland v Japan France v Australia

New Zealand v Hong Kong

Billings Park UCD Billings Park UCD Billings Park UCD

England v Italy Canada v Wales

THURSDAY 17TH AUGUST Italy v Spain

UCD Bowl UCD Bowl UCD Bowl

14.45 17.15 19.45 12.00 14.30 17.00

Wales v Hong Kong

France v Ireland

Canada v New Zealand

Billings Park UCD Billings Park UCD Billings Park UCD

England v USA Australia v Japan

Based on the points allocated during the Pool Stages (W4, D2, L0), teams will be seeded for the Final Stages of the competition. Which will take place in Belfast at Kingspan Stadium and Queen’s University Sports Complex, Malone.

TUESDAY 22ND AUGUST 5th v 8th Seed

Kingspan Stadium Kingspan Stadium Kingspan Stadium Queen’s University Queen’s University Queen’s University

14.00 19.00 19.45 12.00 14.30 19.00 12.00 14.30 19.00 14.00 17.00 19.45

2nd v 3rd Seed 1st v 4th Seed 10th v 11th Seed 9th v 12th Seed 6th v 7th Seed

SATURDAY 26TH AUGUST 11th Place Play-off

Queen’s University Queen’s University Queen’s University Kingspan Stadium Kingspan Stadium Kingspan Stadium

9th Place Play-off 7th Place Play-off 5th Place Play-off 3rd Place Play-off

FINAL

BE THERE Tickets for the Pool Stages (Dublin) can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.ie Tickets for the Final Stages (Belfast) can be purchased at www.ulsterrugby.com/buytickets For more information check out www.rwcwomens.com

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CRAIG, ROB AND ROGER LOOK FORWARD TO FACING THE BAABAAS

CRAIG GILROY Hopefully the weather will be good and that will give us the chance to throw the ball about a bit and have some fun. It’s been a tough season for us, so hopefully we can finish with a bit of craic, a bit of running rugby and maybe give some of the younger guys a chance to put their hands up for next season. The Barbarians have a star-studded squad with a lot of top quality players to pick from. I’m sure like any Baabaas team that I have played against they will want to have fun and pass the ball around, so it’s going to be a challenge but a great way to round off the season, especially nice for Roger and Ruan We want to go out there and impress and give the fans something to cheer, hopefully put together some nice tries and play an entertaining game. I’m still on standby for Ireland, so I want to keep myself ticking over, there are always injuries, and they will have a knock on affect for the national team as well, so I’ll keep myself prepared and if the call comes, then I’ll be ready and if not then I’ll just enjoy a bit of time off and look forward to hitting the ground running again come July. ROB HERRING It’s been a while since the Leinster game and it does feel a bit strange to be honest. We fininshed up earlier than we would have liked, and now one month later we have a full competitive game against the Barbarians. We have some experienced guys away with the Lions and with Ireland and a few guys away home already so it’s a good chance to give the younger guys coming up some experience. It’s a good mix of players and a good test leading into next season to give the younger players some exposure. As a squad we are taking this game seriously. We want to win it, but at the same time we are going to be in the spirit of a Baabaas game and try to throw it around a bit and play an expansive game. The to have one last game in an Ulster jersey. I have no doubt they will be unpredictable opposition. They are going to throw the ball about, we know that and we need to keep talking and keep alert as they will throw everything at us.

forecast is looking good and hopefully we can put on a good show for the home fans! Rob Lyttle, Jacob Stockdale and Kieran Treadwell are all great examples of what experience, drive and a taste of senior rugby can do. They pushed on at the beginning of last season and have really made their mark. Showing those young guys that if they play well, they will get a shot in the senior team. ROGER WILSON Leinster was a bit of a fairytale ending for me but here we are again, my last game! My best man is coming over from Dubai and some good friends are coming to this game, so it will be nice to pull on the jersey for the very last time and celebrate with them after. Hopefully I can keep up the try scoring record!! It’s going to be a fast-paced game with lots of throwing the ball around. We want to put in a good performance and get the win but as well we want it to be a good spectacal of rugby from both teams for all the fans coming out to watch. They have a lot of special plays and like to entertain the crowd but we also have the opportunity to practise our attacking play. The game should be a bit more relaxed and hopefully there is a good buzz amongst the crowd and everyone is up for a bit of fun. The year before I played for the Barbarians they suffered a record defeat to the Lions so the committee gathered together and pretty much said it’s time to get serious and honour the badge and not focus so much on the social side. The year I played, they focused a lot on their heritage and motivational try scoring footage so performance is key for them now. Their tradition is so important so it’s critical that they get the balance right between performance on the pitch and social time off it, something they have been successful in doing the last number of years. Dusautoir will also play his last game. He was my year at U21 level so I played against him in the Rugby World Cup in Johannasberg. He has been around the block and had a great career, so this is a nice send off for him. He has a huge work rate about him, and many international caps so a Baabaas tour is a great way for him to finish his career with a memorable and enjoyable experience.

MATCH PREVIEW

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MATCH PREVIEW

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MARK BEST

JOHN ANDREW

RODNEY AH YOU

Centre 01.04.94 182cm 94kg

Hooker 26.05.93 181cm 101kg

Prop 27.10.88

187cm 129kg 18 3

— —

27 —

TOMMY BOWE

CALLUM BLACK

RORY BEST

Wing 22.02.84 190cm 100kg 150 69

Prop 25.02.86 180cm 116kg 128 — Centre 05.04.87 184cm 95kg 193 11 No. 8 12.11.85 195cm 110kg 193 2

Hooker 15.08.82

178cm 106kg

198 104

DARREN CAVE

PETER BROWNE 2nd Row 25.10.87 201cm 116kg

AARON CARINS

Scrum half 07.10.92 183cm 85kg 1 —

31 —

MARCELL COETZEE

JOHN DONNAN 2nd Row 16.02.93 197cm 115kg

ROBBIE DIACK

Flanker 08.05.91 191cm 112kg 4 SA 28

— —

ULSTER SQUAD 2016/17 20 LORCAN DOW Back Row 27.01.95 190cm 108kg 1 — Wing 11.03.91 183cm 90kg 149 10 Prop 07.05.88 180cm 120kg 54 — CHRIS HENRY Back Row 17.10.84 191cm 105kg 165 24

IAIN HENDERSON 2nd Row 21.02.92 199cm 117kg

CRAIG GILROY

74 32

ROB HERRING

WIEHAHN HERBST

Hooker 27.04.90 185cm 102kg 120 1

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CONOR JOYCE

PADDY JACKSON

BRETT HERRON

Back Row 05.07.93

Out half 05.01.92 180cm 87kg 123 23

Fly half 13.11.95 184cm 92kg 7 —

192cm 106kg 6 —

RICKY LUTTON

LOUIS LUDIK Full back 10.08.86 182cm 92kg 54 —

ROSS KANE

Prop 26.02.86 182cm 114kg 58 —

Prop 14.10.94 180.5cm 116kg

ULSTER SQUAD 2016/17

11 —

LUKE MARSHALL

PAUL MARSHALL

ROB LYTTLE

Centre 03.03.91 181cm 97kg 104 9 Centre 06.08.92 193cm 113kg 58 1

Scrum half 26.07.85 172cm 80kg 195 3

Prop 01.02.92 177cm 111kg 36 — Centre 03.03.91 181cm 97kg 8 — Back Row 07.04.90 193cm 108kg 2 —

KYLE McCALL

STUART McCLOSKEY

JOHNNY McPHILLIPS

Out half 13.04.97 179cm 80kg

— —

PETER NELSON Full back 05.10.92 180cm 88kg 37 — JARED PAYNE Full back 13.10.85 186cm 97kg

JONNY MURPHY

STEPHEN MULHOLLAND

Hooker 02.06.92

178cm 106kg 2 —

STUART OLDING

ALAN O’CONNOR 2nd Row 10.09.92 197cm 114kg 39 —

Centre 11.03.93 178cm 93kg 62 4

78 20

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stand out from the crowd

Visit our NEW sign & display showroom for inspiration

Call in and speak to us today or get in touch on 028 9070 5205

Join us at our OPENDAY Friday 16th June from 12pm - 5.30pm

Showroom address: Unit 5 & 6, Prince Regent Business Park, Prince Regent Road, Belfast, BT5 6QR

RUAN PIENAAR

CHARLES PIUTAU

MATTHEW REA 2nd Row 21.09.93 193cm 110kg

Back Row 05.10.89 182cm 105kg 58 1 Scrum half 10.03.84 187cm 90kg 141 SA 88 Prop 19.08.90 184cm 110kg 4 — Wing 20.10.84 185cm 97kg 217 70 Back Row 21.09.81 190cm 106kg 221 1

Utility back 31.10.91 183cm 102kg 23 NZ 16

— —

DAVE SHANAHAN

SEAN REIDY

CLIVE ROSS

Scrum half 20.06.93 174cm 90kg

Back Row 14.06.89 193cm 105kg

ULSTER SQUAD 2016/17

13 —

52 —

JOHNNY SIMPSON

JACOB STOCKDALE

KIERAN TREADWELL 2nd Row 11.06.95 198cm 121kg

Wing 04.03.96 195cm 96kg

24 —

21 —

ANDY WARWICK

ANDREW TRIMBLE

FRANCO VAN DER MERWE 2nd Row 15.03.83 198cm 117kg 73 SA 1

Prop 12.03.91 179cm 110kg

74 —

ROGER WILSON

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

INTERACTIVE DIGITAL PROGRAMME NOW AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD www.ulsterrugbydigital.com

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1

ANDREW WARWICK

PETER NELSON

14

2

MARK KEANE

ROB HERRING

13

3

RODNEY AH YOU

CALLUM PATTERSON

12

4

PETER BROWNE

STUART McCLOSKEY

ULSTER RUBGY

11

5

ALAN O'CONNOR

CRAIG GILROY

6

10

MATTHEW REA

BRETT HERRON

7

9

RUAN PIENAAR C

CLIVE ROSS

REPLACEMENTS 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24

C. HENRY P. MARSHALL D. SHANAHAN C. SMITH R. LUTTON

J. ANDREW K. McCALL R. KANE S. MULHOLLAND

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ROGER WILSON C

TODAY’S OFFICIALS

REFEREE BEN WHITEHOUSE WRFU ASSISTANT REFEREES DAVID WILKINSON | JONNY ERSKINE IRFU 4TH & 5TH OISIN QUINN | PETER MARTIN IRFU TMO SIMON McDOWELL IRFU

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15

1

CHRIS KING

ALEX GOODE

14

2

DAVID SMITH

COREY FLYNN

BARBARIANS

13

3

WAISEA NAYACALEVU

MIKE ROSS

12

4

ROBBIE FRUEAN

PAUL WILLEMSE

11

5

HORACIO AGULLA

PATRICIO ALBACETE

6

10

JOE TEKORI

IAN MADIGAN

7

9

THIERRY DUSAUTOIR C

RORY KOCKOTT

REPLACEMENTS 16 17 18 19 R HIBBARD V PELO C JOHNSTON J THRUSH

20 21 22 23

C MASOE K FOTUALI'I B JAMES JM BUTTIN

8

FACUNDO ISA

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PATRICIO ALBACETE

JEAN-MARCELLIN BUTTIN

HORACIO AGULLA

Lock 09.02.81 200cm 122kg ARG 57

Full back 16.12.91 190cm 90kg FRA 2

Wing 22.10.84 182cm 88kg ARG 63

THIERRY DUSAUTOIR

COREY FLYNN

KAHN FOTUALI’I

Flanker 18.11.81 187cm 101kg FRA 80

Hooker 05.01.81 184cm

Scrum half 22.05.82 182cm 94kg SAM 32

108kg NZ 11

ROBBIE FRUEAN

RICHARD HIBBARD

ALEX GOODE

Centre 13.07.88 188cm 102kg —

Hooker 13.12.83 183cm 111kg WAL 38

Full back 07.05.88 186cm 91kg ENG 21

BARBARIANS SQUAD

BROCK JAMES

FACUNDO ISA

NATHAN HINES

Fly half 22.10.81 179cm 82kg —

No.8 21.09.93 188cm 106kg ARG 25

Lock 29.03.76 201cm 116kg SCO 77

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CENSUS JOHNSTON

CHRIS KING

RORY KOCKOTT

Scrum half 25.06.86 180cm 82kg FRA 11

Prop 06.05.81 189cm 137kg SAM 56

Prop 30.04.81 186cm 118kg —

BARBARIANS SQUAD

IAN MADIGAN

WAISEA NAYACALEVU

VINCENT PELO

Fly half 21.03.89 180cm 90kg IRE 30

Wing 26.06.90 195cm

Prop 22.04.88

187cm 135kg FRA 2

104kg FIJ 15

MIKE ROSS

DAVID SMITH

JOE TEKORI

Prop 21.12.79 188cm

Wing 12.10.86 179cm 90kg —

Lock 17.12.83 198cm 131kg SAM 34

124kg IRE 61

JEREMY THRUSH

VICTOR VITO

PAUL WILLEMSE

Lock 19.04.85 198cm

No. 8 27.03.87 192cm

Lock 13.11.92 201cm 135kg —

118kg NZ 12

112kg NZ 33

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BARBARIAN FC FAQ'S

WHO ARE THE BARBARIANS? The Barbarians are a rugby club which brings together players from different clubs to play a few matches each year to enjoy the camaraderie of the game and play attacking, adventurous rugby without the pressure of having to win.

WHEN DID THE CLUB FIRST PLAY AN OVERSEAS TEAM? The date most people will recall is 1948 when the club first played an International touring side. The Home Unions Tours Committee invited the Barbarians to play a match to raise funds for the tourist's journey home via Canada. The 45,000 crowd at Cardiff Arms Park saw the Barbarians win by 9 - 6 and the Home Unions Tours Committee has since then included such a match whenever possible in the itinerary of touring teams. WHO CAN PLAY FOR THE BARBARIANS? The only criteria a player must fulfil to receive an invitation from The Barbarians are: that the player's rugby is of a good standard and that they behave themselves on and off the field. Players from over 25 different countries have worn the famous black and white hoop jersey. Once invited a player becomes a life member of the club. WHY WAS THE CLUB FORMED? The club was formed in 1890 by a player from Blackheath, London, W P Carpmael. At that time the rugby season finished in March so he decided to invite a group of players to join him on an end- of-season tour to the North of England. This he saw as an opportunity to play with friends from various clubs who were normally opponents. It was such a success that he formed the Barbarian Football Club to continue touring on an informal basis and the first tour took place in December of that year playing Huddersfield and Bradford.

BARBARIANS

WHO IS THE MOST FAMOUS BARBARIAN? Many of the best rugby players in the world have represented the Barbarians at one time and selecting the most famous would be a matter of opinion. In terms of appearances Tony O'Reilly of Old Belvedere & Ireland made 30 appearances for the club 1955-62 and scored 38 tries, the most by any Barbarian. Other notable players who have played more than 20 matches include Budge Rogers, Ron Jacobs, John Spencer and Phil Bennett. IS THERE A MATCH FOR WHICH THE BAA-BAAS ARE MOST FAMOUS? Many would claim that the 1973 match when the Barbarians beat the All Blacks at Cardiff Arms Park is the best display of rugby ever seen. The match included the try by Gareth Edwards which took play from inside the Barbarians 25 through 7 pairs of hands to score by the comer post. John Bevan, Fergus Slattery and JPR Williams scored the other Barbarian tries in a 23 - 11 victory. An equally acclaimed victory at the time was achieved in 1961 when the Barbarians played the South African Springboks captained by Avril Malan. The Springboks were unbeaten on their tour of Great Britain and Ireland. In their last match of the tour the Barbarians held on to a 6 - 0 lead thanks to some fierce tackling and carried off the Springbok head - a trophy traditionally presented by the South African tourists to the first side to beat them when on tour.

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PLAYERS TO WATCH BARBARIANS

PATRICIO ALBACETE

POSTITION LOCK CLUB TOULOUSE CAPS ARGENTINA 57 5 POINTS – 1T

BORN 09.02.81 BUENOS AIRES HEIGHT 2.00M (6’7”) WEIGHT 122KG (19ST 2LB)

Patricio Albacete appeared at international level in 11 consecutive years up to and including 2013 and has featured in three World Cups. He shared in the 34-10 win over France in the 2007 bronze medal play-off at Parc des Princes. In that tournament he scored his only Test try against Georgia. He was with Argentine club Manuel Belgrano before appearing for Colomiers and Pau and joining Toulouse in 2006.

PLAYERS TO WATCH THIERRY DUSAUTOIR

POSTITION FLANKER CLUB TOULOUSE CAPS FRANCE 80 30 POINTS – 6T

BORN 18.11.81, ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST HEIGHT 1.87M (6’1”) WEIGHT 101KG (15ST 12LB)

First player to captain France 50 times and went on to lead his country in a record 56 Tests. He was in charge when they achieved a Grand Slam in 2010 and scored their try in the 8-7 defeat by New Zealand in the 2011 RWC final, the year he was the World Player of the Year. He is retiring after the current Barbarians tour.

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ALEX GOODE

POSTITION FULL BACK CLUB SARACENS CAPS ENGLAND 21 8 POINTS – 1T, 1PG

BORN 07.05.88 CAMBRIDGE HEIGHT 1.86M (6’1”) WEIGHT 91KG (14ST 4LB)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Alex Goode was the Aviva Premiership Player of the Season for 2015/16 and is also a double European Champions Cup winner with Saracens, the club he has helped to lift the Premiership title three times. Initially a fly half, he made his Saracens debut soon after his 20th birthday, moved to full back and his first Test start was at Port Elizabeth five years ago. His most recent cap was in the Fiji match last November. IAN MADIGAN

POSTITION FLY HALF CLUB BORDEAUX BEAGLES CAPS IRELAND 30 121 PTS – 2T, 27C, 19PG

BORN 21.3.89

DUBLIN HEIGHT 1.80M (5’11”) WEIGHT 90KG (14ST 2LB)

Ian Madigan joined Bordeaux Bègles from Leinster at the start of this season. He first appeared for Ireland in the 13-13 draw with France at the Aviva Stadium in 2013 and won the Bank of Ireland Player of the Year and PRO12 Golden Boot awards at the end of that campaign. He featured off the bench in Leinster's 2011 and 2012 Heineken Cup final wins over Northampton Saints and Ulster and also helped Ireland to become the 2014 Six Nations champions.

JOE TEKORI

POSTITION FLANKER CLUB TOULOUSE CAPS SAMOA 34 20 POINTS – 4T

BORN 17.12.83 APIA HEIGHT 1.98M (6’6”) WEIGHT 131KG (20ST 8LB)

Iosefa Tekori, popularly known as ‘Joe’, scored tries against France, Japan and Fiji in a four-Test sequence during 2009/10. His first match at that level was against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2007 before he began his ten-year stay in the Top 14. He played for Auckland in 2005/06 before moving to French club Castres and captained them before joining Toulouse in 2011. He scored one of the Barbarians’ five tries when Wales were beaten 31-28 six years ago and touched down against England last weekend.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE ULSTER RUGBY VISITOR EXPERIENCE

» » Since opening in September 2015, the Ulster Rugby Visitor Experience including The Nevin Spence Centre (NSC) has welcomed 13,351 visitors. » » Staff have played host to two funded programmes this year from The Executive Office and Department for Communities. » » The past 4 months, staff have hosted 1,269 pupils from mainstream schools and 429 pupils from Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools. Each pupil enjoyed a stadium tour, visit to the NSC, a hot lunch and a tag rugby session followed up at their school. » » On 4th May, Janice Heath from Wyoming joined Tim and Cathy for a tour of Kingpsan Stadium. Janice flew to Belfast especially for Ruan’s last game. Janice was invited to attend Captain’s Run, where she got to meet Ruan, who gave her his shirt and signed it for her. Janice commented about her first ever Ulster Rugby game: “It was AMAZING, what an atmosphere, the TV doesn’t do it justice. What an extraordinary rugby club, I see even more now why people call it the Ulster Rugby family!” » » In May, we also welcomed Owen, a Junior Season Ticket holder and OUR Club member,

who won a recent poem competition for him and his P6 class from Gilnahirk Primary School to visit. Their prize included a tour of Kingspan Stadium and The Nevin Spence Centre. They also participated in an I-pad workshop, creating a movie about their visit. The class even had a very special visit from Tommy Bowe and Marcell Coetzee while they were here! (pictured below) » » Throughout the summer months, tours are available Monday to Friday and on selected Saturdays. You can check availability and book online at www.ulsterrugby.com/ tourtickets » » The NSC will be open on Friday 28th July 2017 for our annual Family Fun Day » » Coming soon - staff are currently working on a temporary Women’s Rugby World Exhibition, which is due to open this summer, showcasing women in rugby and we look forward to the installation of our new interactive exhibit!

VISITOR EXPERIENCE UPDATE

If you have any questions regarding the Visitor Experience, please email tours@ulsterrugby.com.

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Ulster Juniors secure second Inter-Pro series title in three years! CONGRATULATIONS ULSTER JUNIORS

JUNIOR INTER-PROVINCIAL SERIES ROUND 1: ULSTER 20-3 MUNSTER Following six weeks of intensive preparation under the guidance of new Head Coach Richard Boyd along with Michael Ferguson and Robert Ford, Ulster Juniors hosted reigning champions Munster at Randalstown RFC in the opening series game on Saturday 29th April. The large crowd had to wait 28 minutes for the first points of the game. Having spotted space behind the Munster defence, scrum-half Allen McCluggage’s kick turned their cover and winger Mitchell McComb showed his footballing skills and pace to touch down for an excellent try. McCluggage added the extra two points to give Ulster a well deserved 7-0 lead.  The Ulster forwards were dominating their Munster counterparts, however, the visitors responded when out-half John Lillis converted one of two penalty attempts to bring the score to 7-3. Ulster gained the initiative early in the second half, with McCluggage kicking two penalties to increase his team's lead to 13-3 after 50 minutes. The Ulster back row of Hughes, Andy McKeen and the formidable Andrew Kelly at number 8, got through an enormous amount of work, and with just minutes remaining, Ulster got their reward when second row Christie showed his athleticism to brush aside Munster centre Eoin O'Dwyer and storm in from the 22 metre line for a well- deserved try, which McCluggage converted. The forwards laid a great platform for the team to play with a high tempo and with a strong bench of replacements to call upon to maintain that pace and intensity, recording a solid opening win for the Ulstermen. JUNIOR INTER-PROVINCIAL SERIES ROUND 2: CONNACHT 5-34 ULSTER On Saturday 6th May, Ulster travelled to Ballina RFC to play Connacht. Ulster flew out of the blocks and produced a scintillating first half of rugby to set the foundations for a comfortable win.

Playing against a stiff breeze, Richard Boyd's side had a 24 point lead to show for a dominant opening 40 minutes. Back row Brian Hughes was on the end of two flowing moves to touch down twice, with Mikey Poskitt converting one of them to give Ulster a 12-0 lead after 10 minutes. Not to be outdone, fellow back rower Andy McKeen quickly got in on the try scoring action, again converted by Poskitt. Out-half Bokkie Carstens scored Ulster’s fourth try, converted by Poskitt and half back partner Ryan Garrett, controlled the game effectively as Ulster continued to make light of the breeze. Connacht rallied in the second half and came back strongly as they made a number of changes to their starting XV. However, Poskitt kept the scoreboard ticking over and nudged over another penalty. Out half Carstens scored Ulster’s fifth try of the afternoon, Poskitt again slotting the easy conversion to make it 34-0. Connacht did score a very late consolation try, intercepting the ball close to their own line as Ulster pressed yet again, almost running the full length before recycling the ball to score an unconverted try in the corner. JUNIOR INTER-PROVINCIAL SERIES ROUND 3: LEINSTER 34-15 ULSTER Ulster travelled to Longford RFC on Saturday 13th May to play Leinster in the final game of the series, knowing that a point would be enough to reclaim the series title. As in their previous two games, Ulster played into a very stiff wind in the first half, but the Ulster forwards demonstrated early in the game that they had complete control in the set piece, both in the scrum and at lineouts. Leinster opened the scoring on 17 minutes when second row Ronan Costello was on hand to pick and go from close range, following a penalty which gave the home side a lineout within the Ulster 22. Ulster responded straight away, putting huge pressure on the restart to regain the football. Ulster went through a series of plays, moving the ball around well, eventually getting it to right wing

ULSTER JUNIORS

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Neil Brown to take the scoring pass, running the ball home from outside the 22 and scoring in the corner. Ulster then seized the initiative on 31 minutes. A huge hit by Ulster in the midfield saw the ball spill forward and into the hands of fly-half Bokkie Carstens who accelerated away to score under the posts, leaving McCluggage with a simple conversion to make it 12-5. Ulster got off to the perfect start in the second half, with Brian Hughes soaring high to gather the ball from Carstens’ restart. Ulster held onto the ball, going through the phases before the ball made its way to Phil Cartmill down the left hand side, who made an outside break to finish in the corner. McCluggage converted to make the score 19-5.

Leinster then added a brace of tries, either side of a McCluggage penalty, to make it a one-score game at 22-15 with 20 minutes to play. Leinster were now struggling to get out of their own 22, and when a clearing kick was gathered by Ulster winger Mitchell McComb, play was switched to the opposite wing for Brown to dart in for his second try of the game. Ulster then put the game and the championship to bed in the closing stages as a misdirected pass broke to centre Mikey Poskitt who had the pace to leave the covering defence in his wake and touch down. Poskitt converted his own try to make the final score 34-15, giving Ulster their third win and a clean sweep to claim the 2017 Inter-Provincial title.

ULSTER JUNIORS

TEAM

PL W D L

F A DIFF BP PTS

Ulster Juniors

3

3 2 1 0

0 0 0 0

0 1 2 3

88 23 65 68 38 30

2 1

14

Munster Juniors 3 Leinster Juniors 3 Connacht Juniors 3

9 4 1

45 78 -33 0 22 84 -62 1

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BOOKINGS NOW OPEN FOR SUBWAY ULSTER RUGBY SUMMER CAMPS Ulster Rugby, who have partnered with Subway as the title sponsor of all Ulster Rugby camps, have announced details of the 2017 Summer Camp programme.

The summer camps will feature 24 camps at 22 venues throughout the Province from 3rd July until 18th August, offering a fun-filled programme of rugby training and games for boys and girls of all ages and abilities. Five-day Junior Camps will continue to run at 15 locations for boys and girls aged 6-11 while two three-day Girls Camps at Malone RFC and Clogher Valley RFC will cater for 10-16 year old females. Newforge sports complex in Belfast will once again host a three-day Special Needs Camp, while an additional Special Needs Camp will also be held at Portadown RFC. Following on from the successful introduction of the School of Excellence Camps last summer, 5 similar three- day camps will be run for more experienced 11-15 year old boys and girls. All camps will run from 9am-1pm each day. The focus of all camps is about boys and girls enjoying rugby in a fun and safe environment, with young players benefitting from expert advice from IRFU qualified rugby coaches while Ulster professional players will also be on hand to give tips on the game, talk about life as a professional and interact with the participants.

Subway Ulster Rugby Camps offer great value with £65 the cost for a place on the Junior Camp, £40 for the Girls and Special Needs Camps, and £85 for the School of Excellence Camps. Discounts are available for additional family members attending the same camp and for participants attending a second camp. The prices include a t-shirt, boot bag, rugby ball, plus promotional codes to claim a free ticket to an Ulster game at Kingspan Stadium and a free stadium tour, including a visit to The Nevin Spence Centre. As part of the lead-in to the Womens Rugby World Cup, the winners’ trophy will also be on show at a number of the summer camps for participants to get their photo taken and learn more about the big event, which climaxes in Belfast this August. Places on each camp are strictly limited, so parents are encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment. For full details of this year’s Subway Ulster Rugby Summer Camps, or to book your place online, visit www.ulsterrugby.com/camps.

SUMMER CAMPS

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It was a rather dreary Bradford evening in October 1890 that the seed which has bloomed into the iconic Barbarians was sown, with what we would today call a ‘mission statement’ which sustains the modern, spectacular model. WELCOME THE BARBARIANS AT THE GATE!

William Percy Carpmael loved his rugby, and played with some distinction for Cambridge University and the Blackheath Club. He believed that his sport must be introduced to more and more people, and it was his idea to organise a side to travel far and wide in Britain, spreading good fellowship and using the oval ball game to promote basic human values. In these more cynical – some might think sophisticated – days Carpmael’s vision of spreading a gospel encouraging courage, flair, team spirit and passion might appear rather naïve, if worthy. Happily the Barbarians maintain principles of which Carpmael would certainly approve, even if the idea he hatched in Leuchters Restaurant has flourished into the globally- recognised ‘brand’ which will – as usual – attract a capacity crowd to Kingspan Stadium this wondrous evening. The first match the Baa-Baas played was at Hartlepool’s Friary Field just after Christmas in 1890, drawing a small, curious crowd of spectators which wasn’t entirely au fait with the intricacies of Rugby Union, then amateur to its very core. Since then Barbarians history has traced its path defined by great players, spectacular matches, locations which resonate with supporters everywhere For those of us of a certain vintage the rugby calendar began in September and drew its curtains around Easter when the colourful gang of very talented players, of all countries, races and creed, established an ad hoc base at Penarth’s Esplanade Hotel, to this day the club’s spiritual home. The fixtures against Cardiff, those at Leicester, were stages for players to throw off any shackles and demonstrate a range of skills and imagination which entranced. And just as its net cast itself wide to field sides of incredible lustre so too did the fixture list, and international sides on tour in the UK and Ireland would very regularly conclude their rigorous trips with a mood-altering abandon in contests which have been stamped on rugby’s consciousness. Not just the game with New Zealand and ‘that try’ from Gareth Edwards, but – and Carpmael would so have approved – the Barbarians stepped

up to offer opposition to countries such as Australia which, in 1948, found its coffers empty and officially ‘strapped for cash’ to conclude its tour and finance the trip home via Canada! The hurriedly-arranged match attracted a big crowd, the ‘takings’ ensuring the playing party could return ‘down under’ in good health and on a sound financial basis. And the founding fathers’ ambitions for the expansion of rugby have been exceedingly achieved, and the devotion to a style of playing has been joyfully embraced by all of the near- 3,000 players who’ve realised their own dream of being a ‘Baa-Baa’! It’s impossible to browse that celebrated list and not have great memories revived, even the reason that rugby has become a personal passion. Kyle, Morgan, Bledwyn and JJ Williams, Edwards, Gibson, Duckham, Guscott, Calder, McBride, Morgan, the Quinnells, Ripley, Bennett, Slattery randomly come to mind, while from other shores Blanco, Farr-Jones, Lomu, Meads are and were men of singular talent and character. And here in Belfast this evening an Ulster team which will have every incentive to demonstrate its own individual and collective potential will tread the same sward as modern legends such as Patricio Albacete and Facundo Isa from Argentina and Samoa's Joe Tekori. New Zealand’s Corey Flynn and Jeremy Thrush will hope to pack down together, perhaps alongside the Samoan giant Census Johnson and Ireland’s Mike Ross. But quite naturally so much interest will centre on the marvel which is Thierry Dusautoir, of Toulouse and France, a magnificent breakaway forward and an international captain to rank with the true ‘greats’ of the game. Dusautoir is taking leave of rugby this week after the games with England and Ulster and what a reception he deserves: a supreme athlete, a ferocious competitor and

ROD NAWN

unyielding, inventive leader of men. Truly, we will never see his like again.

Coach Vern Cotter is also moving on after being properly rewarded for his dedicated efforts with Scotland in bequeathing a self-confident, gifted and passionate national side to his successor Gregor Townsend.

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