Ulster Rugby vs Bath

OFFICIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME £4 ULSTER

SAT 18 JAN 2020, 3.15PM KINGSPAN STADIUM vBATH

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Today's Mascots Kingspan Welcome EPCR Welcome President’s Welcome

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Interview: Stuart McCloskey Six Nations Rugby Squad Interview: John Cooney

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Season So Far Last Time Out

Today's Opponents Match Statistics Bath's Sam Underhill Three to Watch: Bath

Academy Squad

Ulster Squad Profiles

Ulster Team Bath Team Bath Profiles

Spot the Difference

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SONI Real Rugby Heroes Guest Article: Rod Nawn Referee Q&A: Sara Topping

Stadium Map

Domestic Rugby

Stand Up Membership Packages

Half-Time Rugby Teams

URSC Update

Stadium Information Competition Standings

Fixtures

Sponsors and Partners

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TODAY'S MASCOTS

CILLIAN HALL (11) FROM DROMARA Cillian attends Fairhill PS and plays rugby for Dromore Rugby Club. His other interests include swimming, cross country, cycling, playing piano, climbing, reading and cooking. His favourite player is Jacob Stockdale as he is a winger just like Cillian and when he grows up he would like to play professional rugby or be a chef.

DANIEL WILLIAMS (11) FROM BALLYNAHINCH

Daniel attends RBAI and plays rugby for his school. As well as playing rugby Daniel also enjoys reading and cycling. His favourite player is Jacob Stockdale as he thinks he is a fast and skilful player. When Daniel grows up he would like to be a rugby player or a dentist.

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Welcome back to Kingspan Stadium, the home of Ulster Rugby, where this afternoon Ulster will face off against Bath in Round 6 of the Heineken Champions Cup. Following a defeat for the Ulstermen over Clermont last weekend, they will now look to return to winning ways with a victory today securing a spot in the quarter finals. Bath will also be focused on securing a victory too after losing out last weekend to a confident Harlequins team. With both teams hungry for a win, we look forward to what we are sure is to be an entertaining encounter between both teams, ensuring a rousing atmosphere in the Kingspan. The Ulster faithful are known for providing a warm welcome and I am sure the Bath squad and their travelling supporters will experience nothing less from their visit. Finally, on behalf of Kingspan Stadium, I would like to wish the Ulster Rugby Squad and management team the very best of luck. To Ulster’s committed fans, enjoy the game, lead the way and help ensure that this is an afternoon to remember at the Kingspan.

WELCOME FROMEPCR

2019 will take some beating for entertaining rugby and

Firstly, I would like to congratulate four- time winners Leinster Rugby on becoming the first club to confirm their presence in the quarter-finals – delivering in 2019 even before Santa - and their impressive record of four victories from as many rounds at the start of the Pool Stage is matched by joint record title-holders Toulouse as well as Ulster Rugby and Exeter Chiefs. Eighteen of the twenty participating clubs have registered Heineken Champions Cup victories before even entering the January rounds, underlining the competitive nature of the tournament. Furthermore, that success is diverse with pool supremacy after four weekends being shared between clubs from the Top 14, Guinness PRO14 (leading two sections each) and the Gallagher Premiership (heading one pool). In 2019, the popularity, reach and engagement of European club rugby tournaments was undeniable. More than 1.5million spectators packed into the stadiums to witness matches in the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, with matches broadcast in 150 countries and a significant increase in free-to-air visibility in the United Kingdom, in the new year, I can already say that the continental scene promises much in 2020. developments both on and off the field but as I have the pleasure of welcoming you to the first tranche of Heineken Champions Cup action

Ireland and France as well as exposure on network television in the USA for Saracens’ final win over Leinster Rugby in Newcastle. Ticket sales to date for Finals Weekend this season in Marseille shows that the ‘destination’ finals concept is going from strength-to-strength and the sales period for the 2020/2021 showpiece at the state-of-the-art Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will open later this year. We extend our best wishes for this new rugby year to our partners, who support us considerably as we forge the Road to Marseille. We thank title partners Heineken, Official Partner Tissot and Official Supporters Financial Times, Gilbert and Kappa as well as BT Sport, who take the tournament to homes across the United Kingdom and Ireland along with Channel 4 and Virgin Media. Whoever you support, we hope that you enjoy the defining January rounds of the Heineken Champions Cup.

Yours in rugby, Simon Halliday EPCR Chairman

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PRESIDENT'S WELCOME

Today’s game is of huge importance with Ulster still aiming to secure a place in the quarter-finals, and a win would book a place in the final eight for the second year in succession. Dan and the team will no doubt be frustrated with the defeat in Clermont last weekend, but it is encouraging that we now have a squad that will travel to one of the most difficult away venues in Europe and expect a result. Our opponents today have had a difficult and frustrating Champions Cup campaign, which started with Ulster edging out a 16-17 victory at The Rec in November. However, they still possess a squad littered with international quality, so I have no doubt that Ulster will be fully focused on the task at hand and will be well prepared for a significant challenge from Bath. After today’s game, the playing squad will get a well deserved break following a prolonged period of thirteen games in as many weeks, including six Heineken Champions Cup ties and four inter- provincial derbies. The Six Nations Championship is also on the horizon, and I congratulate the eight Ulster players who have been selected in Andy Farrell’s first squad, in particular Billy Burns and Tom O’Toole, who could earn their first international caps. It is also great to see another of Ulster’s most exciting young prospects Robert Baloucoune included in the development group, which is another nod to the work being done in Ulster’s player pathway. On the domestic front, I would like to congratulate Rainey Old Boys RFC who won the SONI Ulster Rugby Premiership for the first time in the club’s history just before Christmas. Enniskillen RFC also had a historic maiden Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup title to celebrate, thanks to a thrilling win over City of Armagh at Kingspan Stadium. Well done to them. I would also like to send my support and best wishes to Dromore RFC who travel to Morrissey Park to take on Kilfeacle & District RFC in the All Ireland Junior Cup Final next weekend. To the visiting Bath Officers, management and playing squad, I hope you have an enjoyable, but not successful trip to Belfast. To the Ulster supporters – today is the third game in a row where you have packed out Kingspan Stadium. Thank you for your outstanding continued support, which I have no doubt makes a huge difference to the team. Let’s get right behind them again today from the very first whistle! SUFTUM! Gary Leslie President, IRFU Ulster Branch On behalf of Ulster Rugby, I would like to welcome everyone to Kingspan Stadium for this afternoon’s Heineken Champions Cup fixture versus Bath.

IRFU ULSTER BRANCH 2019/20 OFFICERS Gary Leslie President Philip Gregg Senior Vice President Denis Gardiner Junior Vice President & Honorary Secretary Michael Boyd Honorary Treasurer Greg Irwin Competitions Secretary Jonny Petrie Chief Executive Officer

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

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WE ARE RUGBY

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Ahead of the Heineken Champions Cup clash against Bath, we caught up with Stuart McCloskey to reflect on the Clermont game, to chat about skills training, team cohesion, and to look forward to today’s game. STUART McCLOSKEY

with different weights of balls too, so Dan keeps everyone enthusiastic about working on skills. That’s why you will have seen players showing extra parts to their game.” This training development is just one of several factors which the 27-year-old feels has been behind Ulster’s resurgence this season. “I’m sure the extra skills work has helped in a way; it’s an accumulative thing, isn’t it? The work Jared Payne has been doing with us in defence has been great this season. Roddy Grant and Dan McFarland’s work with the forwards has been going from strength to strength as well. Everything is coming together now; we aren’t the finished article but are moving towards it.” The Bangor Bulldozer’s longstanding partnership with Luke Marshall in midfield needs little explanation, but there are other units within the squad becoming more established, such as the Cooney – Burns half-back pairings. That cohesion from game-to-game is something that he relishes. “Speaking for Luke and myself, our partnership has been going for 4 or 5 years now. There’s still a lot for us to do together but we work well and communicate with one guy covering the other. That’s when we really thrive; we know what each other is going to do in attack as well.

Although the defeat to ASM Clermont Auvergne last Saturday was a disappointing result for the powerhouse centre, Stuart McCloskey was encouraged by many facets of Ulster’s performance. “When you go away to one of the best teams in Europe, you’re going to have to take your opportunities when they come; we didn’t do that and we let them come into the game too much. There were a lot of positives to take – we controlled the game well for large periods. “I don’t think the score line fairly reflected how much we were in it – at one point it was 16-13 with fifteen minutes to go. It shows how far we have come that going over there, we’re expected to get the win, or if not, be very close to winning. We’ve really come on in the last couple of years.” The squad is encouraged by the coaches – including Skills Coach, Dan Soper – to try new things and add extra dimensions to their skillsets; something which McCloskey has fervently embraced. “Dan Soper has us working on lots of different areas and keeps it interesting. We could be kicking one day and offloading the next. We work on a variety of passing drills

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“This season, we’ve had that 9, 10, 12, 13 unit playing most games with John Cooney who’s probably the best 9 in Europe at the moment. He’s controlling us well and having a great season. There are lots of great combinations across the squad and I think it comes from the team playing well if players get regular game time. You can see that confidence is building and as a group it all comes together. There’s a lot of competition - there will be times when we swap about and new combinations are formed. It’s going pretty well for us.” With Ulster now needing a win to guarantee a place in the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals, the centre knows that despite Ulster’s opponents Bath being out of the running, they cannot get ahead of themselves. “Bath have a lot of world-class players with nothing to lose in this competition. That can lead to some trouble for us, so we won’t get complacent. This is like a cup final because we need to win to make it to the quarter-finals, which is where we want to be. We want to get as high up the top 8 seedings as possible and we have to win this game to do that.” McCloskey is particularly excited about the prospect of playing such a decisive European game in front of another bumper home crowd. “In the last two sell-out home games, we got the try bonus point so there has to be something said about how important it is for us! Over the years, the support has been brilliant; even during the tough times, the fans have been there for us and we want to give something back to repay their loyalty.”

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SIXNATIONSRUGBY EIGHTULSTERPLAYERSNAMED IN IRELANDSIXNATIONSSQUAD

Ulster’s Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Jack McGrath, Tom O’Toole, Will Addison, Billy Burns, John Cooney and Jacob Stockdale have been named in Andy Farrell’s 35-player squad for the upcoming 2020 Guinness Six Nations Championship.

IRELAND 2020 GUINNESS SIX NATIONS SQUAD

FORWARDS 19 Max Deegan Lansdowne/Leinster

Robbie Henshaw Buccaneers/Leinster Dave Kearney Lansdowne/Leinster

Banbridge/Ulster Andrew Porter UCD/Leinster

0

40

23

0

James Ryan UCD/Leinster

19

Caelan Doris UCD/Leinster

Jordan Larmour St Mary’s College/Leinster 21

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CJ Stander Shannon/Munster Devin Toner Lansdowne/Leinster Josh van der Flier UCD/Leinster BACKS 16 Will Addison Enniskillen/Ulster Bundee Aki Galwegians/Connacht Andrew Conway Garryowen/Munster John Cooney Terenure College/Ulster Keith Earls Young Munster/Munster Chris Farrell Young Munster/Munster Billy Burns Ulster Ross Byrne UCD/Leinster

Ultan Dillane Corinthians/Connacht

Luke McGrath UCD/Leinster

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19

Tadhg Furlong Clontarf/Leinster Cian Healy Clontarf/Leinster

Conor Murray Garryowen/Munster

67

41

78

Garry Ringrose UCD/Leinster

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95

28

Dave Heffernan Buccaneers/Connacht Iain Henderson Academy RFC/Ulster Rob Herring Ballynahinch/Ulster Ronan Kelleher Lansdowne/Leinster Dave Kilcoyne UL Bohemians/Munster

Jonathan Sexton (C) St Marys College/Leinster 88 Jacob Stockdale Lurgan/Ulster 25 DEVELOPMENT PLAYERS Ryan Baird Dublin University/Leinster Robert Baloucoune Enniskillen/Ulster Harry Byrne Lansdowne/Leinster

1

4

53

23

8

0

0

3

36

Jack McGrath St Mary’s College/Ulster 56 Jack O’Donoghue UL Bohemians/Munster 2 Peter O’Mahony Cork Constitution/Munster 64 Tom O’Toole

18

8

Will Connors UCD/Leinster

82

9

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JOHN COONEY

Ulster’s on-fire scrum-half, John Cooney is in a good place at the moment. A major contributor to the province’s success this season, he has already hit a tally of 9 tries and 161 points in 14 games. He surpassed the 500-point milestone for Ulster after just two-and-a- half seasons against Munster in the first game of 2020. He is making sure that he gives Ireland Head Coach, Andy Farrell a selection headache ahead of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations campaign as he is called up to the international squad.

you’re a different player than when you are during the week so I’d like an opportunity to show what I can do in a game.” The 29-year-old has played against some of the best scrum-halves in European rugby recently, lining out against Conor Murray, Morgan Parra, Danny Care in the last month alone. The opportunity to get the upper hand against such quality players is a particularly big carrot for Cooney. “I’m a competitor and any time I play number 9, it’s always one of my goals to try and play as well, if not better than the opposing 9. I want to try and get the upper hand in these games. I feel like I could play again a couple of days later, and that helps mentally when you’re feeling good. I’ve enjoyed the competitive aspect of trying to out-do your opposite number.” The scrum-half’s brace of 9 tries this season has been an especially impressive feat in just 14 games. This is partly down to Cooney’s response to a challenge laid down by Assistant Coach, Dwayne Peel.

“I was disappointed in the summer not to get a game for Ireland. I went home and took the positives that I was back in a familiar environment here while also taking a lot from the Irish pre-season, as I felt in really good shape coming back to Ulster. I told myself to come out and play as well as I can and give the coaches no excuse not to pick me. It’s a mantra I’ve had for a couple of seasons.” Although at the time of interview, Cooney didn’t know whether or not he would be selected for the Ireland squad, when asked about how he might deal with the added pressure that Six Nations rugby brings, he was excited about the prospect. “You never know until you’re there but I think I’d relish the opportunity. When I play games, I’m a bit of a different animal than in training. I think it’s difficult to get picked from performance in training; in a game you’ve got more adrenaline and confidence;

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“Dwayne said to me in the summer that he wanted to see more from me in terms of scoring tries. When coaches tell me to do something, it sticks with me - that stuck with me. “I think I’ve only scored 2 or 3 tries from support lines; I’ve been trying to get a few outside of that, by making breaks. I hit a peak speed time the other week that I had been chasing as a target for four years. I put a lot of emphasis on that part of my game, trying to be as fast as our wingers. I’ve probably used the speed part of my game more than previous seasons.” Cooney’s scintillating form has been rewarded by a call-up to the Ireland Six Nations squad, but his attention is firmly on his ambition to reach the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals by beating Bath this afternoon and extending Ulster’s impressive home record in a packed Kingspan Stadium. “I remember last year, Will Addison said, “pressure is a privilege” and that’s the position we put ourselves in this year. It’s in our side of the game that we’re at home and it’s important for us to play well. If we get 5 points, that’s great but it’s important that we just get the win. We’ve had two sell-out crowds at the start of the New Year so it’s important that we get up for these games but we find it very easy. We don’t want to lose that winning record.”

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HEINEKENCHAMPIONSCUP SEASONSOFAR

and John Cooney's nerves of steel were once again called upon in the dying minutes to seal the win courtesy of a high-pressure penalty. Ulster returned to the top of the Pool 3 table on 12 points, one ahead of Clermont Auvergne at the half-way stage, with the losing bonus point taking Quins up to five, and Bath bringing up the rear on two points. In the Round 4 return fixture, John Cooney extended his remarkable European scoring record as Ulster marched on to their fourth consecutive Heineken Champions Cup victory – and picked up what could prove to be a crucial bonus point – the final score 10-34. Two tries and nine points from the boot for the Man of the Match brought his try tally after four rounds to four – joint-top in the tournament with Racing 92’s Teddy Thomas – and his total points haul to 54 – streets ahead of the chasing pack. More importantly still, additional tries from Luke Marshall, Matt Faddes and Tom O’Toole eased Ulster past the bonus-point threshold, strengthening their lead in Pool 3 after the fourth round. Following a busy Inter-provincial festive schedule, Ulster returned to Heineken Champions Cup rugby in the form of the very difficult task of ASM Clermont Auvergne at the cauldron that is the Stade Marcel- Michelin on Saturday 11th January. One point ahead at the interval, and a fine first-half performance thanks to a try, conversion and penalty from John Cooney, Dan McFarland’s side could not contain a much-improved Clermont in the second half, with tries from Alivereti Raka and George Moala giving the French giants a 29-13 win. Clermont now top the group on 20 points with Ulster on 17, but there is still everything to play for in the final round of the Heineken Champions Cup group stage, as a win against Bath in Belfast could still see the Ulstermen finish at the summit of Pool 3, should Clermont slip up against Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop.

As Ulster go into their final Pool 3 Game of the Heineken Champions Cup against Bath on Saturday, we’ve taken a look back through their previous five games of the European competition. In the opening round of the Heineken Champions Cup on 16th November, a John Cooney masterclass – and a match-saving interception from Jacob Stockdale right at the death – saw Ulster make a sensational start to their 2019/20 Heineken Champions Cup campaign, edging out Bath in a veritable tug-of-war at the Recreation Ground, winning 16-17. An opportunistic try first-half try and seven points from the boot by Cooney, coupled with a Robert Lyttle score in the second period, saw Dan McFarland’s men over the line, but with a single point separating the sides in overtime, Stockdale’s superb tracking steal from Semesa Rokoduguni metres from home proved just as crucial. In the second round the following week at a rain-sodden Kingspan Stadium, a pumped- up Ulster put themselves in the Pool 3 driving seat, as tries from Jordi Murphy and John Cooney sent French heavyweights ASM Clermont Auvergne back home with just a losing bonus point, with Ulster emerging 18-13 winners In the first of the December back-to-back Champions Cup fixtures, Ulster maintained their 100% Heineken Champions Cup win record at the expense of Harlequins in a hard-fought Round 3 clash that was just as tight as the 25-24 scoreline suggested. With the lead changing hands four times during the encounter, tries from Sean Reidy, Stuart McCloskey and replacement Adam McBurney were not quite enough to put Ulster out of sight of a dogged Quins side,

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LASTTIMEOUT ASMCLERMONTAUVERGNE29 ULSTER 13

perhaps felt a little disgruntled to run off at the interval only a single point ahead. An energetic start from the Ulstermen, with McCloskey in particular instrumental, got them to the Clermont five-metre line within 60 seconds, and with a penalty soon coming when the Frenchmen failed to roll away, Cooney settled any nerves with a close-range kick at goal. Camille Lopez soon levelled matters courtesy of a drop goal, but the parity was short-lived, as that man Cooney once again made the difference, touching down on nine minutes after carries and incredibly slick passing from McGrath, Reidy and Moore. The scrum-half converted his own score, but the lead was cut to four points at the end of the first quarter thanks to a Morgan Parra penalty. Ulster went on to enjoy good possession, however, and received a

A second half resurgence from ASM Clermont Auvergne emulated a fine first period from Ulster at the Stade Marcel-Michelin, with the defeat – Ulster’s first of the European campaign – making this weekend’s Round 6 showdown with Bath at the Kingspan Stadium all the more critical. One point ahead at the interval thanks to a try, conversion and penalty from John Cooney, Dan McFarland’s side could not contain a much-improved Clermont in the second half, with tries from Alivereti Raka and George Moala. Ulster had the better of the first half, enjoying 60% of possession and a similar percentage of territorial advantage – and

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shot in the arm on 22 minutes when Parra saw yellow for intentional offside with the visitors only metres from the line. Burns went for touch but an overthrow at the lineout put paid to any hopes of an immediate score, although an intentional slap-down from Fritz Lee soon gave them a second chance – until tenacious tackling from the hosts dragged Stockdale into touch. As Clermont began to find their feet on the half-hour mark, Baloucoune gave another illustration of his defensive prowess when his last-gasp tackle on Moala prevented a nailed-on try by the right-hand corner flag, and the hosts, with Parra now back in the ranks, had to settle for a second penalty from their scrum-half on the stroke of half-time to reduce the gap to a point. HALF-TIME SCORE ASM Clermont Auvergne 9 Ulster 10 An early second half penalty from Parra missed its target, but with Clermont proving more and more dominant at scrum-time, their first try was not long in coming, Raka only just brushing the whitewash with the ball and no more after pilediving work from Moala. Parra converted. With Tom O’Toole and Matt Faddes now in the ranks, replacing Marty Moore and Will Addion, Ulster slowed things down for a good five minutes before a Clermont offside won them a ‘22’ lineout. With a rolling maul eschewed in favour of swift passing from right to left, the visitors probed and prodded at the Clermont rear-guard, eventually forcing an offside penalty on 63 minutes which Cooney dispatched. Now only three points adrift, Ulster conceded a central penalty of their own, which Parra gratefully put away. Multiple changes saw Kieran Treadwell, Matthew Rea, David Shanahan and Bill Johnston come on for the final ten minutes, but another penalty at scrum-time allowed Greig Laidlaw – recently on for Parra – to

edge Ulster out of losing bonus point territory with eight minutes left. Moala, impressive throughout, rubbed further salt in the wounds with three minutes remaining, powering his way through Shanahan and Stockdale to the line, his score converted by Laidlaw. There was still time for Ulster to launch one final offensive, brought to an end by a huge tackle on Marshall in the ‘22’ that caused the centre to knock on. Ulster return to Belfast down but not out, knowing that a win over Bath will seal a place in the last eight as one of the top three runners-up – or perhaps as group winners should Harlequins do them a favour in London. FULL-TIME SCORE ASM Clermont Auvergne 29 Ulster 13

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TODAY'SOPPONENTS BATHRUGBY

180 TOP METRE MAKER

Founded: Ground:

1965

The Recreation Head Coach: Stuart Hooper Captain : Charlie Ewels

SEMESA ROKODUGUNI

53 TOP TACKLER

HEINEKEN CUP CAMPAIGN SO FAR ROUND 1 SATURDAY 16TH NOVEMBER 2019 BATH RUGBY 16 ULSTER RUGBY 17 ROUND 2 SATURDAY 23RD NOVEMBER 2019 HARLEQUINS 15 BATH RUGBY 9 ROUND 3 FRIDAY 6TH DECEMBER 2019 BATH RUGBY 17 ASM CLERMONT AUVERGNE 33 ROUND 4 SUNDAY 15TH DECEMBER 2019 ASM CLERMONT AUVERGNE 52 BATH RUGBY 26 ROUND 5 FRIDAY 10TH JANUARY 2020 BATH RUGBY 19 HARLEQUINS 25 CURRENT POOL 3 STANDINGS TEAM ASM Clermont Auvergne 5 4 0 1

JOSH BAYLISS

2 TOP TRY SCORER 29 TOP POINT SCORER

JACK WALKER

FREDDIE BURNS

PL W D L PF PA DIFF TF TA TB LB PTS

181

95 86 22 12 3 1 20

Ulster Rugby Harlequins Bath Rugby

5 4 0 1 107 92 15 13 8 1 0 17 5 2 0 3 95 140 -45 10 18 0 1 9

5 0 0 5 87 143 -56 10 17 1

3 4

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STATISTICS SO FAR THIS SEASON

COMPETITION SPECIFIC

1,985

1,522

Metres Gained

674

582

Carries

598

625

Tackles Made

28

29

Turnovers Won

48

53

Penalties Conceded

Top Metre Maker Jacob Stockdale 262m

Top Tackler Rob Herring 58 Tackles

TODAY'SOPPONENTS SAMUNDERHILL – ONTHEOPENSIDE

Sam Underhill expects a strong challenge from the Ulster as the flanker commits his future to Bath Rugby. The Bath Rugby and England man recently signed a new three-year extension ahead of the West Country outfit’s European Champions Cup match against Harlequins last week and is looking forward to the challenge Ulster Rugby will bring at Kingsholm Stadium today. “Obviously Ulster have had a great run in the European Champions Cup and I’m sure will be challenging for a quarter-final place. They’ve had eight of their squad called up to the Ireland squad for this year’s Guinness Six Nations so that demonstrates the strength in depth they have. “We have a very young squad with huge potential – we’ve got a long way to go but that is something to look forward to,” said Underhill. “We’ve only lost by a few points in our last three clashes against Ulster so I know the lads will be fired up to go out there and put in a good performance. We haven’t had a great run in Europe this year but some of the matches have been really close and we’d definitely like to end on a high at Kingspan.” On extending his stay at Bath Rugby, the England star said: “I’m really excited to have re-signed with the Club for the next three years. We’ve had a new set up this season and I’m impressed with how everything is gelling together so far. “I’m looking forward to see how things continue to develop. We have a young pack and some really promising youngsters coming through our Academy pathway, which shows how strong the programme is. Added to the experience we have, it’s a good blend in the squad. Upon signing his new deal, the 2019 Rugby World Cup Finalist revealed his reasoning for staying in the West Country and what he wants to achieve in the future. “I want to be a part of something special with Bath Rugby. I want to help the side realise our

potential because it is all well and good talking about having a promising young squad, but you have got to realise that potential for it to mean anything. Underhill continued: “I want to help get the side to a place where we are playing consistently and helping the Club in whatever role I can to play consistently well and that’s all I want to achieve. That may come with winning trophies, but it may not, so I just want to be able to realise that potential that I have and whatever the Club has too.” The destructive back row forward is keen to make progress and help build a team that will start to realise its potential this season. He said: “Europe is done for the season, there is no shying away from that fact. What is important is what we decide to get out of the remaining match today against Ulster. Every game is an opportunity to get better as a team so we will certainly take that and use it. It’s down to having pride in the Bath jersey, which is ultimately what we all have – we all desperately care. “There is nothing to play for in terms of group position and qualifying but there is a lot to play for in representing the Club, representing each other and getting better together as players. I think if we perform well together and improves as a squad and a team, we will find ourselves on the right side of the score line. “For myself, if I am playing well for the Club then that ties in well with everything. I want to contribute whatever I can to the side, ultimately with the aim to win the Premiership, be in the mix for the European Cup and winning regularly.”

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TODAY'SOPPONENTS THREETOWATCH

BENO OBANO Obano possesses the skills and physical ability to demonstrate game breaking moments that can both create points and deny tries for the opposition. His power and agility with ball in hand add to the repertoire of threats within the tight-five at Bath Rugby this season.

WILL STUART Stuart provides considerable firepower to the Bath Rugby front row. At 6ft 2 and 133kg, Stuart uses his stature and strength in both attack and defence to influence proceedings at the set-piece and in open play. His ability to generate momentum and to score tries when close to the opposition line is a huge strength.

CHARLIE EWELS The homegrown second rower was named Club Captain ahead of the season and has the leadership skills, which enable the squad to thrive on and off the pitch. The England international leads by example, putting his body on the line in both attack and defence, with a genuine strength being seen through his work in the attacking breakdown, and ability to lead the line-out.

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MATTHEW AGNEW

AZUR ALLISON

GRAHAM CURTIS

MATTHEW DALTON

Year 2 Back Row 20.11.98 180cm 89kg

Year 2 Back Row 19.04.99 192cm 95kg

Year 2 Scrum Half 12.09.99 176cm 84kg

Year 3 Lock 16.11.98 197cm 105kg

JOE DUNLEAVY

AARON HALL

BRUCE HOUSTON

IWAN HUGHES

Year 3 Back Row 22.12.98 190cm 101kg

Year 4 Back Row 26.06.98 193cm 98kg

Year 2 Fly Half 16.08.99 192cm 84kg

Year 2 Back Three 06.04.99 174cm 79kg

HAYDEN HYDE

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STEWART MOORE

CONOR RANKIN

Year 1 Centre 15.09.00

Year 2 Back Row 13.06.00

Year 2 Centre 08.08.99 183cm 91kg

Year 1 Back Three 27.05.01 186cm 83kg

191cm 101kg

191cm 103kg

JACK REGAN

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TOM STEWART

Year 3 Lock 09.05.97

Year 1 Prop 06.01.99 183cm 111kg

Year 1 Back Three 24.08.00 188cm 88kg

Year 1 Hooker 11.01.01 182cm 97kg

197cm 108kg

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2019/20 ULSTERSQUAD

Head Coach Dan McFarland Assistant Coach Dwayne Peel Forwards Coach Roddy Grant Defence Coach Jared Payne Skills Coach Dan Soper

WILL ADDISON

JOHN ANDREW

ROBERT BALOUCOUNE

BILLY BURNS

Utility Back 20.08.1992 186cm 93kg 18 IRE 4

Hooker 26.05.1993

Wing 19.08.1997 193cm 90kg 18 —

Fly Half 13.06.1994 185cm 86kg 34 —

181cm 104kg 61 —

SAM CARTER

MARCELL COETZEE

JOHN COONEY

ANGUS CURTIS

Lock 10.09.1989 200cm 116kg 7 AUS 16

Back Row 08.05.1991 192cm 114kg 38 SA 30

Scrum Half 01.05.1990 178cm 87kg 59 IRE 8

Centre 26.03.1998 178cm 92kg

13 —

MATT FADDES

CRAIG GILROY

IAIN HENDERSON

ROB HERRING

Centre/Wing 06.11.1991 185cm 93kg 11 —

Wing 11.03.1991 183cm 92kg 179 IRE 10

Lock 21.02.1992 199cm 117kg 111 IRE 53

Hooker 27.04.1990 184cm 107kg 179 IRE 8

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JAMES HUME

BILL JOHNSTON

GREG JONES

ROSS KANE

Centre 07.09.1998

Fly Half 07.02.1997 180cm 87kg 9 —

Back Row 13.01.1996

Prop 14.10.1994 180cm 118kg 45 —

187cm 98.1kg

196cm 105kg 16 —

15 —

ANGUS KERNOHAN

MICHAEL LOWRY

LOUIS LUDIK

ROB LYTTLE

Wing 02.03.1999 181cm 93kg

Fly Half 20.08.1998

Full Back 08.10.1986 182cm 90kg 103 —

Wing 28.01.1997 175cm 85kg 29 —

171cm 75.1kg 19 —

21 —

LUKE MARSHALL

ADAM McBURNEY

KYLE McCALL

ZACK McCALL

Centre 03.03.1991 181cm 97kg 137 IRE 11

Hooker 05.09.1996

Prop 02.01.1992 176cm 111kg 59 —

Hooker 10.02.1995

182cm 102kg 22 —

180cm 100kg

— —

STUART McCLOSKEY

JACK McGRATH

GARETH MILASINOVICH

MARTY MOORE

Centre 06.08.1992 193cm 111kg 118 IRE 3

Prop 11.10.1989 185cm 118kg 8 IRE 56

Prop 15.12.1992

Prop 01.03.1991 178cm 121kg 29 IRE 10

191cm 132kg

— —

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JORDI MURPHY

ALAN O’CONNOR

DAVID O’CONNOR

TOMMY O’HAGAN

Back Row 22.04.1991

Lock 10.09.1992 196cm 114kg 103 —

Lock 19.05.1995 194cm 110kg 4 —

Prop 05.10.1993

188cm 105kg 24 IRE 30

182cm 120kg 2 —

ERIC O’SULLIVAN

TOM O’TOOLE

MARCUS REA

MATTHEW REA

Prop 30.11.1995 185cm 115kg 37 —

Prop 23.09.1998

Back Row 08.09.1997

Back Row 21.09.1993 194cm 112kg 41 —

185cm 120kg 38 —

188cm 105kg 1 —

SEAN REIDY

CLIVE ROSS

DAVID SHANAHAN

JONNY STEWART

Back Row 10.05.1989

Back Row 14.06.1989

Scrum Half 20.06.1993 174cm 78kg 55 —

Scrum Half 20.02.1998 174cm 77kg

182cm 103kg 119 IRE 2

193cm 109kg 73 —

13 —

JACOB STOCKDALE

NICK TIMONEY

KIERAN TREADWELL

ANDREW WARWICK

Wing 03.04.1996

Back Row 01.08.1995 189cm 111kg 58 —

Lock 06.11.1995 198cm 118kg 84 IRE 3

Prop 12.03.1991 179cm 113kg 123 —

191cm 103kg 61 IRE 25

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TEAM

1 2

ULSTER

JACK McGRATH

ROB HERRING

15 14 13 12 11 10

WILL ADDISON

3 4 ALAN

MARTY MOORE

ROBERT BALOUCOUNE

O’CONNOR

LUKE MARSHALL

5 6 7 8

IAIN HENDERSON (C)

STUART McCLOSKEY

SEAN REIDY

JACOB STOCKDALE

JORDI MURPHY

BILLY BURNS

MARCELL COETZEE

9

JOHN COONEY

TODAY’S OFFICIALS REFEREE ALEXANDRE RUIZ FRA ASSISTANT REFEREES CEDRIC MARCHAT FRA LUC RAMOS FRA TMO PATRICK DELLAC FRA

REPLACEMENTS 16 17 18 19 A McBURNEY E O’SULLIVAN T O’TOOLE K TREADWELL

N TIMONEY D SHANAHAN B JOHNSTON C GILROY

20 21 22 23

*TEAMS NOT CONFIRMED AT TIME OF PRINT

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TEAM BATHRUGBY

1 2

LEWIS BOYCE

JACK WALKER

15 14 13 12 11 10

ANTHONY WATSON (C)

3 4 MATT

CHRISTIAN JUDGE

GABRIEL HAMER-WEBB

GARVEY

MAX WRIGHT

5 6 7 8

RHYS DAVIES

JACKSON WILLISON

TOM ELLIS

ALED BREW

MIKE WILLIAMS

FREDDIE BURNS

JOSH BAYLISS

9

MAX GREEN

REPLACEMENTS 16 17 18 19 R BATTY L NOGUERA PAZ S NIXON L DOUGLAS

N MERIGAN O FOX A DAVIES T DE GLANVILLE

20 21 22 23

*TEAMS NOT CONFIRMED AT TIME OF PRINT

2019/20

Director Of Rugby Stuart Hooper Attack & Backs Coach Girvan Dempsey Forwards & Defence Coach Neal Hatley

BATHRUGBY

ROSS BATTY

JOSH BAYLISS

LEWIS BOYCE

ALED BREW

Hooker 20.09.1986 184cm 105kg

Prop 30.07.1996 185cm 115kg

Back Row 18.09.1997 189cm 102kg

Winger 09.08.1986 183cm 95kg

FREDDIE BURNS

WILL CHUDLEY

CHRIS COOK

RHYS DAVIES

Flyhalf 13.05.1990 185cm 80kg

Scrumhalf 17.03.1988 178cm 88kg

Scrum-half 16.04.1991 178cm 94kg

Lock 09.11.1998 198cm 114kg

ALEX DAVIES

TOM DEGLANVILLE

LEVI DOUGLAS

TOM DUNN

Outside Half 21.06.1986 173cm 81kg

Centre 10.12.1999 188cm 84kg

Back Row 01.09.1995 190cm 115kg

Hooker 12.11.1992

187cm 105kg

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TOM ELLIS

CHARLIE EWELS

TAULUPE FALETAU

OLLIE FOX

Back Row 29.09.1994

Lock 29.06.1995

Back Row 12.11.1990 189cm 110kg

Scrum half 14.03.1999 180cm 84kg

193cm 106kg

199cm 108kg

MATT GARVEY

MAX GREEN

GABE HAMER-WEBB

TOM HOMER

Back Row 23.10.1987 198cm 127kg

Scrum half 13.02.1996 178cm 82kg

Wing 07.11.2000 180cm 94kg

Full Back 01.04.1990 178cm 91kg

JONATHAN JOSEPH

CHRIS JUDGE

FRANCOIS LOUW

RUARIDH McCONNOCHIE

Centre 21.05.1991 183cm 95kg

Prop 08.01.1993

Back Row 15.06.1985 190cm 110kg

Winger 23.10.1991 189cm 91kg

182cm 120kg

JOSH McNALLY

NAHUM MERIGAN

SAM NIXON

NOGUERA PAZ

Lock 21.08.1990 201cm 125kg

Back Row 25.03.2001 190cm 114kg

Prop 15.08.1996 190cm 119kg

Prop 05.10.1993

179cm 108kg

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BENO OBANO

RHYS PRIESTLAND

JAMIE ROBERTS

SEMESA ROKODUGUNI

Prop 25.10.1994

Outside half 09.01.1987 183cm 95kg

Centre 08.11.1986 193cm 107kg

Wing 28.08.1987 184cm 97kg

173cm 120kg

ELLIOTT STOOKE

WILL STUART

SAM UNDERHILL

WILL VAUGHAN

Lock 10.09.1993 199cm 114kg

Prop 12.07.1996

Back Row 22.07.1996

Prop 04.06.1998

187cm 120kg

191cm 110kg

179cm 100kg

JACK WALKER

ANTHONY WATSON

MIKE WILLIAMS

JACKSON WILLISON

Hooker 06.05.1996

Fullback 26.02.1994 188cm 93kg

Back Row 04.11.1991 195cm 118kg

Centre 05.09.1988 185cm 94kg

182cm 109kg

MAX WRIGHT

For more information bathrugby.com

Centre 24.05.1997 188cm 98kg

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SPOTTHEDIFFERENCE CANYOUFIND7DIFFERENCES?

Herrings Jersey; 3. Nick Timoney’s right boot changes colour; 4. Tape missing on Nick Timoney’s right leg; 5. Tape is missing from Kieran Treadwell’s hands ; 6. Logo missing on right arm of Clermont player ; 7. Kyle McCall’s right hand is missing

Answers: 1. Marcell Coetzee is missing; 2. Number 2 missing from Rob

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SONI REALRUGBYHEROES CELEBRATETHEREAL HEROESOF LOCALRUGBY !

From the three winners selected, there will be an overall winner ‘Ulster Rugby’s 2020 Volunteer of the Year’ at the Ulster Rugby Awards in May 2020. So, if you know someone in your club that you couldn’t do without, let us know. Each of the category winners will win £1,000 for their club! Nominate your real hero at ulsterrugby.com/realrugbyheroes THE CATEGORIES FOR 2019-2020: » » Administrative Volunteer Anyone who volunteers primarily to help run the club e.g. finance, catering, treasurer. » » Youth & Mini Rugby Volunteer Anyone who volunteers within youth and mini rugby including youth disability teams. » » Women & Girls Rugby Volunteer Anyone who volunteers within women and girls rugby across senior, youth and mini rugby.

We all know the people who make a rugby club tick – the fundraisers and problem solvers, the caretakers and motivators. The people who keep the kits washed, the balls pumped, the showers running and the fun flowing. Below are the details of the three membership options, and the benefits of each. The ones who get the kids passing, the parents cheering, keep the team’s spirits up, the committee’s heads down and the sponsor’s money in. Because at the heart of Ulster Rugby are the Province’s clubs, where the people who really matter, bring the game we all love, to everyone who wants to join in. This year we are doing things a little different. With there being so many different roles that make a difference, we didn’t want anyone to be missed, so we will spotlight different categories, changing it up each year.

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2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

EPCR European Player of the Year Past Winners

The crowning of the eleventh EPCR European Player of the Year will be one of the many landmark moments of the 2019/20 Heineken Champions Cup Final in Marseille – and you can have a say in his identity! The winning player will be defined by a combination of a fans’ vote and the opinions of a panel of illustrious rugby experts, working their way down from 15 nominees at the end of January to one special player who will receive the prestigious accolade along with the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy at Stade Vélodrome on Saturday 23 rd May 2020. A look at the Roll of Honour highlights the range of stars of the global game who have lit up the tournament that has come to be recognised as The One to Win in club rugby. As all-time leading points scorer in the European Cup, Ronan O’Gara was the first to be recognised in 2010 as the best player of the first 15 seasons and it is fitting that the name of his former club captain honours the trophy given to Europe’s star player on an annual basis. Prizes are on offer to fans taking part in EPCR European Player of the Year through EPCRUGBY.com , which was won by Saracens’ Alex Goode last season.

2010 Ronan O’Gara (1995-2010) 2011 Sean O’Brien 2012 Rob Kearney 2013 Jonny Wilkinson 2014 Steffon Armitage 2015 Nick Abendanon 2016 Maro Itoje 2017 Owen Farrell 2018 Leone Nakarawa 2019 Alex Goode

ROD NAWN

This afternoon promises to continue a recent trend for Ulster teams and its faithful supporters – qualification for the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup. McFARLAND INSISTS ONTAKINGBATH!

Kernohan and Michael Lowry, for instance, are considered as substantial and invested part of the pool. It’s a similar case up front where it’s clear that the recent recruitment and form of props Marty Moore and Jack McGrath has stiffened the pack, and with the O’Connor brothers, Sam Carter and Kieran Treadwell vying for inclusion at lock skipper Iain Henderson has combative and increasingly athletic partners in the scrum, lineout and, most significantly, in the loose. The back row options are the envy of many, and with Marcell Coetzee at his blistering, classiest best, Sean Reidy in the form of his career, and Jordi Murphy making an increasingly persuasive case for an international recall, Ulster is the most improved and productive pack at the breakdown. Nick Timoney, Matty and Marcus Rea, Clive Ross, and Greg Jones regularly earn selection, while Andy Warwick, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Ross Kane, Adam McBurney are just a few of the forwards who have been battle- hardened in the last few seasons, testament to that elusive quest for quality ‘strength in depth’. Each of these players would want to be involved this afternoon, injuries permitting, but the 23 who are selected to face Bath today will be tasked with guiding Ulster into the last eight by demonstrating to the English visitors the form which has delighted the home fans in recent months, and threatened – at times! – to effect a smile across Dan McFarland’s face! Currently mid-table in the English Premiership, but winless in five Champions Cup outings, Bath is in what its former England out-half Stuart Barnes describes as a ‘development period’. Despite a period of coaching turmoil Director of Rugby Stuart Hooper has undoubtedly some major talents at his disposal.

Last weekend may have seen defeat in Clermont, but it was a performance which provided convincing evidence that Dan McFarland has shaped a squad which is more than just competitive at the highest level. The Head Coach was clearly disappointed that some failings in the set-piece, and what he felt were some liberties taken by the French at scrum-time, denied his players capitalising on a first half display which clearly had the partisan fans at Stade Marcel Michelin fearing for the ambitions of the Top 14 giants. But McFarland must surely have been bolstered in his belief that this squad is talented, committed and organised enough to realistically view this season as potentially one which can yield tangible reward. In Europe, Harlequins succumbed twice, Bath was humbled at ‘The Rec’, while in the Guinness PRO14 few teams are scoring so prolifically and impressing in each department of the game. But all those involved with the home team will not be dwelling on anything other than the job- in-hand today at Kingspan Stadium, where the ‘Sold Out’ notices are becoming more familiar. The supporters like the rugby they are seeing - the players who go beyond cliché as a real, united team. John Cooney, Stuart McCloskey, Luke Marshall, Will Addison, Robert Baloucoune, Jacob Stockdale, Craig Gilroy, Billy Burns and Louis Ludik are just part of a battalion of backs providing the sort of competition for places the management is handling with some skill. It says much about the collective focus in the squad that Matt Faddes, Rob Lyttle, Bill Johnston, David Shanahan, James Hume, Angus

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automatic place in the last eight. He will want Ulster to start, as it did in Clermont, on the front foot, to build a platform from which to create space, to pressure Bath in every area of the pitch. The capacity Kingspan Stadium crowd will expect but will not assume, there have been disappointments and near misses too often. But this management has fashioned teams which has worked tirelessly on seeking consistency of performance and infusing individual players with confidence to achieve – and winning has become a habit, particularly at home. A coveted home tie in April’s quarter-final is now beyond reach, but by concentrating only on beating Bath, by maintaining the high standards McFarland and his coaching team have demanded, Ulster should emerge after 80 full-throated minutes with another win. Then it’s time enough to ponder the knockout phase briefly, enjoy a short break, then continue its pursuit in the league. That Ulster is so clearly competitive on both fronts is evidence of a club emerging into the light of prospective, even probable, long-term success. Yes, that is now realistic for players, management and supporters.

Last week’s captain Anthony Watson limped out of the Champions Cup defeat against Harlequins, an injury-blighted two years disappointing to him, his club and England. Welsh and Lions centre Jamie Roberts could pose a physical and creative threat to McCloskey and, hopefully, Luke Marshall, while flanker Sam Underhill, wingers Aled Brew, Ruaridh McConnochie, Semesa Rokoduguni and Joe Cokanasiga are proven internationals, while the mercurial Jonathan Joseph has played 50 times for England. Today’s opposing out-halves might well be the Burns siblings, Billy and Freddie, the latter an England ‘cap’, and billy now part of the Ireland squad . Rhys Priestland, the experienced Welsh international, has been occupying the Bath No. 10 spot recently, his place-kicking vital in his club’s sometimes laboured Premiership campaign. Back-rower Taulupe Faletau has been hampered by injury recently but his importance for Wales and the Lions is stellar, while at 35 hard-hitting Francois Louw’s impact at flanker seems undiminished, the celebrated Springbok a model of classy consistency in what should be his final year in the West Country. If Hooper was to be able to select from a ‘full deck’ he might have arrived in Belfast with his side battling for quarter-final qualification but injuries, form and internal issues at Bath mean his priority this year is on domestic fare. His opposite number, McFarland, is acutely aware that, with nothing – literally - to lose in today’s final Pool 3 game the English side could be very dangerous, freed from the pressure of a quarterfinal quest. Look again at the players who could line out for the visitors and any side would be foolhardy to believe that recent form is an accurate guide to the true potential of a team which has its attacking strategies carefully shaped by one of Ireland’s most celebrated and intelligent backs of the modern era, Girvan Dempsey. Skipper Henderson, who cuts such an impressive figure in leading by imposing example, has already cautioned his players about any subliminal assumptions about an

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