Ulster Rugby vs Clermont

URSC SUPPORT ULSTER WOMEN’S ATHLETE PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME In November 2015, Ulster Rugby launched the ‘Women’s Athlete Performance Programme’ in the province, inducting 20 talent identified players, to deliver

This programme is designed to support the aims established in the current Ulster Rugby Women’s Strategy; to drive and improve provincial performance and increase national representation of Ulster players. The participants are exposed to a programme of on and off field delivery in areas such as technical development, physical development, nutrition and performance skills to provide them with guidance and mentoring they require to perform at the highest level. While in its infancy, the programme has already started to bear fruit with several players progressing to represent Ireland at senior, 7s and age-grade level. In October, Ulster won the first ever U18 Inter- provincial Series and 8 of those girls have already benefited from the programme, 5 of whom have graduated to the senior squad. The Women’s Athlete Performance Programme is only possible through the continued support of the Sports Institute of Northern Ireland and the Ulster Rugby Supporters Club, who each contribute considerable resource to deliver the programme.

At half-time of the recent Inter-Provincial game between Ulster Women and Munster at Kingspan Stadium, the Ulster Rugby Supporters Club, represented by former Ireland international Niki Wild and Malone Women’s player Lynn Wilson, presented a cheque for £2,000 as the second instalment of the club’s financial support for this initiative, to Christopher Summers, the new Ulster Women’s Rugby Chair, and two of the Ulster U18 girls who have already benefited from the programme, Neve Jones and Brittany Hogan. Commenting on the support, Christopher Summers said: “We are delighted that the Ulster Rugby Supporters Club have committed their continued support for the Women’s Athlete Performance Programme. While the programme has only been running for one year, we have already seen the benefits from it. Thanks to the support of the Ulster Rugby Supporters Club, we can look forward to the further development of the programme and hopefully more Ulster females donning the green jersey.”

ATHLETE PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME

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