Ulster Rugby vs Edinburgh

OFFICIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME | PRICE £3.00

RUGBY VS EDINBURGH RUGBY Friday 3rd October 2014 - Kingspan Stadium - Kick Off 19.35

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Good evening and welcome to another exciting Friday night at Kingspan Stadium

Ulster take on Edinburgh tonight which is sure to be an exciting match. We extend a warm welcome to all the Edinburgh fans that have travelled here to support their team and look forward to some top class rugby between the two sides. The last Friday night in Kingspan Stadium, Ulster started the season off on a high by defeating Zebre and tonight we are hoping to see another strong performance! Kingspan Stadium is once again a fortress and it is where Ulster plays best thanks to the energy and support of the home fans. This season marks the 18th year of our proud association with Ulster Rugby and we remain committed to the team. At Bank of Ireland we stand together with the fans, sharing their passion and together we are all the driving force behind our Ulster Rugby team. Good Luck for the season ahead Ulster!

Ian Sheppard // Head of Corporate Banking Northern Ireland Bank of Ireland

Official sponsor of Ulster Rugby

IRFU ULSTER BRANCH

OFFICERS John Kinnear // President Bobby Stewart // Senior Vice President John McKibbin // Junior Vice President John McKibbin // Honorary Secretary Michael Boyd // Honorary Treasurer Denis Gardiner // Competitions Secretary STAFF Shane Logan // Chief Executive Chris Webster // Domestic Rugby Manager Audrey Robinson // Financial Controller Fiona Hampton // Head of Sales & Marketing Les Kiss // Director of Rugby (Interim)

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all here to Kingspan Stadium for this Guinness PRO12 match against Edinburgh.

I would like to welcome in particular our friends from Edinburgh Rugby: directors, players, supporters and coaches, especially ex-Ulster Head Coach, Alan Solomons, who will always receive a warm welcome in Belfast. Last week Ulster Rugby suffered their first defeat of the season. It was a hard fought match in Italy against a dogged Zebre side. In truth, it was always going to be a tough ask of Ulster to win a game having gone down to 14 men so early and only for a disallowed try they could have managed to achieve the victory. Despite that result the Province sits in third place in the Guinness PRO12 and victory tonight would be a great boost ahead of next week’s game against Glasgow and then the start of this season’s European Rugby Champions Cup. Edinburgh have had a mixed start to the season. They began with a wonderful win against Munster in Thomond Park, but then suffered defeat to Connacht, then a considerable reverse loss to Ospreys. Last weekend they drew with Scarlets

at Murrayfield and they will travel to Kingspan Stadium this evening full of confidence and aiming to get a win. Since we last played at home, our U20s won the interprovincial championship with a fantastic 17 points to 12 victory over Munster. The result followed home wins over Connacht and Leinster. I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to the side, to their coaches and staff on their wonderful achievement. They are the second Ulster U20 side in the past three years to have won an interprovincial title, following on from the side in 2012. This bodes well for the future of rugby in Ulster and I have no doubt that we will be seeing many of these young men in Ulster and Ireland jerseys in the future. I hope that you enjoy the game. Good Luck to Ulster and Stand up for the Ulstermen! Yours in Rugby. John Kinnear // President IRFU (Ulster Branch)

Kingspan Stadium, 85 Ravenhill Park, Belfast, BT6 0DG T // +44 (0)28 9049 3222 ulsterrugby.com

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ULSTER RUGBY

Chief Executive’s

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome back to more exciting rugby in Round 5 of the Guinness PRO12.

This year Guinness, our new title sponsor, with their knowledge and support of rugby have been a great help ‘on both sides of the whitewash’.

The continued loyal support of Specsavers and Rhino bodes well for our ever growing competition too.

We welcome our new Italian free to air TV partner Nuvolari to our broadcasting family and this host broadcaster will ensure even more live Guinness PRO12 rugby across our terrestrial channels. Nuvolari will show all Italian matches, the Play Offs & Final and will promote and heighten the profile of our competition in Italy. The 115 tries scored and the 4.79 average tries per match to date is our highest ever since the tournament went ‘home & away’ in 2003/04. Similarly, we have seen an 8.8% increase in attendances on last season. Both teams’ supporters always add a lot of colour and noise to these occasions and their friendly banter warms up many a hostelry and stadium whenever and wherever they play! Well done to all!

We wish the players, coaches and match officials all the very best for what should be a memorable and entertaining match!

ENJOY!

PRO12RUGBY.COM

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TONIGHT’S MASCOTS

MASCOTS

LUCY TERRINGTON (8) Lucy attends St. Bride’s Primary School in Belfast and her interests are ballet, tennis, Irish dancing and drama. Her favourite Ulster players are Iain Henderson and Stuart Olding (because her Dad played rugby with their Dad’s for Academy RFC).

KATE LAMONT (10) Kate is from Ballymena and attends Broughshane Primary School. She plays rugby at school and her other interests are hockey and karate. Kate’s favourite player is Tommy Bowe and when she grows up she would like to be a nurse.

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ULSTER RUGBY

STUART OLDING CENTRE OF ATTENTION

Midway through the second half in Ulster’s opening PRO12 match of the season, an elderly Scarlets fan could be heard saying what many around him had already concluded – ‘that 12 can play’.

The 12 in question was Stuart Olding. The stats from that match back up the fact that he had returned to the Ulster starting line up in style. Ten defenders beaten, 13 carries with a gain of 60 metres – a remarkable comeback game from a player whose last competitive game for Ulster was in October 2013. “It was a long time since I played,” says Stuart. “I was just eager to get back and play better than I had before. We had a good start against Scarlets and I am just

Olding has played outhalf, fullback and inside centre for Ulster in his 22 appearances for Ulster so far. Now, he says, it’s time to settle on one position:

STUART OLDING

“Long term I would like to settle in 12,” says the ex BRA pupil. “When I was a bit younger I used to say that I would play anywhere and that would give me a different perspective on the pitch, but I think within the next

season or two I want to tie down a starting position

thankful that the rehab went well and my recovery has been good. I am glad to be back.” With the best part of a year on the

and then become the best player that I can in there.”

It seems strange to say so early in the season, but

sidelines, you could forgive the 21 year- old for getting down hearted. Having made such an impact in his first full season of first team involvement he missed both matches and the

ultimately the next four matches could have a significant bearing on Ulster’s success this year.

chance to nail down a starting place. He says: “The worst thing was watching the games and knowing that there wasn’t anything that I could do about it. Not being able to do what you have been able to do your whole life was pretty strange. It was quite slow and tedious at the start of the rehab, but you just have to let the cuts heal and allow the graft to heal too. From there the medical staff just kept the process fresh and new. “Despite being out for so long, I really enjoyed the rehab because I knew from the stats that I was going to come back stronger and better – everything went really well and I was full of confidence coming back onto the pitch.”

“We have four massive games coming up - Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leicester and Toulon,” Stuart says. “Hopefully everybody can stay fit and stay competitive and we can get the best out of each other. It would be great to be involved in all four matches and then push on from there.” There is no doubt that Stuart will be involved. Still just 21, he is rock solid in defence and devastating in attack. There is little doubt that he has a massive future in the game for

his Province and for Ireland. Just ask that Scarlets fan.

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ULSTER RUGBY

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“WITHIN THE NEXT SEASON OR TWO I WANT TO TIE DOWN A STARTING POSITION AND THEN BECOME THE BEST PLAYER THAT I CAN IN THERE” STUART OLDING

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ULSTERRUGBY

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2 MINUTES LEWIS STEVENSON WITH

IN FOCUS

NICKNAME: Avacado FAVOURITE SONG/ARTIST? Queens of the Stone Age CAN YOU COOK? Yes WHAT’S YOUR SIGNATURE DISH? Beef Wellington LAST BOOK YOU READ? Young Stalin FAVOURITE TV SHOW? Walking Dead WHO WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO BE STUCK IN A LIFT WITH? Lift Engineer WHO’S THE LAST PERSON YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE STUCK IN A LIFT WITH? Paul Marshall IF YOU WEREN’T PLAYING RUGBY, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING? Doctor DO YOU HAVE A PET? Dog PET’S NAME? Hector

YOU TEAM

BEST IN TRAINING? Kyle McCall BEST MATE ON TEAM? Everyone

SOFTEST? Ian Humph HARDEST? Roger Wilson QUICKEST? Gilly FUTURE MANAGER/COACH? Paul Marshall BEST NICKNAME? Mikey Allen BEST DANCER? Bronson Ross BEST DRESSER? Deccy Fitz BEST TEAMMATE TO FOLLOW ON TWITTER? Paul Marshall

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ULSTER RUGBY

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We are also Ulster Rugby’s production company of choice, telling the teams story through the power of film. Why not let us tell yours?

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ULSTER RAVENS FIXTURES

Ulster Ravens, sponsored by CD Group, have had the dates, venues and kick off times for their 2014/15 British & Irish Cup fixtures confirmed. The Ravens have been drawn in Pool 2 and will open their campaign with an away trip to Aberavon on Saturday 11th October. In Round 2 the Ravens host Yorkshire Carnegie at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday 18th October (2.00pm). Admission to this fixture is included in the Ulster Rugby season ticket package. The Ulster squad, featuring a number of professional, development, Hughes Insurance Academy and club players, will face former team-mates David McIlwaine and James McKinney when they take on Yorkshire Carnegie and Rotherham respectively.

ULSTER RAVENS FIXTURES

ULSTER RAVENS

ABERAVON V ULSTER RAVENS SATURDAY 11TH OCTOBER, 2.30PM BRITISH & IRISH CUP, ROUND 1 TALBOT ATHLETIC GROUND ULSTER RAVENS V YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE SATURDAY 18TH OCTOBER, 2.00PM BRITISH & IRISH CUP, ROUND 2 KINGSPAN STADIUM ULSTER RAVENS V ROTHERHAM TITANS ROTHERHAM TITANS V ULSTER RAVENS SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER, 2.00PM BRITISH & IRISH CUP, ROUND 4 CLIFTON LANE YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE V ULSTER RAVENS SUNDAY 7TH DECEMBER, 2.30PM BRITISH & IRISH CUP, ROUND 5 LAUNDHILL ULSTER RAVENS V ABERAVON SATURDAY 13TH DECEMBER, 2.30PM BRITISH & IRISH CUP, ROUND 6 DERAMORE PARK FRIDAY 24TH OCTOBER, 7.00PM BRITISH & IRISH CUP, ROUND 3 DERAMORE PARK

CONGRATULATIONS!

MICHAEL MCKEE IS CELEBRATING 25 YEARS WITH JOHNSONS SOLICITORS

HE’S RESPECTED FOR A REASON

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ULSTER RUGBY

OBITUARY JIMMY NELSON OBE

During the summer, it was with great sadness that the rugby world learnt of the death of Jimmy Nelson at the age of 92 following a long illness.

the Branch Honorary Treasurer and indeed was still the Treasurer when he became the Ulster Branch President in 1968. He soon progressed to the Irish Rugby Football Union where he took on many administrative roles, including the role of Honorary Treasurer, before being elevated to the IRFU Presidential role in 1982. In 1984, his services to rugby, both on and off the pitch, were recognised when he was awarded the OBE for his services to rugby football. But in spite of the many honours he gained, Jimmy was still a real club man and his love

A member of the 1948 Grand Slam winning Ireland team, Jimmy was also a former President of both the IRFU and the Ulster Branch and gained playing honours with Ulster, Ireland, the Barbarians and the British and Irish Lions. Born in Belfast and raised in Portadown, James Edward Nelson learnt about the game of rugby at Royal School Armagh before moving back to Belfast and joining Malone in 1938 – a club he remained a member of throughout the rest of his life. He first made his name at the club in the

JIMMY NELSON

of Malone RFC, the club he joined when he left school and remained a member of right up to his death, never waned. Malone RFC celebrated its centenary in the season 1991-92 and in preparation for that season, he was Chairman of the Centenary Steering Committee and also agreed to be the Patron of the Club for that Centenary season.  He was also the author of the history of the Club for the centenary booklet. Whilst his deteriorating health

second-row alongside Blair ‘Paddy’ Mayne. He made his Ulster debut in 1940 and progressed to the Ireland team, winning his first cap against Australia at Lansdowne Road in 1947. Jimmy was a member of the famous Ireland Grand Slam winning side of 1948 and played in all of Ireland’s Championship-winning games in 1948 and 1949. As a result of the part in which he played in

in recent years restricted him, he was still to be seen at Gibson Park, when he could, supporting his beloved Malone right up to a year before his passing – a Malone man from start to finish. The game will miss Jimmy, first and foremost as a player, then as an extremely competent servant behind the scenes, where he was a tireless worker, but most of all as one of the great characters of Ulster and Ireland rugby. A great teller of amusing stories from his playing past, he also remained an astute and knowledgeable financial expert and few Honorary Treasurers in the Ulster Branch or the IRFU would welcome the sight of Jimmy standing up to ask a question. Jimmy was pre-deceased by his first wife Frances and the sympathy of all rugby people in Ulster, Ireland and the rugby playing world goes to his second wife Maureen and the family circle. John McKibbin // Junior Vice President IRFU (Ulster Branch)

these successful Irish sides, he was selected for the 1950 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia captained by Karl Mullen. Jimmy played in four test matches and famously scored two tries against the Wallabies, with Jack Kyle another, in a 24-3 win at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He played in 17 matches of that 32 game tour. He made the last of his 16 international appearances for Ireland against France at Stade Colombes in 1954. Jimmy was also a regular selection on the Barbarians XV. He made his last competitive appearance in Ulster’s famous 5-5 draw with the touring All Blacks in 1955 before moving quickly into administration. A chartered accountant by profession at the age of 22, he entered into a partnership with the Belfast firm Craig Gardiner & Co in 1954 and stayed there until he retired in 1981. This financial background stood him in good stead as, apart from numerous different roles held within the Ulster Branch, he also served as

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ULSTER RUGBY

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ULSTERRUGBY

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Official Hydration Partner of Ulster Rugby

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EDINBURGH PREVIEW

HEAD TO HEAD

EDINBURGH 3 ULSTER 9 FRIDAY 21ST MARCH 2014 BT MURRAYFIELD STADIUM

MATCH STATS:

ULSTER PENALTIES

EDINBURGH PENALTY

Paddy Jackson (3)

Carl Bezuidenhout

FORM GUIDE Ulster suffered a first defeat of their Guinness PRO12 campaign against Zebre in Parma last Saturday. Ulster’s only defeat in their last eleven PRO12 encounters in Belfast came against Leinster on 2nd May. Edinburgh drew 20-all at home to Scarlets last Friday, their first draw since Glasgow visited the home of Scottish Rugby on Boxing Day 2011. The Scotsmen have already beaten an Irish province on their own soil this season, lowering the colours of Munster in Limerick in Round 1. Edinburgh’s only victory over Ulster in their last seven meetings in all tournaments was 14-8 at BT Murrayfield in the PRO12 on 22nd March 2013. The Scotsmen have not won in Belfast since September 2009.

ULSTER SCORERS

EDINBURGH

U E

DATE

VENUE

SCORERS

Fri 22 Nov 13 Kingspan Stadium 41 17

Grayson Hart (T) Dougie Fife(T) Harry Leonard (C) Cornell Du Preez(T)

Craig Gilroy (2T) James McKinney(T/5C/2P)

Paul Marshall(T) Robbie Diack(T)

Paddy Jackson(P) Andrew Trimble(T)

Stuart McInally(T) Piers Francis(3P)

Fri 22 Mar 13 BT Murrayfield

8 14

Fri 2 Nov 12 Kingspan Stadium 45 20

Craig Gilroy(T) Jared Payne(2T) Niall O’Connor(P) Penalty Try(T) Ruan Pienaar(T/6C) Roger Wilson(T) Adam D’Arcy(T) Ian Humphreys(T) Chris Cochrane(T) Paul Marshall(T) Penalty Try(T) Ruan Pienaar(4C) Stefan Terblanche(T)

Tom Brown(2T) Gregor Hunter(2C/2P)

Sep Visser(T) Phil Godman(2P) Tim Visser(T)

Fri 2 Mar 12 Kingspan Stadium 38 16

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ULSTER RUGBY

RHINO ARE PROUD TO BE THE OFFICIAL MATCH BALL OF THE GUINNESS PRO12 2014/15 www.rhinorugby.com

ULSTER RUGBY OPENS DCAL-FUNDED COMMUNITY GYMS PROVINCE-WIDE

Over the past year Ulster Rugby has installed equipment into 12 community gyms, with another three due to be completed in the coming months.

COMMUNITY GYM

“One of our primary organisational goals is to enhance opportunities for physical activity among all age groups and I believe the installation of both indoor and outdoor equipment at the 15 locations is a key factor in allowing us to increase opportunities for people to engage with fitness and rugby sessions. “I’d like to thank the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure for their continued support in helping us expand rugby in both traditional and non-traditional areas.” The support from DCAL has also enabled Ulster Rugby to provide greater fitness and conditioning support to schools and rugby clubs. Chris added: “The Fitness Development stream within Ulster Rugby started off as me on my own and now we have five staff which is fantastic. We’re driving new initiatives all the time to try to get people moving and enjoying being active. A recent example was the four week female bootcamps which we ran at four clubs across the Province as a pilot scheme. It was a huge success and that is the kind of thing we’ll be looking to develop more in the future.”

The facilities, funded to the tune of £340,000 by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) through the ‘Promoting Equality, Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion through Sport’ programme, have been opened at community groups, schools and rugby clubs across the Province. Parkhall Integrated College, Ballybeen Mens Motivational Group, Strabane Academy, Shaw’s Bridge Associataion and Rainey Old Boys RFC are among the organisations to have benefited from the installation of equipment. Ulster Rugby is also working closely with the venues to up-skill volunteer fitness coaches to ensure the project is sustainable. The gyms, which include equipment that’s suitable for males and females of all ages, will be opened up for community use. The man coordinating the initiative, Ulster Rugby’s Fitness Education Manager, Chris Shields, is pleased with the progress being made: “We’re delighted to be able to contribute to the provision of top class facilities to communites right across Ulster.

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ULSTER RUGBY

THE HUNT FOR A BIG OCTOBER

by ROD NAWN

On two fronts this month Ulster will really hope to find the form and consistency to shape the season.

Nobody will be fooled by the bizarre circumstances which saw a losing bonus point in Italy hoist the team into third place in the PRO12 league table: it’s about winning matches and getting a minimum of four points, and adding to the try-count at every sensible opportunity. Edinburgh arrive in Belfast on the back of a home draw at Murrayfield against the Scarlets, and with a wonderful win in Munster already ‘in the bank’. Alan Solomons returns to the stadium where he directed operations in for three years from 2001, but the South African knows Ulster so well that the marvellous arena and facilities at Kingspan have been made possible by a professional approach on and off the field which he had no small part in establishing during his strict, determined stewardship as coach. The Celtic Cup was won in his reign, ironically on a night at Murrayfield when the heavens opened but Ulster showed those early signs of consistent application and self-belief. Alan’s time in the South African international team management set-up, his frontline coaching roles all over the world, provides testament to his hunger for improvement. He’s never tried to ‘dodge’ a challenge and with Edinburgh he believes he has a club which can cause more than the occasional upset, that the Scottish capital’s players can match any in league and European competition. Neil Doak, Jonny Bell and Allen Clarke will know that one of the game’s sharpest intellects will send out a Scottish side focussed on its own targets in the PRO12, and with real belief it can do damage in Europe. But for the majority of fans in Kingspan this evening the hope will be that the men in the famous white jerseys will calmly announce that it’s ‘business as usual’. The last six weeks has seen most players get really testing game time, and whatever side takes the field and whoever sits awaiting a call from the bench, there will be quality and confidence aplenty. This Ulster squad has a very real bond with its supporters, their pain is theirs, and their success is a shared experience. For the fans the next month is a rugby feast to savour, but the main course immediately is Edinburgh, the target a performance to fully restore the batteries of self-belief – and a victory from which to launch the real assault in league and in Europe.

October is traditionally a key segment of the rugby calendar, with an increasingly competitive Guinness PRO12 holding station while Europe’s rich pickings beckon. Both competitions have been revamped, their importance enhanced, Ulster will face Edinburgh and Glasgow in the next eight days, followed by a mouth-watering week with Champions’ Cup action in Leicester and at Kingspan Stadium against Europe’s kingpins, Toulon. It is a four-week period which undeniably can set the tone for the season. It will not necessarily derail ambitions in league and cup, but winning is a habit which can be happily, harmlessly addictive. It provides – to use a word so much used at Gleneagles last weekend – momentum, that abstract but very real surge in belief. Winning matches, and winning when performing well, breeds confidence in the squad and very notably in individual players. Collectively that confidence grows, nurtured by the coaches and management in a positive, marshalled way. It has been the Ulster way, in recent years, to build towards the autumn in a manner which prepares a large squad to be prepared and palpably capable for a month of real endeavour and enterprise. Last weekend’s defeat in Zebre was a shock to the Ulster system – players, management and fans – will be dwelling on the errors and perceived injustices in Parma. This week’s training sessions will have addressed the deficiencies of that first-ever loss to the improving Zebre, but they will have concentrated more on fine-tuning the players’ undoubted qualities, asking for them to individually and as a group to take on Edinburgh this evening with controlled ferocity of purpose. The old maxim of ‘one game at a time’ will have been uttered many times on the pitches and in the team rooms, and the importance of setting a winning template for this key month will not be lost on a squad which has an intelligence and awareness about itself which will demand that Kingspan Stadium sees a performance of conviction and character against the Scottish visitors. There will not be any complaints or moans from the coaching team about the unprecedented injury count, it has assembled a pool which is deep in talent and in ambition for itself and for Ulster Rugby.

MATCH PREVIEW

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ULSTER RUGBY

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Article by Rod Nawn

Freelance Journalist and Sports Enthusiast @RODNAWN1

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ULSTER RUGBY

MICHAEL ALLEN

RICKY ANDREW

Centre/Wing 28.11.90 183cm 97kg 37 -

Fullback 02.12.89 185cm 87kg 19 -

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

RORY BEST (C)

CALLUM BLACK

Hooker 15.08.82 180cm 110kg 155 74

Prop 25.02.86 180cm 110kg 63 -

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

ULSTER RUBGY

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

TOMMY BOWE

CHARLIE BUTTERWORTH

Wing 22.02.84 191cm 102kg 120 53

POSITION BORN

Back Row - 195cm 115kg 0 -

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

DARREN CAVE

ROBBIE DIACK

Centre 05.04.87 184cm 97kg 137 5, 10A

Back Row 12.11.85 196cm 109kg 131 -

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

DECLAN FITZPATRICK

CRAIG GILROY

Wing 11.03.91 183cm 90kg 88 5

Prop 12.07.83 182cm 118kg 88 5, 9A

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

MICHAEL HEANEY

IAIN HENDERSON

Scrumhalf 05.11.90 176cm 78kg 24 -

POSITION BORN

Back Row 21.02.92 200cm 115kg 40 9, 1A

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

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ULSTER RUGBY

www. ulster rugby.com

CHRIS HENRY

WIEHAHN HERBST

Back Row 17.10.84 191cm 105kg 122 13, 10A

POSITION BORN

Prop 05.07.88 180cm 114kg 3 -

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

SQUAD 2014/15

ROB HERRING

IAN HUMPHREYS

Hooker 27.04.90 183cm 103kg 51 -

Outhalf 24.04.82 178cm 85kg 87 -

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

PADDY JACKSON

CONOR JOYCE

Outhalf 05.01.92 179cm 87kg 66 9, 1A

POSITION BORN

Back Row 05.07.93 192cm 106kg 4 -

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

RICKY LUTTON

LOUIS LUDIK

Prop 26.02.86 183cm 115kg 23 -

POSITION BORN

Fullback 10.08.86 182cm 92kg 3 -

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

LUKE MARSHALL

PAUL MARSHALL

Centre 03.11.91 181cm 96kg 55 5

POSITION BORN

Scrumhalf 26.07.85 172cm 80kg 128 3, 2 A

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

STUART McCLOSKEY

KYLE McCALL

Centre - 195cm 105kg 5 -

POSITION BORN

Hooker 02.01.92 176cm 108kg 3 -

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

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ULSTER RUGBY

NEIL McCOMB

MIKE McCOMISH

2nd Row 15.07.83 201cm 120kg 42 -

POSITION BORN

Back Row 07.12.83 190cm 106kg 41 -

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

SQUAD 2014/15

RUAIDHRI MURPHY

PETER NELSON

Fullback 05.10.92 180cm 84kg 14 -

Prop 05.07.87 187cm 115.5kg 1 -

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

STUART OLDING

JARED PAYNE

Outhalf 11.03.93 176cm 88kg 22 1

Fullback 13.10.85 186cm 97kg 50 -

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

RUAN PIENAAR

SEAN REIDY

Scrumhalf 10.03.84 187cm 90kg 80 79 (SA)

POSITION BORN

Back Row 10.05.89 180cm 100kg 0 -

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

BRONSON ROSS

CLIVE ROSS

Prop 16.09.85 183cm 118kg 3 -

Back Row 14.06.89 192cm 104kg 1 -

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

DAVE RYAN

RORY SCHOLES

Prop

POSITION BORN

Wing 24.04.93 186cm 95kg 5 -

POSITION BORN

183cm 116kg 0 -

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

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ULSTER RUGBY

“Carrick-a-Rede, theharbour fromGame ofThrones, theDarkHedges... There’sso muchmore totheCausewayCoast than I ever imagined.”

Orla, Drogheda

Take a leaf out of Orla’s book and discover Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coastal Route. Thehome of Game of Thrones. This landscape ismagical. Aplace of hiddengems like the amazingCarrick-a-RedeRopeBridge andancientwonders like theGiant’s Causeway and itsVisitor Centre. Take a roadtrip for two andexplore it. Check into a fabulous spahotel, or a coastal B&B, and stopoff at pretty fishing villages and seafront restaurants. You’ll soon see why the Causeway Coastal Route is world famous.

#discoverni

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Co. Antrim

JAMES SIMPSON

LEWIS STEVENSON

2nd Row 03.11.90 197cm 115kg 1 -

2nd Row 01.06.84 200cm 116kg

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

64 1A

SQUAD 2014/15

ANDREW TRIMBLE

DAN TUOHY

Wing 20.10.84 187cm 99kg 185 54 3 A

POSITION BORN

2nd Row 18.06.85 197cm 115kg 113 9, 3 A

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

FRANCO VAN DER MERWE

ANDREW WARWICK

2nd Row 15.03.83 198cm 115kg 4 -

Prop 12.03.91 180cm 111kg 9 -

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

NICK WILLIAMS

ROGER WILSON

Back Row 21.09.81 191cm 106kg 158 1, 11 A

POSITION BORN

Back Row 02.12.83 189cm 122kg 45 -

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

ULSTER RUGBY SQUAD SEASON 2014/15

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ULSTER RUGBY

ULSTER RUGBY v FRIDAY 3RD OCTOBER 2 KICK O

15 14 13 12 11

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

LOUIS LUDIK

RUAIDHRI MURPHY

ULSTER RUGBY

RORY BEST (C)

ANDREW TRIMBLE

WIEHAHN HERBST

JARED PAYNE

ALAN O’CONNOR

STUART McCLOSKEY

F VAN DER MERWE

TOMMY BOWE

10 PADDY JACKSON 9 PAUL MARSHALL

ROBBIE DIACK

CHRIS HENRY

REPLACEMENTS FROM 16 17 18 19 R HERRING R MURPHY B ROSS F VD MERWE 20 21 22 23

8

R WILSON M HEANEY S OLDING L LUDIK

ROGER WILSON

REFEREE ASSISTANT REFEREE’S CITING COMMISSIONER TMO TODAYS OFFICIALS

CLAUDIO BLESSANO (FIR, 7TH COMPETITION GAME) LEO COLGAN (IRFU) // BRIAN MACNEICE (IRFU) EDDIE WALSH (IRFU) MARSHALL KILGORE (IRFU)

30

ULSTER RUGBY

www. ulster rugby.com

DINBURGH RUGBY 14 - KINGSPAN STADIUM F 19.35 1

15 14 13 12 11 10

EDINBURGH RUGBY

GREIG TONKS

RORY SUTHERLAND

2 3 4 5 6 7

JACK CUTHBERT

ROSS FORD

SAM BEARD

JOHN ANDRESS

ANDRIES STRAUSS

ANTON BRESLER

TIM VISSER

GRANT GILCHRIST

PHIL BURLEIGH

MIKE COMAN (C)

9 8

SEAN KENNEDY

RODDY GRANT

REPLACEMENTS FROM J HILTERBRAND

O LEONARDI S HIDALGO-CLYNE

16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23

A DELL W NELL O ATKINS

T HEATHCOTE N McLENNAN

CORNELL DU PREEZ

Official sponsor of Ulster Rugby

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ULSTER RUGBY

BEN ATIGA

JOHN ANDRESS

Tighthead prop 20.01.84

Centre 05.05.83 180cm 100kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

188cm 116 kg —

SAM BEARD

OLLIE ATKINS

Second row 12.08.88 200cm 117kg —

POSITION BORN

Centre 03.05.90 183cm 93kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

EDINBURGH RUGBY POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

ANTON BRESLER

PHIL BURLEIGH

Lock 16.02.88 198cm 17st 11lb —

Stand-off/centre 22.10.86 182cm 96kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

NEIL COCHRANE

MIKE COMAN

Back row 28.09.87 192cm 108kg —

Hooker 04.01.84 178cm 104kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

JACK CUTHBERT

ALLAN DELL

Prop 16.03.92 185cm 112kg —

Full-back/wing 03.09.87

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

1.96m 101kg —

ALASDAIR DICKINSON

JOAQUIN DOMINGUEZ

Centre 13.03.87 192cm 103kg —

Prop 11.09.83 185cm 111kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

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ULSTER RUGBY

www. ulster rugby.com

CORNELL DU PREEZ

DOUGIE FIFE

Wing 08.08.90 188cm 95kg —

Back Row 23.03.91 188cm 107kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

SQUAD 2014/15

ROSS FORD

GRANT GILCHRIST

Second Row 09.08.90 203cm 119kg —

Hooker 23.04.84 186cm 115kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

RODDY GRANT

GRAYSON HART

Scrum Half 19.06.88 185cm 91kg —

Back Row 31.01.87 183cm 97kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

TOM HEATHCOTE

SAM HIDALGO-CLYNE

Stand-off 11.02.92 180cm 90kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

Scrum-half 04.08.93 175cm 76kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

JAMES HILTERBRAND

SEAN KENNEDY

Hooker/prop 21.05.89 184cm 114kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

Scrum-half 24.04.91 172cm 80kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

TOMAS LEONARDI

FRASER McKENZIE

Back row 11.07.87 186cm 106kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

Lock 28.03.88 198cm 119kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

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ULSTER RUGBY

STAY from £83 pps

Experience the history and heritage of Belfast that is only ten minutes away, explore the charming North Down coast or pamper yourself in our Spa. The Culloden H I STORY. LUXURY. TR ANQU I L I T Y. Call 028 9042 1066 Complimentary onsite car parking • hastingshotels.com ESCAPE to a little LUXURY

NICK McLENNAN

WILLEM NEL

Stand-off 23.06.88 180cm 89kg —

Prop 30.04.86 178cm 120kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

SQUAD 2014/15

MATT SCOTT

ANDRIES STRAUSS

Centre 30.09.90

Centre 05.03.84 185cm 97kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

6ft 1in 101kg

RORY SUTHERLAND

MICHAEL TAIT

Prop 24.08.92 183cm 110kg —

Centre 07.05.90 185cm 90kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

BRETT THOMPSON

GREIG TONKS

Wing 17.08.90

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

Full-back 20.05.89 6ft 1in 92kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

6ft 4lb 100kg —

ALEX TOOLIS

BEN TOOLIS

Lock 31.03.92 200cm 115kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

Lock 31.03.92 200cm 115kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

TIM VISSER

HAMISH WATSON

Wing 29.05.87 193cm 109kg —

Back Row 15.10.91 185cm 101kg —

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT HONOURS

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ULSTER RUGBY

Suppliers of fresh produce to the Ulster Rugby team.

Official suppliers of fresh produce to the Ulster Rugby team.

36

ULSTER RUGBY

www. ulster rugby.com

TONIGHT’S OPPOSITION

Edinburgh Rugby began last season with news of the appointment of Alan Solomons as head coach

and rounded off 2013/14 with the announcement of lock Grant Gilchrist as Scotland captain for the third and fourth summer tour Tests, against Argentina and South Africa. Despite a year of patchy results, the capital club equalled their highest league placing since the Celtic competition expanded to a PRO12 in 2010/11, on top of three Heineken Cup pool wins (something achieved only twice in the last ten years). A fair amount of activity towards the end of the previous and during the close season has seen a new-look squad emerge. In addition to welcoming a clutch of youngsters, the promotion of a number of the club’s Elite Development Players (EDPs) into the senior squad means Edinburgh Rugby have enough young Scots coming through to field close to a full Scottish under-23 team. This is balanced by a new-look leadership group with Grant Gilchrist, Matt Scott and David Denton added to the likes of Alasdair Dickinson, Mike Coman, Ross Ford and Andries Strauss. Together this underlines Solomons’ approach of building a sustainable club through the club’s academy, and growing an inspirational and winning rugby culture for current and future Scottish rugby players. New signings over the summer ranged from back row Jamie Ritchie, last season’s Scotland under-18 captain who was brought in on a full contract straight from school, to lock Fraser McKenzie. The powerful second row returned to the club where he began his professional career after spells with Sale Sharks and Newcastle Falcons. Scotland stand-off Tom Heathcote arrived from Bath and, fresh from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games where he was a member of Scotland 7s’ squad, came Chris Dean. His fellow under-20 international, winger, Damien Hoyland, was brought in from domestic Cup winners Melrose. Nick McLennan and Simon Berghan, both Scottish qualified from New Zealand, bring experience in the backs and front row respectively while prop, Alan Dell, was brought in along with lock Anton Bresler from South Africa.

An intense pre-season programme culminated in two warm-up games at the end of August. The opener, against Leicester Tigers at Melrose, was a close-fought affair with just one point in it at the final whistle, when an injury time penalty saw the visitors win, 11-10. Eight Edinburgh Rugby players made their debut in the match, including Gala prop and EDP Rory Sutherland, experienced former Ulster tight-head John Andress who arrived from Worcester Warriors and USA Eagles winger, Brett Thompson. Mansfield Park, home of Hawick RFC, was the venue for the final friendly, and it was same place, same opposition, same winners as Edinburgh Rugby defeated Newcastle Falcons (21-15). A brace from winger Tim Visser, with the extras added by Greig Tonks and Tom Heathcote, sealed the victory in a game which also saw the debut of another EDP, Magnus Bradbury, in the back row. The business end of the season, however, kicked off against Munster at Thomond Park. A determined Edinburgh side kept the visiting support on the edge of their seats as a Jack Cuthbert try, with the extras added by stand-off Tom Heathcote, edged a 14-13 win. One week later an opening home fixture, on the new hybrid surface at BT Murrayfield, against Connacht, saw that score reversed as the home side were defeated, 13-14, in the dying minutes by a try from Willie Faloon. A comprehensive defeat away to Ospreys was undoubtedly a setback to what had been a solid start to the season and despite a challenging first half at BT Murrayfield last Friday, the team fought back to register a draw against the visiting Scarlets. Edinburgh will be hoping progress continues this evening and next week at home against Dragons before the club kick off their European Rugby Challenge Cup campaign in Bordeaux on 17th October. Also pooled with fellow French Top 14 side Lyon and Aviva Premiership contenders London Welsh, the run-up to Christmas and the 1872 Cup derby double-header with Glasgow Warriors is set to prove challenging and thrilling in equal measures, with youth very much to the fore.

CLUB STATS //Location Edinburgh, Scotland //Founded 1970 //Ground BT Murrayfield Stadium //Capacity 67,144 //Last Game Scarlets (H) 20-20 (D) Friday 26th Sept 2014 at 19:35 //Next Game Newport Gwent Dragons (H) Saturday 11th Oct 2014 at 14:40 //Recent Form L W L L D

STAFF // Coach Alan Solomons // Captain Mike Coman

CONTACT Murrayfield Edinburgh Scotland Tel

0131 346 5252

Fax 0131 346 5269 Email info@edinburghrugby.org

TICKET OFFICE Tel

0131 346 5180

www.edinburghrugby.org

Edinburgh Rugby (official)

edinburghrugby

EdinburghRugbyTV

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ULSTER RUGBY

POSITION: Back row D.O.B.: 23.03.91 HEIGHT: 188cm WEIGHT: 107kg

CORNELL DU PREEZ

South African-born back-row forward, Cornell du Preez, signed for Edinburgh Rugby early in the 2013/14 season from Super Rugby Franchise, the Southern Kings. The former Springbok Academy starlet is equally at home either on the flank or at number eight, is very strong physically, an exceptionally good carrier and powerful in defence. The dynamic back-rower has shown all of those attributes since his arrival in the capital, earning rave reviews for his performances in the wins over Leinster, Gloucester and Perpignan last season and has already nailed the Man of the Match medal in both his club’s Guinness PRO12 matches to date.

TRIPLE THREAT

POSITION: Loosehead prop D.O.B.: 24.08.92 HEIGHT: 183cm WEIGHT: 110kg

RORY SUTHERLAND

Edinburgh Rugby rewarded the form of one of the top props from the RBS Premiership with his first full-time contract to 2016. Former Trinity Primary and Hawick High School pupil Rory Sutherland came through the ranks with his hometown club and school sides before representing the Borders and Scotland at under-17 and U18 in the back-row. He switched to loose-head prop during his first season of senior rugby at Hawick RFC and, after a season with Biggar, caught the attention of RBS Premiership runners-up and Border League winners Gala RFC and earned selection for Scotland Club XV earlier this year.

POSITION: Centre D.O.B.: 03.05.90 HEIGHT: 183cm WEIGHT: 93kg

SAM BEARD

Sam joined Edinburgh Rugby in the early stages of the 2013/14 campaign from New Zealand side, Bay of Plenty. Born in Timaru, Beard moved to Christchurch to pursue a career in rugby, was called up to the provincial Canterbury B team and, after an impressive season in which he was named player of the year, was brought into the Crusader Knights, the development squad of the Super Rugby giants. An exponent of running rugby with an attacking style, Beard adds further depth to Edinburgh Rugby’s midfield, made his PRO12 debut away to Ulster in November 2013 and was instrumental in pulling his team back to register a draw against Scarlets last week, securing man of the match, to boot.

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ULSTER RUGBY

MAXOL MINI RUGBY FESTIVALS

The 2014/15 Ulster Rugby Maxol Mini Rugby Festivals programme kicks off tomorrow at Belfast Harlequins RFC.

MINI RUGBY

Donaldson, Chief Operating Officer of The Maxol Group, said: “Maxol retailers are very much at the heart of communities across Northern Ireland and our partnership with Ulster Rugby has really enabled us to foster and build even more meaningful long lasting relationships with our local audiences. We are committed to supporting rugby from a grassroots level and in doing so helping to shape the Ulster stars of the future.” SATURDAY 4TH OCTOBER 2014 U9 BELFAST HARLEQUINS RFC SATURDAY 1ST NOVEMBER 2014 U9 LIMAVADY RFC SATURDAY 8TH NOVEMBER 2014 U12 CARRICK RFC SATURDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 2014 U12 MONAGHAN RFC SATURDAY 6TH DECEMBER 2014 U12 COLERAINE RFC SATURDAY 31ST JANUARY 2015 U9 PORTADOWN RFC SATURDAY 21ST FEBRUARY 2015 U7 BALLYMONEY RFC SATURDAY 7TH MARCH 2015 U7 ENNISKILLEN RFC MAXOL MINI RUGBY FESTIVALS

The festivals, supported by leading forecourt convenience retailer Maxol, proved to be highly successful last season, with thousands of young players developing their rugby skills and getting the opportunity to meet their Ulster Rugby heroes. Looking ahead to this season’s Maxol festivals, Ulster Rugby’s Community Rugby experienced notable success over the past couple of seasons and we are looking to build on that for the future by getting more and more people playing the game. Many of our current Ulster and Ireland players started their careers by playing mini rugby at their local club and it’s important that we provide opportunities for children to participate from a young age.” “Everyone at Ulster Rugby is looking forward to this season’s Maxol Mini Rugby programme and I’m sure the 2014/15 events will prove to be just as successful as last year’s events.” Maxol is one of the oldest and best known indigenous brands and its support of the Mini Rugby festivals is an ideal fit. Brian Manager, Barry Willis, enthused: “The Ulster Rugby senior team has

UlsterBranch

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ULSTER RUGBY

Kingspan has been a partner of Ulster Rugby for 10 years and we are now proud to give our name to this Stadium. Our passion, as a global leader in sustainable building solutions, is to deliver the highest levels of performance - always. Our respect for Ulster Rugby and its dedicated fans is absolute. Welcome to the Kingspan Stadium.

kingspan.com

GETTING TO KNOW THE ACADEMY

ACACEMY PROFILE: DAVID BUSBY

ACACEMY PROFILE: JACOB STOCKDALE

HUGHES INSURANCE ULSTER RUGBY ACADEMY 2014/15

DOB: 03/02/1994 AGE: 20 BORN: Belfast HEIGHT: 179cm WEIGHT: 88kg POSITION:

DOB: 03/04/1996 AGE: 18 BORN: Newtownstewart HEIGHT: 190cm WEIGHT: 96kg POSITION:

Back 3 CAPS: Ulster U18, U20 CLUB: Queen’s University RFC SCHOOL: Wallace High School ADMIRE: Brian O’Driscall Jared Payne FAVOURITE FOOD: Boojum PAST TIME: Surfing/Watching Dexter ULSTER HIGHLIGHT: Participating in senior pre-season games INTERESTING FACT: I have broken six fingers TWITTER: @jacobstockdale

Back 3 CAPS: Ulster U20, 6; Ire U20, 5 CLUB: Queen’s University RFC SCHOOL: Portadown College UNIVERSITY: Queen’s University, Psychology ADMIRE: Ben Smith FAVOURITE FOOD: Sushi PAST TIME: Cycling ULSTER HIGHLIGHT: Winning Ulster U20 Interprovincial Series 2012

INTERESTING FACT: I have a twin brother TWITTER: @133busby

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ULSTER RUGBY