Ulster Rugby vs Ospreys

OFFICIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME

PRICE £3.00

RUGBY VS FRIDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER 2015, KINGSPAN STADIUM, KICK OFF 19.35 OSPREYS

LEADING THE FIELD

Hello and welcome to Kingspan Stadium, the impressive home of Ulster Rugby, for the opening game of the 2015/16 Guinness PRO12 season. Tonight’s game against the Ospreys, one of the most successful teams in the history of the league, is as fitting an opening fixture as any, with two teams hoping to find firm footing to start their title-contending campaigns. The start of the season is an exciting time for everyone, as players, staff and management are keen to show the product of a long and hard-working pre-season in the world-class facilities that we now call home. As long-term supporters of Ulster Rugby, we share the optimism and enthusiasm of all players, staff and supporters for the season ahead. In the business world, no one day defines your organisation, and at Kingspan we understand that the road to success is hard fought, but with the right team, supporters and infrastructure anything is possible. On behalf of Kingspan, I would like to wish the squad and management of Ulster Rugby every success tonight, and for the Guinness PRO12 season ahead.

Pat Freeman Divisional Managing Director

IRFU ULSTER BRANCH

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

OFFICERS Bobby Stewart // President John McKibbin // Senior Vice President Graffin Parke // Junior Vice President John McKibbin // Honorary Secretary Michael Boyd // Honorary Treasurer Denis Gardiner // Competitions Secretary EXECUTIVE TEAM Shane Logan // Chief Executive Chris Webster // Domestic Rugby Manager Audrey Robinson // Financial Controller Fiona Hampton // Head of Sales & Marketing

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

The warm-up games against Leinster and Edinburgh gave Neil Doak and his coaching team a chance to see nearly all of his players in action, including several young promising players from the Hughes Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy. However, tonight it is down to the real thing and the team that he has selected reflects the importance of the game. Our age grade and Women’s teams continue in their respective campaigns and I’m pleased to report that they have enjoyed a number of positive wins over the past couple of weeks. I wish them all the best for the rest of their season. I hope that you all enjoy the game and give Ospreys a great reception this evening. Good luck to Ulster and remember STAND UP FOR THE ULSTERMEN! Bobby Stewart // President IRFU (Ulster Branch)

I would like to welcome in particular our friends from Ospreys: Directors, players, coaches and supporters alike. I hope that you all enjoy your visit to Belfast. Tonight’s match is the opening encounter for both teams in the search for success in the Guinness PRO12 league. Ulster will be looking to put the disappointment of last season’s playoff behind them and start the season with a win. Both teams are without a number of players who are on international duty in preparation for the forthcoming World Cup and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ulster players, Rory Best, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Tommy Bowe, Darren Cave, Paddy Jackson and Jared Payne who have been selected in the Ireland squad and also Ruan Pienaar who has been selected for South Africa and wish them every success.

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

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We are delighted that the Guinness PRO12 has become a key rugby sponsorship for Diageo and we look forward to working with Guinness in growing our competition further into the future. Their long association with rugby union has been apparent in everything they do. We are grateful that they hosted our season launch at their world HQ in Park Royal and will host our Awards Dinner in the Guinness Storehouse, Dublin on Sunday 8th May next year. We’re all looking forward to another great season of rugby ahead and the Guinness PRO12 will continue its year-on-year growth and development. In 2014/15 the Guinness PRO12 had record crowds overall at almost 1.2 million, with a new league attendance record set of 52,762 at Judgement Day III, who saw a decade record 5,480 points scored including 587 tries - 4.35 on average per match – so lots of entertainment and excitement all year ! Last season, with the introduction of the new meritocracy for European Champions Cup qualification, we had more competitive games at all stages of the tournament. Going into Round 22, 10 of our 12 teams were fighting for Play-Offs, top six automatic Champions Cup places, the seventh place playoff place, and the Italian head-to-head contest for the final European slot. We wish our new Managing Director Martin Anayi and his enhanced experienced administrative team well in their endeavours to grow the tournament. I believe that this new appointment is indicative of the confidence and the optimism the Board has in the progress the Guinness PRO12 is expecting to make in this new season, building on last year’s hugely successful season in particular and on the firm foundation that has been set in recent years. The continued support of our other partners Specsavers and Rhino Rugby is recognised as a key component in our growth as a competition. We again thank our very strong suite of broadcasters, our newest broadcast partner Sky Sports together with BBC -Alba, Northern Ireland, Scotland & Wales, S4C, TG4 and we are also delighted to welcome back Rai Sport in Italy. Congratulations to Ulster on their recent opening of the splendid Nevin Spence Centre, do visit it soon if you can. A wonderful facility and a worthy tribute. Both Ulster and Ospreys just missed out on reaching the 2015 Final here in the fabulous Kingspan Stadium in Belfast, losing narrowly in last season’s Play-Offs to Glasgow and Munster respectively. Both teams start the hard work of improving on last season tonight and it should be a very entertaining game. We acknowledge the excellent work of all of our match officials and disciplinary officers and wish them all well for the season ahead. We hope our four countries have had an excellent summer preparation and wish them all a long, fruitful and successful participation in the Rugby World Cup 2015. The ongoing support of the media in promoting our sport and our competition is key to the development of the Guinness PRO12 and we look forward to continuing and enhancing our work together. To you the fans, we extend a very warm welcome back to the Guinness PRO12, your support of your Club is key. Have a great season !

Together Stronger

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Providing quality bespoke sportswear to athletes and teams

TONIGHT’S MASCOTS

MASCOTS

LUCY FRIAR (9) Lucy is from Rathfriland and attends Edenderry Primary School. Her favourite player is Ruan Pienaar and when she grows up she would like to be a child minder. Lucy can’t wait to run out onto the Kingspan Staduim pitch tonight with Sparky and the team.

OWAIN WILLIAMS (8) Owain is from Hillsborough and attends Wallace Prep School. He plays mini rugby at school and at Lisburn RFC, he also enjoys swimming, karate and cubs. His favourite player is Paddy Jackson and when he grows up he wants to play rugby for Ulster.

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ROB HERRING NAMED AS ULSTER CAPTAIN DURING WORLD CUP Ulster hooker, Rob Herring, has been named as the province’s captain during the World Cup period.

point mattering between now and May, Herring is determined to get the PRO12 campaign off to a good start, beginning with tonight’s game against Ospreys: “Kingspan Stadium has been a fortress for us over the past few years. We want to give our fans the best possible performance. It’s a massive game for us and we just want to get the win and get the league off to the best possible start. “Over the summer it has been good to see some of the Academy boys coming in and some of the development lads stepping up. We have a real squad mentality now and we know that we can count on them when we need them. To win the league, games like these count. We don’t want

The 25 year-old, who has won 70 caps for Ulster, will deputise for club captain, Rory Best, who will be away with Ireland. Herring has been at Ulster since the summer of 2012. He made his debut against Ospreys in September of that year and in his three seasons at the province has become a senior player within the squad. His excellent form for Ulster saw him called up to the international side and he won his first international cap for Ireland in June 2014, coming off the bench in a tour match against Argentina. Confirming the appointment, Ulster Head Coach, Neil Doak, said: ‘Rob is a quality player who has grown in stature over the past three seasons. His work on the pitch is second to none. He gives everything for Ulster and he will bring that passion and excitement to the captaincy role.” Rob Herring said: “It was a bit of surprise to me. When Neil Doak told me I was in a bit of shock! It is a massive honour to captain Ulster. It’s a privilege to lead the guys out for a game, especially at Kingspan Stadium. I know that the role is only temporary but I will enjoy the increased responsibility. “There are lots of players in our team who have leadership qualities and that makes being captain easier. I am just massively focused on playing well for Ulster, leading by example and getting the season off to a successful start.” Herring missed out on World Cup selection. He is using the disappointment of that to spur him and Ulster on in the coming weeks: “Missing out on the World Cup was a bit of a blow to me. It hasn’t worked out for me this time, but if you want to achieve national honours, you have to be playing well for your

ROB HERRING

to be slipping up and missing out on a PRO12 play off like we did last season. It’s vitally important we learn from that and that starts against Ospreys.”

province and the province needs to be doing well. I am just massively focused on playing well for Ulster and hopefully getting a few good results and getting some momentum for the team.” Last season Ulster narrowly missed out on a home play-off. With every

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ROB HERRING

“IT IS A MASSIVE HONOUR TO CAPTAIN ULSTER. IT’S A PRIVILEGE TO LEAD THE GUYS OUT FOR A GAME, ESPECIALLY AT KINGSPAN STADIUM”

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Make Friday Night

Family Night

ULSTER v TREVISO Fri 2 Oct 6.05pm REVISO ri 2 O 5p

Visit ulsterrugby/tickets or call 028 9049 3222 opt 2

CELEBRATING ULSTER JUNIORS

We are delighted to welcome Ulster Juniors to Kingspan Stadium this evening to celebrate their 2015 inter-provincial success in May.

ULSTER JUNIORS

touched down and a powerful scrum yielded a penalty try. Stewart and replacement winger Andrew Pollock (Cooke) added further scores after the break in the five try triumph. The rest of the points came from the boot of Cousens. The championship was then sealed with a 6-20 win over Leinster on the final weekend at Ashbourne RFC as Cousens and Stewart crossed the whitewash. Cousens converted both scores and kicked two penalties for a personal match tally of 15 points. Congratulations and good luck for the season ahead.

Jason Morgan’s impressive squad won the series for the first time in ten years after a clean sweep of victories over the other three provinces. Ulster opened their campaign with a hard fought 12-20 win over Connacht at Westport RFC thanks to two tries from Enniskillen’s Jamie Johnston and one from his back row colleague Curtis Stewart. Portadown’s Chris Cousens kicked a penalty and a conversion to complete the scoring. They followed up that result by comfortably overcoming Munster 35-0 at Carrickfergus RFC. The home side stormed into a 23-0 lead by half time as Bangor duo Stewart and Mark Widdowson

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IT’S ALL COMING TO A HEAD

IAN HUMPHREYS

FAVOURITE TV SERIES? Suits FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION? Egypt FAVOURITE PLACE TO DINE OUT? Ramore Wine Bar, Portrush FAVOURITE HOBBY/PAST TIME? Gardening IF YOU WERE A CARTOON CHARACTER, WHO WOULD YOU BE AND WHY? Homer Simpson BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER BEEN GIVEN? After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box WHAT IS YOUR PRE-MATCH ROUTINE? Nothing specific, just have a few kicks and get used to the conditions DO YOU HAVE ANY LUCK CHARMS? I always strap my left wrist and also wave to Jenny and the girls running out for kick off WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A YOUNG PERSON PLAYING YOUR POSITION? Communication and organisation of players around you is most important WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS/AMBITIONS FOR THIS SEASON? Play as many games as possible and get a contract extension

SQUAD Q & A

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT IAN FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @IHUMPH

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DISABILITY NEEDS AND ULSTER BARBARIANS WHEELCHAIR RUGBY TOURNAMENT Disability Needs and the Ulster Barbarians Wheelchair Rugby Challenge will take place tomorrow at the Antrim Forum, between 10 – 2pm.

DISABILITY RUGBY

Wheelchair rugby is a fast paced intense game that is fun to play and exciting to watch. Disability Needs and the Ulster Barbarians Wheelchair Rugby Challenge will promote the sport to people as a great way to keep fit and enjoy sport regardless of age or personal challenges. Former Ulster players Paddy Wallace, Andrew Park and BBC Sports Presenter Stephen Watson will play against the Ulster Barbarians in a friendly game at 10.45am. Mark Spottiswoode, Disability Needs Sales Director says, “Disability Needs are delighted to partner with the Ulster Barbarians to raise awareness of Wheelchair Rugby. A challenging, fast paced sport for athletes with a disability. Disability Needs offer a range of innovative sporting products which include Active Chairs for rugby and a variety of sports like tennis, basketball and handcycling.” Ulster Barbarians Chairman, Bernard Rooney says, “The Ulster Barbarians, the only Wheelchair Rugby team in Northern Ireland are excited to play in the Wheelchair Rugby Challenge. We train as a team on Monday nights between 7am – 9am at the Antrim Forum. With the Rugby World Cup starting in September we are actively welcoming new members.” Please visit www.ulsterbarbarians.com for more information or call Bernard on 07770 777265.

Wheelchair Rugby was invented in Winnepeg, Canada, in 1977 by a group of quadripledgic athletes as an alternative to wheelchair basketball. It is an official paralympic sport. There are currently four Wheelchair Rugby teams playing on the island of Ireland. 85% of people with disabilities in Northern Ireland do not take part in any form of sport or physical activity. Disability Needs and the Ulster Barbarians would like to encourage people to take up wheelchair rugby as a sport. So why not come along for taster session at the Antrim Forum on Saturday 5th September from 10am - 2pm. EVENT TIMETABLE 10am - 10.45am Set up, warm up, safety briefing and rules 10.45am - 11.15am Disability Needs team vs Ulster Barbarians 11.30am - 12 noon Kids vs Mixed Team (Members of all teams to play but only Disability Needs team can score) 12 noon - 1.00pm Awards, tea/coffee and food 1.00pm - 2.00pm Taster sessions for new members

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OFFICIAL CLOTHING PARTNER OF ULSTER RUGBY

SPORTS MINISTER OPENS THE NEVIN SPENCE CENTRE

The Nevin Spence Centre, a new education and heritage facility at Kingspan Stadium, the home of Ulster Rugby, has been formally opened by Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín.

become an important resource for schools and the education community across the province. “The centre is also a vibrant and entirely fitting way to remember Nevin who was so tragically taken from us almost three years ago. “On behalf of the Ulster Branch, I would like to thank the Sports Minister and the Northern Ireland Executive for their support of this project.” Carál Ní Chuilín said: “I am pleased to officially open The Nevin Spence Centre at Kingspan Stadium. The stadium has, from its inception, placed the community benefits at the very top of the priority list. “The Nevin Spence Centre will bring children from all over the North and from all backgrounds to Kingspan Stadium and will allow them to learn new skills in a very fun environment. “The incredible transformation of the stadium is now complete. We have a world-class stadium as the home of Ulster Rugby and a state-of-the-art education centre that will provide our young people with the opportunity to learn about the creative industries and the STEM agenda. “I would like to congratulate everyone involved with the project and I hope that this wonderful new facility will help educate future generations for years to come.” The Nevin Spence Centre opens to the public on 1st September 2015 and is open Monday - Friday from 10am until 5pm. Visits to the Nevin Spence Centre must be booked in advance. To set up a booking, please email nevinspencecentre@ ulsterrugby.com outlining the date that you wish to visit and the number of people who wish to attend. Alternatively, bookings can be made by calling 028 9049 3111 or 028 9049 3222.

The centre, funded by the Northern Ireland Executive, is named in memory of former Ulster player, Nevin Spence, who died in a farming accident along with his father Noel and his brother Graham in September 2012. Housed in the Memorial End Stand, The Nevin Spence Centre contains interactives and audio- visual content and enables visitors to explore the history of rugby in Ulster and the benefits that the game has for players, supporters and society in general. The centre was designed by leading consultancy Mather & Co. and showcases the science and technology that underpins the game of rugby to fit with the school curriculum (key stages 2-4). A bespoke interactive gaming zone, developed in partnership with the Movement Innovation lab in the School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, demonstrates performance and match analysis and features avatars created by staff and students at South West College in Enniskillen. Visitors can also get a sense of what it is like to kick for goal at Kingspan Stadium by having a go at a kicking challenge in an innovative virtual environment, choose their Ulster Rugby dream- team in an interactive game and watch short films showcasing female rugby, disability rugby mini- rugby and the senior Ulster team. A digital Ulster Rugby vault houses hundreds of digital images of team photographs, minute books and reports from over 100 years of rugby in Ulster. In addition, The Nevin Spence Centre also contains a number of significant historical items including the lion carried by the unbeaten 1974 British and Irish Lions (loaned by Willie John McBride), Dr Jack Kyle’s Ireland jersey (loaned by the Kyle family) and the old Irish interprovincial trophy. Bobby Stewart, President IRFU (Ulster Branch), said: “This centre tells the history of rugby in Ulster, while demonstrating the important benefits of a healthy lifestyle and I have no doubt that it will NEVIN SPENCE CENTRE

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NEVIN SPENCE CENTRE

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UNDERSTANDING THOSE GREAT EXPECTATIONS

by ROD NAWN

NO more warm-up games, no more mass substitutions to confuse the untutored spectator, this evening the marathon that is Ulster’s rugby season begins in steely earnest.

matter how diluted – the lock admitted it gave all at Swansea some confidence en route for Belfast. Wingers Dafydd Howells and Kristian Williams crossed for tries in London, Dan Evans was impressive at fullback, and with outhalf Sam Davies kicking well the Ospreys ‘machine’ looked in good running order, though Ashley believes Ulster poses an entirely different and much more difficult proposition. Home supporters will hope that he is correct in his assessment of Doak’s squad, which has been in intensive pre-season training for over two months, and everyone who’s fit is ‘biting at the bit’ to get a starting place. Newcomer Sam Windsor has had two outings as a replacement at outhalf and appears to be ready to step in for Ian Humphreys, injured in Edinburgh, important now that Paddy Jackson is in the World Cup ‘mix’. What Doak and Tandy will demand this evening as the PRO12 fires into action is a performance from their respective sides, but they won’t deny that posting a first win in the league is very much a target. For the first six matches in the competition that other tournament – the World Cup! - will keep some big-name players out of the picture, but Doak in particular has planned meticulously to prepare a new generation to get, and take, the chance to be part of what he is determined will be a season when the side is challenging in the league and Champions Cup. So, it’s upon those given places in the starting XV and on the benches who will want to impress individually and collectively, for it is vital that by the end of October Ulster and Ospreys have built launchpads for the assault on the PRO12 and in Europe. For Ulster, thoughts of the Champions Cup can wait in the short term, the task is for those with limited experience in the white jersey at the top level gel with the more battle-hardened quickly, that Luke Marshall, Craig Gilroy, Paul Marshall, Humphreys, Wiehann Herbst, Rob Herring, Franco van der Merwe, Robbie Diack, Roger Wilson and Nick Williams, for example, lead the charge. What Doak is at pains to insist is that the group of players at his disposal is the best he can have, and he is more than happy at the calibre of his

Ospreys arrive in Belfast to pose the first competitive challenge to Neil Doak’s side as the Guinness PRO12 campaign explodes into action. The Welsh club has been, like the host, a constant challenger for honours, and with huge investment and commitment its Liberty Stadium home in Swansea consistently stages big games in both league and in Europe. It has boasted a roster of top-class players for over a decade, and Wales relies heavily on Ospreys to fuel its World Cup challenge – and no fewer than nine from the club were in the match day squad which inflicted a rare defeat on Ireland in Dublin last Saturday. Ulster’s contribution to Ireland’s cause is no less considerable in terms of the calibre of players Joe Schmidt has assembled - congratulations to Tommy Bowe, Darren Cave, Jared Payne, Paddy Jackson, Rory Best, Iain Henderson and Chris Henry - and that means that great responsibility is vested in those who have been waiting to grab the opportunity to become serious factors as the hunt for silverware takes high priority this season. Of course we’ll all have a keen eye on the World Cup being staged on our doorstep, but for all the players involved this evening at Kingspan Stadium that has to be set aside for the primary target: getting an optimum points return from the first six matches in a PRO12 league of increasing quality. Although the two friendlies at home to Leinster and in Edinburgh last weekend didn’t produce a win of more importance was the opportunity for Head Coach Doak and assistants Joe Barakat, Allen Clarke and Niall Malone to analyse in detail just how individuals, partnerships and units were ready to perform in the cauldron of a competitive match. A flood of players were used at Kingspan Stadium a fortnight ago when Leinster edged the victory, and 26 were involved at Goldenacre, a sign that perhaps there was increasing clarity about the first- choice line-up. Ospreys, with Steve Tandy at the coaching helm and with Gruff Rees and Chris Gibbes with specific responsibilities for the backs and the forwards respectively, chose to play just one friendly game before the PRO12 opened. And while stand-in skipper Lloyd Ashley cautioned against reading too much into the result, a 23-16 win at Saracens - no

ROD NAWN

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squad and with the competition which exists in every department. Stuart McCloskey, Sam Arnold and Jacob Stockdale are already very much in form and offering great promise across the backline, and ready to make the most of Jared Payne and Darren Cave being in World Cup action. And a veritable explosion of forward talent is arriving through the Hughes Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy and shrewd acquisition. But for the 80 exciting minutes of the new PRO12 season at the Kingspan there is the promise of two clubs with rich attacking traditions going head-to-head, and the entertainment quotient in encounters between these sides has always been consistently high. So, we are off-and-running in the PRO12, and for Ulster and the Ospreys the ambitions for the next nine months will be high, just as they will for Leinster, Edinburgh, Connacht and Dragons who’ll play this evening, and for champions Glasgow who meet Scarlets tomorrow, and for Munster who host Treviso, while Sunday sees Cardiff open up at the Arms Park against Zebre. By Sunday evening there’ll be a few bumps and bruises, real and psychological, but the hunger for big nights at Kingspan Stadium is as great as ever, perhaps even the expectations are greater still, and there is a group of coaches and players who want – like the fans whose support is regarded as so vital – who want so much to realise the dreams of not just good rugby and fine wins, but of silverware. Everything about Ulster’s set-up screams quality and success. There is no question there’s a passionate determination to deliver.

ROD NAWN

ARTICLE BY ROD NAWN FREELANCE JOURNALIST AND SPORTS ENTHUSIAST @RODNAWN1

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JOHN ANDREW

SAM ARNOLD

Hooker 26.05.93 181cm 101kg 4 —

Centre 08.04.96 182cm 96kg 2 —

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

MARK BEST

RORY BEST

Centre 02.12.89 185cm 87kg

Hooker 15.08.82 178cm 106kg 170 84

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

— —

SQUAD 2015/16 CALLUM BLACK

TOMMY BOWE

Prop 25.02.86 180cm 110kg

Wing 22.02.84 190cm 100kg 135 62

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

86 —

PETER BROWNE

DARREN CAVE

Second row 25.10.87 201cm 116kg 0 —

Centre 05.04.87 184cm 95kg 160 9 // 11A

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

ROBBIE DIACK

WILLIE FALOON

Back row 12.11.85 195cm 110kg 152 2 // 2A

Back row 30.09.86 186cm 100kg

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

63 —

CRAIG GILROY

IAIN HENDERSON

Wing 11.03.91 183cm 90kg 107 6 // 2A

Second row 21.02.92 199cm 117kg 49 19 // 3A

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

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CHRIS HENRY

WIEHAHN HERBST

Back row 17.10.84 191cm 105kg 132 18

Prop 05.07.88 180cm 120kg

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

SQUAD 2015/16

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

24 —

ROB HERRING

IAN HUMPHREYS

Hooker 27.04.90 185cm 102kg 70 1 // 2A

Flyhalf 24.04.82 178cm 84kg 104 7A

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

PADDY JACKSON

PAUL JACKSON

Flyhalf 05.01.92 180cm 87kg 81 12 // 1A

Hooker 24.06.89 185cm 106kg 0 —

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

CONOR JOYCE

LOUIS LUDIK

Back row 05.07.93 192cm 106kg 4 —

Utility back 10.08.86 182cm 92kg

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

25 —

RICKY LUTTON

LUKE MARSHALL

Prop 26.02.86 183cm 113kg

Centre 03.11.91 181cm 97kg 62 6

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

25 —

PAUL MARSHALL

KYLE McCALL

Scrumhalf 26.07.85 172cm 80kg 146 3 // 2A

Hooker 02.01.92 177cm 111kg 3 —

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

25

STUART McCLOSKEY

STEPHEN MULHOLLAND

Centre 06.08.92 194cm 111kg

Back row 04.07.90 193cm 108kg 0 —

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

SQUAD 2015/16

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

19 —

JONNY MURPHY

RUAIDHRI MURPHY

Hooker 06.02.92 178cm 106kg 0 —

POSITION BORN

Prop 05.07.87 187cm 114kg 3 —

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

PETER NELSON

ALAN O’CONNOR

Utility back 05.10.92 180cm 85kg

Second row 10.09.92 197cm 114kg

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

22 —

13 —

STUART OLDING

JARED PAYNE

Utility back 11.03.93 176cm 88kg 36 2

POSITION BORN

Fullback 13.10.85 186cm 97kg 61 7

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

RUAN PIENAAR

SEAN REIDY

Scrumhalf 10.03.84 187cm 90kg 97 83 (SA)

Back row 10.05.89 180cm 100kg 8 —

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

BRONSON ROSS

CLIVE ROSS

Prop 16.09.85 183cm 116kg

Back row 14.06.89 192cm 104kg

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

20 —

19 —

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PAUL ROWLEY

RORY SCHOLES

Scrumhalf 15.12.87 179cm 86kg 0 —

Utility back 24.04.93 187cm 95kg 9 —

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

SQUAD 2015/16

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

JONNY SIMPSON

LEWIS STEVENSON

Prop 19.08.90 184cm 110kg 0 —

POSITION BORN

Second row 01.06.84 198cm 118kg

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

80 1A

FRANK TAGGART

ANDREW TRIMBLE

Back row 14.10.94 188cm 108kg 0 —

Wing 20.10.84 185cm 97kg 188 58 // 3A

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

DAN TUOHY

FRANCO VAN DER MERWE

Second row 18.06.85 197cm 115kg 126 11 // 4A

POSITION BORN

Second row 15.03.83 198cm 117kg

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

27 —

ANDREWWARWICK

NICK WILLIAMS

Prop 12.03.91 179cm 110kg

POSITION BORN

Back row 02.12.91

POSITION BORN

189cm 125kkg

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

29 —

57 —

ROGER WILSON

SAMWINDSOR

Back row 21.09.81 190cm 106kg 181 1 // 11 A

Flyhalf 12.07.87 185cm 94kg 0 —

POSITION BORN

POSITION BORN

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

HEIGHT WEIGHT ULSTER CAPS INT. CAPS

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ULSTER RUG FRIDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER KICK O

15

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

ANDREW WARWICK

LOUIS LUDIK

14 13 12 11 9 10

ROB HERRING (C)

ANDREW TRIMBLE

WIEHAHN HERBST

LUKE MARSHALL

ULSTER RUGBY

DAN TUOHY

STUART McCLOSKEY

FRANCO VD MERWE

CRAIG GILROY

ROGER WILSON

PETER NELSON

WILLIE FALOON

PAUL MARSHALL

REPLACEMENTS FROM

16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23

J. ANDREW R. LUTTON B. ROSS P. BROWNE

C. ROSS S. REIDY D. SHANAHAN S. ARNOLD

8

NICK WILLIAMS

TODAYS OFFICIALS

REFEREE ASSISTANT REFEREE’S CITING COMMISSIONER TMO

IAN DAVIES WRU, 32ND COMPETITION GAME SEAN GALLAGHER IRFU // BRIAN MACNEICE IRFU

EUGENE RYAN IRFU KEVIN BEGGS IRFU

30

Y v OSPREYS 015 - KINGSPAN STADIUM F 19.35

14 13 12 11 15 9 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

MARC THOMAS

DAN EVANS

OSPREYS

SAM PARRY

KRISTIAN PHILLIPS

DMITRI ARHIP

JONATHAN SPRATT

LLOYD ASHLEY (C)

BEN JOHN

DE KOCK STEENKAMP

TOM GRABHAM

JOE BEARMAN

SAM DAVIES

LLOYD EVANS

TOM HABBERFIELD

REPLACEMENTS FROM 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 S. OTTEN N. SMITH C. GRIFFITHS R. THORNTON

D. BAKER S. UNDERHILL B. LEONARD A. BECK

GARETH DELVE

31

DIMITRI ARHIP

LLOYD ASHLEY

Prop 12.11.88 178cm 110kg

Lock 02.02.91 196cm 114kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

DAN BAKER

SCOTT BALDWIN

Back Row 05.07.92 191cm 114kg

Hooker 12.07.88 191cm 115kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

SQUAD 2015/16 ADAM BEARD

JOE BEARMAN

Lock 07.01.96 203cm 117kg

Back Row 28.02.79 193cm 104kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

ASHLEY BECK

RYNIER BERNARDO

Centre 15.04.90 191cm 103kg

Lock 27.08.91 198cm 113kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

RYAN BEVINGTON

DAN BIGGAR

Prop 09.12.88 183cm 116kg

Fly Half 16.10.89 188cm 90kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

OLLY CRACKNELL

SAM DAVIES

Back Row 26.05.94 191cm 110kg

Fly Half 06.10.93 180cm 87kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

32

DAN EVANS

GARETH DELVE

No. 8 30.12.82 191cm 114kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

SQUAD 2015/16

Full Back 15.11.88 183cm 93kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

LLOYD EVANS

TOM GRABHAM

Flanker 14.09.90 183cm 93kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

Wing 20.06.91 178cm 86kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

TOM HABBERFIELD

CAI GRIFFITHS

Scrum Half 19.05.92 178cm 83kg

Prop 05.01.84 191cm 123kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

PAUL JAMES

AARON JARVIS

Prop 20.05.86 183cm 116kg

Prop 13.04.82 185cm 115kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

BEN JOHN

ALUN WYN JONES

Centre 28.02.91 193cm 99kg

Lock 19.09.85 196cm 122kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

JAMES KING

DAN LYDIATE

Flanker 18.12.87 193cm 114kg

Flanker 24.07.90 193cm 107kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

33

Suppliers of fresh produce to the Ulster Rugby team.

Official suppliers of fresh produce to the Ulster Rugby team.

BRENDON LEONARD

SCOTT OTTEN

SQUAD 2015/16

Scrum Half 16.04.85 183cm 93kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

Hooker 19.07.94 185cm 103kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

SAM PARRY

KRISTIAN PHILLIPS

Wing 02.09.90 183cm 90kg

Hooker 17.12.91 185cm 114kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

JONATHAN SPRATT

NICKY SMITH

Prop 07.04.94 183cm 116kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

Centre 28.04.86 188cm 100kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

JUSTIN TIPURIC

DE KOCK STEENKAMP

Lock 16.02.87 198cm 112kg

Back Row 06.08.89 188cm 101kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

RORY THORNTON

MARC THOMAS

16.03.95 201cm 115kg Lock

Prop 15.07.90 183cm 114kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

SAM UNDERHILL

RHYS WEBB

Back Row — — —

Scrum Half 09.12.88 183cm 93kg

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

POSITION BORN HEIGHT WEIGHT

35

ULSTER INTENSITY WILL BE “UP A FEW NOTCHES”

Ospreys skipper Lloyd Ashley says the team face “a pretty tough challenge” in the Guinness PRO12 opener against Ulster...

we love, as opposed to the shuttle runs and everything that comes with pre-season. “On the flip side there were some things we came into the game wanting to achieve which we didn’t do so we have to look at why, get back on to the training paddock and put that right. We’ll work hard, like we have all summer.” As the focus turns from Saracens to Ulster, Ashley said that he was pleased that last week’s win was down to a good squad showing, with replacements making a big impact in the second half. Looking at this week, building up to PRO12 round one, he is expecting the coaches to have some difficult decisions to make. “It’s always going to be a tough week, but what makes it tougher is the performance of boys coming off the bench, who really made a statement. That’s exactly the position we want to be in, where not only is it a tough week in training, working on putting things right, but it is also a tough week for the coaches, making their selection. “That’s a headache all teams should want to have. It’s what we want at the Ospreys.”

The second row led his charges to a convincing win over Saracens at the HAC in London last Thursday evening, in their only pre-season fixture, and although he was pleased with how things went on the field, Ashley warned that there is plenty of work to be done before the new campaign kicks-off in Belfast. “It was a good hit out for us,” said Ashley. “It’s nice to get some rugby under our belt and, for me personally, to get through 80 minutes. “There were positives about the performance but we can’t get blinded by the scoreboard, not everything was perfect. We aren’t going to blow it out of proportion. It’s just a pre-season win, albeit one against a good team. “We’ve got plenty of work-ons moving forward but we’ll take the positives out of it, sit down over the weekend and identify how we can put right the negatives before we kick off the PRO12. “It’s important that we recognise this isn’t a league game, it’s not Ulster away, where the atmosphere and the intensity will be up quite a few notches on this. “We’ve got to work hard in training, we’ll be honest and pretty tough with each other, as you have to be when it’s Ulster at Kingspan next. That’s as tough as it gets.” Reflecting on the 33-16 win, with the Ospreys running in five tries to Saracens’ one, Ashley said it had been good just to get back into action after a long summer. “We wanted to bed some units in together, wanted to get through some new plays and systems, in attack and defence, and I think we can be relatively happy that we got the chance to do all that” was his considered verdict. ”It’s good to actually get out there with a ball in your hands, doing what

CLUB STATS //Location Swansea, Wales //Founded 2003 //Ground Liberty Stadium //Capacity 20,820 //Last Game

Saracens (A) 33 - 16 (W) Thu, 27 Aug 2015, 18:15 //Next Game Munster Rugby (H) Sun 13th Sep 15, 14:30

STAFF // Coach Steve Tandy // Captain Alun Wyn Jones CONTACT Liberty Stadium

Landore Swansea Wales SA12FA T +44 1792 616 500 E info@ospreysrugby.com

TICKET OFFICE T +44 844 815 6665

www.ospreysrugby.com

ospreysrugby

ospreys

OspreysTV

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

REPRESENTATIVE TEAM FIXTURES 2015/16

FIXTURE LIST

ULSTER U20S Ulster v Munster Friday 4th September, 5.00pm, Queen’s Arena Connacht v Ulster Friday 11th September, 5.00pm, Sportsground Leinster v Ulster Friday 18th September, 7.00pm Donnybrook ULSTER U19S Ulster v Munster Saturday 5th September, 1.00pm, Queen’s Arena Connacht v Ulster Saturday 12th September, 2.30pm, Sportsground Leinster v Ulster Saturday 19th September, 1.00pm, Donnybrook ULSTER SCHOOLS Ulster v Leinster Saturday 12th September, 3.00pm, Belfast Harlequins RFC Munster v Ulster Saturday 19th September, 1.00pm, CBC Cork

ULSTER U18 CLUBS Ulster v Connacht Saturday 5th September, 1.00pm, Rainey OB RFC Ulster v Leinster Saturday 12th September, 1.00pm Rainey OB RFC Munster v Ulster Saturday 19th September, 11.00am, CBC Cork ULSTER WOMEN Ulster v Leinster Saturday 22nd August, 3.00pm, Portadown RFC Munster v Ulster Saturday 29th August, 2.30pm, Thomond Park Ulster v Connacht Saturday 5th September, 3.00pm, Portadown RFC

39

ORLEANS RFC VISIT KINGSPAN STADIUM The Nevin Spence Centre welcomed its first overseas visitors from French club Orleans RFC on Friday 28th August 2015. They have been visiting the province every two years in a tradition stemming back to World War II.

ORLEANS RFC VISIT

The story goes... During WWII a bomber was shot down over France and landed in a marsh area. The airmen were all killed, one of which was a gunner named Marks from Portadown... The local resistance recovered the bodies and buried them in the local churchyard. Unfortunately they were caught and were executed. Many years later a memorial service was held in the same churchyard in France and was attended by the brother of the gunner named Marks, his name was John Marks, and he happened to be President of Portadown Rugby Club at the time. During the service he got talking to a man called Daniel Mallard whose brother was one of the resistance fighters being remembered at the same service and who at the time was very much involved in Orléans Rugby Club in France. (www.rcorleans. com)

As usual, rugby men seem to migrate towards one another and after some conversation they decided that a team from Orleans would come to play in Portadown. They did, and so the tradition was born. Both the ‘originals’ are unfortunately no longer with us, but ever since, a team from Portadown travel to Orleans every other year to play the return fixture to play for ‘La Cup de L’amité’ or ‘The Friendship Cup’, presented many years ago by John Marks. The role of the cup is to ensure that all old and new friendships are set aside for 80 minutes each year, to be vigorously reinstated afterwards over a few Guinness or Vin Rouge, depending on the nationality of the hosts for that particular match!

It was great to welcome players from both Orleans and Portadown RFC last Friday for a tour of Kingspan Stadium and The Nevin Spence Centre.

41

Ulster Rugby shop @ Kingspan Stadium Monday - Friday 9am-5pm Saturday 10am-2pm

www.ulsterrugbyshop.com

Together Stronger

kukrisports.com

Providing quality bespoke sportswear to athletes and teams

JOE BARAKAT: “WE WANT OUR FANS TO GO AWAY SINGING” Ulster’s new assistant coach will experience his first PRO12 game at Kingspan Stadium tonight and he is focused on delivering for the fans...

JOE BARAKAT

“This weekend we have got to finish what we start, get into the green zone with relative ease in the opposition 22. It is not just about feeling comfortable and confident doing that but lifting that to another level to make sure we cross the try line. That is how we are going to gauge ourselves against Ospreys.” Explaining his dynamic and how he fits into the coaching set up at Ulster, Joe describes his first two months here as magnificent... “I have a clear role which is collision zone, mainly defence. I am working with two really good coaches in Doaky (Neil) and Clarkey (Allan) and we share ideas. It is a really good open environment and we have the support of Niall (Malone) our analyst. It’s good that we are open to learn from one another, we have our specific areas but we are all willing to give our opinions on other areas and how to improve, so far it has been magnificent. “My coaching style is based on determination, I am a very determined person, I love winning and I hate losing. There is nothing worse in life than losing, my wife hates it because I annoy her so much when we lose. So I will try my best to make sure that we are winning because that makes my life happier. “Rugby is my passion, I am so lucky to get paid to work in my hobby every day of my life and I think that when you lose the passion for this game no matter what you’re earning or what country you are in, you may as well give it up. I have always been really enthusiastic and charismatic about what I do and who I am and what I want to deliver and I think that has been really welcomed here. For the players something different is always a little bit exciting so I am just glad to be able to offer that little bit of difference.”

“We just have to reward them, they spend a lot of money to come and support us and not recognising that and not rewarding them and not riding on the back of 18,000 giants would be very remissive of us. So I am really looking forward to experiencing that and looking forward to the rugby and the specific way we get to play against Ospreys. We know we can beat them and beat them well, and we want our fans to go away singing!” Having arrived at Ulster in July, Joe has already identified several individuals who have the potential to stand out during the absence of World Cup players... “We have got some fantastic footballers, we have great locks in Franco, Dan, Pete Browne and Lewis, who is coming back from injury, he has had a fantastic pre- season. Our front row of Rob, Wiehahn and Andy have done well and Willie Faloon who has come back to his home province, has a real opportunity this weekend to cement himself back into a strong position in the team. This franchise is full of fantastic players and being successful is just something we have all got to fight for. “We have said all along, our first five games in this competition are really important. We can’t wait for those seven guys to come back from the World Cup before we build any momentum. We have got to make sure that our momentum is firmly built and they have got to catch us on their way back. We cannot be waiting for them, and that is our focus, for them to be on a fast train when they come back in not on a train that is slow and struggling. We want to be challenging their role in the squad when they return from international duty. Two defeats from two pre-season friendlies wasn’t exactly the start that new assistant coach Joe Barakat wanted to get off to, but he is keen to take the positives from the warm up games... “It has been slightly disappointing these past few weeks,” says Barakat. “But we are lucky, we know these pre-season games don’t give us points, they are all about trying things that we have been planning and putting them into practice. We are happy with the opportunities that we have been creating. If you look at last weekend for example, we had the ball for 16 minutes and our opponents had the ball for eight minutes and they won by 13 points. We know that we had so much more ball possession and opportunities but we didn’t finish off our green zone attack close to their line. We are excited by what we are developing but horrendously disappointed by the fact that we are not finishing. This weekend we cannot except that developing plays is good enough, we have got to get points on the board. Against Edinburgh we had eight opportunities where we could have taken shots on goal, they took their shots because their focus was to win while our focus was to make sure we were getting our plays right. So yes, disappointing on the scoreboard but we are still developing what we want to develop.

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