Ulster Rugby vs Ospreys

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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