Ulster Rugby vs Oyonnax

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

IRFU ULSTER BRANCH

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 Les Kiss // Director of Rugby

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to Kingspan Stadium this afternoon for this Round 6 match in the European Champions Cup against Oyonnax.

Ballynahinch and Belfast Harlequins continue to struggle and I hope that their fortunes change for the better in the near future. I would like congratulate Honorary Life Vice President, Ian Beggs, who was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen in the New Year Carrickfergus Rugby Club for 60 years and was their representative at the Ulster Branch for 41 years. On his retirement and for his services to rugby in Ulster, he was awarded the status of Honorary Life Vice President. I am delighted for Ian and his family. I hope that you all enjoy the game this afternoon and that we will be celebrating qualification to the quarter final stages of the European Champions Cup by the end of today! Good luck to Ulster and remember, STAND UP FOR THE ULSTERMEN! Bobby Stewart // President IRFU (Ulster Branch) for his services to rugby. Ian has been a member of

When Ulster visited Oyonnax, before Christmas, and again two weeks ago, we were given a very warm welcome both from the club and the residents of the town and in return I want you to give the team, officials and supporters a very warm Ulster welcome and I hope that they enjoy their time in Belfast. Two weeks ago the game was very unusual with Oyonnax winning 23-0 at half time and Ulster making a grand comeback to bring home a 23 points to 24 victory. However, I don’t think I could handle another game like that today! Qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions Cup can be achieved this weekend, but we must play at our utmost potential. With the Six Nations Championship approaching, the news of our injured players is encouraging with Jared Payne already back playing and Stuart Olding playing for the A team this weekend. On the domestic front, Ballymena, Banbridge and City of Derry are all well placed at or near the top of their respective leagues and I wish them further success.

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

3