Ulster Schools' Cup FInal

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

As President of the IRFU Ulster Branch, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to Kingspan Stadium for today’s Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Final between Campbell College, Belfast and Methodist College, Belfast.

developed a love of rugby which will see them continue to be involved in the sport at whatever level for many years to come. As I have said, there are many competitions in schools rugby and, on behalf of the Ulster Branch, I wish to thank the Schools Committee, chaired by Stephen Black for the hard work and planning which they put in throughout the year to ensure that everything runs smoothly, whatever the vagaries of the weather. Rugby in schools would not be played without the continued cooperation of the principals and teaching staff and I would wish to express our gratitude to them for their support in times when they have to deal with many different pressures. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Danske Bank for their continued and generous sponsorship of schools rugby in Ulster. The name has become synonymous with the Schools’ Cup and their financial support has played a large part in the development of rugby in schools. I wish both teams good luck for the final today and I hope that everyone enjoys the match and the Schools’ Cup experience. Stephen Elliott President, IRFU Ulster Branch

I extend a warm welcome to the players from both teams, their coaches, and parents. The Schools’ Cup final is one of the most important fixtures in the provincial rugby calendar and always brings colour and atmosphere to the home of rugby in Ulster. There is always great support from pupils of the schools involved, both past and present, and from the neutrals who simply enjoy watching our top schools playing against each other. Although the Schools’ Cup is deservedly the most prestigious competition in schools rugby it is not the only one and, over the past few months, boys and girls throughout the Province have been playing in the various subsidiary competitions and putting in tremendous effort to win trophies at different levels. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to them and their coaches and teachers for their commitment and contribution to the game of rugby. For some of the players on both teams today the final will be the highlight of their rugby careers whereas others may go on to greater things. I hope that all those involved have enjoyed their rugby throughout school and that today will be a great occasion from which they can also enjoy and take away lasting memories. I also hope that, whatever the future holds for them, they have

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