Ulster Rugby Match Day Programme - Zebre

ULSTER
Official Match Day Programme
v ZEBRE
Fri 19 Mar 2021, 8.15pm
Kingspan Stadium

8
Issue
In this
Welcome and best wishes to you and yours, as tonight
Ulster round off their Guinness PRO14 campaign.
The ongoing pandemic has been a challenging time for all,
but the Ulstermen being back on their home turf in Kingspan Stadium
certainly helps bring a sense of some normality.
The roars of thousands will be sorely missed, but we know that so many Ulster Rugby
supporters will be watching from home and showing their support.
On behalf of Kingspan, I would like to express my gratitude to the frontline workers who
have been vital in fighting the pandemic. The extraordinary efforts and heroism that has
been shown in recent months gives us in Kingspan and Ulster Rugby the confidence that we
can stand up together and build back better following the pandemic.
Following a win last weekend over the Dragons, Ulster will look to maintain their winning
streak. Tonight, they will face a tough test as they clash with Zebre. Despite the absence of
travelling fans this evening, on behalf of the entire Ulster Rugby and Kingspan community,
we would like to extend the warmest of welcomes to our Italian visitors.
Finally, I would like to wish the Ulster Rugby squad and management team
the very best of luck. To Ulster’s committed fans, take care and enjoy the game.
24
26
President’s Welcome 5
Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup 7
Player Interview: Stewart Moore 8
Virtual Mascot 11
Senior Squad 14
Teams 20
Behind the Player: Lucinda Kinghan 24
Zebre Ones To Watch 26
Last Time Out 30
Player Interview: David McCann 32
Italian Visit Heralds Another Challenge 36
Getting to Know: Peita McAlister 40
Player Q&A: Craig Gilroy 42
36
30
3

President’s
Welcome
Welcome to Round 16 of the 2020-21
Guinness PRO14 campaign, and our final
home game of the competition before
our focus turns to the Challenge Cup and
Rainbow Cup in a few weeks.
Tonight, we welcome Italian side, Zebre,
to Kingspan Stadium. They come into
this game having scored 31 points against
Leinster in the last round, and are currently
in 6th position of Conference A.
Ulster made it 13 wins from 15 games in the
competition, after defeating Dragons 22-26
at Principality Stadium last Saturday, and
they will no doubt want to make it 14 from 16
this evening. Although this game is behindclosed-doors,
your support will be felt.
In the Six Nations, Iain Henderson and Rob
Herring featured in Ireland’s 24-27 win over
Scotland at BT Murrayfield on Sunday.
Congratulations to them both, and Billy
Burns who was selected on the bench.
Ireland will face England at Aviva Stadium
in the final round tomorrow and I wish the
team the very best of luck .
We were bolstered by the great news this
week that New-Zealander, Craig Newby, will
be joining the Ulster coaching ticket later this
year as Skills Coach, with Dan Soper taking
up the Assistant Coach role. Craig brings with
him an impressive array of experience gained
as both a coach and former player, and I’m
excited to see what he will contribute to our
already excellent coaching team.
It was also confirmed this week that Adam
McBurney will be leaving Ulster at the end of
the season, to join Edinburgh Rugby. I’d like
to thank him and wish him every success at
his new club.
On the domestic front, the IRFU has this
week outlined the planning which has been
ongoing, in partnership with Ulster Rugby,
to get #ReadyForRugby, so that a return
to some grassroots action can be made
as soon as government restrictions across
the province allow for it. We also received
an encouraging update from the Northern
Ireland Executive around the roadmap to
lift restrictions, which means our Rugby
Development team, in partnership with our
clubs and schools, can take the initial steps
towards a return to rugby.
In-line with this, the #URgame: Your Game,
Your Way campaign will be launched by
Ulster Rugby to mark this new chapter for
the domestic game. It will be kickstarted with
support and assets on how clubs can make
a safe, fun and graduated re-introduction
to activity that works for them. We will be
keeping clubs and schools updated over
the coming days and weeks, and we’re very
excited about the various activities planned.
Thank you all for your support as you
continue to SUFTUM at home to help protect
our community in the fight against COVID-19.
SUFTUM
Gary Leslie
President, IRFU Ulster Branch
UlsterRugby.com
5

GUINNESS PRO14 CAMPAIGN TO CONCLUDE IN
MARCH AHEAD OF NEW “RAINBOW CUP” WITH
SOUTH AFRICA’S TOP FOUR ‘SUPER’ TEAMS
The current Guinness PRO14 campaign will end in
March allowing South Africa’s four ‘Super’ teams
and our existing clubs to finish the season with
a 16-team “Rainbow Cup” competition ahead of
the British & Irish Lions tour.
After consulting with key PRO14 stakeholders, the Guinness
PRO14 Rainbow Cup was chosen as the best pathway to finish up
the current campaign and introduce South Africa’s four ‘Super’
teams: the Vodacom Bulls; Emirates Lions; Cell C Sharks and DHL
Stormers. This decision also allows our European-based sides to
earn qualification for European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR)
tournaments in 2021/22 in a fair and equitable manner.
Ahead of the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa, the
Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup will provide a ground-breaking
spectacle for fans who will see international star players from north
and south establish new rivalries in their bid for the ultimate Test
selection.
Right through until the last kick of the ball in the Rainbow Cup
in June, fans will be able to watch it all unfold with our broadcast
partners Premier Sports, eir Sport, S4C, TG4, DAZN and
Super Sport.
How it will Work
• The 2020/21 Guinness PRO14 campaign will finish after 16
rounds with the Conference winners facing each other in a final
in late March
• Qualification for EPCR tournaments in 2021/22 will be decided
by rankings after Round 16
• On April 17, 2021, the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup will kick-off
and introduce the Vodacom Bulls, Emirates Lions, Cell C Sharks
and DHL Stormers and their World Cup-winning Springboks
• The Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup will consist of a pool stage
(two pools of eight teams) and a final between the two
pool winners
FINAL CHAPTER OF GUINNESS PRO14
Rounds 12 to 16 will take place from February 20 and conclude
on March 20. A final will then take place at the home venue of the
highest-ranked team. This abbreviated fixture list will aim to ensure
home and away in-conference fixtures are completed and each
team plays all of its cross-conference matches also. Further
clarification will be available when fixtures are confirmed.
The scheduled dates for the conclusion of the 2020-21
Guinness PRO14 campaign are:
R12: February 20
R13: February 27
R14: March 6
R15: March 13
R16: March 20
Final: March 27
Once Round 16 has been completed, the top-ranked teams
from each conference will qualify for the 2021/22 Heineken
Champions Cup. Requirement for play-offs is under review.
GUINNESS PRO14 “RAINBOW CUP”
FORGING NEW RIVALRIES
With South Africa preparing to host their first British & Irish
Lions tour since 2009, the World Cup champions will see their
‘Super’ teams – the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers take on the
very best that Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales have to offer.
Players aiming to make the British & Irish Lions squad will find
no better trial environment to test themselves in, as they go up
against the likes of Siya Kolisi, Pieter Steph du Toit (both DHL
Stormers), Duane Vermeulen (Vodacom Bulls), Elton Jantjies
(Emirates Lions) and former Guinness PRO14 top-try scorer
Makazole Mapimipi (Cell C Sharks).
The Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup will kick off on April 17 with
two pools of 8 teams made up of two Irish, two South African,
two Welsh, one Italian and one Scottish club. Each team will play
one game against each pool opponent and the sides that finish
top of their pools will face off in a final on June 19.
Across 57 matches, the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup will
feature the best of the Springbok talent going toe-to-toe with
some of the British & Irish Lions’ biggest names – every one of
them keen to lay down a marker to their respective selectors
ahead of what will prove to an historic tour.
7

Stewart Moore
The 21-year-old centre scored a brace on
Saturday against Dragons and is enjoying
developing midfield partnerships with
several team-mates.
How good was it to get back to winning
ways against Dragons on Saturday?
It was class. We were playing at Principality
Stadium which is hard to beat as well. I was
told to enjoy it and I did; it was good fun
and it’s nice to be back to winning ways.
I’m kind of glad Principality Stadium was
empty; I thought if it was full, I wouldn’t
know what I’d be doing. It’s top-notch. We
were changing in a certain area and walking
through behind the scenes through the
tunnels. It was crazy but a nice experience
and I’d take that any time.
A lot of people would say Stu is just a
ball carrier, but I learn so much from him
like running lines and off-the-ball work
especially. You saw at the weekend; he was
the busiest man on the pitch.
Is it difficult from playing with one type
of player like James Hume to another in
Stuart McCloskey?
I enjoy it personally. They’re different
characters and have different styles of play
so I enjoy that. The 12 or 13 role, I can slot in
there nicely. It was a challenge in defence at
13 as it’s a bit trickier. I wanted to challenge
myself in that role too. The combinations
are switching about and it’s nice that we
can move about as easily as that.
We’re
looking to
finish each
game with
a win
Centre
08/08/1999
183cm
91kg
13
You made a fantastic intercept to score
your second try last Saturday – can you
be coached to read those?
I would love to say it’s coached but it’s
instinct really. I have been exposed manya-time
before on it, so it’s just being
100% with it. Fortunately, it turned out ok
at the weekend!
You combined well with Stuart McCloskey
on Saturday for your first try against
Dragons – how do you find playing
alongside him?
It’s class. I played with him in pre-season
a couple of years ago. I was a bit younger
and quieter then. I feel because I’ve been
training with him for three years now, I soak
stuff off him. That offload for example, I
could tell he was going for it so I was able
to run that line. As much as he’s the Bangor
Bulldozer, he can pass and offload as well.
It’s nice to be outside him because he can
take a lot of the hits too!
How important are these games
against Dragons and Zebre for building
momentum?
We’re looking to finish each game with
a win at the end of the day. We’re still
challenging ourselves – as you saw at
the weekend – we’ve a mixture of young
guys coming through as well as the older
players. We’re just working with different
combinations and working from there.
We’re not going to go out intending
to lose; we’re there to win at the end of
the day.
Looking towards Harlequins [in the
Challenge Cup], an English Premiership
team and they’re a top side. We should
use these games [against Dragons and
Zebre] wisely then prep for that which is
just around the corner.
UlsterRugby.com
9

Virtual
Mascots
Names:
Candice-Rose & Charley Sullivan
Age: 10 & 9
From: Ballymena
Favourite players:
John Cooney & Neve Jones
Candice-Rose and Charley love
match nights at Kingspan Stadium.
They really enjoy the atmosphere at
games because they can cheer on
Ulster at the top of their voices!
They can’t wait to get back to support
their favourite players and are looking
forward to the next Family Fun Day.
11

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IS THE VERY SOUL OF OUR WHISKY”
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THE SPIRIT OF PRO14 RUGBY
Enjoy Responsibly

Senior
Squad
Angus
Curtis
Fly Half / Centre
26/03/1998
178cm
92kg
13
Matt
Faddes
Centre/Wing
06/11/1991
185cm
94kg
26
Craig
Gilroy
Wing
11/03/1991
183cm
92kg
192
10
Iain
Henderson
Lock
21/02/1992
198cm
117kg
116
62
Coaching
Staff
Head Coach:
Dan McFarland
Assistant Coach:
Dwayne Peel
Defence Coach:
Jared Payne
Forwards’ Coach:
Roddy Grant
Skills Coach:
Dan Soper
Will
Addison
Utility Back
20/08/1992
185cm
93kg
19
4
John
Andrew
Hooker
26/05/1993
180cm
104kg
82
Robert
Baloucoune
Wing
19/08/1997
193cm
90kg
23
Rob
Herring
Hooker
27/04/1990
185cm
107kg
190
20
James
Hume
Centre
07/09/1998
188cm
98kg
33
Bill
Johnston
Fly Half
07/02/1997
180cm
87kg
18
Greg
Jones
Back Row
13/01/1996
196cm
105kg
23
Billy
Burns
Fly Half
13/06/1994
185cm
86kg
44
6
Sam
Carter
Lock
10/09/1989
201cm
116kg
21
AUS 16
Marcell
Coetzee
Back Row
08/05/1991
193cm
114kg
57
SA 30
John
Cooney
Scrum Half
01/05/1990
178cm
87kg
79
11
Ross
Kane
Prop
14/10/1996
180cm
118kg
51
Michael
Lowry
Full Back
20/08/1998
170cm
75kg
39
Louis
Ludik
Full Back
08/10/1986
183cm
90kg
112
Rob
Lyttle
Wing
28/01/1997
175cm
85kg
43
UlsterRugby.com
15

Centre
06/08/1992
193cm
11kg
134
4
Stuart
McCloskey
Prop
11/10/1989
185cm
118kg
17
56
Jack
McGrath
Prop
15/12/1992
191cm
132kg
6
Gareth
Milasinovich
Prop
01/03/1991
178cm
121kg
52
10
Marty
Moore
Centre
08/08/1999
183cm
91kg
13
Stewart
Moore
Back Row
22/04/1991
188cm
105kg
43
30
Jordi
Murphy
Centre
03/03/1991
180cm
97kg
144
11
Luke
Marshall
Scrum Half
13/12/1985
173cm
93kg
13
NZ 4
Alby
Mathewson
Hooker
05/09/1996
183cm
102kg
36
Adam
McBurney
Prop
02/01/1992
175cm
111kg
65
Kyle
McCall
Fly Half
21/03/1989
180cm
87kg
19
30
Ian
Madigan
Lock
10/09/1992
196cm
114kg
125
Alan
O’Connor
Lock / Back Row
19/05/1995
193cm
110kg
15
David
O’Connor
Prop
23/09/1998
185cm
120kg
53
Tom
O’Toole
Back Row
08/09/1997
188cm
105kg
3
Marcus
Rea
Hooker
04/01/1996
175cm
108Kg
3
Bradley
Roberts
Scrum Half
20/06/1993
175cm
78kg
66
David
Shanahan
Wing / Full Back
03/04/1996
191cm
103kg
76
33
Jacob
Stockdale
Back Row
01/08/1995
188cm
111kg
74
Nick
Timoney
Lock
06/11/1995
198cm
118kg
103
3
Kieran
Treadwell
Prop
12/03/1991
178cm
113kg
131
Andrew
Warwick
Prop
30/11/1995
183cm
115kg
60
1
Eric
O’Sullivan
Back Row
21/09/1993
193cm
112kg
57
Matthew
Rea
Back Row
10/05/1989
183cm
103kg
138
2
Sean
Reidy
17
UlsterRugby.com

19

1 O’Sullivan 2 Andrew 3 Moore
1 Buonfiglio 2 Ceciliani 3 Nocera
4 Izuchukwu
5 Treadwell
4 Kearney 5 Nagle
C
6 Reidy
8 McCann
7 Murphy
6 Bianchi
8 Leavasa
7 Masselli
9 Cooney
9 Renton
11 Lyttle
10 Lowry
11 Elliott
10 Pescetto
12 Moore
12 Lucchin
REPLACEMENTS
16 B Roberts
17 C Reid
18 T O’Toole
13 Hume
REPLACEMENTS
16 M Manfredi
17 D Rimpelli
18 E Bello
13 Boni
C
19 A O’Connor
19 L Krumov
20 M Rea
21 D Shanahan
15 McIlroy
14 Baloucoune
20 C Alaimalo
21 N Casilio
15 Di Giulio
14 Bruno
22 I Madigan
23 B Moxham
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Eoghan Cross and Peter Martin (both IRFU)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)
22 G Palazzani
23 A Rizzi
UlsterRugby.com
21

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NOW AVAILABLE
WITH XTRA
MEMBERSHIP.
SIGN UP NOW AT
PRO14.RUGBY
23

Behind the Player
Wing
23/04/2000
Lucinda Kinghan
In our series, Behind the Player in
association with Deloitte, Ulster Women’s
players give us an insight into how they
got involved in the game and their journey
to representing the province.
This week, we feature Ireland Sevens and
Ulster winger, Lucinda Kinghan.
Tell us a little about your rugby pathway
to date.
I actually started out in horse-riding. We
were a big horse-riding family. One day,
Davy McGregor came into our school,
Monaghan Collegiate, to get interest for
starting up a rugby club in Monaghan. My
older sister (Natalie Kinghan) went along,
and because she went, I had to go! My good
friend, Kelly McCormil went along too. We
started playing for Monaghan Rugby Club
and Davy McGregor was an amazing coach.
He threw us in at the deep end but we won a
lot and enjoyed a lot! When you win games
and have a good coach while enjoying it,
it’s easy! After that, I was scouted for Ulster
Rugby’s 15s team in my first year. I was on
the bench but I loved it. I played with the
15-a-side team for four years before being
scouted for the Ulster Sevens. I toured the
country playing Sevens in the summers
for four years, which I really enjoyed too.
Ireland then scouted me for their Sevens
programme, and I’m training with them now.
Who have been your main influences in
your rugby career?
Davy McGregor was a massive part of my
rugby career. If my sister didn’t play rugby,
I would never have played. I just liked to
beat her, so if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be
where I am now. I went to the Sophie Spence
camp when I started; that really sparked
my interest and I started to watch the girls
playing in the Sevens World Series, like Lucy
Mulhall and the rest of the girls. Now I train
with them, they kept me interested. I was
so inspired by them and they were huge
influences on me as well.
What have been your proudest moments
in rugby?
The first big one was playing at the Aviva
Stadium with my school. That was an unreal
experience. We won the School Shield
when Kelly McCormill was captain. I got
injured before the final, so a few of the girls
carried that win home. Even though I didn’t
get to play in the final, it was an incredible
experience. To play in such a brilliant
stadium and to win the Shield was amazing.
Davy McGregor was our coach at school
too, so he was very happy with us!
I just loved playing with Ulster U18s with
my friends and meet so many new people.
In 2016, we won the Inter-Pros, which was
a massive achievement. Everyone still
remembers that one!
The school games in 2017 was the first
time I played with Ireland and we won that
tournament with Emily Lane as our captain.
A lot of the friends I have today in the Sevens
team played then. That sticks out massively
in my memories.
I got my first cap for Ulster in the summer of
2019 and then my first Irish Sevens cap that
summer in Ukraine. You never forget your
first appearances.
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You have already achieved so much
at such a young age; what are your
rugby aspirations?
I just want to get better and become a
core player in the Ireland Sevens team.
When the World Series starts up again, I’d
love to be involved. I would like to become
a good role model for sport and young
girls. I’d like to improve my rugby skills too.
UlsterRugby.com
25

Ones to Watch
NAME
Tommaso Boni, Centre
Last 3 Meetings
Pierre Bruno, Wing
Bruno arrived in Parma in 2019 after winning the Italian
championship with Rugby Calvisano, scoring a club record
number of tries: 32 tries in 47 games. Born in Genoa on 28 June
1996, he made his debut with Zebre in November 2017 against
Munster. After wearing the youth jersey of the national team, last
January he received his first call up with the senior team. This
year he scored three tries and was included in the Guinness
PRO14 Team of the Week two times in a row thanks to his brilliant
offensive statistics. Bruno is also the player who has most been
used by Head Coach Michael Bradley this season: 926 minutes
between PRO14 and Challenge Cup.
Boni is one of the veterans in the Zebre squad. Last season he
was named captain of the team for his first time, covering in
the absence of the injured Tommaso Castello and Giulio Bisegni.
With his 98 club appearances, he has scored 13 tries to date.
Boni made his debut with the Italian national team in 2016 and
has collected 11 caps with the ‘Azzurri’. His second appearance
was a memorable one - coming from the bench at the Stadio
Olimpico in Rome in November 2016, and scoring his first try
against the All Blacks.
Ian Nagle, Second Row
The familiar face of Ian Nagle is now in his second season
with Zebre. The Cork-born second row played for Ulster in the
2018/19 season during a loan spell from Leinster. The 32-yearold
learned his trade at University College Cork, earning a
call up to Ireland’s U19 and U20 squads, and playing at the
2008 Junior World Championship. Solid in defence and the
set piece, Nagle leads the championship in lineout steals along
with Connacht’s Eoghan Masterson, with six lineout steals in
his nine games this season.
16 Nov 2020 1 Nov 2019 23 Feb 2019
Ulster 57 22 54
Zebre 14 7 7
POSITION DOB HEIGHT WEIGHT
Charles Alaimalo Flanker 14/06/1999 1.98m 111kg
Mattia Bellini Winqer 08/02/1994 1.92m 100kg
Eduardo Bello Tiqht-head prop 27/11/1995 1.90m 122kg
lacopo Bianchi Flanker 05/05/1998 1.88m 88kg
Luca Biqi Hooker 19/04/1991 1.82m 104kg
Michelanqelo Biondelli Fullback 15/05/1998 1..84m 90kg
Giulio Biseqni Centre 04/04/1992 1.82m 93kg
Tommaso Boni Centre 15/01/1993 1.87m 105kg
Pierre Bruno Winqer 28/06/1996 1.78m 89kg
Paolo Buonfiqlio Loose-head prop 28/01/1995 1.83m 114kg
Carlo Canna Fly-half 25/08/1992 1.90m 92kg
Nicolo Casilio Scrum-half 12/10/1998 1.81m 84kg
Tommaso Castello Centre 14/08/1991 1.84m 102kg
Massimo Ceciliani Hooker 05/01/1997 1.86m 104kg
Gabriele Di Giulio Winqer 30/04/1994 1.85m 86kg
Giovanni D'Onofrio Winqer 25/08/1998 1.84m 86kg
Jamie Elliott Centre 31/08/1992 1.80m 90kg
Oliviero Fabiani Hooker 13/07/1990 1.80m 98kg
Danilo Fischetti Loose-head prop 26/01/1998 1.81.m 110kg
Renato Giammarioli Flanker 23/03/1995 1.88m 111kg
Mick Kearney Lock 29/03/1991 1.98m 116kg
Leonard Krumov Lock 01/05/1996 1.98m 116kg
Junior Laloifi Fullback 25/09/1994 1.80m 90kg
Potu Junior Leavasa Flanker 10/01/1996 1.94m 115kg
Giovanni Licata Flanker 18/02/1997 1.93m 107kg
Andrea Lovotti Loose-head prop 28/07/1989 1.83m 113kg
Enrico Lucchin Centre 04/04/1995 1.86m 103kg
Marco Manfredi Hooker 18/09/1997 1.83m 104kg
Lorenzo Masselli Flanker 17/04/1997 1.98m 108kg
Maxime Mbanda Flanker 10/04/1993 1.89m 102kg
Johan Meyer Flanker 26/02/1993 1.93m 107kg
Ian Nagle Lock 17/10/1988 201m 114kg
Matteo Nocera Tiqht-head prop 16/01/1999 1.94m 128kg
Samuele Ortis Lock 18/12/1996 1.98m 107kg
Guqlielmo Palazzani Scrum half 11/04/1991 1.73m 87kg
Paolo Pescetto Fly-half 12/01/1995 1.70m 80kg
Joshua Renton Scrum-half 25/05/1994 1.74m 82kg
Daniele Rimpelli Loose-head prop 23/06/1997 1.87m 116kg
Antonio Rizzi Fly-half 05/01/1998 1.80m 87kg
David Sisi Number 8 05/02/1993 1.95m 122kg
Alexadru Tarus Tiqht-head prop 09/05/1989 1.85m 125kg
Jimmy Tuivaiti Flanker 02/01/1988 1.83m 113kg
Marcello Violi Scrum-half 11/10/1993 1.76m 84kg
Giosue Zilocchi Loose-head prop 15/01/1997 1.89m 112kg
27

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29

Ulster made it 13 wins from 15 games in the
Guinness PRO14, after securing a bonuspoint
victory over Dragons at Principality
Stadium last Saturday evening.
An early Ulster infringement gave Dragons
and Sam Davies an opportunity at the
posts, but the fly-half’s attempt was offtarget
after two minutes.
The Ulster men were first to register
points on the board, however, with Jacob
Stockdale slinking his way through the
Dragons’ defence, and Alby Mathewson
running a great support line to collect the
pass and score. Michael Lowry slotted the
conversion to put Ulster seven up.
Ulster’s second score came in the 21st
minute with the midfield pairing of Stuart
McCloskey and Stewart Moore combining
nicely; McCloskey offloading to send
Moore over the line. Lowry was on-target
with the extras.
Dragons had a chance to respond with an
attacking line-out 5 metres out, but Ross
Guinness PRO14 Round 15
Sat 13 Mar
Last Time Out
22 - 26
Kane pounced on the loose ball from the
throw to make the all-important steal and
allow Lowry to relieve the pressure.
The hosts did get on the board after
an Ulster high tackle gave Sam Davies
the opportunity to knock three over on
34 minutes.
Dragons looked certain to score with the
clock well in the red, as they pounded
Ulster with attacking mauls and pickand-goes.
After a series of infractions,
John Andrew was sent to the bin and
Dragons went on the charge again, only
to be held up by a resolute Ulster defence.
Referee Adam Jones blew the whistle
for half-time and the Ulster men could
breathe a huge sigh of relief going in to the
changing rooms.
Ulster’s third try came as a result of an
attacking maul, with the just-returned
John Andrew coming away to bundle over
for the try. The flags stayed down for the
conversion attempt.
Dragons got their first score on 55 minutes,
with back-rower Ollie Griffiths muscling
over the chalk for the hosts, despite valiant
defending from the Ulster men to try and
hold him up. Davies added the conversion.
The bonus point try came for Ulster thanks
to Stewart Moore, expertly picking out a
Dragons pass to make the intercept and
run the distance to cross under the posts.
Michael Lowry fired over the extras to put
Ulster 16 points ahead.
The hosts responded after Nick Timoney
was sin-binned for bringing down the
Dragons maul, and winger Rio Dyer was
the man to go over for the five points,
which went unconverted.
Ulster looked to probe the Dragons defence
once more, but Nick Tompkins made an
intercept to send Jonah Holmes in under
the posts. Davies converted the score to
bring the gap to four points, and securing
the losing bonus points for the Welsh side.
Second-placed Ulster now have 59 points
in Conference A of the Guinness PRO14.
Full-time score: Dragons 22 Ulster 26
WATCH: Highlights
UlsterRugby.com
31

David McCann
Ulster Rugby caught up with the 20-yearold
back-rower for his thoughts on last
Saturday’s 22-26 win over Dragons, and
to find out how he has been settling in
with the senior squad this season.
How is the mood of the squad after the
win last week away to Dragons and what
are your reflections on the game?
It was a mix of good and bad. The aim this
week is to improve our discipline on last
week. We gave away 17 penalties which we
know is too many. We had a pretty good
maul defence and kept Dragons out just
before half-time; that was hugely positive.
We’re just looking to keep that level of
physicality and work on our discipline this
week.
You mentioned your maul defence just
before half-time; how important was it
not to let Dragons score at that point?
Being able to keep Dragons out really gave
us a boost going into the changing rooms.
In any team I’m involved in, we talk about
“Championship Minutes” just before and
just after half-time, they’re that important.
Keeping Dragons out then was massive
because it’s easy to switch off and let
that try go in. It would have affected their
mentality going into the changing room
in that they weren’t able to score after all
that pressure.
That was your second start with Ulster this
season – how do you find being selected
in a team that has a mix of experienced
and young players like yourself?
Any time I’ve had a chance to play, it’s been
with that blend of youth and experience.
It’s the perfect balance because it gives
you a bit of security and confidence
because you’ve got players like Sean
Reidy and Alan O’Connor to let you know
where you need to be.
You played in the back row alongside
Sean Reidy and Nick Timoney last week –
how much have you learned from training
and playing with them?
All the players in the back-row and the
forwards in general are keen to share their
knowledge with the younger players in the
squad. It’s a massive help, whether it’s at
line-out time or the front row let you know
what they want from you at scrum time,
there’s an eagerness to share expertise.
That has been huge for my progression.
Who would you say has had the biggest
influence on you since you started
training and playing with the senior
squad?
That’s a difficult one! It’s probably the likes
of Greg Jones and Nick Timoney. Greg is
very helpful at line-out time; whether it’s
defence or attack, he always has time to
talk about it. Nick is young and has been
in similar positions so he knows how to
manage them and gives advice around
that. In the backs, Ian Madigan is always
willing to talk about rugby in general –
similar to a lot of backs!
Back Row
13/06/2000
1.93m
107kg
4
UlsterRugby.com
33

You’ve played across the back row this
season. Does that change how you
approach each game?
Generally, no - but there are positions that
have specific skills. Playing Number Eight,
your link with the scrum-half is important.
If you’re playing blindside flanker, there’s
more of a focus on line-outs. My first start
against Munster was at openside, so the
focus there is more on the breakdown
area. Generally, the skills cross over, so
there isn’t too much to worry about on
that front.
Ulster’s Skills Coach Dan Soper coached
you at school – how much of an influence
has he been on your career?
He’s been a huge influence. I originally
played at centre under ‘Sopes’ at RBAI.
In my Lower-Sixth year, we spoke about
moving into the forwards. That was a
massive moment for me because he has
such a focus on the skills. When I was a
back, I developed my skills and was able
to take that into the forwards. That’s been
really beneficial for me. Sopes has in a lot
of ways been a big influence on me and
continues to do so.
Does that provide you with a bit of
comfort moving up from the Academy to
see a familiar face in the coaching team?
Definitely, there are a lot of familiar faces
in the Ulster set-up at the minute – players
and coaches – so that makes the transition
smoother and I know if there’s anything
I need to talk about, Sopes is there and
willing to offer his time and expertise to
help develop myself.
It’s our last regular game of the Guinness
PRO14 before the Challenge Cup and
Rainbow Cup, and we face Zebre at
home. What challenge will Zebre bring?
Zebre look to play an expansive, off-loading
game. We need to focus on our double
tackles and our tackle entry to slow their
ball down and not allow them to get the
purchase they’re looking for. They can play
fast rugby and when they get into their
flow, they can be dangerous. In defence, we
need to shut down their momentum, and
in attack we’ll do our own thing and focus
on what we know we can do. If we do that,
we’ll hopefully get the win.
UlsterRugby.com

Italian Visit Heralds Another Challenge
Not a Friday night under the Kingspan
Stadium lights we might have hoped
for, even expected, but in these unusual
times that we have rugby at all is more
than a comfort.
This evening’s Guinness PRO14 visitors
Zebre will draw the curtain down on a
‘regular’ season which, for Ulster, ends with
a strange, unsatisfactory whimper.
The club which finished second to reigning
champions Leinster in its Conference finds
itself bowing out of a competition where it
was arguably the ‘next best’ in a campaign
which started with the promise of semi-final
play-offs but will end at the RDS next week
in a meeting of the two Conference winners,
Leinster and Munster.
Ulster Head Coach Dan McFarland has
eloquently articulated his feelings on the
change of format in mid-season, and clearly
he and his management and players would
have targeted a place in the regular knockout
play-off phase. Qualification for the ‘semis’
would have been a genuine ambition, and to
an extent plans would have been laid with a
play-off place to the fore.
Guest article:
Rod Nawn
It can be nothing other than devastating for
those players who have given so much this
season, despite the extraneous obstacles life
has put in their way, to reflect on a campaign
with only two losses – each to the mammoth
which is Leinster – to realise its win tally is
matched only by Munster who, incidentally
of course, do get a shot at the silverware.
In a year when credit should be given to
PRO14 and the EPCR governing bodies
for keeping the show on the road, it is also
important to note that there have been
many changes to competitive formats in the
face of Covid-19, and the various responses
to that dreaded virus.
In a fortnight Ulster will play in the European
Challenge Cup, following an uncompleted
Champions Cup pool stage. That a trip
to Harlequins is but the first step on that
revised route is enticing and challenging,
and McFarland and his coaches will have
already pressed the button marked ‘Reset’!
The proposed Rainbow Cup tournament is
still pencilled in for April and May, and we
await to see how that will play out.
But there is a game this evening at Kingspan
Stadium, one which cannot reasonably be
hyped as season-defining, critical or key for
either club.
It will be important in Ulster’s bid to maintain
momentum and to integrate more players
into the senior side, and this management
group won’t permit any complacency in a
playing group who will realise there is the
genuine prospect of high-class trophy
pursuit imminent.
But it does allow Stewart Moore, James
Hume, Cormac Izuchukwu, Rob Lyttle
and Ethan McIlroy, for instance, to press
their cases for immediate and longerterm
inclusion. Up front the options seem
to increase by the week: hooker Adam
McBurney’s decision to sign in at Edinburgh
next season deserves acknowledgement
of his contribution in recent seasons, and
John Andrew will lead the challenge to Rob
Herring in the future.
O’Toole, O’Sullivan, Reid, Milasinovich,
Warwick and Kane are just some of the
choices at prop, the O’Connor brothers,
Treadwell, Izuchukwu and captain
Henderson obvious second-row options of
varying experiences and various talents.
And the back row? McCann, the Reas,
Timoney, Murphy, Reidy and Jones
are all familiar and more than reliable
and ambitious breakaways, and we are
assured the Academy is now a healthy
development operation.
And while we might be disappointed at the
current injury-enforced absence of Marcell
Coetzee, and the impending exit from
Ulster this summer, nothing should taint
the memory of seeing a truly world-class
No.8 at his imperious best in the white shirt.
Ulster was patient in overseeing his long
recovery from injury on arrival, but some
of his displays created moments will never
be forgotten.
Now Zebre is readying itself to test itself
against Ulster on a chilly Friday evening,
and Michael Bradley’s proven coaching
qualities have fashioned a club which,
though consistently off the pace, can be
technically adept and cause occasional and
deserved success.
A strong Leinster – is there any other
37

kind? - was pushed all the way in Parma
last weekend, and the Dragons will
not relish being reminded of defeat in Italy
this season.
Clearly the best of the two Italian sides in
the Guinness PRO14, Bradley can take a lot
of credit for supplying Italy with no fewer
that thirteen of its matchday squad against
Wales last weekend. Luca Bigi, Carlo Canna
and Mattia Bellini are high-end operators
and would be missed by any club.
Tonight, there will be some familiar figures
to Ulster eyes, especially in the visitors’
pack, where Mick Kearney and Ian Nagle
each have had pedigree careers in Ireland
and abroad.
Giovanni D’Onforio was on the scoresheet
against Leinster and his ability to play right
along the backline has been valuable to
his coach, while centre-cum-wing Jamie
Elliott flourished in the English Premiership
with Northampton for several years. And
at scrum-half, Kiwi Josh Renton is widely
regarded as one of the most reliable and
intelligent pivots in the PRO14.
There’s heft up front, if not a great degree
of mobility, and it’s likely Ulster will move
the opposition across the park to create
the spaces for the men in white to claim a
second successive bonus-point win.
Bradley has harnessed his troops well during
the Six Nations, McFarland has been similarly
acute and markedly more successful with
a squad which goes ‘deeper’ and has
more range than that at the Zebre Head
Coach’s disposal.
A convincing, confident, high tempo
win over the Italian visitors would be
a welcome launchpad for a European
Challenge Cup campaign.
UlsterRugby.com
39

Back Row
03/07/1992 holiday anytime you felt like it!
List two pet peeves.
1. Littering
2. Pushy Vegans
What three words would your friends use
to describe you?
Entrepreneurial, Hard-Working and Fun
Are you good at any other sports?
I have represented Co. Down in both
Camogie and Gaelic.
What is your favourite film?
I’m not a big film lover - I fall asleep during
most, but if I have to say one it’s the
Lion King.
Do you have any fears? If so, what
are they?
Heights and spiders.
What motivates you?
My friends and team-mates.
Do you have a nickname? If so, what is it?
Nothing too exciting but it’s either P or Pete.
Who was your favourite player growing up
and why?
Donncha O’Callaghan - maybe it was the
glowing complexion initially but I can’t
remember now!
Who is your favourite player now?
Hard tie between Portia Woodman /
Ellia Green.
What is your favourite thing about
playing rugby?
Has to be the physicality - I always
hated non-contact sports. Enjoying your
clubhouse on a Saturday night after a game
is another.
Do you have any pets? If so, tell us
about them.
I’m a mad dog lover - I just can’t seem to
say no! In the family there are five dogs now;
Crockett (English Pointer), Ruby (Labrador),
Getting to Know:
Peita McAlister
Boo (St Bernese) and two of her pups, Bodi
and Ollie who are fifteen weeks old. There’s
also the odd chicken or lamb about the
place too.
Are you a tidy or messy person?
I’d say tidy - I can’t concentrate if the place
is a mess around me.
If you could eat one meal for the rest of
your life, what would it be?
It’s a toss-up between a rare sirloin or a bowl
of cereal.
What can’t you live without?
Milky tea.
Do you have any pre-match rituals or
superstitions?
We have a little saying, “Look good, feel
good, play good.”
If you were a super-hero, what powers
would you have?
Definitely the ability to fly - get away for a
UlsterRugby.com
41

Q&A
Player
Craig Gilroy, Wing
When did you start playing rugby, and who
was your first team?
When I was 8, I played for Bangor Minis.
What’s your favourite rugby memory?
My first caps for Ulster and Ireland.
If you could re-live one moment from
your rugby career, what would it be?
(Good or bad)
Scoring my first try for Ireland playing
against Argentina.
All time favourite movie?
300.
Best player you have played with?
Charles Piutau.
What’s your pre-match routine? Any
superstitions?
Clean boots, bag packed, good music and
enjoy it!
What’s on your pre-match playlist?
Biffy Clyro
Who has been the biggest influence on
your rugby career and why?
My parents, I want to give back to them
because they gave me so much.
Tell us something not many people would
know about you?
I got my motorbike license years ago!
Best player you have played against?
Isa Nacewa.
43

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45

Thank You!
Ulster Rugby wish to thank all of our sponsors
and partners for their continued support.
Main Sponsor
2020/21 FIXTURES
GUINNESS PRO14 CONFERENCE A
Team Played W D L Bonus Pts
Leinster 15 14 0 1 14 70
Ulster 15 13 0 2 7 59
Ospreys 15 7 0 8 4 32
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Glasgow Warriors 14 5 0 9 5 25
Dragons 14 4 0 10 5 21
Zebre 15 4 0 11 1 17
GUINNESS PRO14 CONFERENCE B
Team Played W D L Bonus Pts
Munster 15 13 0 2 7 59
Connacht 15 8 0 7 11 43
Scarlets 15 7 0 8 6 34
Cardiff Blues 15 7 0 8 3 31
Edinburgh 13 5 0 8 4 24
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47