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President’s<br />
Welcome<br />
Welcome to Round 4 of the United Rugby<br />
Championship, and our third home fixture<br />
for the Ulster men this season.<br />
I would also like to give a warm welcome to<br />
our opponents this evening, the Emirates<br />
<strong>Lions</strong>, who are playing their first game here<br />
at Kingspan Stadium. They come into this<br />
game having been narrowly defeated by<br />
Glasgow Warriors. They will be keen to pick<br />
up a win but Ulster have prepared well for<br />
this challenge.<br />
Last Friday, Rob Herring marked his doublecentury<br />
for Ulster with a try which was<br />
just reward for his excellent performance<br />
against Benetton. The reception he received<br />
as he took the field with his daughter Milly<br />
was fantastic; a proud occasion for him and<br />
his family.<br />
Tonight’s game is a special occasion for<br />
Mike Lowry, as he is set to make his 50th<br />
appearance for the province if called upon –<br />
a fantastic achievement for a player who is<br />
only 23 years of age, and reflects the talented<br />
player he is. Congratulations Mike, and good<br />
luck this evening!<br />
Ulster’s Heineken Champions Cup Pool Stage<br />
fixture details were confirmed last Thursday.<br />
The team will first travel to Stade Marcel-<br />
Michelin to take on ASM Clermont Auvergne<br />
on Saturday 11 December at 5.30pm (UK /<br />
Irish time). The following Friday 17 December,<br />
Ulster will host Northampton Saints at<br />
Kingspan Stadium at 8pm.<br />
Ulster hit the road again for the third<br />
Round on Sunday 16 January, and will face<br />
Northampton Saints at cinch Stadium at<br />
Franklin’s Gardens, with a 3.15pm kickoff.<br />
Six days later, they are back home for<br />
their final pool game versus ASM Clermont<br />
Auvergne at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday<br />
22 January. All of Ulster’s pool stage games<br />
will be broadcast live on BT Sport.<br />
Last weekend marked the beginning of the<br />
first-ever Super Series, a new programme<br />
designed to provide 15-a-side playing<br />
opportunities for U16 and U18 girls. Local clubs<br />
who don’t currently have the playing numbers<br />
have been grouped together on a regional<br />
basis, with Ulster Rugby staff facilitating joint<br />
training sessions and matches.<br />
The objective of the Super Series is to grow<br />
the profile of girls’ rugby through providing<br />
regular match opportunities, eventually<br />
increasing the playing numbers of the clubs<br />
involved. Ulster Rugby Development Staff will<br />
also use these sessions to identify individuals<br />
with potential, and help them to progress<br />
along the player pathway. This is a hugely<br />
exciting programme which will no doubt bear<br />
fruit in the coming years as players progress<br />
and the pool of players grows.<br />
I hope you enjoy the game this evening,<br />
and thank you for your support!<br />
Gary Leslie<br />
President, IRFU Ulster Branch<br />
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