Danske Bank Ulster Schools' Cup Final Programme 2023
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FINAL<br />
CAMPBELL<br />
COLLEGE<br />
v RBAI<br />
FRI 17 MAR <strong>2023</strong>, 3PM<br />
KINGSPAN STADIUM
Proud to put<br />
our name to<br />
the game<br />
CAMPBELL COLLEGE<br />
V<br />
RBAI<br />
President’s<br />
Welcome<br />
Welcome to all the players, supporters,<br />
teachers, and families from both Campbell<br />
College and RBAI for today’s <strong>Danske</strong> <strong>Bank</strong><br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> Schools’ <strong>Cup</strong> <strong>Final</strong>.<br />
Today marks the biggest day in the schools’<br />
rugby calendar, as these two great sides<br />
compete in the final of world’s second-oldest<br />
rugby competition in front of another big<br />
crowd at Kingspan Stadium.<br />
We hope to see a clash of two evenly-matched<br />
schools who have both worked hard to reach<br />
this season’s showpiece event, and I would like<br />
to wish all the players involved the best of luck<br />
for the game, and their rugby careers going<br />
forward.<br />
I would also like to thank our sponsors <strong>Danske</strong><br />
<strong>Bank</strong> for their continued support for all of our<br />
Schools’ Rugby competitions.<br />
Philip Gregg<br />
President, IRFU <strong>Ulster</strong> Branch<br />
Contents<br />
President’s<br />
Welcome 3<br />
<strong>Danske</strong> <strong>Bank</strong><br />
Welcome 4<br />
<strong>Danske</strong> <strong>Bank</strong> Schools’<br />
Competition Winners 5<br />
Message from<br />
the <strong>Ulster</strong> Schools’<br />
Committee 6<br />
Campbell<br />
College Belfast 8<br />
Team<br />
Line-ups 10<br />
Royal Belfast<br />
Academical Institution 12<br />
Route to the <strong>Final</strong> 14<br />
Stadium Map 17<br />
<strong>Danske</strong> <strong>Bank</strong> is a trading name of Northern <strong>Bank</strong> Limited. Registered in Northern Ireland R568. Registered Office: Donegall<br />
Square West, Belfast. BT1 6JS. Northern <strong>Bank</strong> Limited is a member of the <strong>Danske</strong> <strong>Bank</strong> Group.danskebank.co.uk. COM05101<br />
3
Welcome<br />
from<br />
<strong>Danske</strong> <strong>Bank</strong><br />
Welcome to the 2022/23 <strong>Danske</strong> <strong>Bank</strong> <strong>Ulster</strong><br />
Schools’ <strong>Cup</strong> final.<br />
The Schools’ <strong>Cup</strong> final is undoubtedly one of<br />
the most eagerly-awaited events in the local<br />
sporting calendar, with a strong following of<br />
pupils past, present and future from across<br />
Northern Ireland, and further afield. This year’s<br />
final will see Campbell College and RBAI go<br />
head to head for the prestigious title.<br />
As the biggest bank in Northern Ireland, we are<br />
committed to investing in our young people<br />
and helping them thrive through sport. We are<br />
incredibly proud to be involved in this historic<br />
competition, which now marks the 18th year of<br />
our partnership with the <strong>Ulster</strong> Schools’ <strong>Cup</strong>.<br />
It is a privilege to be here today at Kingspan<br />
Stadium on St Patrick’s Day for what is sure<br />
to be a fantastic occasion. With an exciting<br />
new format this season, it has been great to<br />
watch as the competition grows in popularity,<br />
offering more high-quality schools rugby than<br />
ever before.<br />
This afternoon’s final is the showpiece in the<br />
annual schools rugby calendar – and if the<br />
semi-finals are anything to go by, we’re in for a<br />
treat today. Campbell College played superbly<br />
to see off defending champions Methodist<br />
College, reaching their fourth final in seven<br />
seasons. For RBAI, it was a thrilling comeback<br />
to see off Wallace High School and earn their<br />
shot at winning their first Schools’ <strong>Cup</strong> title<br />
since 2017.<br />
Dedication, skill and sheer sporting talent<br />
has led the players to the final, a defining<br />
game which will be the pinnacle of their<br />
young sporting careers. Over the years of our<br />
partnership, we have seen how the Schools’<br />
<strong>Cup</strong> nurtures and showcases the skills and<br />
talent of many exceptional young players;<br />
helping to open the door to a professional<br />
career, and in many cases an international<br />
career.<br />
Campbell College and RBAI deserve<br />
enormous credit for progressing to the final<br />
– both teams have produced superb displays<br />
of rugby throughout the tournament. I would<br />
like to take this opportunity to congratulate<br />
them, alongside their families, teachers and<br />
the fans who keep supporting them to reach<br />
new heights. I would also like to acknowledge<br />
the dedicated work of the <strong>Ulster</strong> Branch, who<br />
alongside the <strong>Ulster</strong> Schools’ <strong>Cup</strong> Committee,<br />
make this tournament possible.<br />
On behalf of everyone at <strong>Danske</strong> <strong>Bank</strong>, I wish<br />
both teams the very best of luck, and look<br />
forward to an exciting final.<br />
Vicky Davies<br />
Chief Executive, <strong>Danske</strong> <strong>Bank</strong> UK<br />
Schools’ Competition Winners <strong>2023</strong><br />
Subsidiary Shield<br />
RS Armagh 43-19 Down HS<br />
Schools’ Bowl<br />
Banbridge Academy 31-15 Friends’ School<br />
Schools’ Trophy<br />
Portadown College 32-14 Cambridge House<br />
2nd XV <strong>Cup</strong><br />
Methodist College 21-17 Campbell College<br />
2nd XV Plate<br />
RS Armagh 14-12 BRA at Friends’ School<br />
2nd XV Trophy<br />
Rainey ES 33-7 Foyle College<br />
3rd XV <strong>Cup</strong><br />
RBAI 26-14 Campbell College<br />
3rd XV Plate<br />
Wallace HS 11-0 BRA<br />
Medallion Shield<br />
Ballymena Academy 7-10 RBAI<br />
Medallion Plate<br />
RS Dungannon 5-22 Methodist College<br />
Medallion Bowl<br />
Coleraine GS 52-12 Antrim GS<br />
Medallion Trophy<br />
Banbridge Academy 12-12 Enniskillen Royal GS<br />
U16 <strong>Cup</strong> <strong>Final</strong><br />
Wallace HS 12-0 Campbell College<br />
U16 Plate<br />
Rainey ES (Group Winners)<br />
ulster.rugby 5
On behalf of the Schools’ Committee, it is a<br />
great pleasure to welcome everyone to the<br />
Kingspan Stadium this afternoon for the<br />
2022/<strong>2023</strong> <strong>Danske</strong> <strong>Bank</strong> Schools’ <strong>Cup</strong> final<br />
between Campbell College and RBAI.<br />
Today sees the climax of the season with<br />
the Schools’ <strong>Cup</strong> final. Over the course<br />
of the season there were over 270 1st XV<br />
matches played seeing in excess of 10,000<br />
points scored with approximately 25% of the<br />
games being in competition. Today’s teams<br />
are the 2nd and 3rd most successful teams<br />
with Campbell College seeking their 25th<br />
victory and RBAI seeking their 33rd Victory.<br />
Campbell College will be looking to avenge<br />
defeat in their two previous finals having<br />
last won the competition in 2018 whilst it<br />
is RBAIs first appearance in the final since<br />
their victory in 2017 which was the last of a<br />
“three-in-a row”.<br />
Campbell College have reached today’s final<br />
with two wins “on the road” as they overcame<br />
seeded opposition in Ballymena Academy<br />
Welcome<br />
from<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong><br />
Schools’<br />
Committee<br />
and Sullivan Upper in the last 16 and quarter<br />
finals respectively. In contrast, RBAI’s played<br />
two unseeded teams, away at Enniskillen<br />
Royal GS and at home against Dromore<br />
HS. In two exciting semi-finals Campbell<br />
College emerged victorious over Methodist<br />
College with RBAI defeating Wallace HS the<br />
following day. Both of today’s teams have<br />
had strong performances this season and<br />
I’m sure today’s match will be a hard fought<br />
encounter.<br />
This season represents the 18th successive<br />
year of Dankse <strong>Bank</strong>’s sponsorship and<br />
we are delighted that their Chief Executive<br />
Vicky Davies and other <strong>Danske</strong> <strong>Bank</strong><br />
representatives are with us today. The<br />
Schools’ Committee and all of our schools<br />
are indebted to the financial support that<br />
<strong>Danske</strong> <strong>Bank</strong> provide for the competitions<br />
and also to the <strong>Ulster</strong> Schools’ representative<br />
team. Supporters of the Senior <strong>Ulster</strong> team<br />
will be only too aware of the large number of<br />
players who have come though the school<br />
system with some of them starting to make<br />
their mark on the international stage.<br />
I wish to thank the members of the Schools’<br />
Committee for their work over the past<br />
couple of years as they worked through<br />
the various challenges to get rugby up and<br />
running again. Their efforts along with all<br />
the work done in schools by various coaches<br />
has seen a return to the successful season of<br />
schools’ rugby. In particular, I would like to<br />
acknowledge the superb work done by the<br />
various competition organisers, Brian Leslie<br />
(Banbridge Academy, 2nd XV <strong>Cup</strong>), Ross<br />
Hunter (Omagh Academy, 3rd XV <strong>Cup</strong>) and<br />
Gareth Bronte (Medallion). Thanks also to<br />
our secretary Raymond Pattison for his work<br />
and efficiency behind the scenes.<br />
Everyone involved in schools’ rugby will<br />
be aware of the work that our PRO Barney<br />
McGonigle does in providing media coverage<br />
of all school 1st XV and all competition<br />
matches. He also organises all of the schools’<br />
finals not played at the Kingspan Stadium<br />
or QUB. We are indebted to him for all his<br />
work. Our various finals are supported by<br />
members of the <strong>Ulster</strong> Branch Committee<br />
who help with the various presentations.<br />
Their interest in supporting the school game<br />
is much appreciated.<br />
I would like to thank all the Principals, Boards<br />
of Governors and staff in our schools for<br />
their support for the game. Thanks also to<br />
the team of staff at the <strong>Ulster</strong> Branch led by<br />
Chris Webster who help with the smooth<br />
running of the school game.<br />
The USRFR work hard to provide referees<br />
and their input is fundamental to the playing<br />
of the game and we express our gratitude to<br />
them. Today’s officials are led by the match<br />
referee Henry Richmond and I wish them all<br />
a controversy free and enjoyable day.<br />
<strong>Final</strong>ly, thanks to the <strong>Ulster</strong> Academy’s<br />
Gavin Hogg along with his team of<br />
staff and volunteers who support the<br />
development of school players on the<br />
various pathways through their in-season<br />
and summer programmes as they work<br />
towards participation in the Inter-Provincial<br />
championships.<br />
I hope that today’s match provides an<br />
exciting climax to the season but whatever<br />
the outcome, that all involved enjoy the day<br />
and lasting memories have been formed. I<br />
would strongly encourage all the players<br />
leaving school this year to continue playing<br />
the game for many years by linking up with<br />
a club or university/college team next year.<br />
For some, becoming a referee may be an<br />
option or something that others do when<br />
their playing days are over. The camaraderie<br />
and friendships you make will last long after<br />
you have hung up your boots.<br />
Richard J Clingan<br />
Chair, <strong>Ulster</strong> Schools’ Committee<br />
ulster.rugby 7
Campbell<br />
College<br />
“We’re really pleased with how we performed in the semi-final.<br />
“In those first five, 10 minutes, we showed great heart in defending our line and it<br />
highlighted our team spirit and the way we play as a team. The game opened up in<br />
the second half and we got some more opportunities to show how our coaches had<br />
prepped us.<br />
“To face RBAI, it’s exciting because they’ve got a strong team and we’ll have to take it<br />
up another notch, but I think we’re ready to do that and take it to them.<br />
“Last year’s final is in the back of my mind, but we’ve got a lot of new players in the<br />
squad.<br />
“The focus is still to win the Schools’ <strong>Cup</strong>, but we’re a different unit now.”<br />
Flynn Longstaff<br />
Campbell College 1st XV Captain<br />
ulster.rugby 9
CAMPBELL<br />
COLLEGE<br />
v<br />
ROYAL BELFAST<br />
ACADEMICAL<br />
INSTITUTION<br />
Lukas Kenny<br />
15<br />
Joshua Gibson<br />
Henry Ralston<br />
14<br />
Flynn Morrow<br />
<strong>Final</strong><br />
Appearances<br />
43<br />
Wins 24<br />
Runners-Up 15<br />
Shared Titles 4<br />
Matthew Booth<br />
James McConnell<br />
Jake Daly<br />
Matt Rea<br />
13<br />
12<br />
11<br />
10<br />
James Hilman<br />
Fraser Cunningham<br />
Alex Place<br />
Josh Eagleson<br />
<strong>Final</strong><br />
Appearances<br />
57<br />
Wins 32<br />
Runners-Up 21<br />
Shared Titles 4<br />
Sean Robinson<br />
9<br />
Callum Soper<br />
Chris Massey<br />
1<br />
Blake McClean<br />
Jed Dornan<br />
2<br />
James Clark<br />
Flynn Longstaff (Capt.)<br />
3<br />
Jacob Boyd (Capt.)<br />
Alexander Brennan<br />
4<br />
Jacob Edwards<br />
Daniel Harkin<br />
5<br />
Daniel Moore<br />
Cal McKinney<br />
6<br />
Callum Simms<br />
Cameron Faith<br />
7<br />
Jack Parkinson<br />
Joe Jeffery<br />
8<br />
Bryn Ward<br />
Replacements<br />
Will Alexander<br />
Robbie Holmes<br />
Daniel Solomon<br />
Charlie McClurg<br />
Scott Gray<br />
Harry Dyer<br />
Sam Boomer<br />
Jay Davis<br />
16<br />
17<br />
18<br />
19<br />
20<br />
21<br />
22<br />
23<br />
Euan Paterson<br />
Zak Molyneaux<br />
Shéa Scullion<br />
Milo Carter<br />
Loughlin Sweeney<br />
Sam Patterson<br />
Matthew Sweetlove<br />
Adam Hawthorne<br />
Ref: Henry Richmond<br />
Asst Refs: Stuart Gaffikin, Chris Cahoon,<br />
Andrew Munce, Matthew Wallace<br />
Scottie Rankin<br />
ulster.rugby 11
Royal Belfast<br />
Academical<br />
Institution<br />
“Looking back at the semi-final, the start was a key area for us, maybe a few nerves<br />
with a few playing out on the Kingspan Stadium pitch for the first time. But in the<br />
second half, we just played our own game of rugby and trusted what got us there in<br />
the first place.<br />
“For the final, we have to play the way we want to and take control of the game, get a<br />
few early points, keep the pressure on Campbell, and they won’t be able to handle it.<br />
“As a school, we haven’t had a good chance at the Schools’ <strong>Cup</strong> for a while, but it’s<br />
different now, especially with a good few years of players below us coming through.”<br />
Jacob Boyd<br />
RBAI 1st XV Captain<br />
ulster.rugby 13
Route to<br />
the <strong>Final</strong><br />
<strong>Danske</strong> <strong>Bank</strong> <strong>Ulster</strong> Schools’ <strong>Cup</strong><br />
Group A P W D L TB LB F A Pts<br />
Limavady GS 3 3 0 0 1 0 60 29 13<br />
Cambridge House 3 2 0 1 0 1 50 37 9<br />
Dalriada School 3 1 0 2 1 2 41 25 7<br />
Lurgan College 3 0 0 3 0 0 14 74 0<br />
Group B P W D L TB LB F A Pts<br />
Limavady GS 3 3 0 0 1 0 60 29 13<br />
Cambridge House 3 2 0 1 0 1 50 37 9<br />
Dalriada School 3 1 0 2 1 2 41 25 7<br />
Lurgan College 3 0 0 3 0 0 14 74 0<br />
Group C P W D L TB LB F A Pts<br />
Limavady GS 3 3 0 0 1 0 60 29 13<br />
Cambridge House 3 2 0 1 0 1 50 37 9<br />
Dalriada School 3 1 0 2 1 2 41 25 7<br />
Lurgan College 3 0 0 3 0 0 14 74 0<br />
Round of 16<br />
Ballymena Academy 10-13 Campbell College<br />
Dromore HS 34-22 Down HS<br />
RS Dungannon 24-18 Ballyclare HS<br />
Coleraine GS 15-7 Limavady GS<br />
Sullivan Upper 8-7 RS Armagh<br />
Belfast Royal Academy 22-29 Methodist College<br />
Wallace HS 43-5 Foyle College<br />
Enniskillen Royal GS 13-29 RBAI<br />
Group D P W D L TB LB F A Pts<br />
Limavady GS 3 3 0 0 1 0 60 29 13<br />
Cambridge House 3 2 0 1 0 1 50 37 9<br />
Dalriada School 3 1 0 2 1 2 41 25 7<br />
Lurgan College 3 0 0 3 0 0 14 74 0<br />
Group E P W D L TB LB F A Pts<br />
Limavady GS 3 3 0 0 1 0 60 29 13<br />
Cambridge House 3 2 0 1 0 1 50 37 9<br />
Dalriada School 3 1 0 2 1 2 41 25 7<br />
Lurgan College 3 0 0 3 0 0 14 74 0<br />
Quarter-<strong>Final</strong>s<br />
RBAI 40-0 Dromore HS<br />
Wallace HS 25-17 Coleraine GS<br />
Sullivan Upper 20-36 Campbell College<br />
RS Dungannon 7-38 Methodist College<br />
Semi-<strong>Final</strong>s<br />
Methodist College 10-31 Campbell College<br />
RBAI 31-14 Wallace HS<br />
ulster.rugby 15
ONSLOW PARADE<br />
TURNSTILES<br />
PROMENADE 1<br />
PROMENADE 2<br />
ABBEY AUTOLINE FAMILY STAND<br />
FOOD TRUCKS<br />
ADMIN’<br />
BUILDING<br />
EAST TERRACE<br />
MOUNT MERRION AVE<br />
TURNSTILES<br />
CAMPBELL COLLEGE<br />
A&L GOODBODY LOUNGE / VIP BOXES<br />
Respect Policy<br />
RBAI<br />
GENERAL PUBLIC<br />
FINAL | FRI 17 MAR, 3PM<br />
CAMPBELL<br />
COLLEGE<br />
RBAI<br />
GENERAL<br />
PUBLIC<br />
We are passionate<br />
in our support<br />
We are silent during<br />
kicks at goal<br />
We respect the match<br />
officials’ decisions<br />
We drink<br />
responsibly<br />
Turnstiles will be open from 1.30pm.<br />
Turnstiles at both Mount Merrion and Onslow Parade will be open.<br />
Parking is not available within or around the stadium.<br />
We do not tolerate<br />
abusive or discriminatory<br />
language<br />
We respect opposition<br />
players, management<br />
& supporters<br />
We are mindful<br />
of our language<br />
INCIDENT HOTLINE<br />
07790<br />
200 200<br />
Food trucks and light refreshments will be available.<br />
Look out for the Cool FM street team who will be providing the pre-match soundtrack<br />
and offering some great prize giveaways including concert tickets.<br />
The Kukri Store will be open.<br />
Public Bars will be not be in operation for any schools fixtures.<br />
ulster.rugby 17
Thank You<br />
Main Sponsor<br />
OFFICIAL<br />
APP<br />
Kit Sponsor<br />
Official On-kit Sponsors<br />
Official Sponsors<br />
Domestic Sponsors<br />
Official Partners<br />
ulster.rugby 19
NOW ON<br />
SALE<br />
Sat 25 Mar<br />
7.35pm<br />
Fri 14 Apr<br />
7.35pm<br />
Fri 21 Apr<br />
7.35pm<br />
ulster.rugby