You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Tonight, <strong>Ulster</strong> welcome coach Dai Flanagan<br />
and his <strong>Dragons</strong> to Kingspan Stadium<br />
for Round 11 of the <strong>BKT</strong> United <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
Championship. Having slipped to eighth<br />
place in the league, a win is vital as we seek<br />
to ensure our qualification for next season’s<br />
European Champions Cup and for the league<br />
play-offs.<br />
I am pleased to welcome <strong>Dragons</strong><br />
representatives Graeme Bradbury, Simon<br />
Coghlan and all other fans who have travelled<br />
from Wales for tonight’s fixture and hope they<br />
have an enjoyable weekend in Belfast.<br />
The match is the first in the post Dan McFarland<br />
era. While I offer my best wishes to Dan Soper<br />
and his fellow coaches who have prepared the<br />
team this week, and to Richie Murphy, who will<br />
take over for the remainder of the season, I<br />
also record my thanks to Dan McFarland for his<br />
dedication and commitment over the last six<br />
years. I have no doubt he will reappear before<br />
too long, and I wish him and his family all the<br />
very best for the future.<br />
World International Women’s <strong>Day</strong> is celebrated<br />
next Friday. To mark this special day we will<br />
be joined tonight by several guests who have<br />
been involved directly with the Women and<br />
Girls game as players and coaches. We have<br />
also invited our female referees and our evergrowing<br />
number of women who serve on the<br />
<strong>Ulster</strong> Branch Committee. Additionally, I am<br />
delighted that Lady Mary Peters will joining us<br />
as she often does for this annual event.<br />
We are currently in the middle of the Six Nations,<br />
both at senior and Under 20 level. With a<br />
combined six wins from six matches, both teams<br />
are well placed. The seniors are looking to win<br />
back-to-back grand slams, which would be a first<br />
for any side in the Six Nations. Richie Murphy’s<br />
U20s are seeking a third successive grand slam.<br />
Best wishes to all involved in both camps.<br />
The recently completed Celtic Challenge<br />
included several <strong>Ulster</strong> players and it is good to<br />
note that Sadhbh McGrath, Neve Jones, Fiona<br />
Tuite, Brittany Hogan and Vicky Irwin have<br />
all been included in the Ireland squad for the<br />
upcoming Tik Tok Women’s Six Nations.<br />
On the domestic front, there were two events<br />
worthy of special mention. On 27th January,<br />
Ballyclare RFC won the Energia All-Ireland<br />
Junior Cup for the first time with a thumping<br />
48 – 8 victory over Bective Rangers in Dundalk.<br />
Thus, the trophy stays in <strong>Ulster</strong> for a third<br />
successive season.<br />
Then last Saturday, prior to the Ireland v<br />
Scotland match at the Aviva, Greg Barrett, the<br />
President of the I.R.F.U. presented a Volunteer<br />
Recognition Award to Ballymoney stalwart<br />
John Waide. This was a much-deserved award<br />
to someone who has put so much time and<br />
effort into club rugby – well done John.<br />
To finish, having lost our last three games,<br />
and with the recent upheaval, I know that<br />
the players can’t wait to get out there to put<br />
things right. If ever there was a time for our<br />
brilliant supporters to STAND UP FOR THE<br />
ULSTERMEN, it is tonight.<br />
Denis Gardiner<br />
President, IRFU <strong>Ulster</strong> Branch<br />
#evYuMr<br />
PROUD TITLE SPONSOR OF THE<br />
<strong>BKT</strong> UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP<br />
7
Change language