Sat 18th October: Ulster v Leicester Tigers (A) European Champions Cup.
Ulster Ravens v Yorkshire Carnegie in B & I Cup at Kingspan Stadium. KO 2.30pm
Sat 25th October: Ulster v Toulon at Kingspan Stadium.
Ulster Ravens v Rotherham in B & I Cup at Deramore Park on Friday 24th October. KO 7pm
Ulster AIL clubs have Ulster Championship programme arranged for Sat 18th October and the Quarter Finals of the First Trust Senior Cup arranged for Sat 25th October. The 1st round of the AIL junior Cup is due to be played on Sat 25th October.
Already the Ards v Rainey OB match this weekend has to be postponed and rearranged due to Ards having to play a rearranged AIL game at home to Bruff on Sat 18th October. We have five AIL clubs – including Ballynahinch, Ballymena, Malone, Belfast Harlequins and Queens who will have players involved in the Ulster Ravens games. Will these clubs be looking their Ulster Championship fixtures rearranged so their players and supporters can watch the Ulster Ravens match at the Kingspan on Sat 18th October. I am also hearing that there will be Ireland under age squad get togethers on the weekend 18th October impacting on AIL clubs. Word is that the Ulster Branch don’t have enough referees to cover the First Trust matches on the weekend of the 25th October and are asking the participating clubs to move their matches to mid week. We look at our Southern counterparts in the AIL they had no fixtures at the weekend. In fact the two Charity Cup finals in Limerick and Cork involving four AIL clubs were postponed and rearranged. It is quite clear for these clubs their priority is the AIL. In Ulster we are imposing on our players the potential to play three matches in 10/12 days before the AIL resumes on Sat the 1st Nov. Where is the consideration for player welfare!!!! Ards rugby club have come in for criticism over postponing their First Trust Senior Cup game with Ballynahinch at the weekend over player welfare issues. In hindsight they have identified their playing priorities in protecting the interests of their players. Rugby fans will want to follow both the Ulster rugby teams in the European Champions Cup and the British & Irish Cup. Munster rugby branch officials have postponed and rearranged club fixture schedules so rugby fans are not placed in the position of either choosing between supporting their club or province. The AIL Junior Cup is the Blue Riband tournament for clubs in Ireland. It’s first round games will be over shadowed by the European fixtures on the 25th October. There is so much excellent club rugby in the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup and the Gordon West Cup that is going to be over looked this weekend because of the attraction of European rugby. The Clubs and supporters have made known what structures are required to alleviate this fixture congestion in Ulster that gets worst every season. It is time the Ulster Branch gave clear leadership in protecting both the interests of the clubs and most important of all that ‘Commodity’ the players. Ever increasing/lengthening injury lists are a testament to the physical and mental demands that are being placed on our players. We need action from the Ulster Branch !!!!!
By George Millar
