Ulster Rugby teamed up with Tughans, a Belfast based firm of Solicitors, to produce the calendar in support of the Prince’s Trust charity to raise funds to help change the lives of disadvantaged young people in Northern Ireland.
The legendary sports broadcaster, Jim Neilly, compered the event and Irish Internationals Stephen Ferris, Andrew Trimble and Scottish International, Simon Danielli, answered questions on the highs and lows of the Rugby World Cup and Ulster’s goals for the season.
The calendar is themed on the Ulster Rugby players in training and features dramatic and artistic shots of all five of Ulster’s Irish internationals and six other members of the team.
Stephen Ferris, who provided rugby fans with one of highlights of the World Cup when he picked up, carried and then dumped Australia’s Will Genia in Ireland’s memorable victory over the Aussies said “all the players had great fun at the calendar shoot and were delighted to help such a worthy cause.”
There are only a limited number of calendars for sale, so make sure you purchase one before stocks run out.
The calendar is now available from the following locations: Asda Stores throughout Northern Ireland; the Kukri shop at Ravenhill; House of Fraser, SS Moores , Podium 4 Sport, Gotto Sports and The Athletic Stores in Belfast; CT Sports in Coleraine;Euro Sports in Lisburn; Donaghys in Banbridge; Style N Sport and Montgomerys in Ballymena;and online at www.ulsterrugby.com and www.cornerflag.net.
Calendars cost £7.95 each and the team at Tughans are delighted to confirm that as the calendar print costs have now been covered, all proceeds go directly to the Prince’s Trust in Northern Ireland.
BACKGROUND: Ulster Rugby Calendar 2012
An 18 strong team from Tughans made up of solicitors and support staff, has created ‘The Ulster Rugby Calendar 2012’ as part of this year’s Prince’s Trust Million Makers Corporate Challenge.
This challenge requires corporate teams to present entrepreneurial ideas to a ‘dragon’s den’ panel and if successful to compete to transform seed funding into as much money as possible for The Prince’s Trust in Northern Ireland.
The team from Tughans presented their pitch in August of this year and after being described as ‘very ambitious’ and ‘the best pitch of the day’, it was confirmed that the they had secured the seed funding to take the idea forward. On hearing the decision, Team Leader Barbara Creed said; “ we at Tughans are tremendously excited not only about the challenge of the competition and execution of our exciting idea, but also about the work which will be carried out by the Prince’s Trust with the money raised.” All profits from the calendar are going directly to the Prince’s Trust to help transform the lives of disadvantaged young people in Northern Ireland
The team from Northern Ireland which raises the most money for the Prince’s Trust will be crowned regional winners and will enter the UK final. The overall winner will be announced at the Prince’s Trust’s star studded National Celebration event which will be held in London in March 2012.
The A3 calendar exudes quality and is themed on the Ulster Rugby players ‘in training’. It is both artistic and practical and is sponsored by Tughans (principal sponsors), City Air Express and The Antique Gallery. It is priced at £7.95 and is available to purchase in Asda stores across NI, House of Fraser, SS moores, House of Fraser, The Athletic Stores, Podium4Sport, Kukri, CTs Sports, Style n Sports, Eurosport, Donaghys, Gotto sports, Montgomerys, The Antique Gallery. It can also be purchased online for no transaction fee and £1.50 for shipping within the UK.
Production of the calendar would not have been possible without the support and cooperation of Ulster Rugby and the players. The enthusiasm of the players has been integral to the success of this project. Barbara Creed says ‘they have been absolute gentlemen and are a credit to Ulster Rugby’. The calendar features all five of Ulster’s Irish International players: Rory Best, Stephen Ferris, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble and Tom Court. Johann Muller, the current captain, is also featured along with six other members of the team.
The exceedingly talented Richard Trainor of Red Sky Photography is responsible for the outstanding photography and Cornerflag Management contributed very significantly to organising the players, planning the pictures, co-coordinating the shoots and designing the calendar. ‘Behind the scenes’ videos showing production of the calendar, were filmed and produced by Marty Stalker of Scattered Images. These can be views online at the Facebook page – Ulster Rugby Calendar 2012 or on UTube.
The above contributors have given their time and expertise entirely without cost.
It is hoped that this venture will raise significant funds for the work of The Prince’s Trust with young people in Northern Ireland.
