For the first time in five years, Ulster A, sponsored by CD Group, are looking forward to the knockout stages of the British & Irish Cup.
Ulster A’s last appearance in a B&I Cup quarter-final was in 2012, where they were defeated at home by Munster A 9-20, with the Munster men going on to win that year's competition.
Next Sunday 12th March the two Inter-Provincial rivals will meet once again in the last eight, this time in Cork city’s Irish Independent Park, and it is a fixture that Ulster A coach Kieran Campbell is very much looking forward to:
“We’re delighted to be back in the knockout stages,” said Campbell. “At the start of the competition, we set the target of progressing through the pool stages and we’ve managed to do that. Now it’s knockout rugby and we have a new target of going as far as we can.
“We have six really tough games under our belt and we had to work hard for every point so that would give me great confidence against any other team left in the competition.”
Campbell, who is also Head of the Hughes Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy, has been particularly impressed with the performances of some of the younger members of the squad.
“The young guys have been excellent. We knew how talented they were, but when our backs were against the wall versus strong Championship opposition they really stood up and showed a great desire and mental fortitude to grind out results. For their own personal development, that experience is invaluable. It will benefit the player, their club and the development system here at Ulster.
“This season alone we have already seen Aaron Cairns, Jack Owens and David Busby go on to make their senior debuts on the back of their performances for the Ulster A team, and they weren’t out of their depth because they’ve had that exposure against some really tough opposition.
“We also have six players in the Ireland U20 Six Nations squad, and again those players have benefited from the challenges of playing B&I Cup rugby.”
Ulster’s Director of Rugby, Les Kiss, has also commented on the importance of the Ulster A team within the overall makeup at Kingspan Stadium:
“Over the past couple of years, we have made a concerted effort to close the gap between the Academy and the senior team, so we increase the quality and depth of our playing roster. Along with the club schedule, the British & Irish Cup is a very important part of our program as it provides that bridging level of competitive rugby for our greater squad.
“Guys like Jacob Stockdale, Alan O’Connor and Kieran Treadwell have used the B&I Cup as a springboard for some outstanding performances in the senior jersey.
“When we felt it necessary we’ve also been able to integrate some more experienced players into the Ulster A team, such as Darren Cave, Craig Gilroy, Robbie Diack and Callum Black. Equally, we have been able to give valuable game time to the likes of Tommy Bowe, Wiehahn Herbst and Ricky Lutton as they were making a return from injury. To see the fervour those guys have approached the games with and the tactical nous they offer, it encourages everyone around them to strive for that higher level and build an even stronger Ulster ethos within the squad.”
Kick-off for Ulster A’s British & Irish Cup quarter-final versus Munster A at Irish Independent Park is 3.00pm on Sunday 12th March.
Ulster A’s last appearance in a B&I Cup quarter-final was in 2012, where they were defeated at home by Munster A 9-20, with the Munster men going on to win that year's competition.
Next Sunday 12th March the two Inter-Provincial rivals will meet once again in the last eight, this time in Cork city’s Irish Independent Park, and it is a fixture that Ulster A coach Kieran Campbell is very much looking forward to:
“We’re delighted to be back in the knockout stages,” said Campbell. “At the start of the competition, we set the target of progressing through the pool stages and we’ve managed to do that. Now it’s knockout rugby and we have a new target of going as far as we can.
“We have six really tough games under our belt and we had to work hard for every point so that would give me great confidence against any other team left in the competition.”
Campbell, who is also Head of the Hughes Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy, has been particularly impressed with the performances of some of the younger members of the squad.
“The young guys have been excellent. We knew how talented they were, but when our backs were against the wall versus strong Championship opposition they really stood up and showed a great desire and mental fortitude to grind out results. For their own personal development, that experience is invaluable. It will benefit the player, their club and the development system here at Ulster.
“This season alone we have already seen Aaron Cairns, Jack Owens and David Busby go on to make their senior debuts on the back of their performances for the Ulster A team, and they weren’t out of their depth because they’ve had that exposure against some really tough opposition.
“We also have six players in the Ireland U20 Six Nations squad, and again those players have benefited from the challenges of playing B&I Cup rugby.”
Ulster’s Director of Rugby, Les Kiss, has also commented on the importance of the Ulster A team within the overall makeup at Kingspan Stadium:
“Over the past couple of years, we have made a concerted effort to close the gap between the Academy and the senior team, so we increase the quality and depth of our playing roster. Along with the club schedule, the British & Irish Cup is a very important part of our program as it provides that bridging level of competitive rugby for our greater squad.
“Guys like Jacob Stockdale, Alan O’Connor and Kieran Treadwell have used the B&I Cup as a springboard for some outstanding performances in the senior jersey.
“When we felt it necessary we’ve also been able to integrate some more experienced players into the Ulster A team, such as Darren Cave, Craig Gilroy, Robbie Diack and Callum Black. Equally, we have been able to give valuable game time to the likes of Tommy Bowe, Wiehahn Herbst and Ricky Lutton as they were making a return from injury. To see the fervour those guys have approached the games with and the tactical nous they offer, it encourages everyone around them to strive for that higher level and build an even stronger Ulster ethos within the squad.”
Kick-off for Ulster A’s British & Irish Cup quarter-final versus Munster A at Irish Independent Park is 3.00pm on Sunday 12th March.