Catch up on the latest club and community rugby news including details on Omagh Sevens Tournament and Ulster's U18 Girls Scouting Event.
// Omagh Sevens Tournament 2016
Omagh Sevens Tournament will take place on Saturday 23rd April and the club is now accepting entries. Please email omagh7s@outlook.com or call Mark Smyth on 07514661165 for more information.
*Male and Female Tournaments taking place
*Minuimum of ten players, maximum of 12
*£100 entry fee per team
// Girls 7s Screening
Ulster Rugby is hosting a 7s screening event for U18 Girls on Thursday 24th March from 11am to 1pm at Mid Ulster Sports Arena in Cookstown.
The purpose of this screening is to identify players to represent Ulster in a series of 7 a-side tournaments this summer. The screening is open to all players born in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
If you would like further information or to confirm attendance please contact Neal Johnston on 07767 115 764 or via email at Neal.Johnston@Ulsterrugby.com
// Tir Chonnail U14s take to the field
Following a long and difficult season for the youth coaches of Tir Chonnail RFC they took part in their first match of the season when they brought a talented group of U14 players to Limavady on Saturday 5th March.
The game was organised by Shaun Bloomfield (North Region RDO) following several club engagement meetings to help establish a way forward for the Donegal club. Limavady U14s hosted teams from Tir Chonnail and Coleraine with each team getting some well earned game time. All three sides played some great enterprising rugby.
Shaun Commented 'this game is part of wider work that We are doing with Tir Chonnail to help them build capacity within their club from both playing and coaching capacities. It was a really simple gesture to ensure these boys had an opportunity to play a game.'
Special thanks to Limavady Grammar School for hosting the games at such short notice.
// Nutty Krust Tournament Banbridge U18’s v Omagh U18’s (9th March 2016)
The seventh of this season’s games in the Nutty Krust U18 Tournament took place under the floodlights at a cold and crisp Chambers Park when Banbridge U18s and Omagh U18s played the first of the 3rd round games on Wednesday evening. The Omagh U18 team recorded an 18-5 victory which ensures they join Dromore U18’s in the Nutty Krust semi-final draw which will take place on March 30th. This was the second appearance for both teams in the tournament and a sizeable crowd had gathered to watch an entertaining game which featured quite a few talented players on both teams. The game was packed with action from the first minute until the last minute with both sets of players really applying themselves for the entire seventy minutes. Among the group watching the game was Jonny Gillespie, the Ulster Rugby Talent ID Manager. The continued interest of Ulster Rugby in the Nutty Krust Tournament is greatly appreciated by everyone connected with the competition.
The Omagh team took a 3-0 lead early in the game when Luke Murnahan converted a penalty opportunity following a Banbridge infringement at the breakdown. The Co Tyrone team kept the pressure on the Banbridge defence and forced the Banbridge team into conceding another penalty with just eleven minutes on the clock. Once again Luke Murnahan was successful with his kick to put the Omagh team into a 6-0 lead. There then followed a period of Banbridge pressure with Robin Sinton, Ben Jamison, Robin Hewitt and Harry Proctor all asking questions of the Omagh defence. Jimmy Chai, Nathan Cummings and Gavin Reid led the Omagh defensive charge but could do little to prevent Matthew Shirlow taking advantage of good work from his pack and crashing over the Omagh line for a try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Banbridge team had reduced the deficit to 6-5. Both packs then went looking for more quality set piece possession but cancelled each other out despite players such as Gavin Reid and Philip Ewing excelling for Omagh at lineout time with Jack Myles and Robin Hewitt doing likewise for the Banbridge team. This ensured the teams turned round after the interval with the Omagh team maintaining their 6-5 lead.
The introduction of Matthew Clyde into the Omagh team seemed to give them an extra impetus at the start of the second half. Matthew carried the ball strongly on a number of occasions but his team was unable to take advantage of their territorial superiority. Play then, for a time, centred around the half way line with neither team able to get a foot hold on the game. Things sprang back into life as the game entered the final quarter. Gavin Reid finished off a sustained period of Omagh pressure with a fine try close to the posts. Luke Murnahan added the extras to put his team into a 13-5 lead. The Omagh team had the scent of victory in their nostrils and clever interplays, involving both forwards and backs, were keeping the Banbridge defence, with Harry Proctor, Andrew Hollywood and Robin Sinton getting through a lot of work, honest. However, with the final play of the game, Luke Murnahan, Matthew Clyde, and Nathan Cummings combined to send Gavin Reid in for his second try of the night. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Omagh team had finished the game as deserved 18-5 winners.
As usual with the Nutty Krust Tournament the players all received a post-match meal which was sponsored by Jim Hewitt Meats, prepared by the staff in “Scrummies” kitchen and organised by the ever present Sid Rowe. All the players, as well as their coaches, received a Nutty Krust loaf on departure.
Gary Jackson, a key member of the Nutty Krust organising committee, presented the hard working Omagh scrum half, Luke Murnahan, with the Nutty Krust “Man of the Match Award” at the post match ceremony. Gary congratulated both teams for the positive way they entertained all the supporters watching in the course of this game.
The second of the Third Round group stage games in the 2016 Nutty Krust Tournament will feature Ballymena U18’s v Rainey U18’s at 7-45 pm on Wednesday 23rd March. All supporters will be made to feel very welcome.
// DCAL Programme – ‘Promoting Equality, Tackling Poverty + Social Exclusion through Sport’ (PETPSE)
Community Gym initiative
The most recent community gym initiative will see the refurbishment of five gyms, bringing the total to 20 gyms across the province when combining both PETPSE funded programmes. This is a key aspect of Ulster Rugby’s plans to increase opportunities for people to engage with fitness and rugby sessions.
The gym will be utilised by players from clubs but will also act as a community hub and will be used by schools and community groups. The facility will encourage local people to engage in physical activity in a relaxed atmosphere
Commenting at the official opening, Ulster Rugby Fitness Education Manager, said: "We're delighted to be able to contribute to this fantastic project. One of our key organisational goals is to improve the health and wellbeing of all involved in rugby both on and off the pitch and I believe the installation of gym equipment at sites such as this is a great way to achieve that.
Ulster Rugby has provided a range of indoor and outdoor fitness equipment, with a cost in the region of £20,000, to Enniskillen RFC.
A range of equipment has been installed at the venue and it is suitable for use by males and females of all ages and abilities.
Equipment List
// Omagh Sevens Tournament 2016
Omagh Sevens Tournament will take place on Saturday 23rd April and the club is now accepting entries. Please email omagh7s@outlook.com or call Mark Smyth on 07514661165 for more information.
*Male and Female Tournaments taking place
*Minuimum of ten players, maximum of 12
*£100 entry fee per team
// Girls 7s Screening
Ulster Rugby is hosting a 7s screening event for U18 Girls on Thursday 24th March from 11am to 1pm at Mid Ulster Sports Arena in Cookstown.
The purpose of this screening is to identify players to represent Ulster in a series of 7 a-side tournaments this summer. The screening is open to all players born in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
If you would like further information or to confirm attendance please contact Neal Johnston on 07767 115 764 or via email at Neal.Johnston@Ulsterrugby.com
// Tir Chonnail U14s take to the field
Following a long and difficult season for the youth coaches of Tir Chonnail RFC they took part in their first match of the season when they brought a talented group of U14 players to Limavady on Saturday 5th March.
The game was organised by Shaun Bloomfield (North Region RDO) following several club engagement meetings to help establish a way forward for the Donegal club. Limavady U14s hosted teams from Tir Chonnail and Coleraine with each team getting some well earned game time. All three sides played some great enterprising rugby.
Shaun Commented 'this game is part of wider work that We are doing with Tir Chonnail to help them build capacity within their club from both playing and coaching capacities. It was a really simple gesture to ensure these boys had an opportunity to play a game.'
Special thanks to Limavady Grammar School for hosting the games at such short notice.
// Nutty Krust Tournament Banbridge U18’s v Omagh U18’s (9th March 2016)
The seventh of this season’s games in the Nutty Krust U18 Tournament took place under the floodlights at a cold and crisp Chambers Park when Banbridge U18s and Omagh U18s played the first of the 3rd round games on Wednesday evening. The Omagh U18 team recorded an 18-5 victory which ensures they join Dromore U18’s in the Nutty Krust semi-final draw which will take place on March 30th. This was the second appearance for both teams in the tournament and a sizeable crowd had gathered to watch an entertaining game which featured quite a few talented players on both teams. The game was packed with action from the first minute until the last minute with both sets of players really applying themselves for the entire seventy minutes. Among the group watching the game was Jonny Gillespie, the Ulster Rugby Talent ID Manager. The continued interest of Ulster Rugby in the Nutty Krust Tournament is greatly appreciated by everyone connected with the competition.
The Omagh team took a 3-0 lead early in the game when Luke Murnahan converted a penalty opportunity following a Banbridge infringement at the breakdown. The Co Tyrone team kept the pressure on the Banbridge defence and forced the Banbridge team into conceding another penalty with just eleven minutes on the clock. Once again Luke Murnahan was successful with his kick to put the Omagh team into a 6-0 lead. There then followed a period of Banbridge pressure with Robin Sinton, Ben Jamison, Robin Hewitt and Harry Proctor all asking questions of the Omagh defence. Jimmy Chai, Nathan Cummings and Gavin Reid led the Omagh defensive charge but could do little to prevent Matthew Shirlow taking advantage of good work from his pack and crashing over the Omagh line for a try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Banbridge team had reduced the deficit to 6-5. Both packs then went looking for more quality set piece possession but cancelled each other out despite players such as Gavin Reid and Philip Ewing excelling for Omagh at lineout time with Jack Myles and Robin Hewitt doing likewise for the Banbridge team. This ensured the teams turned round after the interval with the Omagh team maintaining their 6-5 lead.
The introduction of Matthew Clyde into the Omagh team seemed to give them an extra impetus at the start of the second half. Matthew carried the ball strongly on a number of occasions but his team was unable to take advantage of their territorial superiority. Play then, for a time, centred around the half way line with neither team able to get a foot hold on the game. Things sprang back into life as the game entered the final quarter. Gavin Reid finished off a sustained period of Omagh pressure with a fine try close to the posts. Luke Murnahan added the extras to put his team into a 13-5 lead. The Omagh team had the scent of victory in their nostrils and clever interplays, involving both forwards and backs, were keeping the Banbridge defence, with Harry Proctor, Andrew Hollywood and Robin Sinton getting through a lot of work, honest. However, with the final play of the game, Luke Murnahan, Matthew Clyde, and Nathan Cummings combined to send Gavin Reid in for his second try of the night. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Omagh team had finished the game as deserved 18-5 winners.
As usual with the Nutty Krust Tournament the players all received a post-match meal which was sponsored by Jim Hewitt Meats, prepared by the staff in “Scrummies” kitchen and organised by the ever present Sid Rowe. All the players, as well as their coaches, received a Nutty Krust loaf on departure.
Gary Jackson, a key member of the Nutty Krust organising committee, presented the hard working Omagh scrum half, Luke Murnahan, with the Nutty Krust “Man of the Match Award” at the post match ceremony. Gary congratulated both teams for the positive way they entertained all the supporters watching in the course of this game.
The second of the Third Round group stage games in the 2016 Nutty Krust Tournament will feature Ballymena U18’s v Rainey U18’s at 7-45 pm on Wednesday 23rd March. All supporters will be made to feel very welcome.
// DCAL Programme – ‘Promoting Equality, Tackling Poverty + Social Exclusion through Sport’ (PETPSE)
Community Gym initiative
The most recent community gym initiative will see the refurbishment of five gyms, bringing the total to 20 gyms across the province when combining both PETPSE funded programmes. This is a key aspect of Ulster Rugby’s plans to increase opportunities for people to engage with fitness and rugby sessions.
The gym will be utilised by players from clubs but will also act as a community hub and will be used by schools and community groups. The facility will encourage local people to engage in physical activity in a relaxed atmosphere
Commenting at the official opening, Ulster Rugby Fitness Education Manager, said: "We're delighted to be able to contribute to this fantastic project. One of our key organisational goals is to improve the health and wellbeing of all involved in rugby both on and off the pitch and I believe the installation of gym equipment at sites such as this is a great way to achieve that.
Ulster Rugby has provided a range of indoor and outdoor fitness equipment, with a cost in the region of £20,000, to Enniskillen RFC.
A range of equipment has been installed at the venue and it is suitable for use by males and females of all ages and abilities.
Equipment List
- Cardiovascular machine:
- Rowing machine
- Spin Bike
- Free Weights
- Body Weight Equipment
- Outdoor equipment (prowlers, sleds, power-bags)