Rugby Shorts

Captain Jack Wakefield Memorial Trophy

Receiving the trophy on behalf of London Irish was former Leinster and current Exiles star Aidan McCullen. Also pictured making the presentation are Leinster supporters Dave Cahill (wearing the Ulster jersey to highlight the fact that this trophy will be played for every time London Irish play any one of the Irish provincial teams) and Robbie O’Connor (Chairman of the Leinster Supporters Club).

London Irish won the inaugural Captain Jack Wakefield Memorial trophy when they beat Leinster 25-10 at Donnybrook last week.

Young Jack lost a battle with cancer earlier this year but to celebrate his life and his love of rugby and of London Irish in particular, it was a felt that a fitting memorial be considered.

The Captain Jack Wakefield Memorial trophy will be contested every time London Irish play one of the Irish provincial teams. Given that London Irish and Ulster are drawn in the same group in the Heineken Cup the trophy could change hands a few times this season.

For those of you unfamiliar with ‘Captain Jack’ please click here.

Sincere thanks to all those who contributed so generously to the collection on the night.

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Kit Aid

Since its inception in 2001 the SOS IRB Kit Aid charity has delivered over a million pounds worth of kit to nine developing rugby countries in Eastern Europe.

Between them, Romania, Georgia, Moldova, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Serbia and Croatia have so far shared 22,000 rugby shirts, 12,500 pairs of rugby shorts, 3,500 boots, 2,500 rugby balls and 100 post protectors, with the most recent delivery this month – the 16th shipment of 2006 – bound for Bulgaria.

“Bulgaria badly need kit,” said project founder John Broadfoot. “They’re building a very exciting junior development programme there but need the kit to keep the momentum going.”

The charity aims to add another two countries to the list next year but demand is far outstripping supply.

“We aim to add two more countries to that list but we currently have 50 developing nations on a waiting list,” said Broadfoot.

By the end of 2006 SOS kit deliveries will top STG#1.25 million pounds, much of it brand new kit thanks to generous donations from many leading kit manufacturers

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Malone Under-13s Lift Heineken Cup

…Malone U-13s lift the Heineken Cup – and they won the Pat Lawlor Shield as well…

Saturday, August 26: Malone RFC Under-13s, Ulster’s only representation at the Pat Lawlor Under-13 Tournament in Limerick, organised by UL Bohemians RFC, had the unexpected opportunity of lifting the Heineken Cup at Thomond Park, along with the Pat Lawlor Shield which they won.

Having lost narrowly to Shannon RFC and Young Munster RFC (the winners of the Pat Lawlor Cup) in the group stages, they eased their way through the knockout rounds into the final of the Shield, defeating Thomond RFC by scoring five tries in an outstanding display of running rugby.

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Ulster Youngsters Receive Tag Award

Local budding rugby player, Holli Collins, YMCA Rugby Club (Centre Left) and Graham Parkhill, City of Derry Rugby Club (Centre Right), are pictured with Ulster players Neil Best (left) and Issac Boss (right) as they receive their t-shirt and rugby ball for completing a local summer ‘tag rugby’ scheme.

The scheme was run in partnership with the City of Derry RFC and Londonderry YMCA RFC and supported by the Youth Justice Agency and the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) Ulster Branch.

The programme, open to all young people within the area, including Waterside and Cityside, kicked-off at the City of Derry RFC on August 2 and 9, and then moved to the Londonderry YMCA RFC on August 16 and 23.

All young people who completed the four sessions received a free t-shirt and rugby ball and Tyrone Springs supported the scheme by providing bottled water over the four weeks.

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