Ulster 2016/2017

First topic message reminder :

The build up to Ulsters gloriously successful 2016/2017 campaign starts here!

Allow summer optimism to get the better of you or discuss why we are in crisis right here on this thread- before weary resignation over the quality of forwards we have sinks in once again.

profitius wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

Don Alfonso wrote:So folks...

not sure about the niceties of lifting a post wholesale from another forum, but saw this elsewhere on the interwebz posted by a Leinster fan...

Spent the last two days at an internal training/development course and we had Shane Logan in as a guest speaker this morning. Very interesting guy and some of the insights he gave concerning Ulster were pretty amazing.
Since he took over in 2010, they've gone from being one of the three lowest teams in terms of turnover to being the second largest in the UK and Ireland and are now ahead of Leinster.
IRFU monies now make up approx 15% of their total income compared to approx 66% a few years ago.
He's a very clear vision where he wants to take the province.
Ulster now spend more on their academy than any other team in Europe - they now have over 400 underage players on various development programmes.
The harnesses that the players wear measure up to 50 attributes but he has the coaching staff only analyzing 5. The harnesses can even give indications as to whether the player's stride is shortening (clear indication they are in danger of pulling a hamstring) or even if they might be in danger of having a stroke!!!
Spiv League teams play at a tempo of 65m/min, Ulster aim to play at 80m/min and conduct portions of their training sessions at 135m/min!

If even two-thirds of that is true...

If it's all true then it is pretty amazing. Hard to believe the IRFU's contribution is only 15%. If we really are investing so heavily on underage that is fantastic,

Yeah 15% sounds very low. Didn't Ulster borrow some money from the IRFU a few years back for part of the stadium development? Maybe they're paying it back by getting less funding from the IRFU.


It's a great situation to be in compared with a few years back when the squad was very weak. Logan is doing a good job.

No Prof that was a pot of funding that had been set aside for the development of stadium on the site of the old Maze prison. As it didn't happen local sport shared the money and Ulster rugby got a nice lump sum.

The fact that Barakat is leaving doesn't bother me, the fact that we have yet another season where there's a lack of stability in the coaching setup does. I was looking forward to a well settled season after last season's very unsteady ship. It may be a smaller blip but it's a blip never the less.

You can't be havin' lads trying to play sport through a maze! The idea was always crap! How would the waterboys ever find the players when they woz dehydrated like?

SecretFly wrote:You can't be havin' lads trying to play sport through a maze!  The idea was always crap!  How would the waterboys ever find the players when they woz dehydrated like?

Are you on the lash already Fly ??

profitius wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

Don Alfonso wrote:So folks...

not sure about the niceties of lifting a post wholesale from another forum, but saw this elsewhere on the interwebz posted by a Leinster fan...

Spent the last two days at an internal training/development course and we had Shane Logan in as a guest speaker this morning. Very interesting guy and some of the insights he gave concerning Ulster were pretty amazing.
Since he took over in 2010, they've gone from being one of the three lowest teams in terms of turnover to being the second largest in the UK and Ireland and are now ahead of Leinster.
IRFU monies now make up approx 15% of their total income compared to approx 66% a few years ago.
He's a very clear vision where he wants to take the province.
Ulster now spend more on their academy than any other team in Europe - they now have over 400 underage players on various development programmes.
The harnesses that the players wear measure up to 50 attributes but he has the coaching staff only analyzing 5. The harnesses can even give indications as to whether the player's stride is shortening (clear indication they are in danger of pulling a hamstring) or even if they might be in danger of having a stroke!!!
Spiv League teams play at a tempo of 65m/min, Ulster aim to play at 80m/min and conduct portions of their training sessions at 135m/min!

If even two-thirds of that is true...

If it's all true then it is pretty amazing. Hard to believe the IRFU's contribution is only 15%. If we really are investing so heavily on underage that is fantastic,

Yeah 15% sounds very low. Didn't Ulster borrow some money from the IRFU a few years back for part of the stadium development? Maybe they're paying it back by getting less funding from the IRFU.


It's a great situation to be in compared with a few years back when the squad was very weak. Logan is doing a good job.

Ulster borrowed money from the IRFU for the 2009 redevelopment, it was to have been paid back a few years ago with interest.

Is there a button on the harness that you can press to make that player World Class? I suppose it don't matter anyway, as the bloody harness wouldn't be allowed in a real game. Bummer!

Not sure if this guy is real or not but seems Saints are showing an interest in Paddy Jackson

http://www.punditarena.com/rugby/the-secret-agent/secret-agent-exclusive-premiership-club-registers-interest-ulsters-paddy-jackson/

marty2086 wrote:Not sure if this guy is real or not but seems Saints are showing an interest in Paddy Jackson

http://www.punditarena.com/rugby/the-secret-agent/secret-agent-exclusive-premiership-club-registers-interest-ulsters-paddy-jackson/

They can feck off, any chance we can all take turns guarding Paddy from people with Northampton accents?

I think that's more a bit of clickbait from the Punditarena as usual.
The headline "Paddy Jackson could leave Ulster at the end of the season" is followed by a vacuous piece of fiction that pretty much goes on to deny the leading headline.

Pete330v2 wrote:I think that's more a bit of clickbait from the Punditarena as usual.
The headline "Paddy Jackson could leave Ulster at the end of the season" is followed by a vacuous piece of fiction that pretty much goes on to deny the leading headline.

More than likely Pete but Im sure a few will be flashing cash and making grand promises to him

Ulster have a great culture though and a group of young players who have come up together and seem to be great mates, plus Im sure he still has JJ Hanrahans number so he wont be going to the Saints anytime soon

Don Alfonso wrote:So folks...

not sure about the niceties of lifting a post wholesale from another forum, but saw this elsewhere on the interwebz posted by a Leinster fan...

Spent the last two days at an internal training/development course and we had Shane Logan in as a guest speaker this morning. Very interesting guy and some of the insights he gave concerning Ulster were pretty amazing.
Since he took over in 2010, they've gone from being one of the three lowest teams in terms of turnover to being the second largest in the UK and Ireland and are now ahead of Leinster.
IRFU monies now make up approx 15% of their total income compared to approx 66% a few years ago.
He's a very clear vision where he wants to take the province.
Ulster now spend more on their academy than any other team in Europe - they now have over 400 underage players on various development programmes.
The harnesses that the players wear measure up to 50 attributes but he has the coaching staff only analyzing 5. The harnesses can even give indications as to whether the player's stride is shortening (clear indication they are in danger of pulling a hamstring) or even if they might be in danger of having a stroke!!!
Spiv League teams play at a tempo of 65m/min, Ulster aim to play at 80m/min and conduct portions of their training sessions at 135m/min!

If even two-thirds of that is true...

And still cant find a scrum half.....  

That sounds very promising, but 2nd highest turnover in the UK? Ahead of all the Aviva sides with their big Tv deals? That seems incredible. Sounds like he is doing a great job though.

Would be very interesting to see the tempos of the other pro 12 teams.

Golden wrote:

Don Alfonso wrote:So folks...

not sure about the niceties of lifting a post wholesale from another forum, but saw this elsewhere on the interwebz posted by a Leinster fan...

Spent the last two days at an internal training/development course and we had Shane Logan in as a guest speaker this morning. Very interesting guy and some of the insights he gave concerning Ulster were pretty amazing.
Since he took over in 2010, they've gone from being one of the three lowest teams in terms of turnover to being the second largest in the UK and Ireland and are now ahead of Leinster.
IRFU monies now make up approx 15% of their total income compared to approx 66% a few years ago.
He's a very clear vision where he wants to take the province.
Ulster now spend more on their academy than any other team in Europe - they now have over 400 underage players on various development programmes.
The harnesses that the players wear measure up to 50 attributes but he has the coaching staff only analyzing 5. The harnesses can even give indications as to whether the player's stride is shortening (clear indication they are in danger of pulling a hamstring) or even if they might be in danger of having a stroke!!!
Spiv League teams play at a tempo of 65m/min, Ulster aim to play at 80m/min and conduct portions of their training sessions at 135m/min!

If even two-thirds of that is true...

And still cant find a scrum half.....  

That sounds very promising, but 2nd highest turnover in the UK? Ahead of all the Aviva sides with their big Tv deals? That seems incredible. Sounds like he is doing a great job though.

Would be very interesting to see the tempos of the other pro 12 teams.

Logan said that Leicester Tigers were the number 1

Golden wrote:
That sounds very promising, but 2nd highest turnover in the UK? Ahead of all the Aviva sides with their big Tv deals? That seems incredible. Sounds like he is doing a great job though.

Golden, each AP club only makes a few million a year from the tv deals, Ulster make about quarter of that from the Kingspan deal plus Ulsters lowest attendance last season was higher than the capacity of some AP grounds and a higher average attendance than most

Not sure where else they get their income from but always doable and great if true

Has anyone heard anything about when Peikrishvili will be able to play? His short term contract will mean extremely short term pitch time at this rate.

Pete330v2 wrote:Has anyone heard anything about when Peikrishvili will be able to play? His short term contract will mean extremely short term pitch time at this rate.

Is he not there just to cover Ah You and Kane? Maybe even Trenier too who Kiss said he wants to give game time too

Missed the game tonight (or last night at this time) but I'm reading that Stuart Olding has sustained another knee injury. So that's another knee injury for Stuart and another concussion for Luke Marshall the week before.

Sigh.

marty2086 wrote:

profitius wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

Don Alfonso wrote:So folks...

not sure about the niceties of lifting a post wholesale from another forum, but saw this elsewhere on the interwebz posted by a Leinster fan...

Spent the last two days at an internal training/development course and we had Shane Logan in as a guest speaker this morning. Very interesting guy and some of the insights he gave concerning Ulster were pretty amazing.
Since he took over in 2010, they've gone from being one of the three lowest teams in terms of turnover to being the second largest in the UK and Ireland and are now ahead of Leinster.
IRFU monies now make up approx 15% of their total income compared to approx 66% a few years ago.
He's a very clear vision where he wants to take the province.
Ulster now spend more on their academy than any other team in Europe - they now have over 400 underage players on various development programmes.
The harnesses that the players wear measure up to 50 attributes but he has the coaching staff only analyzing 5. The harnesses can even give indications as to whether the player's stride is shortening (clear indication they are in danger of pulling a hamstring) or even if they might be in danger of having a stroke!!!
Spiv League teams play at a tempo of 65m/min, Ulster aim to play at 80m/min and conduct portions of their training sessions at 135m/min!

If even two-thirds of that is true...

If it's all true then it is pretty amazing. Hard to believe the IRFU's contribution is only 15%. If we really are investing so heavily on underage that is fantastic,

Yeah 15% sounds very low. Didn't Ulster borrow some money from the IRFU a few years back for part of the stadium development? Maybe they're paying it back by getting less funding from the IRFU.


It's a great situation to be in compared with a few years back when the squad was very weak. Logan is doing a good job.

Ulster borrowed money from the IRFU for the 2009 redevelopment, it was to have been paid back a few years ago with interest.

Ulster got an IRFU loan for the stadium redevelopment in 2011.  It was due for repayment in full within next 18 months.   Ulster Rugby were able to generate additional income last year through business sponsorships, etc, and decided to pay the remainder of the loan back earlier in last financial year to avoid further interest.   Tom Grace, head IRFU bean counter, publicly congratulated them at launch of IRFU's Annual Report in July saying 'well done Ulster' in his notes whilst looking crossly down the back of the class at Garret 'Dunce' Fitzgerald who didn't do quite so well, and missed paying back their loan repayment (€200k) on Thomond and needed additional funding of €1m.   Or more accurately, Munster were only able to pay back the interest portion on the loan repayment c. €50k for the current period.   Tom 'Grim Reaper' Grace doesn't accept zero repayments.  

Ulster's financial performance is quite commendable.  However, as Logan and their chairman point out in this year's annual accounts, they're now maxed on income.   Their stadium capacity and weekly attendances, sponsorships, etc are unlikely to grow any further.  So if operating costs, particularly salaries, continue to grow, then their current financial health will start to diminish.   They're in a market of 1.8m population, with the vast majority of their fans living within 20 miles of the stadium.   Despite their remit to represent the 9 counties of Ulster, they fall short of that considerably when it comes to outreach and development across the entire province. Donegal, Sligo and Monaghan, as well as Derry, Fermanagh, and Tyrone aren't known exactly as hotbeds of rugby at the best of times, but if they want to grow the game outside of the Belfast conurbation and in turn develop it as a true representative province for rugby, there's work to be done at club and academy levels, and gaining support in the north-west.  The potential alliance with GAA for the RWC 2023 bid could be very beneficial in this regard in the coming years.

Pot Hale wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

profitius wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

Don Alfonso wrote:So folks...

not sure about the niceties of lifting a post wholesale from another forum, but saw this elsewhere on the interwebz posted by a Leinster fan...

Spent the last two days at an internal training/development course and we had Shane Logan in as a guest speaker this morning. Very interesting guy and some of the insights he gave concerning Ulster were pretty amazing.
Since he took over in 2010, they've gone from being one of the three lowest teams in terms of turnover to being the second largest in the UK and Ireland and are now ahead of Leinster.
IRFU monies now make up approx 15% of their total income compared to approx 66% a few years ago.
He's a very clear vision where he wants to take the province.
Ulster now spend more on their academy than any other team in Europe - they now have over 400 underage players on various development programmes.
The harnesses that the players wear measure up to 50 attributes but he has the coaching staff only analyzing 5. The harnesses can even give indications as to whether the player's stride is shortening (clear indication they are in danger of pulling a hamstring) or even if they might be in danger of having a stroke!!!
Spiv League teams play at a tempo of 65m/min, Ulster aim to play at 80m/min and conduct portions of their training sessions at 135m/min!

If even two-thirds of that is true...

If it's all true then it is pretty amazing. Hard to believe the IRFU's contribution is only 15%. If we really are investing so heavily on underage that is fantastic,

Yeah 15% sounds very low. Didn't Ulster borrow some money from the IRFU a few years back for part of the stadium development? Maybe they're paying it back by getting less funding from the IRFU.


It's a great situation to be in compared with a few years back when the squad was very weak. Logan is doing a good job.

Ulster borrowed money from the IRFU for the 2009 redevelopment, it was to have been paid back a few years ago with interest.

Ulster got an IRFU loan for the stadium redevelopment in 2011.  It was due for repayment in full within next 18 months.   Ulster Rugby were able to generate additional income last year through business sponsorships, etc, and decided to pay the remainder of the loan back earlier in last financial year to avoid further interest.   Tom Grace, head IRFU bean counter, publicly congratulated them at launch of IRFU's Annual Report in July saying 'well done Ulster' in his notes whilst looking crossly down the back of the class at Garret 'Dunce' Fitzgerald who didn't do quite so well, and missed paying back their loan repayment (€200k) on Thomond and needed additional funding of €1m.   Or more accurately, Munster were only able to pay back the interest portion on the loan repayment  c. €50k for the current period.   Tom 'Grim Reaper' Grace doesn't accept zero repayments.  

Ulster's financial performance is quite commendable.  However, as Logan and their chairman point out in this year's annual accounts, they're now maxed on income.   Their stadium capacity and weekly attendances, sponsorships, etc are unlikely to grow any further.  So if operating costs, particularly salaries, continue to grow, then their current financial health will start to diminish.   They're in a market of 1.8m population, with the vast majority of their fans living within 20 miles of the stadium.   Despite their remit to represent the 9 counties of Ulster, they fall short of that considerably when it comes to outreach and development across the entire province. Donegal, Sligo and Monaghan, as well as Derry, Fermanagh, and Tyrone aren't known exactly as hotbeds of rugby at the best of times, but if they want to grow the game outside of the Belfast conurbation and in turn develop it as a true representative province for rugby, there's work to be done at club and academy levels, and gaining support in the north-west.  The potential alliance with GAA for the RWC 2023 bid could be very beneficial in this regard in the coming years.

Would be a bit cheeky moving in on Connacht turf

It's a good point, but those countries are tough markets... They are Gaelic football hotbeds. I guess they need to try buddy up with the GAA in those areas, which probably wouldn't be so easily accepted

toml wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

profitius wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

Don Alfonso wrote:So folks...

not sure about the niceties of lifting a post wholesale from another forum, but saw this elsewhere on the interwebz posted by a Leinster fan...

Spent the last two days at an internal training/development course and we had Shane Logan in as a guest speaker this morning. Very interesting guy and some of the insights he gave concerning Ulster were pretty amazing.
Since he took over in 2010, they've gone from being one of the three lowest teams in terms of turnover to being the second largest in the UK and Ireland and are now ahead of Leinster.
IRFU monies now make up approx 15% of their total income compared to approx 66% a few years ago.
He's a very clear vision where he wants to take the province.
Ulster now spend more on their academy than any other team in Europe - they now have over 400 underage players on various development programmes.
The harnesses that the players wear measure up to 50 attributes but he has the coaching staff only analyzing 5. The harnesses can even give indications as to whether the player's stride is shortening (clear indication they are in danger of pulling a hamstring) or even if they might be in danger of having a stroke!!!
Spiv League teams play at a tempo of 65m/min, Ulster aim to play at 80m/min and conduct portions of their training sessions at 135m/min!

If even two-thirds of that is true...

If it's all true then it is pretty amazing. Hard to believe the IRFU's contribution is only 15%. If we really are investing so heavily on underage that is fantastic,

Yeah 15% sounds very low. Didn't Ulster borrow some money from the IRFU a few years back for part of the stadium development? Maybe they're paying it back by getting less funding from the IRFU.


It's a great situation to be in compared with a few years back when the squad was very weak. Logan is doing a good job.

Ulster borrowed money from the IRFU for the 2009 redevelopment, it was to have been paid back a few years ago with interest.

Ulster got an IRFU loan for the stadium redevelopment in 2011.  It was due for repayment in full within next 18 months.   Ulster Rugby were able to generate additional income last year through business sponsorships, etc, and decided to pay the remainder of the loan back earlier in last financial year to avoid further interest.   Tom Grace, head IRFU bean counter, publicly congratulated them at launch of IRFU's Annual Report in July saying 'well done Ulster' in his notes whilst looking crossly down the back of the class at Garret 'Dunce' Fitzgerald who didn't do quite so well, and missed paying back their loan repayment (€200k) on Thomond and needed additional funding of €1m.   Or more accurately, Munster were only able to pay back the interest portion on the loan repayment  c. €50k for the current period.   Tom 'Grim Reaper' Grace doesn't accept zero repayments.  

Ulster's financial performance is quite commendable.  However, as Logan and their chairman point out in this year's annual accounts, they're now maxed on income.   Their stadium capacity and weekly attendances, sponsorships, etc are unlikely to grow any further.  So if operating costs, particularly salaries, continue to grow, then their current financial health will start to diminish.   They're in a market of 1.8m population, with the vast majority of their fans living within 20 miles of the stadium.   Despite their remit to represent the 9 counties of Ulster, they fall short of that considerably when it comes to outreach and development across the entire province. Donegal, Sligo and Monaghan, as well as Derry, Fermanagh, and Tyrone aren't known exactly as hotbeds of rugby at the best of times, but if they want to grow the game outside of the Belfast conurbation and in turn develop it as a true representative province for rugby, there's work to be done at club and academy levels, and gaining support in the north-west.  The potential alliance with GAA for the RWC 2023 bid could be very beneficial in this regard in the coming years.

Would be a bit cheeky moving in on Connacht turf

It's a good point, but those countries are tough markets... They are Gaelic football hotbeds. I guess they need to try buddy up with the GAA in those areas, which probably wouldn't be so easily accepted

Apologies, should have said Cavan. GAA and Rugby are the two most popular sports that remain united on the island. If RWC bid was successful, I think it would be a great legacy objective to have in building bridges and respect.

As a tyroner (yes I just made that word up) they don't actually do too bad in Tyrone, they have some decent schools up there and so clubs that are reasonably well supported but I guess more could always be done in some of the bigger towns. the likes of Cookstown for example is a town at the last census that had 38,000 people in it's district. There is a very small rugby club in Cookstown and 1 school that plays rugby so there is definately potential there for expansion

Any news on Olding?

Ulster Rugby have been knocking their pan in to spread the game. It's happening, but it takes time, especially as there's still a (waning) cultural stigma attached in many areas- more the Nationalist areas in the North than in the South, actually. It doesn't happen overnight. Quite a few young players from the Virginia club in Cavan on the youth teams.

They need to break that - and the other thing they need to do, which they don't seem to be attempting, is break into the Protestant working class. That's my background and no-one else in my family ever watched it or had any interest - I only love it now because it was one of the sports I was made to play when I went to a grammar school, back when the world was young.

To be fair, I noticed the other day in the pub at the top of Sandy Row they now have a Rangers flag, a Northern Ireland flag and an Ulster Rugby flag. I think that is slowly changing too.

It's the same challenge all over Ireland. That's the challenge for Irish rugby but it's worth pursuing. All the provinces are investing in non traditional areas and this year there are new talent scouts for each province whose job is to search all the small clubs in non traditional areas looking for talent.

Photo on The Other Forum of Paddy and Wee Stu loafing about in town today. Paddy has a moon-boot on, Stu doesn't have anything, both look in great form. If they're traipsing about in town in the rain, there's probably not too much wrong.

We stay top of the table on point difference as Blues failed to secure a TBP away to Zebre. Looking forward to the visit of the Ospreys, if we can go five from five we are looking very tidy.

Don Alfonso wrote:Photo on The Other Forum of Paddy and Wee Stu loafing about in town today. Paddy has a moon-boot on, Stu doesn't have anything, both look in great form. If they're traipsing about in town in the rain, there's probably not too much wrong.

Good news. What did paddy do to his foot?

Pot Hale wrote:
Ulster got an IRFU loan for the stadium redevelopment in 2011.  It was due for repayment in full within next 18 months.   Ulster Rugby were able to generate additional income last year through business sponsorships, etc, and decided to pay the remainder of the loan back earlier in last financial year to avoid further interest.   Tom Grace, head IRFU bean counter, publicly congratulated them at launch of IRFU's Annual Report in July saying 'well done Ulster' in his notes whilst looking crossly down the back of the class at Garret 'Dunce' Fitzgerald who didn't do quite so well, and missed paying back their loan repayment (€200k) on Thomond and needed additional funding of €1m.   Or more accurately, Munster were only able to pay back the interest portion on the loan repayment  c. €50k for the current period.   Tom 'Grim Reaper' Grace doesn't accept zero repayments.  

Not sure where you got that from but theres no mention of loans to Ulster in any recent annual reports and the latest redevelopment was funded by Stormont from the pot that was set aside for the Maze stadium.

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:
Ulster got an IRFU loan for the stadium redevelopment in 2011.  It was due for repayment in full within next 18 months.   Ulster Rugby were able to generate additional income last year through business sponsorships, etc, and decided to pay the remainder of the loan back earlier in last financial year to avoid further interest.   Tom Grace, head IRFU bean counter, publicly congratulated them at launch of IRFU's Annual Report in July saying 'well done Ulster' in his notes whilst looking crossly down the back of the class at Garret 'Dunce' Fitzgerald who didn't do quite so well, and missed paying back their loan repayment (€200k) on Thomond and needed additional funding of €1m.   Or more accurately, Munster were only able to pay back the interest portion on the loan repayment  c. €50k for the current period.   Tom 'Grim Reaper' Grace doesn't accept zero repayments.  

Not sure where you got that from but theres no mention of loans to Ulster in any recent annual reports and the latest redevelopment was funded by Stormont from the pot that was set aside for the Maze stadium.

I know Ulster raised money for the 2009/10 stand, but according to Wiki some of the money was loaned by the IRFU. How much, I don't know.

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:
Ulster got an IRFU loan for the stadium redevelopment in 2011.  It was due for repayment in full within next 18 months.   Ulster Rugby were able to generate additional income last year through business sponsorships, etc, and decided to pay the remainder of the loan back earlier in last financial year to avoid further interest.   Tom Grace, head IRFU bean counter, publicly congratulated them at launch of IRFU's Annual Report in July saying 'well done Ulster' in his notes whilst looking crossly down the back of the class at Garret 'Dunce' Fitzgerald who didn't do quite so well, and missed paying back their loan repayment (€200k) on Thomond and needed additional funding of €1m.   Or more accurately, Munster were only able to pay back the interest portion on the loan repayment  c. €50k for the current period.   Tom 'Grim Reaper' Grace doesn't accept zero repayments.  

Not sure where you got that from but theres no mention of loans to Ulster in any recent annual reports and the latest redevelopment was funded by Stormont from the pot that was set aside for the Maze stadium.

The information is in the annual reports and Ulster accounts.

Pot Hale wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:
Ulster got an IRFU loan for the stadium redevelopment in 2011.  It was due for repayment in full within next 18 months.   Ulster Rugby were able to generate additional income last year through business sponsorships, etc, and decided to pay the remainder of the loan back earlier in last financial year to avoid further interest.   Tom Grace, head IRFU bean counter, publicly congratulated them at launch of IRFU's Annual Report in July saying 'well done Ulster' in his notes whilst looking crossly down the back of the class at Garret 'Dunce' Fitzgerald who didn't do quite so well, and missed paying back their loan repayment (€200k) on Thomond and needed additional funding of €1m.   Or more accurately, Munster were only able to pay back the interest portion on the loan repayment  c. €50k for the current period.   Tom 'Grim Reaper' Grace doesn't accept zero repayments.  

Not sure where you got that from but theres no mention of loans to Ulster in any recent annual reports and the latest redevelopment was funded by Stormont from the pot that was set aside for the Maze stadium.

The information is in the annual reports and Ulster accounts.

IRFU Annual Report 11/12 wrote:The project to redevelop Ravenhill Park has now commenced
with project managers and a design team in place. Work is
scheduled to start on site at the end of 2012 and the phased
development will be completed in 2014 without significantly
impacting the venue for Ulster fixtures in the intervening period.
This will provide a maximum capacity for approximately 18,000
spectators who will be accommodated in comfortable and
modern facilities. The funding for this project comes from the
Northern Ireland Government for which the IRFU and Ulster
Branch are most grateful. It will provide Ulster with the facilities
required to drive the Ulster business model on to a higher level
on par with Munster and Leinster.

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:
Ulster got an IRFU loan for the stadium redevelopment in 2011.  It was due for repayment in full within next 18 months.   Ulster Rugby were able to generate additional income last year through business sponsorships, etc, and decided to pay the remainder of the loan back earlier in last financial year to avoid further interest.   Tom Grace, head IRFU bean counter, publicly congratulated them at launch of IRFU's Annual Report in July saying 'well done Ulster' in his notes whilst looking crossly down the back of the class at Garret 'Dunce' Fitzgerald who didn't do quite so well, and missed paying back their loan repayment (€200k) on Thomond and needed additional funding of €1m.   Or more accurately, Munster were only able to pay back the interest portion on the loan repayment  c. €50k for the current period.   Tom 'Grim Reaper' Grace doesn't accept zero repayments.  

Not sure where you got that from but theres no mention of loans to Ulster in any recent annual reports and the latest redevelopment was funded by Stormont from the pot that was set aside for the Maze stadium.

The information is in the annual reports and Ulster accounts.

IRFU Annual Report 11/12 wrote:The project to redevelop Ravenhill Park has now commenced
with project managers and a design team in place. Work is
scheduled to start on site at the end of 2012 and the phased
development will be completed in 2014 without significantly
impacting the venue for Ulster fixtures in the intervening period.
This will provide a maximum capacity for approximately 18,000
spectators who will be accommodated in comfortable and
modern facilities. The funding for this project comes from the
Northern Ireland Government for which the IRFU and Ulster
Branch are most grateful. It will provide Ulster with the facilities
required to drive the Ulster business model on to a higher level
on par with Munster and Leinster.

Do you think I would just make this up including the quote from Tom Grace?

I referenced in my initial comment about Tom Grace's comment at this year's annual report. So I'm not sure why you looked at 2011/12.

Here''s a bit from an Irish Times article during summer that supports what I'm saying:

"Grace did note, during his speech at last night’s agm at the Aviva Stadium, that the Ulster Branch have repaid “in full” their loan to redevelop Ravenhill into Kingspan Stadium.
“There was no repayment received this year in respect of the Munster loan which relates to Thomond Park, ” said Grace.
A €200,000 payment was due last April with €4.2 million due in April 2017 and €500,000 to be paid every year until 2026 with a final lump sum of €761,778 expected in 2027.
“I am pleased to report the Ulster Branch loan in respect of the Ravenhill development has been repaid in full. Well done Ulster.”

So you are saying I made up that quote?

Pot Hale wrote:

Here''s a bit from an Irish Times article during summer that supports what I'm saying:

"Grace did note, during his speech at last night’s agm at the Aviva Stadium, that the Ulster Branch have repaid “in full” their loan to redevelop Ravenhill into Kingspan Stadium.
“There was no repayment received this year in respect of the Munster loan which relates to Thomond Park, ” said Grace.
A €200,000 payment was due last April with €4.2 million due in April 2017 and €500,000 to be paid every year until 2026 with a final lump sum of €761,778 expected in 2027.
“I am pleased to report the Ulster Branch loan in respect of the Ravenhill development has been repaid in full. Well done Ulster.”

Reading the article its obvious Cummiskey misunderstood the statement, as the loan was to do with the previous redevelopment not the current one

Jeez lads, PhilBB is gone. You don't need to go through boring minutia about finance to the Nth degree instead of talking about, you know, actual rugby. I thought the days of d!ck measuring over who can read a spreadsheet better might be coming to an end, you know?

Did he get banned? He'll probably be back called PhpBB or Not Phil or somesuch.

He's back. A bit like Beetlejuice, but you only have to mention the name twice.

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

Here''s a bit from an Irish Times article during summer that supports what I'm saying:

"Grace did note, during his speech at last night’s agm at the Aviva Stadium, that the Ulster Branch have repaid “in full” their loan to redevelop Ravenhill into Kingspan Stadium.
“There was no repayment received this year in respect of the Munster loan which relates to Thomond Park, ” said Grace.
A €200,000 payment was due last April with €4.2 million due in April 2017 and €500,000 to be paid every year until 2026 with a final lump sum of €761,778 expected in 2027.
“I am pleased to report the Ulster Branch loan in respect of the Ravenhill development has been repaid in full. Well done Ulster.”

Reading the article its obvious Cummiskey misunderstood the statement, as the loan was to do with the previous redevelopment not the current one

Yes, I think the loan was for the first stand, 2009/10

Munchkin wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

Here''s a bit from an Irish Times article during summer that supports what I'm saying:

"Grace did note, during his speech at last night’s agm at the Aviva Stadium, that the Ulster Branch have repaid “in full” their loan to redevelop Ravenhill into Kingspan Stadium.
“There was no repayment received this year in respect of the Munster loan which relates to Thomond Park, ” said Grace.
A €200,000 payment was due last April with €4.2 million due in April 2017 and €500,000 to be paid every year until 2026 with a final lump sum of €761,778 expected in 2027.
“I am pleased to report the Ulster Branch loan in respect of the Ravenhill development has been repaid in full. Well done Ulster.”

Reading the article its obvious Cummiskey misunderstood the statement, as the loan was to do with the previous redevelopment not the current one

Yes, I think the loan was for the first stand, 2009/10

There you go.

Pot Hale wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

Here''s a bit from an Irish Times article during summer that supports what I'm saying:

"Grace did note, during his speech at last night’s agm at the Aviva Stadium, that the Ulster Branch have repaid “in full” their loan to redevelop Ravenhill into Kingspan Stadium.
“There was no repayment received this year in respect of the Munster loan which relates to Thomond Park, ” said Grace.
A €200,000 payment was due last April with €4.2 million due in April 2017 and €500,000 to be paid every year until 2026 with a final lump sum of €761,778 expected in 2027.
“I am pleased to report the Ulster Branch loan in respect of the Ravenhill development has been repaid in full. Well done Ulster.”

Reading the article its obvious Cummiskey misunderstood the statement, as the loan was to do with the previous redevelopment not the current one

Yes, I think the loan was for the first stand, 2009/10

There you go.

Like some of us already said

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

Here''s a bit from an Irish Times article during summer that supports what I'm saying:

"Grace did note, during his speech at last night’s agm at the Aviva Stadium, that the Ulster Branch have repaid “in full” their loan to redevelop Ravenhill into Kingspan Stadium.
“There was no repayment received this year in respect of the Munster loan which relates to Thomond Park, ” said Grace.
A €200,000 payment was due last April with €4.2 million due in April 2017 and €500,000 to be paid every year until 2026 with a final lump sum of €761,778 expected in 2027.
“I am pleased to report the Ulster Branch loan in respect of the Ravenhill development has been repaid in full. Well done Ulster.”

Reading the article its obvious Cummiskey misunderstood the statement, as the loan was to do with the previous redevelopment not the current one

Yes, I think the loan was for the first stand, 2009/10

There you go.

Like some of us already said

You're missing the point, Marty. You said:
"Not sure where you got that from but theres no mention of loans to Ulster in any recent annual reports...."

There are. In both Ulster's and the IRFU. To do with redevelopment of Ravenhill stadium. That's what was being discussed.

Pot Hale wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

Here''s a bit from an Irish Times article during summer that supports what I'm saying:

"Grace did note, during his speech at last night’s agm at the Aviva Stadium, that the Ulster Branch have repaid “in full” their loan to redevelop Ravenhill into Kingspan Stadium.
“There was no repayment received this year in respect of the Munster loan which relates to Thomond Park, ” said Grace.
A €200,000 payment was due last April with €4.2 million due in April 2017 and €500,000 to be paid every year until 2026 with a final lump sum of €761,778 expected in 2027.
“I am pleased to report the Ulster Branch loan in respect of the Ravenhill development has been repaid in full. Well done Ulster.”

Reading the article its obvious Cummiskey misunderstood the statement, as the loan was to do with the previous redevelopment not the current one

Yes, I think the loan was for the first stand, 2009/10

There you go.

Like some of us already said

You're missing the point, Marty.  You said:
"Not sure where you got that from but theres no mention of loans to Ulster in any recent annual reports...."

There are. In both Ulster's and the IRFU.  To do with redevelopment of Ravenhill stadium. That's what was being discussed.

Except there isn't, I looked at the IRFUs and Ulsters aren't public

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

Here''s a bit from an Irish Times article during summer that supports what I'm saying:

"Grace did note, during his speech at last night’s agm at the Aviva Stadium, that the Ulster Branch have repaid “in full” their loan to redevelop Ravenhill into Kingspan Stadium.
“There was no repayment received this year in respect of the Munster loan which relates to Thomond Park, ” said Grace.
A €200,000 payment was due last April with €4.2 million due in April 2017 and €500,000 to be paid every year until 2026 with a final lump sum of €761,778 expected in 2027.
“I am pleased to report the Ulster Branch loan in respect of the Ravenhill development has been repaid in full. Well done Ulster.”

Reading the article its obvious Cummiskey misunderstood the statement, as the loan was to do with the previous redevelopment not the current one

Yes, I think the loan was for the first stand, 2009/10

There you go.

Like some of us already said

You're missing the point, Marty.  You said:
"Not sure where you got that from but theres no mention of loans to Ulster in any recent annual reports...."

There are. In both Ulster's and the IRFU.  To do with redevelopment of Ravenhill stadium. That's what was being discussed.

Except there isn't, I looked at the IRFUs and Ulsters aren't public

I'm trying to figure if you're just being stubborn and don't want to admit you were in error. You said you don't know where I got the information from regarding Ulster Rugby getting an IRFU loan for redevelopment of Ravenhill which they paid back early in last financial year. I said to you that I got the info from IRFU and Ulster Rugby's reports.

You continue to deny this, and then say that Ulster's accounts are not public.

The IRFU have it in their annual report, and it's also in Ulster's accounts which are published online and put onto their website which is where I read them. If you google relevant words, you'll find a number of reports about the IRFU issuing this information in a press release around the publication of their annual report, including a link to Ulster Rugby Annual Report 2015-2016 - "an amount of £2.5m made available as a loan from IRFU for the redevelopment of Ravenhill....... the amount was paid in full on the balance sheet date."

You'll find figures related to the loan in Ulster's Accruals and Deferred Income. and the following comment under their Cash Position: "The on-field success continues to prove attractive to sponsors and supporters alike, which has helped maintain these strong cash balances. This enabled earlier loan repayments to the IRFU than originally scheduled reducing the impact of interest charges in 2015/16 when the remaining £830,000 was repaid at the start of the financial year. The loan for the Corporate Stand is now fully repaid leaving no loan creditors on the balance sheet."

That's new from Ulster cheers for finding that but IRFU still don't have it in theirs because I know the loan was given but related to the earlier work

Any way. Any official news on the injuries from the weekend?

Phil is fit again. Good news.

SecretFly wrote:Phil is fit again.  Good news.

Yes I had noticed. I'm so happy

marty2086 wrote:That's new from Ulster cheers for finding that but IRFU still don't have it in theirs because I know the loan was given but related to the earlier work

Lol - you are so stubborn, Marty. You're hanging on grimly by your fingertips to a withered daisy growing between two rocks at the top of the cliff.....

“I am pleased to report the Ulster Branch loan in respect of the Ravenhill development has been repaid in full. Well done Ulster.” Tom Grace, IRFU Treasurer at publication of IRFU Annual Report.

Now you know where I got the information from.

carpet baboon wrote:Any way. Any official news on the injuries from the weekend?

Olding was seen walking about Belfast the day after. He was with Jackson who was wearing a moon boot. Apparently the moon boot is only a precautionary measure. Sounds hopeful. Not sure what the score is on McCloskeys foot injury.

What's the latest on the injury front for the squad? Who's likely to be back this weekend?