Ulster and David Humphries

mr_edge_to_you

What an amazing job David Humphreys has done up in Belfast!

He has risen the bar in what we should expect from our senior branch Directors.

Ulster topping their group in H Cup has been the result of making progress year on year. A model of consistency.

He has been ruthless in his recruitment. I couldn't believe they didn't give Brian McLaughlin the head job two years ago Anscombe came in and raised the bar, albeit not reaching a H Cup final. He even sent his own brother off! On the pitch, the signings of Mueller, Pienaar, Afoa and Payne were exceptional.

Off the pitch, they've done a smashing job on Ravenhill.

As mentioned, they've imported smartly but they are developing young players.

Isn't he a solicitor/barrister by progression? Obviously he's one smart cookie.

The Ulstermen should stand up for David Humphreys

wp_rathead

He has done great job

Can Connacht borrow him for a season or two to sort out our affairs? Apparently we 900k in the red..

bilston

It's HumphrEYS not Humphries

Winters

Humph is Director of Rugby, Shane Logan is CEO. Great job all round, well done Ulster.

mr_edge_to_you

Winters wrote: »

Humph is Director of Rugby, Shane Logan is CEO. Great job all round, well done Ulster.

didn't know that.

They really have done some job though.

jacothelad

mr_edge_to_you wrote: »

didn't know that.

They really have done some job though.

They both stress the future development that is needed. Because rugby is even more a minority sport in Ulster - the Ulster GAA were the ones most resistant to the use of Croke Park, rugby is still not played in 70% 0f the schools, getting players in the future may be even more difficult.

There are big problems with the Ulster branch's governance of the game at all levels up to even the Ravens. Try, for example to find any info on them, even finding out when and where they might play sometimes needs the skills of a cross between Sherlock Holmes and an internet nerd.

There is very poor utilisation of the Junior Clubs as a resource. Basically they are ignored. The game revolves, wastefully i.m.o., almost totally around the Ulster Schools Cup.

Check out the locally born players. They come from the State Grammar Schools by and large. M.C.B., Campbell College, Inst, Wallace High, Friends School, Bann Academy, R.S. Armagh. and a few more. How long this will continue is moot for a number of reasons, not least because Private School fee paying is now pretty much banned and the 'Minister for Education' - if that's what he should be called, has stated that there are no longer any 'grammar schools' in N.I.

What the ultimate outcome of his very unpopular decisions will be is an inevitable and fairly rapid decline in their ability to continue to produce rugby players. I don't really see rugby expanding significantly into the CCMS schools where culturally, GAA rules the roost and of course is superbly embedded into the social fabric of communities in a way that rugby isn't. I have an interest in Ardara and Glenties GAA teams. Small town sides that can raise great sums of dosh to improve the grounds etc.

However, getting back to U.R. management, all things are eventually related to success on the field. Not necessarily winning the H.Cup or league but being there or thereabouts. Let's reserve judgement until Ulster have a season where they have to rely upon a team without Afoa, Court and Muller. Where we are thrown more on our own home developed resources. Logan and dHumph have produced the goods, including very lucrative sponsorship deals. They need to smuggle in a couple of high octane props and a 6'8" lock. That would be really impressive.

Sandwlch

Has done a good job, but the more remarkable point is what a shambles Ulster rugby was for 10 lost years before he did get their act together and put them up on a level with Munster and Leinster where the should and deserve to be.

jacothelad

Sandwlch wrote: »

Has done a good job, but the more remarkable point is what a shambles Ulster rugby was for 10 lost years before he did get their act together and put them up on a level with Munster and Leinster where the should and deserve to be.

Yes, following the advent of pro rugby, Munster and Leinster grasped the nettle and set up systems and management to support that, to enhance the teams development, identify players and also seize the opportunity to raise money, bring in overseas players as needed. The Ulster blazers proudly announced that they would continue to run the game. No way were they giving up their junkets and trough snorkelling. Bunch of self aggrandising losers. One of them sacked Matt Williams by 'phone as he was in Singapore airport on his way back to Oz for Christmas. Irrespective of what he did or didn't do for the team, that is no way to deal with a major employee. Their buffoonery led to Ulster losing some top players that weakened the side fatally. The financial side was also run in a shocking manner, losing for example 100,000 pounds to a catering company. Back in the 70's and 80's Ulster rugby contributed significantly not only to the Ireland side but also to it's finances. Every penny that came in from sell out games - crowds of up to 15,000 - against international sides such as Romania, Fiji, N.Z. Oz and representative sides from around the U.K. and abroad - went to the IRFU.
Thankfully, the wilderness years are behind us for the moment.

awec

Good post jaco, specifically around the schools cup.

I went to a grammar school under the Dickson plan so only started grammar school at 14. Our school played rugby because apparently that's what grammar schools are supposed to do, the problem was the area I come from is very football dominated and so our school rugby team was made up of lads who were picking up a rugby ball at 14 years old for the first time in their lives.

That's far too late - I don't think the current schools model is working outside the major rugby colleges. The branch needs to get primary schools taking it seriously, and not just the schools that feed the Methodys etc.

If nothing else to make the SC less monotonous and vary up the winners a bit

mfceiling

A big shout must also go to the youth setup.

To produce the likes of Gilroy, Marshall, Jackson, Henderson etc and have other young guys coming through is testament to them.

Humph has also made great strides with signings - Payne, Afoa, Pieanaar and Muller could easily walk in to any other side - but to come to belfast (which can be drab enough at the best of times!!), a cold climate and given the north's all too recent past (and sometimes ongoing) is good business.

Won't count for much if we don't build on this current high we are on.

bilston

Jacob makes an excellent point. John O'Dowd might just be a bigger threat to Ulster rugby than Mark McCafferty!

nc6000

They have done a great job but haven't won anything yet.

dregin

Do Ulster Rugby actually have regional development officers dedicated to promoting rugby in traditionally non-rugby areas?

Leinster's set up with the CROs is absolutely outstanding, from what I've seen. Schools all across North Dublin have top quality Community Rugby Officers coordinating and training school teams in schools that only 10 years ago wouldn't have even considered having a team.

I tried my hand at the game as a kid, but at the time, Letterkenny were playing in an actual bog out the back of a pub.

When it came to secondary school in Cavan, loads of lads wanted to play, but the only opportunity we had was when our English teacher, who'd come up through the system at Newbridge, took us out for a throw about every so often.

If Ulster could take a leaf from Leinster's book and started a concentrated effort in promoting the game with dedicated coaches covering areas around the province, I think they'd find that there are a lot of kids who have a massive interest in rugby, but aren't given much of a chance to carry it forward.

I'm only speaking of my experience... this could have all changed in the 12 years since I've moved to Dublin.

jacothelad

dregin wrote: »

Do Ulster Rugby actually have regional development officers dedicated to promoting rugby in traditionally non-rugby areas?

Leinster's set up with the CROs is absolutely outstanding, from what I've seen. Schools all across North Dublin have top quality Community Rugby Officers coordinating and training school teams in schools that only 10 years ago wouldn't have even considered having a team.

I tried my hand at the game as a kid, but at the time, Letterkenny were playing in an actual bog out the back of a pub.

When it came to secondary school in Cavan, loads of lads wanted to play, but the only opportunity we had was when our English teacher, who'd come up through the system at Newbridge, took us out for a throw about every so often.

If Ulster could take a leaf from Leinster's book and started a concentrated effort in promoting the game with dedicated coaches covering areas around the province, I think they'd find that there are a lot of kids who have a massive interest in rugby, but aren't given much of a chance to carry it forward.

I'm only speaking of my experience... this could have all changed in the 12 years since I've moved to Dublin.

Ulster have employed development officers for years.