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Dan Soper
Daniel Soper is a rugby union coach from New Zealand who has been assistant coach at Ulster since 2021. Born in Alexandra, he played for Otago Sharks, setting a club scoring record of 260 points in 1997, and represented North Otago in the National Provincial Championship. He first came to Northern Ireland in 1998 to play for Banbridge RFC, and had a season in Italy, playing for Petrarca Padova in the 1999–2000 Heineken Cup. Returning to Northern Ireland, he played and coached at Ballynahinch RFC and Banbridge RFC while working as a schoolteacher at Wallace High School, Lisburn, Sullivan Upper School, Ballyclare High School, and Royal Belfast Academical Institution. In club rugby, he coached Ballynahinch to the "grand slam" of the Ulster Senior Cup, the All-Ireland Cup and the Ulster Senior League in 2009. He became head coach of Banbridge in 2010, and led them to two promotions in the All Ireland League. In schools rugby, he coached future Irish international Darren Cave at ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alexandra, New Zealand
Alexandra (Māori language, Māori: ''Manuherikia'' or ''Areketanara'') is a town in the Central Otago district of the South Island of New Zealand. It is on the banks of the Clutha River (at the confluence of the Manuherikia River), on New Zealand State Highway 8, State Highway 8, by road from Dunedin and south of Cromwell, New Zealand, Cromwell. The nearest towns to Alexandra via State Highway 8 (New Zealand), state highway 8 are Clyde, New Zealand, Clyde seven kilometres to the northwest and Roxburgh, New Zealand, Roxburgh forty kilometres to the south. State Highway 85 (New Zealand), State highway 85 also connects Alexandra to Omakau, Lauder, New Zealand, Lauder, Oturehua, Ranfurly, New Zealand, Ranfurly and on to Palmerston, New Zealand, Palmerston on the East Otago coast. The town of Alexandra is home to people as of History The town was founded during the Otago gold rush in the 1860s, and was named after Alexandra of Denmark by John Aitken Connell who surveyed the tow ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution is an independent grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland. With the support of Belfast's leading reformers and democrats, it opened its doors in 1814. Until 1849, when it was superseded by what today is Queen's University, the institution pioneered Belfast's first programme of collegiate education. Locally referred to as Inst, the modern school educates boys from ages 11 to 18. It is one of the eight Northern Irish schools represented on the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school occupies an 18-acre site in the centre of the city on which its first buildings were erected. History Dissident foundation In 1806, writing in the Belfast '' News Letter'', William Bruce dismissed "visionary notions" of new "academical institution". The town, he reminded his readers, already had "an excellent plan of school education for which it is indebted to the Belfast Academy funded in 1786". What was to become "Inst" was not the firs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Six Nations Under 20s Championship
The Six Nations Under 20s Championship is an international rugby union tournament. It is the under-20s equivalent of the Six Nations Championship. Originally the tournament was in an under-21 format but changed to under-20s in 2008. England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ... were the inaugural winners and they have gone on to be the tournament's most successful team, winning ten titles. Their last title came in 2021. The tournament is played annually during February and March on the same weekends as the senior men's Six Nations. Winners Statistics References {{International rugby union European youth sports competitions Under-20 rugby union competitions 2008 establishments in Europe Recurring sporting events established in 2008 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2023–24 Ulster Rugby Season
The 2023–24 season was Ulster Rugby's 30th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union. They competed in the United Rugby Championship the European Rugby Champions Cup, and the EPCR Challenge Cup. It was Dan McFarland's sixth season as head coach. Despite some good results, including a home win against Racing 92 in the Champions Cup and an away win against Leinster Rugby, Leinster in the URC, Ulster slipped back in the league, and poor performances against Bath Rugby, Bath, Harlequin F. C., Harlequins and Stade Toulousain, Toulouse dumped them out of the Champions Cup. After an away defeat in the URC against Ospreys (rugby union), Ospreys in February, McFarland left his position, replaced by former Ireland under-20 head coach Richie Murphy. CEO Jonny Petrie also left, replaced on an interim basis by Hugh McCaughey. Murphy oversaw two away losses in South Africa and a quarter-final exit in the Challenge Cup, but form improved in the league, with four straight wins, i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2021–22 Ulster Rugby Season
The 2021–22 season was Ulster Rugby's 28th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and Dan McFarland's fourth season as head coach. They competed in the inaugural United Rugby Championship (successor competition to the Pro14) and the European Rugby Champions Cup. The major new signing was South African number eight Duane Vermeulen. Ulster finished third in the URC, and second in the Irish Shield, qualifying for the playoffs and for next season's Champions Cup. They beat Munster at home in the quarter-final, but went out in the semi-final to the Stormers in Cape Town. Lock Alan O'Connor won the URC Tackle Machine award, and flanker Nick Timoney and centre James Hume were named in the league's Dream Team. Ulster won all four of their pool games in the Champions Cup, finishing second and qualifying for a two-legged round of sixteen playoff against Toulouse, which they lost by an aggregate score of 49–50. Fullback Michael Lowry was nominated for European P ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dwayne Peel
Dwayne John Peel (born 31 August 1981) is a Welsh rugby union coach and former player. He was the most capped scrum-half for the Wales national rugby union team with 76 caps, until his record was surpassed by Mike Phillips on 16 March 2013. Youth and early career Peel was born in Carmarthen, Wales. He started his rugby career playing for Tumble RFC at Under-8s level. He attended Ysgol Gyfun Maes-yr-Yrfa in Cefneithin, and is a fluent Welsh speaker. He made his professional club debut for Llanelli RFC before joining the Llanelli Scarlets region at its creation in 2003. International Peel made his international debut for Wales in 2001 against Japan. He was still on his geography degree course at the Swansea University at the time. During his time at Swansea University, he became friends with Edward Lewsey – a Welsh Under-21 international, and brother of England international Josh Lewsey. Peel has since scored five tries (25 points) scoring his debut Test try against Ita ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2018–19 Ulster Rugby Season
The 2018–19 season was Ulster's 25th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and Dan McFarland's first season as head coach. Rory Best was captain. They competed in the Pro14, making the semi-finals, and the European Rugby Champions Cup, making the quarter-finals. Events Personnel changes After the resignation of Jono Gibbes, Dan McFarland was announced as Ulster's new head coach on 30 April 2018. Initially he was to serve his notice as Scotland's forwards coach and join Ulster in January 2019, with Simon Easterby to act as interim head coach until then. But in August, an agreement was reached with Scotland for McFarland to join Ulster before the new season. Jared Payne, who retired as a player at the end of last season, became the new defence coach. Banbridge head coach Dan Soper joined as skills coach. Shane Logan stepped down as Chief Executive in September 2018, with Jonny Petrie appointed as his successor. There were significant changes to the pl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ulster Schools' Cup
The Ulster Schools' Challenge Cup is an annual competition involving schools affiliated to the Ulster Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union. The Schools' Cup has the distinction of being the world's second-oldest rugby competition, having been competed for every year since 1876. The trophy itself is a three-handled silver cup with a plinth mounted on a large shield. Methodist College Belfast have won the most titles with 37 outright wins. Format The Schools' Cup was reformatted in 2003/04. Previously teams defeated in the first round would enter the Subsidiary Shield competition, teams losing in later rounds would find their season over. All entrants, except those who drew byes, entered in the first round of the competition. It was felt that this could lead to significant mismatches. The reformatting sought to avoid this and to extend the amount of meaningful rugby played by school teams. The first round was changed to act as a qualifying stage for weaker teams and firs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Michael Lowry (rugby Union)
Michael Lowry (born 20 August 1998) is an Irish rugby union player from Northern Ireland who plays fullback and out-half for United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup side Ulster, and internationally for Ireland. Doubted early on because of his small stature, he has exceptional footwork and acceleration. Ireland coach Andy Farrell describes him as a "nightmare" to play against, praising his explosiveness and bravery. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Lowry attended Royal Belfast Academical Institution and captained the school to a Medallion Shield and three Ulster Schools' Cups in a row between 2015 and 2017, and represented Ulster at under-17, under-18 and under-19 level, as well as Ireland at under-19 level. After leaving school, he joined the Ulster academy ahead of the 2017–18 season. He debuted for Ireland under-20s in their final match of the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship against Japan, which Ireland won 39–33. He made his senior deb ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
James Hume (rugby Union)
James Hume (born 7 September 1998) is an Irish rugby union player who plays centre for United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup side Ulster. Born in Belfast, Hume attended Royal Belfast Academical Institution and was a key part of the team that won three Ulster Schools' Cups in a row between 2015 and 2017. After leaving school, he joined the Ulster academy ahead of the 2017–18 season, while playing club rugby for Banbridge. He made his debut for Ireland under-20s in their 41–38 defeat at the hands of Wales during the 2018 Six Nations Under 20s Championship on 23 February 2018. He also represented the under-20s at the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship. He made his senior debut for Ulster on 29 September 2018, featuring off the bench in the province;s 64–7 defeat at the hands of Munster Munster ( or ) is the largest of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the south west of the island. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Darren Cave
Darren Cave (born 5 April 1987) is a retired professional Irish rugby union player who played centre for Ulster, sharing the province's appearance record with Andrew Trimble and Rob Herring with 229, and won eleven caps for Ireland. Early career Cave attended Sullivan Upper School, and helped them win the Medallion Shield in 2002, scoring a try, a conversion and the winning penalty in the final. He represented Ireland at schools level, including for a tour of Australia 2004. The same year, he was nominated for the Ulster Schools Player of the Year award. In 2005 he joined Belfast Harlequins represented Ireland at the under-19 World Cup, and joined the Ulster Rugby academy in 2005. He was part of the Ireland under-20 team that won a Grand Slam in the under-20 Six Nations in 2007. Ulster Rugby After scoring two hat-tricks in consecutive weeks for Belfast Harlequins, Cave made his first senior start for Ulster against the Dragons in October 2007, He became a regular in the sid ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
All-Ireland League (rugby Union)
The All-Ireland League (AIL), known for sponsorship reasons as the Energia All-Ireland League, is the national league system for the 50 senior rugby union clubs in Ireland, covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The league was inaugurated in the 1990–91 season. Cork Constitution F.C are the only club to have constantly retained their status in Division 1 since 1990/91. All other clubs in the league have experienced relegation. The league is the second highest level of rugby union in Ireland, as professional teams representing the four provinces of Ireland play in the United Rugby Championship. Division 1 sides may field no more than two professional players in their matchday sides, and only one may be a forward. Division 2 sides may not field professional players. Foreign professional players may not play in the League. Cork Constitution, the inaugural winners, are the only club to have retained top division status since the inception of the league. Fo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
