Magners League Official Website : Ulster confirm second pre-season game

Ulster confirm second pre-season game

16 June 2005, 8:14 pm

By Jonathan McConnell

Following the confirmation of Ulster’s pre-season friendly against Rotherham Titans last month, a second home pre-season friendly has now been confirmed.

Guinness Premiership side London Irish will once again visit Ravenhill when they meet Ulster on Friday 19th August, kick off 7.30 p.m.

The sides previously met two years ago, in a fixture in aid of the Integrated Education Fund.

The two teams have strong links to each other. Ulster Director of Coaching Mark McCall is a former player, having spent the 1997-1998 season with London Irish, before returning to Ulster the following season. David Humphreys spent two and a half seasons with London Irish (January 1996-May 1998) before, like McCall, returning to Ulster for the 1998/1999 season.

Scrum Half Kieran Campbell and returning prop Justin Fitzpatrick are both products of the London Irish Youth structure. Kieran Campbell played for London Irish from schoolboy age, right through the ranks. His move to Ulster came at the start of the 2001-2002 season.

The Ulster connection continues the following weekend, when Ulster take on the Rotherham Titans on Friday 26th August at 7.30pm at Ravenhill.

The Yorkshire club now have former Belfast Harlequins coach Andre Bester at the helm, a man who will know all about the Friday night Ravenhill atmosphere. The two clubs were due to meet in an away friendly last season, but the match was cancelled at the last minute.

Tickets for both pre-season friendly matches will be on sale from the beginning of August.