Welcome all to our new features page - stay tuned, we hope to bring you the insights and outpourings of some of the most acute rugby brains in Ulster! And until we find those guys, you'll have to make do with the motley crew of ne'er-do-wells that we have rounded up, thrown in a room with a typewriter, and told to write something, or be banished to the News Letter (just kidding...)

In seriousness, we think we have a good panel - we have no editorial policy, no party line, no preconceptions....

Read More

Neil's look back at Ireland's tough day at the office...

On paper, this was an opportunity for Ireland to record a first ever win over the AB’s in 26 attempts, in the 1st Test where they are allegedly, and laughably, “vulnerable.” On paper, this was an opportunity for Ireland to blood new test prospects, and begin the belated succession plan to replace the old guard. On paper, this was an opportunity for DK to break his traditional conservatism and try new players, new combinations, and...

Read More

Barry Ireland reviews the Ulster season

In a year defined by a remarkable Heineken Cup run, suggesting that Ulster have at last arrived at the top table of European club rugby, fans are left spirited and rightly optimistic for the seasons ahead. With this unexpected and inspiring run of performances, however, there remains a not insubstantial body of evidence suggesting that the polished edges and sheen of a finished article are not yet here.

Ulster now face up to what may be the most...

Read More

It is with deep sadness, that we heard the news that Stanley Philips, aka 'cables', passed away on Friday night. Although having met cables only a few times, I have spoken to him often through the medium of the web and this messageboard, although our correspondence has gone on for longer than that. I recall cables from the early incarnations of the original Irish and Ulster rugby messageboards, and all the way through their demise. cables was a regular poster and came to be seen as an expert...

Read More

While the recent ‘Meet Anscombe’ event was billed as an opportunity to meet the new head coach, the event proved to be a wider-ranging affair, with Shane Logan and David Humphreys in attendance. Thanks to our trusty undercover men, here is the lowdown on what was covered.

Stadium
Shane Logan kicked off with essentially a re-run of the stadium presentation given at the URSC AGM. The key points are worth repeating here:

• The aim is to have terraces on all four sides, as close to the pitch as...

Read More