Another year past and what a year it was. Turmoil at Ulster, the departure of old friends and the arrival of the Panthers.
January
Bowe announces his transfer to the Ospreys and Wilson confirms his move to Northampton. The Milwaukee Lady Panthers arrive in Belfast where they lose narrowly to Cooke but beat a combined Universities side. The FRU and Justin Fitzpatrick organise a training session for the girls with half a dozen players. |
February
Ireland squeeze home against Italy, lose to France and beat Scotland. Kimble and Cornerflag organise “the original” Sparky’s transfer to the Ospreys as part of the Bowe package. The UR message board dissolves in the overwhelming amount of drivel. Cooke Ladies march on in The Rosie Stewart Cup. |
March
Ulster lose by record amounts to Munster and the Ospreys and Ireland lose to Wales and England. There is some silver lining as O’Sullivan finally resigns. Cooke Ladies loose narrowly to Clonmel in the semi final of the All Ireland Cup. There are 23 “Amazing Facts” about Stephen Ferris! |
April
McMillan goes but Dawson stays. Cooke ladies win the Rosie Stewart Cup and the Panthers win the Mudfest. Botha is confirmed along with Schifcoske, Diack and O’Donoghue. |
May
Humphreys glorious career ends with a limp. The Lanzamen arrive and make their international debut against Larne. The FRU hosts a spectacular evening of entertainment with Matt McCullough, Suzanne Flemming and Brittany Biedenbender picking up the top prizes. |
June
Fitzy, Jamie and the FRU switch on nearly 200 Midwest players and coaches to Ulster Rugby with a series of hugely successful rugby training camps in Milwaukee, Madison and Chicago. Ireland lose narrowly to New Zealand and Australia with Ulster’s Paddy Wallace the player of the series. Ulster have a good representation at the Churchill Cup finals in Chicago. Fitzy and the FRU enjoy the day out. |
July
Heineken Cup fixtures are released and it’s not considered too hard a group! The FRU is the first to bring you Timoci Nagusa and Sir David Humphreys re-signs for Ulster in a new role. Bath, Worcester and Queensland Reds are lined up for the pre-season and Holywood Mike gets excited about the appearance of the Kukri Allstarz cheerleading team! |
August
Botha voted the player most likely to succeed, Diack gets the most hits but O’Donoghue shows the most on the pitch. The FRU offers fashion advice about the “snug fitting” Kukri tops. The even snugger fitting Kukri bottoms are admired by all when modelled by the Allstarz. |
September
The Panthers are on form and quickly gain promotion to Division 1 and qualify for Pool Play. Swiss Matt and Vicky Doak are revealed and Dewi meets royalty. The FRU has a record number of entries in The Predictions League. |
October
The Hounds are on form at The Stoop. The URSC invite us to meet the new boys and Kimble invites us to try tantric sex! Harlequins photos get a record number of hits. Bags and Mr Frosty are out in front in the predictions league. |
November
Ireland lose to New Zealand but beat Canada and Argentina. O’Gara goes into meltdown. The Panthers celebrate winning the league but lose out in the play offs! Ballpark tells us of Gillian’s love for Cillian but does Cillian know? It’s a four way tie between Bags (again) Aintnothinbuta, Lanzaman and Dunny for the November Predictions League. |
December
A loved up Larne man is spotted in Cardiff and a girl band causes chaos in the Scoop bar. Parky’s over the moon, an Omagh man buys drink and we learn something new about Flat Top but it was something we suspected all along. Ulster sell out for the game against Leinster will they sign off 2008 with another win? The FRU celebrate a new arrival! |
Ulster beat Bourgoin but lose to Gloucester in the Heineken Cup with Steve Williams standing in for the recently appointed, but absent, Matt Williams.
Ulster ease the pressure with wins over the Dragons and Llanelli.
A dreadful month for Ulster and Ireland.
Things pick up for Ulster with vital wins over Connacht and Munster but a full revival is tempered by a defeat against Cardiff (even though it was another great trip)!
Ulster’s season ends in anti climax with home defeats by Glasgow and Cardiff.
Ulster prepare for the coming season by working out in Portugal.
We get our first sightings of, most of, the new boys (which by now includes Ian Humphreys), but it’s an inauspicious start with defeats by Bath and Worcester.
Ulster lose four on the bounce with narrow defeats by Scarlets, Blues and Dragons and a hammering by Ospreys. A great time is had in Cardiff all the same.
Ulster get their Magners League campaign back on track with wins over Edinburgh and Munster but the Heineken Cup is over before it begins with defeats by Stade and Harlequins.
Ulster hammer Portugal and Connacht. Humphreys begins to sparkle and Pollock and Cave come to the fore.
Ulster beat the Scarlets at home but can only draw at the new Parc y Scarlets.
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