Match 1 Age Grade

Proceedings kicked off at 1pm with Malone U14s hosting a touring side from Scotland with the visitors winning comfortably.

Click below for the U14 match gallery.

Match 2 Women

The second match featured Malone Women who lost out to an Ulster Select XV.

Click below to view the women’s match gallery.

Match 3 Mixed Ability

Malone Tornadoes entertained Sunday’s Well Rebels in the first mixed ability match on the island of Ireland.

Organiser of the match, and a Malone Tornado player, Tim Craig said:[su_quote]

We were looking at what teams in Scotland have been doing, what our Welsh colleagues have been doing and building on it.We wanted to introduce it to Belfast because it’s been going for about four years in Cork through our competitors, Sunday’s Well Rebels. With mixed ability rugby we’re about inclusion – promoting everyone’s ability rather than disability. We want to see rugby played in its true spirit. It’s like all sports – it’s about bringing people together and I think we had a great afternoon of rugby played in right spirit.

He [Chris Henry] is a wonderful servant to Ulster and Irish Rugby. I’ve been involved with Newforge Taggers Tag Rugby club and Chris has been our patron for a number of years. I can’t sing his praises enough and I hope the day went very well for him. [/su_quote]

Click below for the mixed ability match gallery.

Malone Tornadoes came out on top in a closely contested match against Sundays Well in the first ever mixed ability match in Ireland.

Match 4 Ulster Select

The final match saw an Ulster Legends side featuring household names such as Andrew Trimble, Paul Marshall and Andy Maxwell defeat an Ulster Barbarians side lead by Henry as well as Paddy Wallace in a thrilling high scoring affair.

Chris Henry scored the opening try before defending became optional for both sides as the Legends ran out 48-46 winners.

The match was played in front of a great crowd at Gibson Park and was watched by Chairman of the Ulster Rugby Supporters Club, Jonathan Bill: [su_quote]

Chris has been a local player and he’s put a lot in not only at the elite level but also at a local level. I think it’s very appropriate that he’s had this festival of rugby where he’s brought in grassroots; the ladies game; mixed ability; youngsters and the more household names at the end. It’s fitting that he managed to bring in about 45 former Ulster players along today.

I’ll always remember the battle-scarred face as Chris left the pitch after matches. There was always blood on it and you always felt he had put in 100% to the cause and knew that he was playing for the badge. [/su_quote]

Battered and bruised from a gruelling match, Chris found the time to speak to the FRU shortly after the game:[su_quote]

We didn’t know how many people would turn up today but it’s been awesome to see so many people out. It’s great to see so many old club mates and friends come together. The match goes to show that regardless of your age you’re always competitive.

It’s very special to finish my career at Malone in an Ulster jersey. I’ve always had a big connection with the club and to put on something like this, which hasn’t been done before, is the start of something every year. I was playing for the Irish Legends against the English Legends and thought we could do something like this.

Sometimes when you stop playing you lose the buzz in the changing rooms and the craic with your teammates so it’s an excellent excuse to get back out on the pitch. [/su_quote]

Click below for legends match gallery.

The final match of the day saw Ulster Legends win against Ulster Barbarians in a high scoring game.