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IRISH RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION ANNUAL REPORT 2016/2017 Office Bearers 04 & Committee Standing 05 Committees President’s 06 Report Chief Executive’s 12 Report Honorary Treasurer’s 32 Report Sponsors of 36 Irish Rugby 38 Accounts OFFICE BEARERS STANDING AND COMMITTEE COMMITTEES President T. Hennessy Celtic League Management Rugby Commercial and Marketing S.R. Hilditch D. Kavanagh P. Browne D. Madden - Chairman, I. McIlrath - Chairman, D. Devaney - Chairman, A. Leddy G. Fitzgerald S.R. Hilditch, T. Grace, G. Barrett, N. Comyn, P. Orr, T. Grace, T. O’Beirne, P. Dean Vice Presidents J.D.H. McKibbin P. Whelan, J. O’Driscoll, M. Quinn, J. Robinson, (co-opted), P. Browne, P. P.A. Orr T. O’Beirne Lions M. O’Sullivan, D. Devaney, M. Cunningham, J. Gibson, Power and S. McNamara I. McIlrath J. O’Driscoll T. Grace I. McIlrath, D. Kavanagh, S. Black (Ulster M. Quinn D. Kavanagh (co-opted), Rugby Chair), P. Brady Hon. Treasurer J. Robinson FIRA P.A. Orr, P. Browne, K. Potts, (Leinster Rugby Chair), T. Grace R. Ryan J. O’Driscoll D. Nucifora and S. McNamara. B. Smith (Munster Rugby J. Sheerin Chair), T. Carty (Connacht Immediate Past President P. Whelan Trustees National Professional Rugby Chair), S. Walker M.J. O’Sullivan A.R. Dawson Game Board and G. Black. World Rugby Board D.V. Healy M.J. Sullivan – Chairman, Chairman Management J. O’Driscoll J.D. Hussey D. Nucifora, P. Browne, Finance Committee P. Whelan Dr. S. Millar G. Fitzgerald, W. Ruane, T. Grace - Chairman, D. Madden F. Sowman, D. Millar, R. Ryan, D. Madden, A. Leddy, Six Nations Committee Chief Executive G. Barrett, E. Reddan (player) J. Gibson, M.P Coghlan, Committee P. Browne P. Browne and G. Keegan (Irish Institute J. Robinson, P. Browne, G. Barrett P. Whelan of Sport). K. Potts, C. O’Brien, F. M.P. Coghlan National Coach O’Rourke (co-opted) N. Comyn EPCR J. Schmidt and L. Quinn (co-opted). M. Cunningham P. Browne G. Drennan P. McNaughton J. Gibson 4 IRFU ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016/17 IRFU ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016/17 5 PRESIDENT’S REPORT STEPHEN HILDITCH It was an honour and a privilege for me to be elected The RBS Six Nations matches resulted in mixed The Irish U20’s participated in the Junior Rugby World as President of the IRFU in July 2016. outcomes. Losses to Scotland and Wales in matches Cup in June in Georgia and, due to a number of injury which could have been won were balanced by good setbacks were unable to emulate the successes It has been a memorable season which has seen a wins over Italy and France. The final match of the which our team had in last year’s tournament. All our rare mix of historic triumph and deep tragedy. The series saw an English team which was hoping to break age-grade sides are competitive and contain players news that Anthony Foley had died suddenly while the New Zealand record of 18 successive victories of great potential. This reflects the outstanding work in Paris with Munster, stunned every member of the together with the achievement of a Triple Crown done within our Clubs and schools, often by volunteer rugby community in Ireland and across the world. and Grand Slam. As in Chicago, Ireland produced a coaches. The further development of talented The impact of his loss was felt most keenly in Munster magnificent performance to dominate the game and players by the High Performance Unit and the but it was gratifying to witness the unity and strength win convincingly. professional staff of the Provincial Academies is also of the rugby family in both its grief at their common of the highest calibre and our talent identification and loss and in support of Anthony’s family. He was a All the Irish players are deserving of great praise player development programmes are respected and, giant in every respect; an icon in Munster; a legend in for the hard work and commitment throughout an indeed, envied, by rugby playing countries throughout Irish rugby; a wonderful husband and father. Axel’s historic and memorable season. At times the quality the world. Of equal importance for the wellbeing death was also linked to our greatest triumph. In the of their play was simply sublime. of our game, is to ensure that the vast majority of unfamiliar surroundings of Soldier Field in Chicago, players who do not progress to high performance the New Zealand All Blacks, unbeaten in eighteen Ireland is fortunate to have Joe Schmidt as head levels, continue to play in our clubs when they go international matches, prepared to perform the haka. coach. He leads an outstanding group of coaches, beyond age-grade rugby. Clubs need to offer a warm The Irish team faced the haka by forming a figure technical and support staff, each of whom have played welcome and a quality and enjoyable experience to eight in dignified tribute to their former comrade. It their part throughout the year. I know that I speak on encourage young men and women to get involved and was a moving and poignant action which will never be behalf of the IRFU and all Irish rugby supporters in to stay involved. forgotten by those of us privileged to be there. The expressing our gratitude for a job well done. match which followed saw the Irish team play what was arguably their finest match in the long history of Our Women’s team have also had a successful year. Irish rugby. Five tries against a team which had been Having won their first four matches, Ireland played described as the greatest ever; a convincing victory the unbeaten English Women’s team in a Grand Slam over New Zealand after 111 years of trying. decider. Despite giving a good account of themselves, they eventually succumbed to the power of the current In the November series of matches, the Irish team World Champions. Women’s rugby is one of the most was successful against Australia and so, in a period vibrant and expanding aspects of our game and of less than six months, we had defeated all three with the World Cup to be held in Dublin and Belfast of the Southern Hemisphere giants and justified our next August, it is likely that a consequence will be a position of fourth in the World Rugby rankings. heightened interest and increased participation in the women’s game. 6 IRFU ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016/17 Throughout my year as President, I have visited allows us to have accurate information on a whole countless clubs for pre-match lunches, for matches range of indicators regarding the player population. and for club dinners. The common theme at all This allows trends and concerns to be identified and club visits has been the warmth of welcome which I informs the strategies and priorities for the Rugby encountered and the outstanding hospitality which I Committee. The successful implementation of these have enjoyed. The enthusiasm and commitment of initiatives is dependent upon the work done in the club officials never ceases to amaze. A successful Provinces and I commend the ever-closer working club scene is essential for the future of Irish rugby relationship between the IRFU and the Provinces. at all levels and men and women who serve as officials in clubs are the cornerstones of our game. In Last season the wonderful success of Connacht in support of these volunteers, I commend the work of the Pro12 final was one of the few highlights by our the Rugby Committee of the IRFU under the direction Provincial teams. This season, both Munster and of Scott Walker and Chairman, Ian McIlrath. After Leinster qualified for home quarter finals of the a number of setbacks along the way, we now have European Cup and excellent performances by both a computer system which is functioning and which resulted in two Irish Provinces featuring in the semi- finals. Unfortunately the adventure ended there and despite an excellent Scarlets team defeating Leinster in the semi-final and then Munster in the final of the Pro12, it was a reassuring return to prominence in both Pro12 and European competition. One topic which has been ever present throughout the season and has occupied a great deal of the available time of both the professional staff and a significant number of volunteers, is Ireland’s bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The bid was accepted as a contender along with South Africa and France. The vote will take place in November of this year. Everything about the Irish bid has been first class and very professional. The partnership between the IRFU and GAA is key to success. Full support and enthusiastic backing has been forth coming from governments north and south. The bid process has been overseen by a Steering Group, chaired by Dick Spring and the extensive communications process has been expertly planned and executed by Kevin Potts who, along with the Chief Executive and our World Rugby representatives, has travelled the world encouraging support from individual rugby nations and groups of countries. No stone has been left unturned and nothing left to chance. I am quietly confident that this highly professional and exhaustive process 8 IRFU ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016/17 IRFU ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016/17 9 will reap reward in November and the consequent benefits to the profile of our game and participation in rugby in all of Ireland will be immense. Finally, I would like to thank all who have helped me throughout my year as President. Declan Madden, our Chairman, has been a constant support.

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