Ulster Rugby is one of the four professional rugby clubs in Ireland. It is part IRFU Ulster Branch. The team competes in both the Heineken Champions Cup (United Rugby Championship) and the Ulster Rugby Championship. It plays its home games at Belfast's Kingspan Stadium.
Ulster has had its fair shares of success. The province is currently second at the Irish conference. However, the club has entered a period of decline over the last few years. However, this does not mean that the club is unlikely to improve in the coming season. The province will likely struggle to win the Champions Cup next year.
Ulster was in its golden age in the 2000s. They won their first Celtic League title, in 2005, and became the first Irish province ever to win the Heineken Champions Cup. In 2012, they won their first European competition and finished top of the Pro12 Table. The club finished second in Heineken Champions Cup 2011. They defeated Toulouse and Saracens.
The club was second in the Celtic League during the 2003-2004 season. Toulouse defeated them in the Champions Cup group stage, ending their three-year unbeaten streak in the competition.
In 2006-07, the club's fortunes plummeted. Mark McCall, the head coach, resigned after a loss to Gloucester of 32-14. David Humphreys, the club’s director of Rugby, also retired. David Humphreys resigned from the province and took up a similar post at Gloucester.
2009-10 saw a major shift in the team's management structure. Former Ulster captain, Mark McCall, was appointed as a replacement for Alan Solomons. Assistant coach was appointed to be Jeremy Davidson. Les Kiss was appointed as the new director of rugby. Dan Tuohy from Exeter was signed.
During the 2010-11 season, the team experienced a turnaround. Head coach Alan Solomons was replaced by Neil Doak. Ulster won 13 of the first 14 games and reached the quarter-finals in the Heineken Cup. Unfortunately, they lost to Leinster in Twickenham.
Despite the disappointing results, the Ulster footballers showed their commitment to the cause. They were led and guided by Justin Harrison, an Australian lock; Isaac Boss, a New Zealander who is a scrum-half in Ireland. Both were named Player Of The Year. Roger Wilson and John Cooney were also awarded the honor. However, the club suffered a significant setback after Nevin SPence, centre, died in an auto accident. Several other players left the club including out-half Ian Humphreys, who went to London Irish, and back row forward Rob Herring.
After a disappointing start in 2008-09, the club started to improve. They won their next five matches, including a 27-16 win against Scarlets. They reached the semi-finals in the Celtic League.
FAQ
Extreme sports: What can go wrong?
There are many situations that could occur when you take part in extreme sports. You could fall off cliffs or get injured.
However, if you are aware and take precautions, it should not be a problem.
It's enough to ensure that you have the right equipment.
If you get hurt while participating on an extreme sport, someone will be there to assist you. Medical attention will be given to anyone who is injured.
Sometimes, injuries happen without warning. Sometimes, poor judgement can cause injuries.
For instance, climbing too close to a cliff edge may slip over the side. Hypothermia can also occur if you plunge into icy waters.
Sometimes mistakes by others cause accidents. In some cases, other participants cause injury.
Bad luck can sometimes lead to accidents. For example, you may hit a rock as you are falling. Or you may be struck by lightning.
What is the most hazardous sport in extreme sports?
It is snowboarding. You must balance on a board and fall from a mountain at high speed. You could die if you fall off the wrong way.
Is there an extreme sport in football?
It depends on who you ask. Over the years, football has been played by millions around the globe. Many would argue it isn't a sport but a form or entertainment. Others say that it is as much a sport as any other. Some even believe it is the ultimate sport.
The truth lies somewhere in between these extremes.
Football is an extreme sport. However, it also requires strategy, teamwork and strategy.
What happens if someone falls off a cliff while doing extreme sports?
Participating in extreme sports could cause you to fall off a cliff and break bones, or even your neck.
This injury would be very serious. Falling from a height above 30 meters (100 feet) could result in your death.
Statistics
- Boxing— 90% of boxers suffer brain damage over their careers, and this is not surprising in the least, considering that they are throwing punches at each other's heads. (rosenfeldinjurylawyers.com)
- Based on the degree of difficulty, the routine is scored on form and technique (50 percent), takeoff and height (20 percent), and landing (30 percent). (britannica.com)
- According to the United States Parachuting Association, about 21 people die yearly from skydiving. (livehealthy.chron.com)
- Nearly 30% of all boardsailors live in the South, and more than 55% of all boardsailors live in cities with a population of more than two million people (momsteam.com)
- Overall participation has grown by more than 60% since 1998 - from 5.9 million in 1998 to 9.6 million in 2004 Artificial Wall Climbing. (momsteam.com)
External Links
How To
How do I get started with Base Jumping?
Base jumping (also called free-fall Parachuting) allows participants to jump from fixed objects (usually cliffs), including bridges, towers and buildings, with no equipment attached. To safely land, the participant jumps from the object. This is similar to skydiving except that you don't need to use a parachute and you don't have to wait for it to open.
A wingsuit-type base jumper, is the most commonly used. A wingsuit is composed of two pieces of fabric that are sewn together. The chest, arms and legs are covered by one piece and the legs by the other. The boots enable the jumper to stand upright while in flight. Jumpers tend to pull their feet up tight during descent. This causes the material that covers the legs to gather and form a large volume of air under the jumper. The jumper can open his/her parachute if the air pocket is large enough and land safely.
Some base jumpers use powered suits to help propel themselves through the air faster. A backpack containing batteries and an under-cloth jet pack are the two main components of powered suits. These packs have small rockets that can shoot hot gases at high speeds. This creates thrust, which propels the jumper forward. These suits can be quite loud and heavy.
BASE jumping is a sport that many people don't understand. Learn how to BASE Jump. Be aware of the risks. There are many ways that you can die from this activity, including falling off a rock, colliding with another person, or hitting an obstacle head on or upside down. BASE jumping may not be always dangerous but it can still prove dangerous if done incorrectly. To avoid injury, check out the following safety tips before attempting to BASE jump.
First, practice safe BASE jumping techniques by practicing on a smaller hill. Always take time to familiarize yourself with the terrain before jumping onto a larger hill. Second, watch out for weather conditions. Make sure the wind doesn't blow in your face when you jump. Foggy skies are another danger. If you can see more then 10ft ahead of you, you may need to wait for the clouds to clear. You should also ensure you have the correct gear. A helmet, goggles, gloves and a full-suit with a harness are all essential. Fourth, make sure you have a plan. Before leaving the ground, ask someone to follow you if something goes wrong. Never, ever jump alone. Always have someone else watching over you.