Format

Wednesday January 24th

Guest Speaker Sporting Luncheon to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Ulster winning the European Rugby Cup in 1999 with Mr David Humphreys MBE in conversation with Past President Mr Jim Neilly MBE.

On January 30th 1999 Ulster, captained by David Humphreys, defeated French side Colomiers to become the first Irish province to win European Rugby's premier trophy. In front of 50,000 supporters at Lansdowne Road Dublin Ulster, who had overcome two other top French sides Toulouse and Stade Francais in the quarter final and semi final respectively, recorded an emphatic 21-6 victory in the final.

David Humphreys had been outstanding for Ulster throughout the competition and his match-saving tackle against Toulouse and magnificent solo try against Stade Francais were just two of the highlights of a remarkable tournament.

And outstanding schoolboy player at Ballymena Academy, David Humphreys captained the Irish Schools side to the Triple Crown in 1990 before studying law at Queen's University. He made his senior Ulster debut in 1992 against Cumbria before coming off the bench that season to secure an Ulster win against Munster.

He won the first of 72 Irish caps against France in 1996 the same year he dropped a 40m goal for Ulster against Swansea to win the Celtic League title, having scored 17 points two years earlier against Edinburgh to win the Celtic Cup.

Upon his retirement from playing he was appointed first Operations Director and then Director of Rugby for Ulster before becoming Gloucester Director of Rugby in 2014, a post he occupied for six years. He became Director of Cricket Operations for the England and Wales Cricket Board in February 2023.

In November 2023 it was announced that he would join the Irish Rugby Football Union as Performance Director Designate in March 2024 before succeeding David Nucifora as Performance Director in June 2024.

'TICKET ONLY'

Dress Code: JACKET and TIE.

Other Information

Format;

12:30 Arrival to Old Billiard Room

13:00 Call to luncheon & luncheon served

14:15 Mr David Humphreys MBE in conversation with Past President Mr Jim Neilly MBE.