Academy Players Fired Up By Partnership
17 December 2008
The Ulster Rugby Academy has this week announced a partnership with Phoenix Natural Gas.
The Ulster Rugby Academy, which will now be known as the Phoenix Ulster Rugby Academy, is designed to nurture, develop and prepare, the next generation of Ulster and Ireland rugby stars. With success stories like Stephen Ferris and Andrew Trimble named on the long list of former members, there can be no doubt that the system is working.
The Academy which was formally established in 2001 is based at the University of Ulster in Jordanstown, and has strong links with the senior Ulster team. The Academy is managed under the watchful eye of former Ireland and Ulster lock Gary Longwell, who commented on the new partnership with Phoenix: "We are delighted to welcome Phoenix onboard as the official Ulster Rugby Academy sponsor. The Academy has gone from strength to strength in recent years and the support of Phoenix will no doubt help us build up the quality of the Academy. There are eleven members of the senior squad who have come through our structure and our hope is that we will have a number of the current Academy playing for Ulster and Ireland in the next few years."
Michael McKinstry, Group Finance Director at Phoenix Natural Gas, said: "Phoenix has always sought to put something back into the local communities that we serve. We have a long history in particular of supporting young people and making sure they get as much help as possible with whatever it is that they hope to achieve. This new partnership is an extension of all the good community work we are continuing to do throughout Greater Belfast and beyond. Phoenix is delighted to be playing its part in supporting this very talented group of players both now and into the future".
The partnership will form a key part of Phoenix's long established award winning LIFE programme, which stands for Leadership in the marketplace; Investing in our people; Fostering our community and Environmental responsibility.
Picture: Celebrating the new partnership are Phoenix's Michael McKinstry (centre). Mr McKinstry is flanked by Ulster Academy players Paul Karayiannis (left), David Drake and Jamie Smith (far right).