Munster v Ulster Easter Sunday ko 1.45pm

Sat 7 Edinburgh v Toulouse 3pm Murrayfield
Sat 7 Leinster v Cardiff 5.45pm Lansdowne Raod
Sun 8 Munster v Ulster 1.45pm Thomond Park
Sun 8 Saracens v Clermont 4.30pm Vicarage Road

Gutted we dont have the saturday game. I wonder will this effect some peoples thoughts on travelling. Personally i will head down on saturday for a boozing day watching the other 1/4's and will head home on sunday night after the Sarries game. Have to be back in work for Easter Monday

Very happy with timing of Leinster game, hate lunchtime kickoffs, 5.45 kick-off perfect to finish in time for some grub and pints

To be honest given the profile of the games i cant believe the Munster/Ulster isnt where the Leinster game is scheduled. disappointed but as long as we win

Stand, how does that fixture time sit at your end?

I think there may be a few who dont come down as it is on easter sunday. That being said there will be more than enough folk who will take their tickets. For me the issue is i have to be in work on the monday which means i have to make my way back on the sunday.

already glancing at the UAFC there are a few (apparent) ST holders who have said they cant make it.

If tickets become available on general sale, although I can't see it, I'll be there for sure! SUFTUM!

You showing it stand?

Munster & Ulster got that game time because if it was on a Sat afternoon/evening and it would be a painful reminder of what the majority of Sky's customers are missing out on (how poor is Sky's English Premiership that it can't compete with the Celtic teams).

So 1 night?

roddersm wrote:If tickets become available on general sale, although I can't see it, I'll be there for sure! SUFTUM!

You showing it stand?

Of course we are!

I had thought tickets would go on general sale but i am now seeing the logic in it not happening.

Stag

Yeah i think most will go down for 1 night although with that timing i think many will do a day trip. Some will do sat and sunday. Any bookings for friday night hotels i would expect to be cancelled now.

when would they go on general sale

Kings

Im not certain that they will.

ST's first
URSC members
Those who wish to buy a 2012-2013 ST.
ST again???

The point UR will be making is they want Ulster fans to take up their entire ticket allocation and not Munster fans

Fair enough stand, I wonder is it too late to join the supporters club for this season?

I doubt they will give priority to any new members of the URSC Rodders. Last year they had a cut off date.

Bugger bugger - cant make it.

Have a wedding to go to on Monday and logistics make it impossible.
Saturday is the premier viewing day but the two ties of the round are on Sunday - go figure.

By the way Ulster are trying to do ticket distribution via Email address and on line.

It is a complete and utter shambles.
Whoever was the idiot who came up with this idea should be shot
I can see some ST holders losing out in the confusion let alone non ST holders

yeah geoff i got an email yesterday and was wondering what the hell was going on. I had hoped to gather up the ST's from our entire group and just go down to the office to make sure we were all together.

I think doing it electronically is a minefield

It is when they don't have their records right, but who these days doesn't use e-mail?

I hope they do allow physical proof of purchase as well, seems madness not to. I also hope Easter Sunday doesn't dampen the size and volume of our traveling support.

We'll need them!

The draw of the 1/4s on at Lunch time on Sunday.

Where is the logic in that

Geoff you could easily drive back to Belfast afterwards but it would mean no drinks on match day.

I was thinking of joining the URSC member, but since it won't do any good this season I might next season, or just get myself a season ticket, last year missed only a few games this year only been to one. If i had a season ticket I'd well have made use of it

They do have the correct EMail address I checked - still no Email from them though even though it hasn't changed in 6 years.

I will not have the car Stag - as I say logistics

Notch spoken like a youngster - there are plenty of over 60's who do not engage in the modern world of the internet

It's not worthwhile for me to get a season ticket. Meant to join the URSC but was too depressed after the RWC to think about domestic rugby for a while...my work's been a bit up in the air a bit too so wasn't sure if I'd be in he country...still not actually...

Like I say if I can find a couple of tickets anywhere, will probably head down Friday, or Saturday to Monday.

Ah Geoff thats a pity. I encountered same problem regarding Ravenhill

Geoff,

When you say "still no email" do you mean you didn't get the one asking you to check that you can log into your account?

If you haven't got that I'd say you need to phone them.

Do you get their regular emails about matches, special events etc?

Yeah, you just need to call them and confirm they have the right e-mail on file.

I will contact them when the fuss dies down.

as I cant go their is no urgency.

I have told them before, that I dont get any regular updates, they say all the right things but nothing ever changes.

trust me the IT system in Ulster is crap.

As a word of advise dont send them Credit Card details over the phone. In my opinion they dont exhibit the skill set to be trusted with having the required security.

This is an area we need to total transform in the near future.

Really annoyed that this is on a Sunday - surely would be a more interesting game than Leinster Cardiff???? maybe Im biased but I would have thought this was the tie of the round.

On the positive side for Ulster the atmosphere will be some what diluted by a Sunday morning kick off.

Tickets will not go on public sale that you can be sure of.

I regarding this being the biggest tie but who knows what sky were thinking. I would have preferred the night game

BlueMuff wrote:On the positive side for Ulster the atmosphere will be some what diluted by a Sunday morning kick off.

I really want Ulster to get any little advantage we can, but I also really want to experience the full majesty of Thomond Park on a Heineken Cup matchday. It's been one of the grounds on my bucket list for ages. This is literally too good an opportunity to miss.

Given the date thats in it and Munsters propensity for coming back from the dead in Europe I'm not sure it's an advantage anyway!

Awful time for a game for those that are going and those that will be trying to see it (while the Easter family gatherings take place for example).

Yeah I can't imagine it will be great for the pubs DOD.

Notch wrote:

BlueMuff wrote:On the positive side for Ulster the atmosphere will be some what diluted by a Sunday morning kick off.

I really want Ulster to get any little advantage we can, but I also really want to experience the full majesty of Thomond Park on a Heineken Cup matchday. It's been one of the grounds on my bucket list for ages. This is literally too good an opportunity to miss.

Given the date thats in it and Munsters propensity for coming back from the dead in Europe I'm not sure it's an advantage anyway!

Ah you will definitely get a great TP experience Sunday or no Sunday. Munster folk are funny creatures and may go out of their way to create an atmosphere to spite the ERC. Plus the huge travelling Ulster support will add to the occasion. The Sat night in Limerick will be a belter

Good, hopefully come down and take in the Leinster game in Limerick.

Notch wrote:Good, hopefully come down and take in the Leinster game in Limerick.

That wont be any fun as they will more than likely win

Wow, so hold on, I might not get a ticket just because I'm not wealthy enough to be a ST holder? Even though i havn't missed a match on tv (or streamed) for the past two years. On the few occassions I have been lucky enough to be at ravenhill, I'm normally surrounded by ignorant bafoons who arnt even watching and over hearing conversations by people naming the wrong players, or not knowing who some of the players even are.

Is there a limit of tickets per season ticket holder? Or are they allowed to buy tickets for their mates? I actually feel a little ill at this...

1 Ticket for each ST holder is the first priority
then 1 ticket for each Supporters club member (who isn't a ST holder) - seeing as this only cost 10 pounds or so really no excuse.
STicket holders may well be allowed to buy a 2nd ticket before they go on general sale - I don't think this has been decided yet

Clive,

Any teams first loyalty is to people who contribute to the team.

As dedicated a fan as you are, your watching TV isn't something that Ulster will be aware of.

Why should someone who pays money and goes to every Ulster match lose out because others have cherry picked this game as the one they want to attend this year.

red_stag wrote:Clive,

Any teams first loyalty is to people who contribute to the team.

As dedicated a fan as you are, your watching TV isn't something that Ulster will be aware of.

Why should someone who pays money and goes to every Ulster match lose out because others have cherry picked this game as the one they want to attend this year.

Got to side with Stag here. Was chatting to a season ticket holder today who was on the phone to Ulster this morning. From what he was saying its unlikely the tickets will reach general sale.

Seems to be the consensus willy. Likely the season ticket holders will get second dibs and if so I will definitely be taking up the option of buying a 2nd one.

Clive
As harsh as this is the priority has to be to make sure ulster fans get the tickets. If they go on general sale there is a fair chance some munster fans will get the ulster allocation. As Geoff said the URSC membership is only a tenner.

red_stag wrote:Clive,

Any teams first loyalty is to people who contribute to the team.

As dedicated a fan as you are, your watching TV isn't something that Ulster will be aware of.

Why should someone who pays money and goes to every Ulster match lose out because others have cherry picked this game as the one they want to attend this year.

Totally agree stag, STH and URSC members should get priority. No question.

However I'm sure Ulster get some money TV from BBCNI for showing the matches?

It's wrong to say that unless you are a STC you are not contributing to the team, for instance buying jerseys and merchandise is contributing is it not?

WillyGilly wrote:

red_stag wrote:Clive,

Any teams first loyalty is to people who contribute to the team.

As dedicated a fan as you are, your watching TV isn't something that Ulster will be aware of.

Why should someone who pays money and goes to every Ulster match lose out because others have cherry picked this game as the one they want to attend this year.

Got to side with Stag here. Was chatting to a season ticket holder today who was on the phone to Ulster this morning. From what he was saying its unlikely the tickets will reach general sale.

Thats the unfortunate thing about away games- not everyone who wants to go is going to get to. I think this is the best possible way of making sure the tickets get to the big fans, I remember in 1999 people who'd been to every game in that run missing out on tickets for the Final to guys who took an interest from the semi on!

It's just very unlucky for those who live to far away to go to every game, but then you can get through the URSC as well so thats the catch-all to make sure fans everywhere get first dibs.

Agreed.

I have to say Clive, and no harm to you, but if you got a ticket and I didn't (missed 2 home games in 8 years) I would be absolutely livid.

ST are first in the queue and rightly so.
If they take up all the tickets - thats just to bad.

At the moment if you want to secure a ticket join the supporters club at the start of the year - its cheap.

Obviously if our ST's increase this avenue will close and all tickets will be ST's only

geoff998rugby wrote:Agreed.

I have to say Clive, and no harm to you, but if you got a ticket and I didn't (missed 2 home games in 8 years) I would be absolutely livid.

Here here!!

geoff998rugby wrote:Obviously if our ST's increase this avenue will close and all tickets will be ST's only

Don't want to go off on a tangent but if the URSC avenue closed and only ST holders had the opportunity to buy tickets then that would be a very poor and regressive move by Ulster branch.

Ulster are supposed to represent the entire province and not just the greater belfast area. By insisting on playing the majority of home games on a Friday night they are already isolating a lot of supporters.

If Ravenhill was in Letterkenny Geoff do you think you would would be at every home game? Would you still be a season ticket holder?

It's easy to sit and take the moral high ground against someone like Clive and make comments about cherrypicking games but the effort and financial cost for him to attend 'home' games, I would guess, is a lot greater than it is for Belfast based fans, many of whom, I doubt would be keen to make the same effort if the scenario was reversed.

Munster at least play some games in Cork and have season tickets for both venues.

Rodders

That not what Geoff is saying though. We will only have 6000 maximum tickets for this game and ulster need to make sureness go to ulster fans. How can they do that efficiently? ST holders like it or not provide the most financial backing to the club so they must be rewarded. The URSC should swell as well on the back of this. If, and it is still and if, the ST holders get two tickets each then surely guys would know someone. I know personally that I wouldn't give an extra ticket to someone who doesnt follow the team.

It is a difficult one but in the end the club are always going to reward those supporters who put money into the club.

If the home ground was at Letterkenny I would not be a Season ticket holder but then again I would not expect to get priority on away tickets.

When I retire (5 years away) I may well live in Ardglass full time.
I will still be a ST holder though - either driving up or staying in a hotel after having a few drinks.

It is difficult, especially with work but to be honest (no cowpat), if I lived in say Ballymena I would use, 5.5 days of my annual leave (based on last years fixtures), to take every Friday afternoon off, so that I could get to all the Friday night matches.

Would still leave me the rest of my leave for other matters.

It seems ulster did ask the erc to move the game from Easter Sunday but this was refused and it. Seems Leinster got the Saturday evening slot as they will be playing in e bigger stadium.

geoff998rugby wrote:It is a difficult one but in the end the club are always going to reward those supporters who put money into the club.

If the home ground was at Letterkenny I would not be a Season ticket holder but then again I would not expect to get priority on away tickets.

Thats the point I am trying to make. Thats how I feel but if the club make it financially unviable for a large proportion of those they are supposed to represent to buy season tickets by insisting on playing most games on a Friday, then it is unfair to remove any avenue for non-season ticket holders to buy tickets for the big games.

I'm not complaining but some of the comments aimed at Clive are unfair I think.

geoff998rugby wrote:
If the home ground was at Letterkenny I would not be a Season ticket holder but then again I would not expect to get priority on away tickets.

That sums it up for me.

But Rodders by playing on Saturday they would be denying other supporters the chance to go and recent history suggests that more people go, for whatever reason, to Friday evenings than go to Saturday afternoon.

People can make compromises, as I have said I will do when I retire.
What about my idea of taking Friday afternoon off as annual leave?
That would be possible for most working people.

For the Friday games that I have attended Geoff I have taken annual leave. That is the only way I can attend.

But I am not going to feel guilty or feel that I am not a supporter because I am not willing to buy a season ticket or take annual leave and stay in a hotel to watch every home game.

Like I say if the situation was reversed and Ravenhill was in Letterkenny I'd imagine a lot of the Belfast supporters would start 'cherrypicking' games too.

Do I expect to get priority tickets? No. But I am dissappointed that after travelling to Ravenhill to cheer the side on in the home group games that now there is no avenue to follow the team for the remainder of the campaign. Yes there is the URSC but as you say if the STCs increase in future then that avenue will close.