THE Ulster branch has agreed to the appointment of a full-time paid coach for the provincial side next season. Ulster thus become the first Irish province to adopt this policy. The new appointee's primary duties will be to coach the province's senior side but his brief will be wide embracing in relation to the coaching and preparation of all the province's sides. He will carry the title of Director of Coaching.

The selection and administration structure in Ulster has also been altered. A team manager will be appointed for the side with powers rather similar to those now held by the Ireland manager Pat Whelan in relation to the national side. That will however, be an honorary position - as it is with the Ireland team. The selection committee as such has been abandoned but the manager and coach will have three advisers to offer help in team selection and administration.

The Branch is also to appoint an executive committee. That will consist of 14 members whose task will be, effectively, to run the affairs of the branch and implement its policies. The current branch consists of over 50 representatives the officers. club representatives all former presidents and representatives from the schools, headmasters referees, and competitions committee representatives. The full branch committee will in future meet every three months, instead of in every month other than July and August. as is now the case.

The appointment of the new executive committee should certainly streamline administration and is far less unwieldy than the current set-up.

The delayed quarter-final of the Ulster Senior Cup, between the holders Dungannon and Ballymena will now take place on April 20th. This means the semi-finals have been deferred to May 4th and the final to May 11th. City of Derry. Malone and Collegians have all reached the semi-finals.