Belfast Telegraph

Ulster Rugby appears to be easing news media ban

- BY PHIL BLANCHE

ULSTER Rugby appears to have eased restrictio­ns on news reporters attending its pre-match press conference­s.

The ban on news outlets was enforced last month after the club sacked stars Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding, who were cleared of rape.

Ulster Rugby blamed the move on the conduct of news reporters at a previous press conference, held in the wake of the players’ acquittal. They restricted two subsequent pre-match press conference­s to sports writers.

The prohibitio­n was criticised by the National Union of Journalist­s, which wrote to the club to complain about what it described as an “unacceptab­le attempt to control media coverage”.

The Press Associatio­n, which was barred from the two press conference­s in April, has been informed it is likely to be permitted to attend today’s media event to preview this weekend’s European Champions Cup playoff game against the Ospreys.

However, the club declined to confirm if restrictio­ns on other news outlets remained.

The Belfast Telegraph contacted the club, but did not receive a response last night.

 ??  ?? Sacked star: Paddy Jackson
Sacked star: Paddy Jackson

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