The ‘Lions Legends’ will demonstrate how their experience of playing at the highest level of international rugby has helped to develop a range of business skills in the areas of global sports event management, media management, international business, sport and reconciliation and the art of motivation.   The masterclass will look at how rugby is a great tool for developing key skills like leadership, communication and teamwork, and how these qualities are transferable to other aspects of life.

One of the most recent Ulster Lions, Stephen Ferris, who toured South Africa in 2009 said, “Communication, team work, trust and communication have always been important parts of rugby but on a Lion’s tour the importance of each of these is much more significant.  You only have a matter of weeks to come together with players from each of the home nations to form a team capable of beating one of the best sides in world rugby.

“The ‘leadership though sport’ master class will give a good insight into the importance of these skills in all areas of life, and how the rugby pitch is the perfect place to develop them.”

Guests at the master class will learn how many of Ulster’s Lions Legends have put the skills they learnt during their time in the sport to good use in their careers after rugby.

One such example is Trevor Ringland.  A Lion’s tourist in 1983, he is now a solicitor where many of the skills developed during his rugby career have been invaluable in his daily work life.

Mr Ringland said; “The skills that I developed on the rugby pitch have been extremely useful to me in my profession.  Knowing how to work as part of a team, striving towards a common goal and recognising that each person on the team has their own part to play are important in nearly all areas of life, and essential ingredients to a successful business.”

Lion Legend, Willie John McBride, who toured with the Lions five times earning him 17 Lion Test caps and renowned for captaining the 1974 tour, said “Sport is no doubt one of the best places to develop as a person. Being on the pitch and captaining the Lions is where I learnt about teamwork, trust, communication, and leadership.

Speakers

Jack Kyle - Mend and Make Do
Jack will apply the lessons learnt from accepting the frugal resources of post war international rugby and applying those principles to running a hospital in Africa. Jack's presentation will be talk focused.

Syd Millar - Managing a Global Sports Event (Rugby World Cup)
Syd will explain to the audience the process of nominating a World Cup host, addressing revenue streams, sponsorship control, image rights, revenue allocation etc. It is anticipated that this will be an IRB produced power point.

Dick Milliken - From High Veldt to High Finance
Dick will take the audience through his UK and international business experience with Bank of Ireland and Almac. Dick's talk will be talked based with some multi media input. 
 
Trevor Ringland – Sport and reconciliation
Trevor will talk on how sport can be used as a tool to create trust across diverse interest groups. Trevor will use multi media support. 
 
Tyrone Howe - Media Management
Tyrone will use examples from the rugby playing fields to demonstrate to the business community how to and how not to use media to promote corporate objectives. Tyrone will be talk based. 
 
Willie John McBride - From changing room to Board room - The art of motivation
Willie will highlight to the audience the key points to consider when seeking to motivate a diverse group of individuals to achieve a singular goal. This will be a talk based discussion culminating with a play back of Willie's pre 1st test match speech to the 2001 British & Irish Lions.

Venue: Riddel Hall, Queen's University Management School
Admission: Free of charge
Company: Queen's University Management School and Sport Northern Ireland
Contact: Name Gareth Quinn
Telephone: 07766548755
Email: garethquinn@mbaassociation.ie
Website: http://www.eventelephant.com/businesstosportmasterclass