Then came an unproven allegation of racial chanting from Newport Gwent Dragons players during the Magners League clash at Ravenhill in February.

No smoke without fire, they said. Much was made of Ulster attracting new sections of society who haven't been versed in the game's traditions. It was as if that was a crime rather than something to be celebrated.

Disregarding the above accusations, any sport that outgrows its traditional support base is always going to have teething problems. That's life. All the Ulster Branch can do is try to encourage new faces attracted to the game to buy into rugby's principles.

But when you cast your eye around the rich diversity in crowds that attended the various stadia in world rugby, it is ludicrous to suggest Ulster has some kind of inherent problem. Those who make those accusations only betray their own prejudice.

The last three weeks have shown the Ulster rugby public up in their best colours during the IRB's Under-19 World Championship - a celebration of multi-culturalism and races.

IRB chairman Syd Millar had predicted Belfast would be the biggest and the best and the city didn't let him down.

The 700-plus visitors from the 24 nations taking part have certainly enriched Northern Ireland in so many ways and we can only hope that that Belfast has left its mark on them.

The teams embraced the city with their legacy visits and so the city embraced them, blessed with the unseasonable fine weather.

A superb crowd of 11,165 turned out on Saturday night to watch the absorbing if one-sided final between New Zealand and South Africa. It was a sensational crowd given that the vast majority were neutrals turning out to show their support for the tournament and catch a glimpse of stars of the future.

It was the fifth big crowd of the tournament and ensured Belfast attracted the biggest overall attendance of any of the previous tournaments.

If the Ulster Branch is to be applauded for their imaginative and value-for-money ticketing policy, an equally big hand must go out to the hundreds of volunteers who have spent the last three weeks making sure the tournament was such a big success.

So too the thousands of supporters who turned out not only at Ravenhill but at Shaw's Bridge, Gibson Park, Deramore Park, Upritchard Park and the Dub.

Friendship and respect were the two buzzwords of the competition. And ultimately superb skill as the champions New Zealand royally entertained the Ravenhill crowd on Saturday.

You had to pinch yourself to remind yourself that these players were under-19s such was their exquisite level of skill, execution and commitment from Kieran Crowley's side.

South Africa looked equipped to really test the Baby Blacks but they were simply blown away on the night.

The afternoon had warmed up with Ireland's highly impressive rout of Scotland to secure ninth place. It was a rousing finish to what was ultimately a disappointing campaign for the hosts, who had a tough draw but simply weren't in the same league as the southern hemisphere trio.

It now seems certain that this will be the last ever Under-19 World Championship, with a new Under-20 tournament to replacement both the existing event and the Under-21 competition.

Belfast will then go down as the last city to host the event. It couldn't have asked or hoped for a better send off.

We hope you enjoyed your stay.