A FORMER Ulster Rugby president has apologised for allegedly inappropriate comments he made at a club dinner.
Graffin Parke apologised "unreservedly" for any offence caused by his speech at Cooke Rugby Club's annual dinner on Saturday, October 27.
The BBC reported that some of the club's members felt his remarks were sexist.
Mr Parke was president of the Irish Rugby Football Union's (IRFU) Ulster branch throughout the 2017/18 season.
He was invited to be a guest speaker at Saturday's dinner.
The rugby club, based in south Belfast, has men's and women's teams.
It held an emergency meeting on Monday following complaints by some members.
Cooke RFC told the BBC the committee unanimously expressed "disappointment and disapproval of the content of an address by a guest speaker at its annual dinner".
"We have received an apology from the individual concerned and will be writing to him to emphasise that the values of the IRFU equality policy must always be upheld and clearly demonstrated," it said.
Ulster Rugby has launched an investigation into the speech.
"We take these allegations extremely seriously and an examination of the matter is now underway to ensure that our core values of respect, inclusivity and integrity are observed by all," a spokesman said.
Mr Parke told the BBC he apologised "unreservedly for any offence caused by a speech delivered at a recent dinner in Cooke Rugby Club".
"I fully accept that some of the content, delivered as jokes and stories, may have been considered inappropriate by some who attended," he said.
"The comments I made are not in any way a true reflection of my attitudes or beliefs."
