2011–12 Ulster Rugby season

2011–12 Ulster Rugby season

Darren Cave in the 2012 Heineken Cup final
Ground(s)	Ravenhill Stadium (Capacity: 12,500)
Coach(es)	David Humphreys (Director of Rugby) Brian McLaughlin (Head Coach)
Captain(s)	Johann Muller
Top scorer	Ian Humphreys (168)
Most tries	Andrew Trimble (6) Craig Gilroy (6)
League(s)	Heineken Cup (finalists) Pro12 (6th)
1st kit 2nd kit
← 2010–11 2012–13 →

The 2011–12 Ulster Rugby season was Ulster's 18th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and their third under head coach Brian McLaughlin. They competed in the Heineken Cup and the inaugural Pro12, successor competition to the Celtic League.

They finished sixth in the Pro12, and qualified for next season's Champions Cup as the third highest placed Irish team. Scrum-half Ruan Pienaar, lock Dan Tuohy and prop BJ Botha made the Pro12 Dream Team. They finished second in their pool in the Heineken Cup, beat Edinburgh in the semi-final, and lost to Leinster in the final. Out-half Ian Humphreys was Ulster's top scorer with 168 points. Wings Andrew Trimble and Craig Gilroy were joint top try scorers with six each. Flanker Chris Henry was Player of the Year. Craig Gilroy won the IRUPA Try of the Year award.

Brian McLaughlin, who was coaching Ulster while on sabbatical from his regular job as a teacher at Royal Belfast Academical Institution, stood to lose his teaching position and pension if he extended his contract with Ulster any further, and as head coach risked losing his job at any time. Director of rugby David Humphreys decided to offer him the security of a full-time position coaching the academy, and to replace him as head coach with Mark Anscombe.

Staff

Position	Name	Nationality
Chief Executive Officer	Shane Logan	Ireland
Director of Rugby	David Humphreys	Ireland
Head coach	Brian McLaughlin	Ireland
Assistant coach (backs)	Neil Doak	Ireland
Defence coach	Jonny Bell	Ireland
Head of strength and conditioning	Jonny Davis	Ireland
Team doctor	David Irwin	Ireland
Team physiotherapist	Gareth Robinson	Ireland
Physiotherapist	Alan McAldin	Ireland
Performance analyst	Alex McCloy	Ireland
Team manager	David Millar	Ireland
Team administration co-ordinator	Sarah Sherry	Ireland
Resource Manager	Mick Ennis	Australia

Squad

Senior squad

Players in (Season 2011/2012)

• John Afoa from Auckland Blues
• Callum Black from Worcester
• Mike McComish from Connacht
• Jared Payne from Auckland Blues
• Lewis Stevenson from Harlequins
• Stefan Terblanche from Sharks (On 3 Month Deal)

Promoted from academy

• Niall Annett
• Paddy Jackson
• Luke Marshall
• James McKinney

Players out (Season 2011/2012)

• T. J. Anderson to Connacht
• BJ Botha to Munster Rugby
• Ryan Caldwell to Bath
• Paul Emerick to Wasps
• Mark McCrea to Connacht
• Niall O'Connor to Connacht
• Tommy Seymour to Glasgow Warriors
• Jamie Smith to Newport Gwent Dragons
• Bryan Young to Cavalieri

Ulster Rugby squad
Props Tom Court (21 apps, 18 starts, 15 pts) John Afoa (17 apps, 17 starts, 5 pts) Paddy McAllister (21 apps, 9 starts) Declan Fitzpatrick (11 apps, 9 starts) Jerry Cronin (7 apps, 6 starts) Callum Black (9 apps, 2 starts) Adam Macklin (21 apps, 1 start, 5 pts) Hookers Rory Best (13 apps, 13 starts, 5 pts) Nigel Brady (9 apps, 5 starts) Andi Kyriacou (5 apps, 3 starts) Niall Annett (2 apps) Locks Dan Tuohy (28 apps, 27 starts, 15 pts) Lewis Stevenson (25 apps, 13 starts) Johann Muller (c) (18 apps, 18 starts, 5 pts) Tim Barker (9 apps, 3 starts) Neil McComb (5 apps, 2 starts) Iain Henderson (2 apps, 1 start, 5 pts)	Back row Pedrie Wannenburg (25 apps, 25 starts, 20 pts) Chris Henry (24 apps, 24 starts, 10 pts) Willie Faloon (21 apps, 14 starts) Robbie Diack* (21 apps, 10 starts, 15 pts) Stephen Ferris (9 apps, 8 starts, 15 pts) Mike McComish (8 apps, 4 starts) Ali Birch (5 apps, 1 start) Conor Joyce (1 app) Scrum-halves Ruan Pienaar (19 apps, 17 starts, 167 pts) Paul Marshall (24 apps, 16 starts, 20 pts) Ian Porter (5 apps) Fly-halves Ian Humphreys (26 apps, 22 starts, 155 pts) Paddy Jackson (14 apps, 7 starts, 43 pts) James McKinney (2 apps, 1 start, 10 pts)	Centres Darren Cave (21 apps, 20 starts, 25 pts) Nevin Spence (18 apps, 17 starts) Ian Whitten (20 apps, 14 starts, 5 pts) Paddy Wallace (15 apps, 14 starts, 15 pts) Luke Marshall (7 apps, 2 starts, 5 pts) Chris Farrell (2 apps, 1 start) Michael Allen (1 app, 1 start) Stuart Olding (1 app) Wings Craig Gilroy (29 apps, 27 starts, 30 pts) Andrew Trimble (17 apps, 17 starts, 30 pts) Simon Danielli (7 apps, 5 starts) Chris Cochrane (3 apps, 2 starts, 10 pts) Conor Gaston (2 apps, 1 start) Fullbacks Stefan Terblanche (17 apps, 15 starts, 15 pts) Adam D'Arcy* (26 apps, 13 starts, 15 pts) Jared Payne (3 apps, 3 starts) Peter Nelson (2 apps, 1 start) Ricky Andrew (1 app)
(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. Italics denotes academy players who appeared in the senior team. * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality. Players and their allocated positions from the Ulster Rugby website.

Academy squad

Players in

• Stuart Olding
• Chris Farrell
• Jonny Murphy
• Peter Nelson
• Ryan Jablonski
• David O'Mahony
• James Simpson
• Neil Faloon
• Conor Joyce
• Sean O'Connell

Players out

• Niall Annett to Worcester Warriors
• Dominic Gallagher
• Stephen Lecky
• James McKinney

Position	Name	Nationality
High Performance Manager	Gary Longwell	Ireland
Elite Player Development Officer	Jonny Bell	Ireland
Elite Player Development Officer	Niall Malone	Ireland
Strength & Conditioning Coach	Chris Shiells	Ireland
Strength & Conditioning Coach	Kevin Geary	Ireland

Academy squad
Props Ryan Jablonski (Instonians) (1) Conor Carey (Ballymena) (2) Kyle McCall (Ballynahinch) (2) Hookers Jonny Murphy (Banbridge) (1) John Burns (Ballymena) (3) Locks Iain Henderson (QUB) (2) David O'Mahony (TBA) (1) James Simpson (Ballynahinch) (1)	Back row Ali Birch (Dungannon) (2) Neil Faloon (Armagh) (1) Conor Joyce (Malone) (1) David McGuigan (QUB) (2) Sean O'Connell (Instonians) (1) Scrum-halves Blane McIlroy (Ballymena) (2) Michael Heaney (3) Fly-halves Stuart Olding (Belfast Harlequins) (1)	Centres Chris Farrell (Dungannon) (1) Wings Michael Allen (Belfast Harlequins) (3) Chris Cochrane (Dungannon) (5) Conor Gaston (Dungannon) (3) Fullbacks Ricky Andrew (Ballymena) (3) Peter Nelson (Dungannon) (1)

Heineken Cup

Main article: 2011–12 Heineken Cup

Pool 4

Team	P	W	D	L	Tries for	Tries against	Try diff	Points for	Points against	Points diff	TB	LB	Pts
Clermont Auvergne [5]	6	4	0	2	26	5	+21	215	69	+146	2	2	20
Ulster [8]	6	4	0	2	16	8	+8	158	87	+71	3	1	20
Leicester Tigers	6	4	0	2	13	8	+5	123	117	+6	1	0	17
Aironi	6	0	0	6	4	38	−34	51	274	−223	0	0	0

12 November 2011 15:40

Ulster	16 – 11	Clermont Auvergne
Try: Humphreys 69' c Con: Humphreys (1/1) Pen: Humphreys (3/4) 12', 40', 50'	Report Highlights Full game	Try: Nakaitaci 5' m Pen: Skrela (2/2) 17', 38'

Ravenhill, Belfast Attendance: 9,385 Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

19 November 2011 18:00

Leicester Tigers	20 – 9	Ulster
Try: Smith 66' m Pen: Flood (5/6) 7', 16', 22', 45', 80'	Report	Pen: Humphreys (3/4) 2', 10', 19'

Welford Road, Leicester Attendance: 21,473 Referee: Romain Poite (France)

9 December 2011 19:30

Ulster	31 – 10	Aironi
Try: Ferris 16' c D'Arcy 40' m Trimble 42' m Marshall 56' c Jackson 68' c Con: Humphreys (3/5)	Report	Try: D'Apice 78' c Con: Olivier (1/1) Pen: Tebaldi (1/3) 20'

Ravenhill, Belfast Attendance: 7,494 Referee: Andrew Small (England)

17 December 2011 14:30

Aironi	20 – 46	Ulster
Try: Sinoti 56' c Quartaroli 60' m Biagi 74' m Con: Orquera (1/1) Pen: Orquera (1/1) 17'	Report	Try: Trimble 5' c penalty try 22' c Court 37' c Gilroy 69' c Diack 77' c Macklin 80' m Con: Humphreys (3/3) Pienaar (2/3) Pen: Humphreys (2/2) 15', 33'

Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Greg Garner (England)

13 January 2012 20:00

Ulster	41 – 7	Leicester Tigers
Try: Trimble (2) 5' c, 39' m Gilroy 69' c P. Marshall 72' c Con: Pienaar (3/4) Pen: Pienaar (5/5) 11', 32', 53', 56', 63'	Report	Try: Murphy 13' c Con: Twelvetrees (1/1)

Ravenhill, Belfast Attendance: 11,900 Referee: Romain Poite (France)

21 January 2012 16:40

Clermont Auvergne	19 – 15	Ulster
Try: Paulo 62' c Con: Parra (1/1) Pen: Parra (4/4) 14', 21', 48', 73'	Report	Pen: Pienaar (5/7) 17', 32', 45', 56', 70'

Stade Marcel-Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand Attendance: 17,633 Referee: Dave Pearson (England)

Quarter-final

8 April 2012 13:45 IST

Munster	16–22	Ulster
Try: Zebo 34' c Con: O'Gara (1/1) Pen: O'Gara (3/4) 40', 49', 61'	Report	Try: Gilroy 16' c Con: Pienaar (1/1) Pen: Pienaar (4/5) 5', 11', 20', 59' Drop: Humphreys (1/1) 32'

Thomond Park, Limerick Attendance: 26,500 Referee: Romain Poite (France)

Semi-finals

28 April 2012 17:45 IST

Ulster	22–19	Edinburgh
Try: Wannenburg 15' c Con: Pienaar (1/1) Pen: Pienaar (5/5) 5', 38', 58', 63', 75'	Report	Try: Thompson 80' c Con: Laidlaw (1/1) Pen: Laidlaw (4/4) 9', 11', 40', 45'

Aviva Stadium, Dublin Attendance: 45,147 Referee: Romain Poite (France)

Final

Main article: 2012 Heineken Cup Final

19 May 2012 17:00 BST

Leinster	42–14	Ulster
Try: O'Brien 12' c Healy 31' c penalty try 44' c van der Merwe 76' m Cronin 80' c Con: Sexton (3/3) McFadden (1/2) Pen: Sexton (3/4) 51', 67', 73'	Report	Try: Tuohy 60' m Pen: Pienaar (3/3) 7', 40', 49'

Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 81,774 Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Pro12

Main article: 2011–12 Pro12

Pro12 Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Leinster (F)	22	18	1	3	568	326	+242	48	28	5	2	81	Play-off place
2	Ospreys (C)	22	16	1	5	491	337	+154	44	22	2	3	71
3	Munster (SF)	22	14	1	7	489	367	+122	45	27	5	4	67
4	Glasgow Warriors (SF)	22	13	4	5	445	321	+124	34	23	2	3	65
5	Scarlets	22	12	2	8	446	373	+73	43	30	5	5	62
6	Ulster	22	12	0	10	474	424	+50	53	41	5	3	56
7	Cardiff Blues	22	10	0	12	446	460	−14	43	45	5	5	50
8	Connacht	22	7	1	14	321	433	−112	27	36	0	7	37
9	Newport Gwent Dragons	22	7	1	14	370	474	−104	27	41	1	5	36
10	Benetton Treviso	22	7	0	15	419	558	−139	41	57	3	5	36
11	Edinburgh	22	6	1	15	454	588	−134	42	65	2	4	32
12	Aironi	22	4	0	18	289	551	−262	22	54	1	5	22

Updated to match(es) played on 5 May 2012. Source: RaboDirect PRO12
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:

1. number of matches won;
2. the difference between points for and points against;
3. the number of tries scored;
4. the most points scored;
5. the difference between tries for and tries against;
6. the fewest red cards received;
7. the fewest yellow cards received.
   (C) Champions; (F) Lost in the final; (SF) Lost in the semi-finals
   Notes:

2 September 2011 19:05

Ulster	28 – 14	Glasgow Warriors
Try: Cave Henry Marshall Con: Humphreys (2) Pen: Humphreys (3)	Report	Try: Nathan Pen: Weir (3)

Ravenhill, Belfast Attendance: 6,296 Referee: Leighton Hodges

10 September 2011 15:00

(1 BP) Aironi	19 – 25	Ulster
Try: Williams Con: Olivier Pen: Olivier (4)	Report	Try: Gilroy Tuohy Whitten Con: Humphreys (2) Pen: Humphreys (2)

Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Neil Hennessy

16 September 2011 19:05

Ulster	20 – 3	Cardiff Blues
Try: Cave (2) Con: Humphreys (2) Pen: Humphreys Jackson	Report	Pen: Sweeney

Ravenhill, Belfast Attendance: 6,555 Referee: James Jones

25 September 2011 16:30

Ospreys	32 – 14	Ulster
Try: Penalty try Fussell Con: Biggar Morgan Pen: Biggar (6)	Report	Try: Jackson Penalty try Con: Jackson McKinney

Liberty Stadium, Swansea Attendance: 5,590 Referee: Dudley Phillips

30 September 2011 19:05

Newport Gwent Dragons	22 – 9	Ulster
Try: Riley Con: Tovey Pen: Tovey (4)	Report	Pen: Jackson (3)

Rodney Parade, Newport Attendance: 4,554 Referee: Neil Paterson

7 October 2011 19:05

Ulster	12 – 23	Benetton Treviso
Try: Wannenburg (2) Con: Humphreys	Report	Try: Penalty try Burton Con: Burton (2) Pen: Burton (3)

Ravenhill, Belfast Attendance: 7,372 Referee: Stefano Penne

29 October 2011 15:00

Scarlets	24 – 17	Ulster (1 BP)
Try: Trimble Pen: Humphreys (4)	Report	Try: Williams Warren Con: Thomas Pen: Thomas (3) Newton

Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Attendance: 7,075 Referee: Alan Falzone

5 November 2011 17:35

Ulster	22 – 3	Connacht
Try: Gilroy Court Humphreys Con: Humphreys (2) Pen: Humphreys	Report	Pen: Nikora

Ravenhill, Belfast Attendance: 6,887 Referee: John Lacey

25 November 2011 19:35

Glasgow Warriors	17 – 9	Ulster
Try: Nathan Pen: Weir (3) Drop: Weir	Report	Pen: Humphreys (3)

Firhill Stadium, Glasgow Attendance: 3,940 Referee: Stefano Penne

2 December 2011 19:05

Ulster	24 – 17	Scarlets (1 BP)
Try: Ferris (2) Con: Humphreys Pen: Humphreys (4)	Report	Try: Lamont Longi Murphy Con: Jones

Ravenhill, Belfast Attendance: 8,117 Referee: Alain Rolland

26 December 2011 17:30

(1 BP) Leinster	42 – 13	Ulster
Try: Carr Cronin Auva'a Penalty try Madigan Hagan Con: McFadden (6)	Report	Try: Cochrane Con: McKinney Pen: McKinney (2)

RDS Arena, Dublin Attendance: 18,500 Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon

30 December 2011 19:05

(1 BP) Ulster	33 – 17	Munster
Try: Terblanche Afoa Humphreys Pienaar Con: Humphreys (2) Pen: Humphreys (2) Pienaar	Report	Try: O'Dea Murphy Con: Keatley (2) Pen: Keatley

Ravenhill, Belfast Attendance: 11,379 Referee: Alain Rolland

6 January 2012 19:30

Edinburgh	20 – 42	Ulster (1 BP)
Try: De Luca Walker Con: Laidlaw (2) Pen: Laidlaw (2)	Report	Try: Best Tuohy Trimble Cave Con: Pienaar (2) Pen: Humphreys (2) Pienaar (4)

Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Attendance: 3,792 Referee: George Clancy

10 February 2012 19:05

(1 BP) Ulster	30 – 12	Newport Gwent Dragons
Try: Diack Pienaar Gilroy Terblanche Con: Pienaar (2) Pen: Pienaar (2)	Report	Pen: Tovey (4)

Ravenhill, Belfast Attendance: 7,435 Referee: Carlo Damasco

17 February 2012 19:05

Cardiff Blues	21 – 14	Ulster (1 BP)
Try: Parks James Con: Parks Pen: Parks (3)	Report	Try: Diack Pen: Pienaar (3)

Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff Attendance: 9,154 Referee: George Clancy

24 February 2012 19:05

Ulster	15 – 14	Ospreys (1 BP)
Try: Penalty try Wallace Con: Pienaar Pen: Pienaar	Report	Try: Bearman Walker Con: Biggar

Ravenhill, Belfast Attendance: 8,131 Referee: Neil Hennessy

2 March 2012 19:05

(1 BP) Ulster	38 – 16	Edinburgh
Try: Marshall Terblanche D'Arcy Penalty try Cochrane Humphreys Con: Pienaar (4)	Report	Try: S. Visser T. Visser Pen: Godman (2)

Ravenhill, Belfast Attendance: 8,044 Referee: Nigel Owens

24 March 2012 16:15

(1 BP) Benetton Treviso	23 – 27	Ulster
Try: Ceccato Di Bernardo Con: Burton (2) Pen: Burton Drop: Burton	Report	Try: Henry Wallace D'Arcy Con: Pienaar (3) Pen: Pienaar

Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso Attendance: 4,200 Referee: Leighton Hodges

30 March 2012 19:05

(1 BP) Ulster	45 – 7	Aironi
Try: Wallace Penalty try Best Cave Court Wannenburg Con: Pienaar (4) Humphreys (2) Pen: Pienaar	Report	Try: Tibaldi Con: Olivier

Ravenhill, Belfast Attendance: 10,125 Referee: Neil Paterson

14 April 2012 17:15

Connacht	26 – 21	Ulster (1 BP)
Try: Nikora Duffy Tiernan O'Halloran Con: Nikora Pen: Nikora (3)	Report	Try: Marshall Jackson Con: Jackson Pen: Jackson (3)

Galway Sportsgrounds, Galway Attendance: 5,017 Referee: Dudley Phillips

20 April 2012 19:05

Ulster	8 – 16	Leinster
Try: Laughlin Con: Sexton Pen: Sexton Drop: Sexton	Report	Try: Muller Pen: Pienaar

Ravenhill, Belfast Attendance: 10,500 Referee: John Lacey

5 May 2012 19:30

(1 BP) Munster	36 – 8	Ulster
Try: Zebo O'Mahony Sherry Archer O'Donnell Con: Deasy (2) Cusack Pen: Deasy	Report	Try: Henderson Pen: Jackson

Thomond Park, Limerick Attendance: 19,362 Referee: Alain Rolland

End-of-season awards

2011–2012 Dream Team

Pos		Player	Team
SH	9	Ruan Pienaar	Ulster
LL	4	Dan Tuohy	Ulster
TP	3	BJ Botha	Ulster

Ulster Ravens

British and Irish Cup

Main article: 2011–12 British and Irish Cup

Pool C

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TB	LB	Pts
Bedford Blues	5	5	0	0	164	66	98	18	3	0	23
Moseley	5	4	0	1	117	113	4	16	2	0	18
Neath	5	3	0	2	78	76	2	9	0	2	14
London Welsh	5	2	0	3	93	99	-6	14	1	2	11
Ulster Ravens	5	1	0	4	109	128	-19	13	1	2	7
Swansea	5	0	0	5	61	140	-79	7	0	2	2
Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

16 October 2010 14:30

Swansea	12 – 32	Ulster Ravens
	Stats

St Helens Attendance: 1,200

11 December 2010 15:00

Bedford Blues	36 – 22	Ulster Ravens
	Stats

Goldington Road Attendance: 2,105

14 January 2011 19:00

Ulster Ravens	20 – 25	Neath
	Stats

Instonians RFC Attendance: 400

22 January 2011 14:00

London Welsh	29 – 11	Ulster Ravens
	Stats

Old Deer Park Attendance: 785

23 February 2011 14:00

Ulster Ravens	24 – 26	Moseley
	Stats

Ravenhill

Home attendance

Domestic League					European Cup					Total
League	Fixtures	Average Attendance	Highest	Lowest	League	Fixtures	Average Attendance	Highest	Lowest	Total Attendance	Average Attendance
2011–12 Pro12	11	8,258	11,379	6,296	2011–12 Heineken Cup	3	9,593	11,900	7,494	119,620	8,544

Ulster Rugby Awards

The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held at the Culloden Hotel on 10 May 2012. Winners were:

• Ulster Player of the Year: Chris Henry
• Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: Stephen Ferris
• Young Player of the Year: Craig Gilroy
• Supporters Club Player of the Year: Pedrie Wannenburg
• Academy Player of the Year: Chris Farrell
• Most Improved Player of the Year: Paul Marshall
• Dorrington B. Faulkner Award: John Wilson
• Youth Player of the Year: Russell Blair
• Schools Player of the Year: James Harrison
• Club Player of the Year: Richard Lutton
• Club of the Year: Malone RFC