Английская Википедия:2017–18 Ulster Rugby season
Шаблон:Use dmy dates Шаблон:Use Irish English Шаблон:Infobox rugby club season
The 2017–18 season was Ulster's 24th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and Jono Gibbes' only season as head coach. Rory Best was captain. They competed in the inaugural Pro14 (successor competition to the Pro12) and the European Rugby Champions Cup.
Events
Personnel changes
After the departure of Neil Doak, Jono Gibbes joined Ulster as head coach,[1] with Dwayne Peel joining him as assistant coach,[2] replacing Allen Clarke, who had left to join the coaching staff at Ospreys.[3] Aaron Dundon joined as scrum coach,[4] with Niall Malone remaining as skills coach.
Out-half Paddy Jackson and centre Stuart Olding were charged with rape and suspended from playing pending trial[5] (both would be acquitted, but have their contracts revoked).[6] Australian out-half Christian Lealiifano was signed on a five-month loan to cover.[7] Rory Best was restored to the captaincy.[8] The IRFU had blocked South African scrum-half Ruan Pienaar extending his contract as part of their restrictions on foreign players,[9] and he left for Montpellier. John Cooney was signed from Connacht to replace him.[10] Other new arrivals were two South Africans, prop Schalk van der Merwe, signed from the Southern Kings, and loose forward Jean Deysel, signed from the Sharks. Back row forward Roger Wilson retired, lock Conor Joyce and centre Mark Best moved to Jersey Reds, hooker Johnny Murphy went to Rotherham Titans, and lock John Donnan, flankers Lorcan Dow and Stephen Mullholand, and prop Ricky Lutton were released.
Players joining the academy this year were out-half Michael Lowry and centre James Hume, from RBAI's three-time Schools' Cup-winning team; prop Tom O'Toole from Campbell College; lock/back row Matthew Dalton, from BRA, hooker Alexander Clarke (son of former Ulster hooker and assistant coach Allen Clarke), from Ballymena Academy; flanker Joe Dunleavy, from City of Derry R.F.C.; lock John McCusker, from Rainey Old Boys R.F.C.; lock Jack Regan; flanker Greg Jones and prop Eric O'Sullivan.[11] Wing Robert Baloucoune and scrum-half Graham Curtis joined later in the season.[12]
Season
After a poor run of form, with eighteen tries conceded in four matches over the Christmas period,[13] Director of Rugby Les Kiss left in January, with Gibbes assuming all coaching responsibility of the team for the remainder of the season.[14] Ulster finished third in Pool 1 of the Champions Cup, failing to qualify for the knockout stage. They finished fourth of seven in Conference B of the Pro14, failing to qualify for the playoffs, and having to beat Ospreys in a playoff to qualify for next season's Champions Cup. Gibbes cut short his contract at the end of the season.[15] Former Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll described the province as "a bit of a basket case", facing "Administration issues, senior players retiring, the well documented court case, now no number 10 to build the team around, no coach next year, struggling for Champions Cup rugby next season."[16]
Academy flanker Nick Timoney had a breakthrough season, making twenty appearances and scoring five tries. John Cooney was Ulster's leading scorer with 225 points; he was the Pro14's top scorer with 175 points, and made the Pro14 Dream Team. Wing Craig Gilroy was the team's leading try scorer with eleven. Lock Alan O'Connor was leading tackler with 226.[17] John Cooney was Ulster's Player of the Year.
This was fullback Charles Piutau's last season with Ulster: he moved to Bristol Bears at the end of the season. Wings Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble and flanker Chris Henry retired. Centre Jared Payne also retired as a player, and was appointed defence coach.
Staff
| Position | Name | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Chief executive officer | Shane Logan | Шаблон:Flag |
| Director of Rugby | Les Kiss | Шаблон:Flag |
| Operations director | Bryn Cunningham | Шаблон:Flag |
| Head coach | Jono Gibbes | Шаблон:Flag |
| Assistant coach | Dwayne Peel | Шаблон:Flag |
| Scrum Coach | Aaron Dundon | Шаблон:Flag |
| Skills Coach | Niall Malone | Шаблон:Flag |
| Head of Strength & Conditioning | Jonny Davis | Шаблон:Flag |
| Strength & conditioning coach | Kevin Geary | Шаблон:Flag |
Squad
Senior squad
Players In
- Шаблон:Flagicon John Cooney from Шаблон:Flagicon Connacht[18]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Jean Deysel from Шаблон:Flagicon Sharks[19]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Christian Lealiifano from Шаблон:Flagicon Brumbies[20]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Schalk van der Merwe from Шаблон:Flagicon Southern Kings[21]
Promoted from academy
- Шаблон:Flagicon David Busby[22]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Aaron Cairns[22]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Ross Kane[22]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Rob Lyttle[22]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Tommy O'Hagan[22]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Jack Owens[22]
Players Out
- Шаблон:Flagicon Mark Best to Шаблон:Flagicon Jersey Reds[23]
- Шаблон:Flagicon John Donnan released
- Шаблон:Flagicon Lorcan Dow released
- Шаблон:Flagicon Conor Joyce to Шаблон:Flagicon Jersey Reds[24]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Christian Lealiifano to Шаблон:Flagicon Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi
- Шаблон:Flagicon Angus Lloyd to Munster[25]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Ricky Lutton released
- Шаблон:Flagicon Stephen Mulholland released
- Шаблон:Flagicon Jonny Murphy to Шаблон:Flagicon Rotherham Titans[26]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Ruan Pienaar to Шаблон:Flagicon Montpellier[27]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Johnny Simpson released
- Шаблон:Flagicon Franco van der Merwe to Cardiff Blues[28]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Roger Wilson retired[29]
| Ulster Rugby squad[30] | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Props
Hookers
Locks
|
Back row
Scrum-halves
Fly-halves
|
Centres
Wings
Fullbacks
|
| (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.[31][32]Шаблон:Notelist |
- Internationally capped players in bold
- Players qualified to play for Шаблон:Nrut on dual nationality or residency grounds*
- Irish Provinces are currently limited to four non-Irish eligible (NIE) players and one non-Irish qualified player (NIQ or "Project Player").[33]
Academy squad
Players in
- Шаблон:Flagicon Michael Lowry from Шаблон:Flagicon RBAI[11]
- Шаблон:Flagicon James Hume from Шаблон:Flagicon RBAI[11]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Tom O'Toole from Шаблон:Flagicon Campbell College[11]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Eric O'Sullivan from Шаблон:Flagicon Dublin University[11]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Robert Baloucoune from Шаблон:Flagicon Portora Royal School/Enniskillen RFC[12]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Greg Jones from Шаблон:Flagicon University College Dublin R.F.C.[11]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Matthew Dalton, from Шаблон:Flagicon BRA[11]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Jack Regan from Шаблон:Flagicon University College Dublin R.F.C.[11]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Graham Curtis from Шаблон:Flagicon Hilton College[12]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Alexander Clarke from Шаблон:Flagicon Ballymena Academy[11]
- Шаблон:Flagicon Joe Dunleavy from Шаблон:Flagicon City of Derry R.F.C.[11]
- Шаблон:Flagicon John McCusker from Шаблон:Flagicon Rainey Old Boys R.F.C.[11]
Players out
- Шаблон:Flagicon Michael Lagan
- Шаблон:Flagicon Craig Trenier
- Шаблон:Flagicon Alex Thompson
- Шаблон:Flagicon Conall Boomer
- Шаблон:Flagicon Andy McGrath
| Position[34] | Name | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Kieran Campbell | Шаблон:Flag |
| Strength & conditioning coach | Matthew Maguire | Шаблон:Flag |
| Strength & conditioning coach | Matthew Godfrey | Шаблон:Flag |
| Strength & conditioning coach | Amy Davis | Шаблон:Flag |
| Representative Team Performance Manager | Michael Black | Шаблон:Flag |
| Talent Development Officer | Jonny Gillespie | Шаблон:Flag |
| Elite Player Development Officer/Head Coach Ulster 'A' | Alex Codling | Шаблон:Flag |
| Elite Player Development Officer | James Topping | Шаблон:Flag |
| Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach | David Drake | Шаблон:Flag |
| Ulster Rugby Academy squad[35] | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Props
Hookers
Locks
|
Back row
Scrum-halves
Fly-halves
|
Centres
Wings Fullbacks
|
| (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players, number in brackets indicates players stage in the three-year academy cycle. * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality. Players and their allocated positions from the Ulster Rugby website.[36]Шаблон:Notelist |
Ulster 'A'
The following players, other than players from the senior squad and academy, appeared for Ulster 'A' this season.
| Players used by Ulster 'A' | |
|---|---|
|
Props
Back row
|
Scrum-halves
Centres
Wings |
European Rugby Champions Cup
Шаблон:2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 1 table
Pro14
Шаблон:Main Шаблон:2017–18 Pro14 league table Шаблон:Rugbybox collapsible2
Play-off for the 7th Champions Cup place
The South African teams cannot compete in the European Rugby Champions Cup. The top three eligible teams in each conference automatically qualify for following year's Champions Cup. The fourth ranked eligible team in each conference meet in a play-off match with the winner taking the seventh Champions Cup place.
Ulster had home advantage against Ospreys by virtue of finishing with the greater number of points accumulated during the PRO14 regular league (62, as opposed to Ospreys’ 44). The match was played on Sunday 20 May, at the Kingspan Stadium.[37]
End of season awards
John Cooney was the competition's top scorer with 175 points, and was named at scrum-half on the Pro14 Dream Team.[38]
Friendlies
Ulster A
British and Irish Cup
Pool 5
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Шаблон:Flagicon Ulster A (Q) | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 143 | 111 | 32 | 3 | 0 | 23 | ||
| Шаблон:Flagicon Cornish Pirates (Q) | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 162 | 86 | 76 | 3 | 0 | 19 | ||
| Шаблон:Flagicon Scarlets Premiership Select | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 107 | 158 | -51 | 1 | 1 | 10 | ||
| Шаблон:Flagicon Hartpury College | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 124 | 180 | -56 | 2 | 2 | 8 | ||
| Source: Updated: 3 February 2018 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 | ||||||||||||
Quarter-final
Home attendance
| Domestic League | European Cup | Total | |||||||||
| League | Fixtures | Average Attendance | Highest | Lowest | League | Fixtures | Average Attendance | Highest | Lowest | Total Attendance | Average Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 Pro14 | 12* | 14,026 | 17,631 | 7,014 | 2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup | 3 | 15,314 | 15,646 | 15,004 | 214,247 | 14,283 |
Ulster Rugby Awards
The Heineken Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held at the La Mon Hotel and Country Club, Castlereagh, on 10 May 2018. Winners were:[39]
- Ulster Player of the Year: John Cooney (nominees: Nick Timoney, Stuart McCloskey)
- Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: Paul Marshall
- Young Player of the Year: Nick Timoney (nominees: Matty Rea, Johnny McPhillips)
- Rugby Writers Player of the Year: John Cooney (nominees: Jacob Stockdale, Nick Timoney)
- Ulster Rugby Supporters Club Player of the Year: John Cooney (nominees: Rory Best, Jacob Stockdale)
- Academy Player of the Year: Nick Timoney (nominees: Tom O'Toole, Angus Curtis)
- Ulster A Player of the Year: Tom O'Toole (nominees: Clive Ross, Matthew Agnew)
- Community Rugby Champions: Patrick Baird, Malone RFC; Noel Brown, Cooke RFC (nominees: Clem Bassett, Ballynahinch RFC; Liam Foley, Bangor RFC)
- Referee of the Year: Chris Busby
- Women's Player of the Year: Larissa Muldoon, Railway Union RFC (nominees: Beth Cregan, Cooke RFC; Brittany Hogan, Cooke RFC)
- U18 Girls Player of the Year: Bethany McDowell, Malone RFC (nominees: Kelly McCormill, Monaghan RFC; Lucinda Kinghan, Monaghan RFC)
- Youth Player of the Year: Conor McMenamin, Letterkenny RFC (nominees: Seif Eldin Abd El Gawad, Carrickfergus RFC; Charlie Clarke, Rainey Old Boys R.F.C.)
- Schools' Player of the Year: Aaron Sexton, Bangor Grammar School (nominees: John McKee, Campbell College; Nathan Doak, Wallace High School)
- Dorrington B Faulkner Award: Mark Orr
- Club Player of the Year: Matthew Agnew, Ballymena RFC (nominees: Andrew Morrison, Banbridge RFC; Peter Cromie, Banbridge RFC)
- Club of the Year: City of Armagh RFC (nominees: Malone RFC, Grosvenor RFC)
- Special Recognition Award: Norman Pollock
Season reviews
- Ulster Rugby: Who did what 2017-18, The Front Row Union, 25 June 2018
References
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ "Clarke leaving Ulster", EPCR, 20 March 2017
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ "IRFU Suspend Paddy Jackson & Stuart Olding After Being Charged By The PSNI", Pundit Arena, 25 July 2017
- ↑ "Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding's contracts revoked", BBC News, 14 April 2018
- ↑ Beth Newman, "Lealiifano on loan to Ulster", Rugby Xplorer, 22 August 2017
- ↑ "Rory Best confirmed as Ulster captain for 2017/18 season", Belfast Telegraph, 29 August 2017
- ↑ Tom Hamilton, "IRFU rules force Springboks star Ruan Pienaar to leave Ulster", ESPN, 31 August 2016
- ↑ "Ulster Sign John Cooney From Connacht", The Runner Sports, 16 January 2017
- ↑ 11,00 11,01 11,02 11,03 11,04 11,05 11,06 11,07 11,08 11,09 11,10 Michael Sadlier, "Ulster recruit school stars for Academy fast-tracking", Belfast Telegraph, 29 July 2017
- ↑ 12,0 12,1 12,2 Gareth Fullerton, "Ulster Rugby Academy names 19-man squad for new season", Belfast Live, 25 July 2018
- ↑ Ulster Rugby: Who did what 2017-18, The Front Row Union, 25 June 2018
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ "La Rochelle confirm former Ulster head coach Jono Gibbes will become Director of Rugby on four-season deal", Irish Independent, 4 June 2018
- ↑ "Brian O'Driscoll: Ulster a 'basket case' at the moment", BBC Sport, 23 April 2018
- ↑ "Ulster Rugby: Who did what 2017-18", The Front Row Union, 25 June 2018
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ 22,0 22,1 22,2 22,3 22,4 22,5 "Ulster Announce Academy Squad For 2017/18", Irish Rugby, 28 July 2017
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ Adam McKendry, "Franco van der Merwe to leave Ulster", Belfast Live, 19 January 2017
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ Johnny Morton, "Ulster Rugby confirm their 46-man squad for the 2017/18 season", Belfast Live, 5 July 2017
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ "Academy Management", Ulster Rugby, archived 27 October 2017
- ↑ "Academy Squad", Ulster Rugby, archived 2 November 2017
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ "Cooney scoops three awards at Heineken Ulster Rugby Awards Dinner", Ulster Rugby, 10 May 2018
