The 2009–10 Ulster Rugby season was Ulster's 16th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and their first under director of rugby David Humphreys and head coach Brian McLaughlin.
Following the departure of previous head coach Matt Williams, Ulster put a new management structure in place. David Humphreys was director of rugby, with overall responsibility for the senior team, the Ulster 'A' team (renamed the Ulster Ravens), the Ulster under-20s and the academy; and Brian McLaughlin was head coach, assisted by forwards coaches Jeremy Davidson and Peter Sharp, and backs coach Neil Doak."McLaughlin Confirmed As New Ulster Coach", Irish Rugby, 23 June 2009 However, Ulster couldn't afford to retain Sharp, and he left in September 2009.Brendan Fanning, "McLaughlin bringing fresh ideas to Ulster grind school", Irish Independent, 6 September 2009
Chief Executive Michael Reid announced he was stepping down in September 2009 after twelve years in the job."Reid’s Ulster rugby reign was rollercoaster ride", Belfast Telegraph, 4 September 2009 Shane Logan was appointed as his replacement in early 2010.Inquiry into Participation in Sport and Physical Activity in Northern Ireland — Ulster Rugby, Northern Ireland Assembly, 18 March 2010
They finished second in their Heineken Cup pool, failing to qualify for the knockout stage, and 8th in the Celtic League. Chris Henry was Ulster's Player of the Year. Andrew Trimble won the IRUPA award for Try of the Year."Bowe Voted Irish Players' Player Of The Year", Irish Rugby, 12 May 2010, archived 16 May 2010
Staff Position Name Nationality Chief Executive Officer Michael Reid, Shane Logan Director of Rugby David Humphreys Head coach Brian McLaughlin Forwards Coach Jeremy Davidson Defence Coach Peter Sharp Skills Coach Neil Doak
Squad Senior squad
Players in (Season 2009/2010) Ali Birch from DungannonNiall Crozier, "Birch can rise right to the top", Belfast Telegraph, 16 October 2009 Tamaiti Horua from Western Force"Ulster sign back row Tamaiti Horua", Belfast Telegraph, 30 March 2009 Andi Kyriacou from Saracens"Ulster snap up hooker Kyriacou", Evening Herald, 23 April 2009 Dan Tuohy from Exeter ChiefsRichard Mulligan, "New signings given an early opportunity", News Letter, 19 August 2009
Promoted from academy Willie Faloon Ian Whitten
Players Out (Season 2009/2010) Jarlath Carey released"Province-by-province guide", Irish Independent, 3 September 2009 Kieron Dawson retired Carlo Del Fava to Rugby Viadana Rob Dewey to Glasgow Warriors"Scotland star Rob Dewey agrees switch to Glasgow Warriors", Daily Record, 16 March 2009 Neil Hanna released Seamus Mallon released Paul McKenzie to Exeter Chiefs"McKenzie moves to Exeter Chiefs", BBC Sport, 5 November 2008 Filo Paulo to North Harbour"Complaint over alleged racist slur at New Zealand-born Samoan rugby test lock Filo Paulo", Stuff.co.nz, 9 March 2020 Stuart Philpott released Daniel Roach released Paul Steinmetz retired
Ulster Rugby squadAppearances and scoring stats from ItsRugby.co.ukProps Tom Court (18 apps, 17 starts, 5 pts) BJ Botha (22 apps, 11 starts, 5 pts) Bryan Young (19 apps, 6 starts) Declan Fitzpatrick (17 apps, 4 starts) Justin Fitzpatrick (1 app)
Hookers
Nigel Brady (19 apps, 10 starts, 5 pts) Andi Kyriacou (20 apps, 8 starts, 5 pts) Rory Best (c) (6 apps, 6 starts)
Locks Ed O'Donoghue (23 apps, 20 starts) Dan Tuohy (20 apps, 17 starts, 10 pts) Ryan Caldwell (17 apps, 11 starts) Neil McComb (4 apps, 1 start) Matt McCullough (no apps)Back row Chris Henry (18 apps, 17 starts, 5 pts) Willie Faloon (17 apps, 15 starts, 10 pts) Stephen Ferris (14 apps, 14 starts, 15 pts) Robbie Diack* (16 apps, 10 starts) David Pollock (10 apps, 9 starts) T. J. Anderson (12 apps, 3 starts) Tamaiti Horua (4 apps, 1 start) Ali Birch (1 app)
Scrum-halves Isaac Boss (23 apps, 20 starts, 10 pts) Paul Marshall (12 apps, 4 starts, 5 pts) Cillian Willis (4 apps)
Fly-halves Ian Humphreys (21 apps, 18 starts, 190 pts) Niall O'Connor (12 apps, 6 starts, 64 pts)Centres
Darren Cave (22 apps, 21 starts, 15 pts) Paddy Wallace (16 apps, 14 starts, 15 pts) Ian Whitten (16 apps, 12 starts, 15 pts) Nevin Spence (3 apps, 1 start) Jonny Shiels (2 apps)
Wings
Andrew Trimble (21 apps, 19 starts, 25 pts) Simon Danielli (22 apps, 18 starts, 45 pts) Timoci Nagusa (17 apps, 13 starts, 20 pts) Mark McCrea (1 app)
Fullbacks Clinton Schifcofske (11 apps, 11 starts, 5 pts) Jamie Smith (10 apps, 10 starts, 15 pts) Bryn Cunningham (1 app, 1 start) (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 Luke Marshall Niall Annett Michael Allen John Burns Sean Dougall Paul Pritchard Neil McComb James McKinney Conor Gaston Michael Heaney
Players out Paul Karayiannis Stephen Douglas David McGregor David Drake
Position"Academy Coaches", Ulster Rugby, archived 7 August 2014 Name Nationality High Performance Director Gary Longwell Elite Player Development Officer Jonny Bell Elite Player Development Officer Niall Malone Strength & Conditioning Coach Chris Shiells Strength & Conditioning Coach Kevin Geary
Academy squadNiall Crozier, "It is all academic for Ulster's young hopefuls", Belfast Telegraph, 20 November 2009Props Adam Macklin (2) Paddy McAllister (2)
Hookers Niall Annett (1) John Burns (1)
Locks Neil McComb (1) James Sandford (3)Back row Sean Dougall (1) Paul Pritchard (1)
Scrum-halves Michael Heaney (1) Ian Porter (3)
Fly-halves James McKinney (1)Centres Luke Marshall (1) Jonny Shiels (2) Nevin Spence (2)
Wings Michael Allen (1) Chris Cochrane (3) Conor Gaston (1) Tommy Seymour (3)
Fullbacks Ricky Andrew (2) Jamie Smith (3)
Ulster Ravens/friendly squad Players, other than members of the senior or academy quad, who appeared for the Ulster Ravens or in friendlies.
Academy squadNiall Crozier, "It is all academic for Ulster's young hopefuls", Belfast Telegraph, 20 November 2009Props Alan Whitten
Hookers Ryan Fisher Paul Karayannis David McGregor
Locks Andrew Linton Neville MageeBack row Stephen Dougall Scott LaValla Stuart McKenzie Chris Napier
Scrum-halves
Fly-halves Michael PyperBack three Craig Gilroy David McIlwaine
Season record Competition Played Won Drawn Lost PF PA PD TF TA 2009-10 Heineken Cup 6 4 0 2 127 94 33 6 5 2009-10 Celtic League 18 7 1 10 357 370 -13 39 35 Total 24 11 1 12 484 464 20 45 40
Heineken Cup
Pool 4 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTBLBPts Stade Français (6)6402117412495291118 Ulster6402116512794330117 Edinburgh6303310−76494−300113 Bath610568−284116−32037
Celtic League
TeamPldWDLPFPAPDTFTATry bonusLosing bonusPts1 Leinster 18 13 0 5 359 295 +64 27 29 1 2 552 Ospreys 18 11 1 6 384 298 +86 37 26 3 3 523 Glasgow Warriors 18 11 2 5 390 321 +69 31 24 2 1 514 Munster 18 9 0 9 319 282 +37 33 20 3 6 455 Cardiff Blues 18 10 0 8 349 315 +34 33 28 2 2 446 Edinburgh 18 8 0 10 385 391 −6 40 40 4 5 417 Newport Gwent Dragons 18 8 1 9 333 378 −45 32 37 3 2 398 Ulster 18 7 1 10 357 370 −13 39 35 4 2 369 Scarlets 18 5 0 13 361 382 −21 35 35 1 8 2910 Connacht 18 5 1 12 254 459 −205 20 53 0 4 26Under the standard bonus point system, points are awarded as follows: 4 points for a win 2 points for a draw 1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries (or more) (Try bonus) 1 bonus point for losing by 7 points (or fewer) (Losing bonus)Green background (rows 1 to 4) are play-off places.Source: RaboDirect PRO12
Home attendance Domestic LeagueEuropean CupTotal League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance2009–10 Celtic League98,86311,8007,3342009–10 Heineken Cup310,509 11,0008,262109,9479,162
Ulster Ravens British and Irish Cup
Pool C TeamPWDLPFPAPDTFTBLBPts Ulster Ravens 5 4 1 0 165 62 103 22 3 0 21 London Welsh 5 4 0 1 137 78 59 18 3 1 20 Bedford Blues 5 3 0 2 92 94 -2 11 1 0 13 Aberavon 5 2 0 3 51 131 -80 4 0 1 9 Llanelli 5 1 1 3 106 117 -11 11 1 1 8 Moseley 5 0 0 5 69 138 -69 10 1 0 1 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
Semi-final
Friendlies
Ulster Rugby Awards The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held on 20 May 2010. Winners were:Richard Mulligan, "Henry hat-trick caps super year", News Letter, 21 May 2010
Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: Chris Henry Rugby Writers Player of the Year: Chris Henry Supporters Club Player of the Year: Chris Henry Ulster Player of the Year: Andrew Trimble Young Ulster Player of the Year: Jamie Smith Youth Player of the Year: Jonny Murphy, Banbridge RFC Schools Player of the Year: Charlie Simpson, Ballymena Academy Academy Player of the Year: Nevin Spence Club of the Year: Ballymoney RFC Dorrington B. Faulker Award: Hal Burnison, Malone RFC Club Player of the Year: Mark Robinson, Queen's University RFC Special Merit Award: Joe Eagleson, Honorary Secretary of the IRFU Ulster Branch
References