The 2007–08 Ulster Rugby season was Ulster's 14th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and their fourth under head coach Mark McCall. They competed in the Heineken Cup and the Celtic League
Steve Williams joined as assistant coach at the beginning of the season,"Ulster Rugby Introduce New Recruits", Irish Rugby, 2 July 2007 replacing Allen Clarke, who had left to become the manager of the IRFU's elite player programme."Clarke set to leave Ulster for IRFU role", Belfast Telegraph, 25 May 2007 After a poor run of results, Mark McCall resigned as head coach in November 2007. Steve Williams took over on an interim basis,"Ulster coach quits", Sky Sports, 13 November 2007 and Matt Williams was appointed as McCall's permanent replacement in December."Ulster confirm Matt Williams as new Head Coach", Irish Examiner, 30 December 2007 Ulster finished bottom of their pool in the Heineken Cup, and second from bottom in the Celtic League. Tommy Bowe was Ulster's Player of the Year, and IRUPA Players' Player of the Year. David Humphreys, who retired at the end of the season, was inducted into the IRUPA Hall of Fame."Tyrone Crystal trophies awarded to Irish stars", Tyrone Herald, 5 May 2008
Staff Position NameManagement profiles, Ulster Rugby, archived 22 December 2022 Nationality Head coach (to 13 Nov 2007) Mark McCall Assistant coach (to 13 November 2007)Caretaker coach (13 Nov-30 Dec 2007) Steve Williams Head coach (from 30 Dec 2007) Matt Williams Assistant coach Neil Kelly Fitness coach Philip Morrow Team physiotherapist Gareth Robinson Fitness coach Jonny Davis Team doctor David Irwin Team Manager David Millar Video analyst Simon McGookin
Squad Senior squad
Players in (Season 2007/2008) Jarlath Carey from Rotherham Titans Simon Danielli from Border Reivers"Ulster sign Reivers' Danielli", Guinness Pro12, 22 February 2007 Carlo Del Fava from Bourgoin Rob Dewey from Edinburgh"SRU losing key player as Dewey joins Ulster", The Scotsman, 23 February 2007 Kieran Hallett from Bedford Blues"Hallett included in Ulster squad", RTÉ Sport, 2 October 2007 Neil Hanna from Rotherham Titans"Hanna set to miss Ulster season", BBC Sport, 10 August 2007 Seamus Mallon from Northampton Saints Matt Miles from Pertemps Bees"Matt has covered the Miles to be in Belfast", News Letter, 22 September 2007 Grant Webb from Toyota Verblitz"Webb signs for Ulster", Irish Examiner, 22 December 2007
Promoted from academy Darren Cave Niall O'Connor David Pollock
Players Out (Season 2007/2008) John Andress to Exeter ChiefsMurray Kinsella, "Munster close in on Irish tighthead Andress ahead of next season", Yahoo! News, 26 January 2016 Sam Harding released Kevin Maggs to Bristol Rugby"Bristol swoop for double signing", BBC Sport, 10 January 2007 Andy Maxwell to Edinburgh"Maxwell signs for Edinburgh", Six Nations Rugby, 6 June 2007 Paul Shields to Northampton Saints"Shields joins Saints", Irish Examiner, 14 March 2007 Lewis Stevenson to Exeter Chiefs"Lewis Stevenson rejoins Exeter from Ulster to reinforce second row", The Guardian, 25 January 2016 Scott Young to Doncaster Knights"Bishop And Young Join Doncaster", Irish Rugby, 26 June 2007
Ulster Rugby squadAppearances and scoring stats from ItsRugby.co.ukProps Justin Fitzpatrick (21 apps, 16 starts) Bryan Young (21 apps, 15 starts) Tom Court (14 apps, 11 starts, 10 pts) Declan Fitzpatrick (12 apps, 6 starts) Simon Best (no apps) Jarlath Carey (no apps) Niall Conlon (no apps)
Hookers Rory Best (19 apps, 17 starts, 5 pts) Nigel Brady (13 apps, 7 starts) Matt Miles (1 app) Stuart Philpott (1 app) Neil Hanna (no apps)
Locks Matt McCullough (22 apps, 19 starts, 15 pts) Justin Harrison (21 apps, 16 starts) Ryan Caldwell (22 apps, 15 starts, 15 pts) Carlo Del Fava (19 apps, 12 starts, 5 pts) Tim Barker (4 apps, 2 starts)Back row Neil Best (19 apps, 14 starts, 5 pts) Kieron Dawson (17 apps, 13 starts, 15 pts) Roger Wilson (15 apps, 10 starts, 10 pts) Stephen Ferris (10 apps, 10 starts) David Pollock (12 apps, 6 starts) Grant Webb (4 apps, 2 starts) Neil McMillan (3 apps, 1 start) Chris Henry (no apps)
Scrum-halves Isaac Boss (20 apps, 17 starts, 20 pts) Paul Marshall (9 apps, 5 starts, 5 pts) Kieran Campbell (10 apps, 3 starts)
Fly-halves Niall O'Connor (16 apps, 10 starts, 61 pts) David Humphreys (6 apps, 3 starts, 27 pts) Kieran Hallett (1 app)Centres Andrew Trimble (18 apps, 18 starts, 20 pts) Paddy Wallace (19 apps, 15 starts, 79 pts) Rob Dewey (14 apps, 9 starts, 5 pts) Paul Steinmetz (8 apps, 7 starts) Seamus Mallon (4 apps, 3 starts) Darren Cave (2 apps, 1 start) Adam Larkin (1 app)
Wings Tommy Bowe (23 apps, 23 starts, 40 pts) Mark Bartholomeusz (19 apps, 15 starts, 5 pts) Simon Danielli (15 apps, 15 starts, 30 pts) Mark McCrea (13 apps, 10 starts) Paul McKenzie (no apps)
Fullbacks Bryn Cunningham (16 apps, 14 starts, 5 pts) Mark Kettyle (no apps) (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 Tommy Seymour James Sandford Ian Porter Chris Cochrane Jamie Smith Ian Whitten Paul Karayiannis Pat Steenkamp Sam McDonald Chris Quinn
Players out Michael Ferguson Phil Coulter Stuart Megaw Richard Fegan Dale Black
Academy squad"Academy Profiles", Ulster Rugby, archived 27 February 2008Props Paul Karayiannis (1) Neil Simpson (2) Pat Steenkamp (1)
Hookers Stephen Douglas (2)
Locks Sam McDonald (1) James Sandford (1)Back row T. J. Anderson (2) Willie Faloon (2) Mark Robinson (2)
Scrum-halves David Drake (2) Ian Porter (1)
Fly-halves noneCentres Ian Whitten (1)
Wings Chris Cochrane (1) Mark McCrea (2) Chris Quinn (1) Tommy Seymour (1)
Fullbacks Owen McMurray (2) Jamie Smith (1)
Season record Competition Played Won Drawn Lost PF PA PD TF TA 2007-08 Heineken Cup 6 1 0 5 102 173 -71 13 24 2007-08 Celtic League 18 6 1 11 278 407 -129 33 41 Total 24 7 1 16 380 580 -200 46 65
Heineken Cup
Pool 2 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTBLBPts Gloucester (3)65012413+11184119+654024 Ospreys (8)6501169+7164102+621021 Bourgoin61051219−7118174−56138 Ulster61051324−11102173−71015
Celtic League
TeamPldWDLPFPAPDTFTATry bonusLosing bonusPts Leinster18131 4428283+14544304361 Cardiff Blues18120 6395315 +8048316256 Munster18101 7330258 +7233262448 Edinburgh18 93 6313285 +2835293348 Glasgow Warriors18101 7340349 −931381346 Llanelli Scarlets18 7011403362 +4145386539 Ospreys18 6111321255 +6624242937 Newport Gwent Dragons18 7110282394−11231441334 Ulster18 6111278407−12933412129 Connacht18 5112214396−18216390224Under 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)Source: RaboDirect PRO12
Home attendance Domestic LeagueEuropean CupTotal League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance2007–08 Celtic League99,66113,1326,5922007–08 Heineken Cup310,335 13,0008,340117,9569,830
Friendlies
Ulster Rugby Awards
The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held on 15 May 2008 at the La Mon House Hotel outside Belfast. Winners were:Richard Mulligan, "Humphreys steals the limelight while Monaghan boy Bowe bows out in style", News Letter, 16 May 2008
Guinness Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: David Humphreys Bank of Ireland Ulster Player of the Year: Tommy Bowe Vodafone Young Ulster Player of the Year: Niall O'Connor Kukri Sportswear Club of the Year: City of Armagh RFC First Trust Club Player of the Year: Ian Porter, QUB Ken Goodall Award for Outstanding Player at the Sports Institute: Ian Whitten, QUB Special Merit Award: Latimer Adair, Ballynahinch RFC Calor Gas Youth Player of the Year: James Simpson, Ballynahinch RFC Northern Bank Schools Player of the Year: Jonny Shiels, Coleraine Academical Institution
References