The 2012–13 season was Ulster's 19th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and their first under head coach Mark Anscombe, who replaced Brian McLaughlin, after McLaughlin failed to get his contract re-signed.Mark Anscombe is named as the new Ulster Head Coach They competed in the Pro12 and the European Rugby Champions Cup.
Major signings included number eight Nick Williams from the now defunct Aironi, wing Tommy Bowe returning from his four-year stay at the Ospreys, and flanker Roger Wilson returning after four years with Northampton Saints. Hooker Rob Herring joined from Western Province.
Centre Nevin Spence died, along with his brother Graham and father Noel, in an accident at the family farm in Hillsborough, County Down, on 15 September 2012, where they were overcome by fumes in a slurry tank. Spence's sister was treated in hospital and survived the accident., Irish Independent Retrieved 19 Sept 2020 As a mark of respect for Spence, a minute's silence was observed at many rugby games in Britain and Ireland the following week.Minute's silence for late rugby star, u.tv. Retrieved 16 March 2015. A memorial service was held at Ravenhill Stadium, the home ground of Ulster Rugby, on Sunday 23 September 2012.Ravenhill memorial for Nevin Spence, u.tv. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
Ulster started the season with 13 consecutive wins in all competitions, the longest unbeaten run in their history. They finished top of the table in the Pro12 with 17 wins, and after beating Welsh side Scarlets in the semi-finals 28–17, it was an all- Ireland final between Ulster and Leinster. Leinster were the eventual champions, defeating Anscombe's side 24–18. Scrum-half Ruan Pienaar was the league's second-top scorer with 172 points. Ulster won the Fair Play Award, and Nick Williams was the Players' Player of the Year. Williams and centre Luke Marshall made the Pro12 Dream Team. Andrew Trimble's try against Connacht was Try of the Season. They topped their pool in the Champions Cup with five wins out of six, qualifying for the quarter-finals, where they lost 27–16 to Saracens.
Ruan Pienaar was Ulster's top scorer with 205 points. Andrew Trimble was the top try-scorer with twelve tries, and was named Ulster's Player of the Year. Nick Williams was IRUPA Players' Player of the Year, and Craig Gilroy won the IRUPA Try of the Year award.David Kelly, "Williams nails awards double", Irish Independent, 9 May 2013
Staff Senior team Position Name Nationality Director of Rugby David Humphreys Head coach Mark Anscombe Assistant coach (backs) Neil Doak Assistant coach (defence) Jonny Bell Head of strength and conditioning Jonny Davis Strength and conditioning coach Kevin Geary Team doctor David Irwin Head physiotherapist Gareth Robinson Physiotherapist Alan McAldin Team administration co-ordinator Sarah Sherry Resource manager Mick Ennis Team manager David Millar
Academy Position Name Nationality Elite performance development manager Allen Clarke High performance manager Gary Longwell Academy schools coach Brian McLaughlin Elite player development officer Niall Malone Strength and conditioning coach Chris Shields Strength and conditioning coach David Drake
Squad Senior squad
Players in (Season 2012/2013) Tommy Bowe from Ospreys Sean Doyle from Southern Districts Rob Herring from Western Province"Ulster sign Niall O'Connor and Rob Herring for 2012-13 season", BBC Sport, 18 June 2012 Ricky Lutton from Belfast HarlequinsNiall Crozier, “Crocked Paddy out for season”, ‘’Belfast Telegraph’’, 14 August 2012 Niall O'Connor from Connacht Rugby Neil Walsh (unattached, trial)Paul Fennessey, "We were about to hike up a volcano in Chile... I got an email saying Ulster Rugby want you over", The 42, 23 September 2018, via Internet Archive Nick Williams from Aironi Roger Wilson from Northampton
Promoted from academy Michael Allen Ali Birch Chris Cochrane Michael Heaney Iain HendersonDavid Kelly, "Hot prospect Henderson pens new Ulster deal", Irish Independent, 11 October 2012
Players out (Season 2012/2013) Tim Barker to Rainey Old BoysAdam McKendry, "Tim Barker: I have no regrets, only pride in my wonderful rugby career", Belfast Telegraph, 3 March 2019 Jerry Cronin to Doncaster Knights"Triple boost for Knights", Sky Sports, 15 May 2012 Simon Danielli retiredhttp://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3825_7744586,00.html Willie Faloon to Connacht Rugby Conor Gaston to London Irish"Conor Gaston bids to break into London Irish first team", Berkshire Live, 27 July 2012 Ian Humphreys to London Irish Andi Kyriacou to Cardiff Blues James McKinney to Rotherham Titans"McKinney coup for Titans", Sky Sports, 15 May 2012 Ian Porter one-year sabbatical Nevin Spence deceased Stefan Terblanche retired Pedrie Wannenburg to Castres Ian Whitten to Exeter Chiefs
Ulster Rugby squadAppearances and scoring stats from ItsRugby.co.ukProps Tom Court (28 apps, 22 starts, 10 pts) John Afoa (26 points, 20 starts) Callum Black (28 apps, 9 starts) Declan Fitzpatrick (9 apps, 6 starts) Ricky Lutton (6 apps, 3 starts) Adam Macklin (5 apps, 2 starts) Kyle McCall, Ballynahinch (1 app) Paddy McAllister (no apps)
Hookers Rory Best (17 apps, 16 starts, 5 pts) Rob Herring (21 apps, 10 starts, 5 pts) Nigel Brady (9 apps, 5 starts) Niall Annett (5 apps)
Locks Dan Tuohy (20 apps, 17 starts, 5 pts) Johann Muller (c) (17 apps, 16 starts) Iain Henderson (19 apps, 14 starts, 10 pts) Lewis Stevenson (19 apps, 14 starts) Neil McComb (16 apps, 9 starts, 5 pts) Alan O'Connor (2 apps)Back row Robbie Diack* (23 apps, 20 starts, 30 pts) Nick Williams (23 apps, 20 starts, 35 pt) Chris Henry (18 apps, 18 starts, 5 pts) Mike McComish (20 apps, 10 starts) Roger Wilson (13 apps, 8 starts, 5 pts) Sean Doyle* (4 apps, 3 starts) Stephen Ferris (4 apps, 3 starts) Ali Birch (4 apps, 2 starts, 5 pts) Conor Joyce (1 app, 1 start)
Scrum-halves Ruan Pienaar (21 apps, 20 starts, 202 pts) Paul Marshall (22 apps, 13 starts, 20 pts) Michael Heaney (9 apps, 3 starts)
Fly-halves Paddy Jackson (24 apps, 20 starts, 143 pts) Niall O'Connor (8 apps, 4 starts, 45 pts)Centres Darren Cave (27 apps, 24 starts, 15 pts) Paddy Wallace (15 apps, 13 starts, 5 pts) Michael Allen (18 apps, 12 starts, 10 pts) Luke Marshall (18 apps, 10 starts, 5 pts) Stuart Olding (14 apps, 10 starts, 25 pts) Chris Farrell (1 app, 1 start)
Wings Andrew Trimble (26 apps, 25 starts, 60 pts) Craig Gilroy (20 apps, 13 starts, 10 pts) Tommy Bowe (14 apps, 12 starts, 30 pts) Chris Cochrane (6 apps, 4 starts) Neil Walsh (2 apps, 1 start)
Fullbacks Jared Payne (22 apps, 21 starts, 40 pts) Ricky Andrew, Ballymena (8 apps, 6 starts, 5 pts) Peter Nelson, Dungannon (9 apps, 3 starts, 5 pts) Adam D'Arcy* (4 apps, 2 starts) (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 Alan O'Connor Rory Scholes Jake Caulfield
Players out Ryan Jablonski John Burns David O'Mahony David McGuigan Blane McIlroy
Ulster Rugby Academy squad"Hughes Insurance Ulster Academy Squad 2012-13", Ulster Rugby, archived 10 August 2013Props
Jake Caulfield, Malone (1) Conor Carey, Ballynahinch (3) Kyle McCall, Ballynahinch (3)
Hookers
Jonny Murphy, Ballynahinch (2)
Locks Alan O'Connor, Malone (1) James Simpson, Ballynahinch (2)Back row Neil Faloon, Ballynahinch (2) Conor Joyce, Malone (2) Sean O'Connell, Belfast Harlequins (2)
Scrum-halves Blane McIlroy (3)
Fly-halves Stuart Olding, Belfast Harlequins (2)Centres Chris Farrell, Dungannon (2)
Back three Ricky Andrew, Ballymena (4) Peter Nelson, Dungannon (2) Rory Scholes, Belfast Harlequins (1) 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.
Season record Competition Played Won Drawn Lost PF PA PD TF TA 2012-13 Heineken Cup 7 5 0 2 142 82 60 13 7 2011-12 Pro12 24 18 1 5 623 389 234 65 37 Total 31 23 1 7 765 471 294 78 44
Heineken Cup
Pool 4 TeamPWDLPFPADiffTFTATBLBPts Ulster (6) 6 5 0 1 126 55 +71 12 5 2 1 23 Northampton Saints 6 3 0 3 94 109 −15 9 11 1 2 15 Castres 6 3 0 3 77 98 −21 6 6 0 2 14 Glasgow Warriors 6 1 0 5 70 105 −35 7 12 0 2 6
Quarter–final
Pro12
Semi-final
Final
The final was contested on Saturday, 25 May 2013, between the winners of the two semi-finals.
FB 15 Jared PayneRW 14 Andrew TrimbleOC 13 Darren CaveIC 12 Stuart Olding LW 11 Tommy BoweFH 10 Paddy JacksonSH 9 Ruan PienaarN8 8 Nick WilliamsOF 7 Chris HenryBF 6 Robbie Diack RL 5 Dan TuohyLL 4 Johann Muller (c)TP 3 John AfoaHK 2 Rory BestLP 1 Tom Court Replacements:HK 16 Rob HerringPR 17 Callum Black PR 18 Declan FitzpatrickLK 19 Iain Henderson FL 20 Mike McComishSH 21 Paul MarshallCE 22 Mike Allen FB 23 Peter NelsonCoach: Mark Anscombe FB 15 Isa Nacewa RW 14 Fergus McFaddenOC 13 Brian O'DriscollIC 12 Ian MadiganLW 11 Andrew ConwayFH 10 Johnny SextonSH 9 Isaac BossN8 8 Jamie HeaslipOF 7 Shane JenningsBF 6 Kevin McLaughlinRL 5 Devin Toner LL 4 Leo Cullen (c)TP 3 Mike Ross HK 2 Richardt Strauss LP 1 Cian Healy Replacements:HK 16 Seán Cronin PR 17 Jack McGrath PR 18 Jamie Hagan LK 19 Quinn Roux FL 20 Rhys RuddockSH 21 John CooneyCE 22 Andrew GoodmanWG 23 David KearneyCoach: Josef Schmidt Man of the Match: Shane Jennings (Leinster)
Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland) Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland) Television match official: Dermot Moloney (Ireland)
End-of-season awards AwardWinner Players' Player of the Season: Nick Williams (Ulster) Young Player of the Season: Luke Marshall (Ulster) Fairplay Award: Ulster Try of the Season: Andrew Trimble (Ulster vs Connacht)
2012–2013 Dream Team Pos Player TeamIC 12 Luke Marshall UlsterN8 8 Nick Williams Ulster
Home attendance Domestic LeagueEuropean CupTotal League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance2012–13 Pro121210,37311,0788,1082012–13 Heineken Cup311,12311,45110,940157,84010,523
Friendlies
Ulster Women 2012-13 Women's Interprovincial Series
Team P W D L PF PA BP Pts 1 3 3 0 0 75 25 0 12 2 3 2 0 1 56 35 1 9 3 3 1 0 2 48 65 2 6 4 3 0 0 3 8 62 3 3
Ulster Rugby Awards The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held on 10 May 2013. Winners were:Richard Mullugan, "Nevin Spence honoured at Ulster Rugby awards", News Letter, 11 May 2013
Bank of Ireland Ulster Player of the Year: Andrew Trimble Heineken Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: Nevin Spence BT Sports Young Player of the Year: Iain Henderson Ulster Rugby Supporters Club Player of the Year: Andrew Trimble Abbey Insurance Academy Player of the Year: Stuart Olding Belfast Telegraph Most Improved Player of the Year: Robbie Diack Danske Bank Ulster Schools Player of the Year: Jack Owens, Campbell College
References