The 2004–05 season was Ulster Rugby's tenth under professionalism, and their first under head coach Mark McCall. They competed in the Heineken Cup, the Celtic League and the Celtic Cup.
Former head coach Alan Solomons and forwards coach Adrian Kennedy left at the end of the previous season to join Northampton Saints."Solomons Leaving Ulster", Irish Rugby, 16 February 2004 Backs coach Mark McCall was named as the new head coach,"McCall gets call to coach Ulster", The Irish Times, 23 March 2004 with Allen Clarke as his assistant."Clarke named assistant coach at Ulster", ESPN, 8 April 2004 Maurice Field replaced Clarke as head of the academy.Gavin Mairs, "Sweet 16 move into Ulster academy", Belfast Telegraph, 12 August 2004
In the Celtic League, they finished eighth. Tommy Bowe was the league's second top try scorer with eight.Statzone, Pro12 Rugby, retrieved 2 June 2022 In the Heineken Cup, they finished third in Pool 6, failing to qualify for the knockout stage. They went out of the Celtic Cup in the quarter-finals, losing to Neath-Swansea Ospreys. Neil Best was Ulster's Player of the Year. Kieran Campbell won the IRUPA award for Try of the Year."O'Connor takes top award", Evening Herald, 5 May 2005
Squad Senior squad
Players in Rory Best from Belfast Harlequins Gary Brown from Belfast Harlequins"An Ulster win is now Brown's business", Belfast Telegraph, 15 October 2004 Campbell Feather from Border Reivers"Feather is surprise choice to lead Ulster", RTÉ Sport, 18 November 2004 Declan Fitzpatrick from Belfast Harlequins Andrew Kershaw from Saracens Kevin Maggs from Bath"Ulster sign Kevin Maggs", Irish Examiner, 3 July 2004 Gavin Pfister from Pertemps Bees"Pfister signs for Ulster", BBC Sport, 16 November 2004
Players out Clem Boyd (retired)"Clem Boyd To Retire", Irish Rugby, 4 November 2003 Warren Brosnihan (released) Ryan Constable (retired)"Ulster lose Constable", ESPN, 4 February 2004 Robbi Kempson to NorthamptonGavin Mairs, "McCall's French connection", Belfast Telegraph, 22 April 2004 Andrew Kershaw to Leeds Tykes"Kershaw joins Leeds on loan", ESPN, 24 February 2005 Tony McWhirter (retired)"McWhirter out and Clarke in", Belfast Telegraph, 9 April 2004 Matt Sexton (retired)"Saintly Solomons leaves legacy", BBC Sport, 16 February 2004
Ulster Rugby squad"Profiles - 1st XV", Ulster Rugby, archived 6 March 2005Props Rod Moore (24 apps, 21 starts) Simon Best (20 apps, 19 starts, 5 pts) Ronan McCormack (23 apps, 14 starts, 5 pts) Bryan Young (4 apps) Declan Fitzpatrick Andrew Kershaw Simon Shawe
Hookers Paul Shields (23 apps, 19 starts) Nigel Brady (10 apps, 3 starts) Rory Best (9 apps, 5 starts)
Locks Matt McCullough (26 apps, 25 starts, 5 pts) Gary Longwell (21 apps, 19 starts) Rowan Frost* (23 apps, 9 starts, 5 pts) Matt Mustchin (7 apps, 4 starts) Tim Barker (2 apps)Back row Neil Best (22 apps, 22 starts, 5 pts) Roger Wilson (22 apps, 20 starts, 5 pts) Campbell Feather (26 apps, 17 starts, 15 pts) Andy Ward (c) (17 apps, 13 starts, 5 pts) Gavin Pfister (6 apps, 4 starts) Gary Brown (4 apps, 1 starts) Neil McMillan (1 apps, 1 starts)
Scrum-halves Kieran Campbell (24 apps, 21 starts, 5pts) Neil Doak (14 apps, 6 starts) Reece Spee* (1 app)
Fly-halves David Humphreys (16 apps, 16 starts, 145 pts) Paddy Wallace (12 apps, 6 starts, 24 pts) Adam Larkin (9 apps, 6 starts, 54 pts)Centres Paul Steinmetz (26 apps, 24 starts, 45 pts) Kevin Maggs (21 apps, 21 starts, 15 pts) Jonny Bell (13 apps, 11 starts, 5 pts) Seamus Mallon (3 apps, 1 starts) Shane Stewart
Wings Tommy Bowe (26 apps, 25 starts, 40 pts) Tyrone Howe (17 apps, 15 starts, 15 pts) Andy Maxwell (14 apps, 9 starts, 15 pts) Scott Young (9 apps, 6 starts) James Topping
Fullbacks Bryn Cunningham (26 apps, 25 starts, 25 pts) (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
Academy squad Academy squad"Ulster's academy takes off", BBC Sport, 12 August 2004Staff Joe Miles - chairman Allen Clarke - director Maurice Field - manager Roger Kennedy - strength and conditioning Michael Webb - doctor Phil Glasgow - physiotherapristPlayers Glenn Telford Gareth Steenson Gary Maxwell Niall Conlon John Andress Lewis Stevenson Chris Henry Oisin Hennessy Stephen Ferris Stuart McGaw Thomas Horner Glen Moore Mark Scott Jamie McGrugan Blair Clements Paul McKenzie
Season record Competition Played Won Drawn Lost PF PA PD TF TA 2004-05 Heineken Cup 6 3 0 3 88 139 -51 5 13 2004-05 Celtic League 20 9 0 11 363 387 -24 37 34 2004-05 Celtic Cup 1 0 0 1 16 23 -7 1 2 Total 27 12 0 15 467 549 -82 43 49
2004–05 Heineken Cup
Pool 6 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTBLBPts Stade Français (3)65012091117990893023 Gloucester630314122144128161114 Ulster6303513−888139−510113 Cardiff Blues6105813−598152−54037
2004-05 Celtic League
TeamPldWDLPFPAPDTFTATry bonusLosing bonusPts1 Neath-Swansea Ospreys 201613508267 +241 53 27 7 3 762 Munster 201514470331 +139 54 33 6 1 693 Leinster 201217455350 +105 46 32 4 3 574 Newport Gwent Dragons 201109381436 −55 39 43 4 2 505 Llanelli Scarlets 209011402446 −44 48 42 7 3 466 Glasgow Warriors 208111465466 −1 40 58 4 7 457 Edinburgh 209011409407 +2 47 40 4 4 448 Ulster 209011363387 −24 37 34 2 5 439 Cardiff Blues 208111350404 −54 35 41 2 4 4010 Connacht 207112317407 −90 32 46 2 5 3711 Borders 203017337556 −219 31 66 2 4 18Source: RaboDirect PRO12
Celtic Cup
Quarter-final
Home attendance Domestic LeagueEuropean CupTotal League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance2004–05 Celtic League106,6938,1455,6382004–05 Heineken Cup39,452 11,4357,32095,2837,330
Friendlies
Ulster Rugby Awards
The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held at the Ramada Hotel on 12 May 2005. Winners were:Gavin Mairs, "Bowe bags the top Ulster rugby gong", Belfast Telegraph, 13 May 2005
Bank of Ireland Ulster Player of the Year: Neil Best Guinness Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: Tommy Bowe Club Ulster Supporters Player of the Year: Kieran Campbell Kukri Schools Player of the Year: David Pollock, Royal School Dungannon First Trust Bank Club of the Year: Ballymena RFC Calor Gas Youth Player of the Year: Nigel Newell, Ballynahinch RFC Dorrington B. Faulkner Award: Brian Reid, Coleraine RFC Northern Bank Coach of the Year: Gerald McCarter, City of Derry R.F.C., Ulster U21s Downtown Radio Club/PRO Media Liaison Officer of the Year: Joan Beatty, Enniskillen Belfast Telegraph Club Team of the Year: Ballymena RFC 2nd XV The Botanic Inns Merit Award: Suzanne Flemming
References