In the 2005–06 season, Ulster were Celtic League champions for the first time. This was their eleventh season under professionalism, and their second under head coach Mark McCall. They also competed in the Heineken Cup.
In pre-season, Gary Longwell replaced Maurice Field as head of the academy."Longwell set to tackle new challenge", Belfast Telegraph, 8 June 2005 Scrum-half Neil Doak retired as a player and became a High Performance Coach with the academy."Doak announces representative retirement", ESPN, 5 April 2005 Flanker and captain Andy Ward also retired."Andy Ward announces retirement", ESPN, 19 January 2005 New signings included Australian international lock Justin Harrison,"Harrison Unveiled As New Ulster Signing", Irish Rugby, 1 August 2005 and Irish-qualified New Zealand-born scrum-half Isaac Boss."Passion for Ireland leads Boss to sign with Ulster", New Zealand Herald, 18 February 2005 Prop Justin Fitzpatrick returned from Castres Olympique."Fitzpatrick signs three-year deal with Ulster", Irish Examiner, 15 March 2005
Ulster finished top of the table in the Celtic League. Tommy Bowe was the league's top try scorer with ten. David Humphreys was second top points scorer with 229, and second leading marksman with 81 successful goal kicks. Justin Harrison was joint top of the appearances table with 20.Statzone, Pro12 Rugby, retrieved 2 June 2022 In the Heineken Cup, they finished third in Pool 4, failing to qualify for the knockout stage.
Players who made their debuts this season include flanker Stephen Ferris,"Stephen Ferris To Retire From Rugby", Ulster Rugby, 3 June 2014 prop Declan Fitzpatrick,"Caldwell is handed Ulster debut", BBC Sport, 23 August 2005 centre Andrew Trimble,"Topping returns to Ulster line-up", BBC Sport, 16 August 2005 and lock Ryan Caldwell, Andrew Trimble was Ulster's Player of the Year, and IRUPA Newcomer of the Year. Neil Best won the IRUPA Unsung Hero award.Gavin Mairs, "Trimble and Best land IRUPA awards", Belfast Telegraph, 4 May 2006
Staff PositionProfiles - coaching management, Ulster Rugby, archived 19 May 2006 Name Nationality Director of Coaching Mark McCall Assistant coach (forwards) Allen Clarke Assistant coach (defence) Neil Kelly
Squad
Senior squad
Players in
Isaac Boss from Waikato"Celtic League 2005/06: Ulster", Irish Rugby, 2 September 2005 Ryan Caldwell from DungannonGavin Mairs, "Caldwell 'will go all the way'", Belfast Telegraph, 24 August 2005 Justin Fitzpatrick from Castres Olympique Justin Harrison from New South Wales Henry Head from BallymenaGavin Mairs, "Head lands final Ulster berth", Belfast Telegraph, 15 September 2005 Andrew Trimble from BallymenaGavin Mairs, "No fear for Ulster new boy Trimble", Belfast Telegraph, 19 August 2005
Promoted from academy John Andress Stephen FerrisGavin Mairs, "Young gun Ferris in line for Ulster call-up", Belfast Telegraph, 12 October 2005 Oisin Hennessey Lewis Stevenson
Players out Tim Barker to Glasgow"Humph out of Welsh clash", Belfast Telegraph, 8 April 2005 Gary Brown released Neil Doak retired Gary Longwell retired Seamus Mallon to Northampton SaintsChris McCann, "Seamus is in rugby heaven after move to 'Saints'", Derry Journal, 16 September 2005 Ronan McCormack to LeinsterDes Berry, "Whatever happened to the likely lads of '95?", Irish Independent, 27 November 2005 Matt Mustchin to Edinburgh Gavin Pfister releasedGavin Mairs, "No Cup glory for retiring old order", Belfast Telegraph, 2 May 2005 Simon Shawe released Andy Ward retired
Ulster Rugby squadAppearances and scoring stats from ItsRugby.co.ukProps
Simon Best (22 apps, 22 starts, 5 pts) Bryan Young (23 apps, 17 starts) Justin Fitzpatrick (19 apps, 11 starts) Declan Fitzpatrick (4 apps, 2 starts) Rod Moore (1 app) John Andress (no apps)
Hookers
Rory Best (23 apps, 21 starts, 15 pts) Nigel Brady (9 apps, 3 starts) Paul Shields (8 apps, 2 starts)
Locks
Justin Harrison (26 apps, 26 starts, 10 pts) Matt McCullough (23 apps, 23 starts, 10 pts) Rowan Frost* (11 apps, 2 starts) Ryan Caldwell (8 apps, 1 start) Henry Head (1 app)"Head in Ulster training camp call", BBC Sport, 3 August 2005 Lewis Stevenson (no apps)Back row
Roger Wilson (26 apps, 26 starts, 20 pts) Neil Best (25 apps, 24 starts, 30 pts) Neil McMillan (25 apps, 16 starts, 10 pts) Stephen Ferris (17 apps, 11 starts, 5 pts) Campbell Feather (4 apps, 1 start) Oisin Hennessy (no apps)
Scrum-halves
Isaac Boss* (21 apps, 14 starts, 15 pts) Kieran Campbell (19 apps, 12 starts) Reece Spee* (1 app)
Fly-halves
David Humphreys (22 apps, 22 starts, 267 pts) Adam Larkin (7 apps, 3 starts)Centres
Andrew Trimble (22 apps, 22 starts, 42 pts) Kevin Maggs (18 apps, 16 starts, 5 pts) Paul Steinmetz (17 apps, 15 starts, 48 pts) Paddy Wallace (11 apps, 7 starts, 24 pts) Jonny Bell (8 apps, 5 starts) Shane Stewart (no apps)
Wings
Tommy Bowe (23 apps, 23 starts, 55 pts) James Topping (15 apps, 11 starts, 10 pts) Andy Maxwell (12 apps, 11 starts, 45 pts) Tyrone Howe (5 apps, 5 pts)
Fullbacks
Bryn Cunningham (21 apps, 21 starts, 10 pts) Scott Young (no apps) (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
Academy squad
Players in Darren Cave Paul Marshall David Pollock Stuart Philpott Mark Kettyle
Players out Gary Maxwell Thomas Horner Glenn Moore Mark Scott Jamie McGrugan Blair Clements
Academy squadProps John Andress Niall Conlon
Hookers Stuart Philpott (1)
Locks Lewis StevensonBack row Chris Henry Oisin Hennessy David Pollock (1)
Scrum-halves Paul Marshall (1)
Fly-halves Gareth SteensonCentres Darren Cave (1) Stuart Megaw Glen Telford (3)
Wings Paul McKenzie
Fullbacks Mark Kettyle (1)
Season record Competition Played Won Drawn Lost PF PA PD TF TA 2005-06 Heineken Cup 6 3 0 3 126 111 15 15 13 2005-06 Celtic League 20 15 1 4 510 347 163 49 31 Total 26 18 1 7 636 458 178 64 44
2005–06 Heineken Cup
Pool 4 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTBLBPts Biarritz (2)65012410+1418293+894024 Saracens64021213−1128129−11017 Ulster63031513+2126111+152014 Benetton Treviso60061328−15104207−103213
2005-06 Celtic League
TeamPldWDLPFPAPDTFTATry bonusLosing bonusPts1 Ulster201514510347+163 49 31 3 2 752 Leinster 201406545427 +118 59 45 8 2 743 Munster 201208439372 +67 49 42 7 3 664 Cardiff Blues 201109475389 +86 51 38 6 5 635 Edinburgh Gunners 201109418415 +3 48 45 5 3 606 Llanelli Scarlets 201019418402 +16 49 37 3 4 577 Ospreys 201109381409 −28 33 38 1 2 558 Newport Gwent Dragons 207013355456 −101 40 51 2 7 459 Border Reivers 207013386501 −115 39 59 1 7 4410 Connacht 206014325466 −141 28 51 1 4 3711 Glasgow Warriors 205015371439 −68 39 47 2 7 37Due to the uneven number of participating teams, each team had two free weekends and were awarded 4 match points each time.Source: RaboDirect PRO12
Home attendance Domestic LeagueEuropean CupTotal League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance2005–06 Celtic League109,18112,3006,4872005–06 Heineken Cup312,284 12,30012,252128,6659,897
Friendlies
Ulster Rugby Awards
The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held at the Ramada Hotel on 18 May 2006. Winners were:Gavin Mairs, "Justin given a timely boost", Belfast Telegraph, 19 May 2006
Bank of Ireland Ulster Player of the Year: Andrew Trimble Guinness Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: Justin Harrison UTV Young Player of the Year: Stephen Ferris Northern Bank Schools Player of the Year: Stephen Douglas, RBAI Kukri Sportswear Club of the Year: Rainey Old Boys Calor Gas Youth Player of the Year: William Stewart, Ballyclare Dorrington B. Faulkner Award: Ian Beggs, Carrickfergus First Trust Club Player of the Year: Glenn Moore, QUB
References