Ulster Rugby/2017-2018

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Jono Gibbes' only season as head coach of Ulster. Rory Best was captain.

New scrum half John Cooney, signed from Connacht Rugby to replace Ruan Pienaar, excelled, scoring 225 points and being named in the Pro14 team of the year. Craig Gilroy was top try scorer with 11, with Jacob Stockdale not far behind with 10. Alan O'Connor was top tackler with 226, with Nick Timoney on 222 and Stuart McCloskey on 213. Jean Deysel made the most turnovers with 20, with McCloskey on 14 and Iain Henderson on 13. Rory Best (captain), Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale and Kieran Treadwell were called up for Ireland.

Ulster finished fourth of seven in Conference B of the Pro14, failing to qualify for the playoffs, and third of four in their Heineken Cup pool, failing to qualify for the knockout stage and having to beat Ospreys in a playoff to qualify for next season.

Director of Rugby Les Kiss left in January 2018. Gibbes cut short his contract at the end of the season, and Dan McFarland, then Scotland's forwards coach, was hired as his replacement.

Pre-season
After the departure of Neil Doak, Jono Gibbes joined Ulster as head coach, with Dwayne Peel joining him as assistant coach, replacing Allen Clarke. Aaron Dundon joined as scrum coach, with Niall Malone remaining as skills coach.

The IRFU had blocked South African scrum-half Ruan Pienaar extending his contract as part of their restrictions on foreign players, and he left for Montpellier. John Cooney was signed from Connacht Rugby to replace him. Fly-half Paddy Jackson and centre Stuart Olding were charged with rape and suspended from playing pending trial (both were acquitted, but their contracts were revoked). Australian fly-half Christian Lealiifano was signed on a five month loan to cover. Rory Best was restored to the captaincy.


 * Friendly 01/06/2017 Ulster 28-43 Barbarians (full match)
 * Friendly 17/8/16 Ulster 15-26 Wasps (full match)

New signings

 * John Cooney from Connacht Rugby
 * Schalk van der Merwe from Southern Kings
 * Jean Deysel from Sharks
 * Christian Lealiifano from Brumbies (5 month loan)

Promoted from Academy

 * David Busby
 * Aaron Cairns
 * Ross Kane
 * Rob Lyttle
 * Tommy O'Hagan
 * Jack Owens

Transfers

 * Conor Joyce to Jersey Reds
 * Mark Best to Jersey Reds
 * Jonny Murphy to Rotherham Titans
 * Ruan Pienaar to Montpellier

Retired

 * Roger Wilson

Released

 * John Donnan
 * Lorcan Dow
 * Ricky Lutton
 * Stephen Mulholland

Season

 * Pro14 2017-2018: 4th of 7 in Conference B (Played 21, won 12, lost 7, drawn 2)
 * Heineken Cup 2017-2018: 3rd of 4 in Pool 1 (Played 6, won 4, lost 2)
 * Top try scorer: Craig Gilroy (11)
 * Top points scorer: John Cooney (225)
 * Top tackler: Alan O'Connor (226)
 * Most turnovers: Jean Deysel (20)
 * Pro14 team of the year: John Cooney
 * FRU player of the year: John Cooney

Results

 * Pro14 Round 1 01/09/17 Ulster 42-19 Cheetahs (full match, highlights, Pro14 match centre)
 * Debut: John Cooney, Jean Deysel, Christian Leali'ifano


 * Pro14 Round 2 09/09/17 Benetton 14-21 Ulster (full match)
 * Pro14 Round 3 15/09/17 Ulster 27-20 Scarlets (full match)
 * Pro14 Round 4 22/09/17 Ulster 52-25 Dragons (full match, highlights)
 * Pro14 Round 5 30/09/17 Zebre 27-23 Ulster (full match)
 * Debut: Adam McBurney


 * Pro14 Round 6 06/10/17 Ulster 16-8 Connacht (full match, highlights)
 * Heineken Cup Round 1 13/10/17 Ulster 19-9 Wasps (highlights)
 * Heineken Cup Round 2 22/10/17 La Rochelle 41-17 Ulster (highlights)
 * Pro14 Round 7 28/10/17 Ulster 10-25 Leinster (full match)
 * Debut: Aaron Cairns


 * Pro14 Round 8 04/11/17 Southern Kings 36-43 Ulster

Ireland played three autumn internationals against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina between 11 and 25 November. Rory Best (captain), Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale and Kieran Treadwell were called up to the Ireland squad. Best, Henderson and Stockdale started against South Africa and Argentina, with Stockdale scoring one try against South Africa and two against Argentina. Herring came off the bench against South Africa and scored a try. He and McCloskey started against Fiji, with Treadwell on the bench.


 * Pro14 Round 9 24/11/17 Ulster 23-22 Benetton (full match)
 * Debut: Schalk van der Merwe


 * Pro14 Round 10 01/12/17 Dragons 32-32 Ulster (full match)
 * Heineken Cup Round 3 10/12/17 Harlequins 5-17 Ulster
 * Heineken Cup Round 4 15/12/17 Ulster 52-24 Harlequins
 * Pro14 Round 11 23/12/17 Connacht 44-16 Ulster (full match)
 * Pro14 Round 12 01/01/18 Ulster 24-17 Munster (full match)
 * Debut: Greg Jones


 * Pro14 Round 13 06/01/18 Leinster 38-7 Ulster
 * Heineken Cup Round 5 13/01/18 Ulster 20-13 La Rochelle
 * Heineken Cup Round 6 21/01/18 Wasps 26-7 Ulster

Christian Lealiifano's loan deal ended on 22 January and he returned to the Brumbies. A short-term deal for New Zealander Stephen Donald fell through after he was injured playing in Japan.

Director of Rugby Les Kiss left by mutual consent on 31 January.

The 2018 Six Nations tournament ran from 3 February to 17 March. Rory Best (captain), Rob Herring, Iain Henderson and Jacob Stockdale were called up for Ireland. Best and Stockdale started all five matches against France, Italy, Wales Scotland and England, with Stockdale scoring seven tries. Henderson started against France, Italy and England. Ireland won the grand slam.


 * Pro14 Round 14 09/02/18 Ulster 59-10 Southern Kings

On 14 February 2018, academy graduate Nick Timoney signed his first senior contract.


 * Pro14 Round 15 16/02/18 Ulster 16-17 Edinburgh
 * Debut: Johnny Stewart


 * Pro14 Round 16 24/02/18 Scarlets 24-10 Ulster

On 2 March, head coach Jono Gibbes announced he would be leaving at the end of the season.


 * Pro14 Round 17 24/03/18 Cardiff Blues 35-17 Ulster

On 28 March, Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding's rape trial ended with them being acquitted.


 * Pro14 Round 18 06/04/18 Edinburgh 20-32 Ulster (full match)
 * Debut: Tom O'Toole


 * Pro14 Round 19 13/04/18 Ulster 8-0 Ospreys

On 14 April, Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding's contracts were terminated over "other aspects of their behaviour".


 * Pro14 Round 20 21/04/18 Ulster 36-15 Glasgow Warriors
 * Debut: Angus Curtis


 * Pro14 Round 21 28/04/18 Munster 24-24 Ulster
 * Heineken Cup qualifying playoff 20/05/18 Ulster 35-17 Ospreys

Awards
2018 Heineken Ulster Rugby Awards
 * Player of the Year: John Cooney
 * Personality of the Year: Paul Marshall
 * Young Player of the Year: Nick Timoney
 * Rugby Writers Player of the Year: John Cooney
 * Supporters Club Player of the Year: John Cooney
 * Ulster A Player of the Year: Tom O'Toole
 * Academy Player of the Year: Nick Timoney

Links

 * Front Row Union review of the season