Ulster Rugby/2019-2020

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In Dan McFarlane's second season as head coach, Ulster finished second in Conference A of the Pro14, qualifying for the playoffs.They beat Edinburgh Rugby in the semi-finals, but lost to Leinster Rugby in the final. In the Heineken Cup, they finished second in Pool3, qualifying for the knockout stages, but lost to Stade Toulousain in the quarter-finals.

Squad

 * Loosehead prop: Jack McGrath, Eric O'Sullivan, Andrew Warwick, Kyle McCall
 * Hooker: Rob Herring, Adam McBurney, John Andrew
 * Tighthead prop: Marty Moore, Tom O'Toole, Ross Kane
 * Locks: Alan O'Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Iain Henderson, Sam Carter, David O'Connor, Jack Regan
 * Blindside flanker: Matty Rea, Sean Reidy, Nick Timoney, Clive Ross
 * Openside flanker: Jordi Murphy, Sean Reidy, Nick Timoney, Clive Ross, Greg Jones
 * Number 8: Marcell Coetzee, Greg Jones, Nick Timoney
 * Scrum-half: John Cooney, Dave Shanahan, Alby Matthewson, Johnny Stewart
 * Out-half: Billy Burns, Bill Johnston, Ian Madigan, Angus Curtis, Michael Lowry
 * Left wing: Jacob Stockdale, Louis Ludik, Rob Lyttle, Craig Gilroy, Angus Kernohan, Matt Faddes
 * Inside centre: Stuart McCloskey, James Hume, Angus Curtis, Luke Marshall, Azur Allison, Stewart Moore
 * Outside centre: Luke Marshall, James Hume, Matt Faddes, Stewart Moore
 * Right wing: Robert Baloucoune, Craig Gilroy, Rob Lyttle, Louis Ludik, Matt Faddes
 * Fullback: Will Addison, Jacob Stockdale, Matt Faddes, Michael Lowry, Louis Ludik, Rob Lyttle, Ethan McIlroy

Pre-season
After the retirement of Rory Best, Iain Henderson was named the new team captain.


 * Friendly 7/9/19 Ulster 50-19 Glasgow Warriors (full match)
 * Friendly 14/9/19 Glasgow Warriors 36-33 Ulster (full match)

New signings

 * Sam Carter from Brumbies
 * Gareth Milasinovich from Worcester Warriors
 * Jack McGrath from Leinster Rugby
 * Matt Faddes from Highlanders
 * Bill Johnston from Munster Rugby
 * David O'Connor from Lansdowne

Promoted from Academy

 * Michael Lowry
 * Eric O'Sullivan
 * James Hume
 * Robert Baloucoune
 * Angus Kernohan
 * Zack McCall
 * Marcus Rea

Transfers

 * Alex Thompson to Jersey Reds
 * Caleb Montgomery to Worcester Warriors
 * David Busby to Seattle Seawolves
 * Johnny McPhillips to Leicester Tigers

Retired

 * Darren Cave
 * Rory Best

Released

 * Peter Nelson
 * Jack Owens

Season

 * Ireland call-ups:
 * Autumn Internationals 2019: Will Addison, Rory Best, John Cooney, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Jordi Murphy, Jacob Stockdale
 * Six Nations 2020: Will Addison, Billy Burns, John Cooney, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Stuart McCloskey, Jack McGrath, Tom O'Toole, Jacob Stockdale

Results

 * Pro14 Round 1 27/9/19 Ulster 38-14 Ospreys (stats)
 * Debut: Sam Carter, Matt Faddes, Jack McGrath


 * Pro14 Round 2 5/10/19 Cheetahs 63-26 Ulster (stats)
 * Debut: Bill Johnston


 * Pro14 Round 3 12/10/19 Southern Kings 17-42 Ulster (stats)
 * Pro14 Round 4 25/10/19 Ulster 23-14 Cardiff Blues (stats)
 * Pro14 Round 5 1/11/19 Ulster 22-7 Zebre (stats)
 * Pro14 Round 6 9/11/19 Munster 22-16 Ulster (stats)
 * Heineken Cup Round 1 16/11/19 Bath 16-17 Ulster (stats, full match)
 * Heineken Cup Round 2 22/11/19 Ulster 18-13 Clermont (stats, full match)
 * Pro14 Round 7 29/11/19 Ulster 29-5 Scarlets (stats)
 * Debut: David O'Connor


 * Heineken Cup Round 3 7/12/19 Ulster 25-24 Harlequins (stats, full match)
 * Heineken Cup Round 4 13/12/19 Harlequins 10-34 Ulster (stats, full match)
 * Pro14 Round 8 20/12/19 Leinster 54-42 Ulster (stats)
 * Debut: Azur Allison, Ethan McIlroy, Stewart Moore


 * Pro14 Round 9 27/12/19 Ulster 35-3 Connacht (stats)
 * Pro14 Round 10 3/1/20 Ulster 38-17 Munster (stats)
 * Heineken Cup Round 5 11/1/20 Clermont 29-13 Ulster (stats)
 * Heineken Cup Round 6 18/1/20 Ulster 22-15 Bath (stats)
 * Pro14 Round 11 15/2/20 Ospreys 26-24 Ulster (stats)
 * Pro14 Round 12 22/2/20 Ulster 20-10 Cheetahs (stats, full match)
 * Pro14 Round 13, Bennetton -v- Ulster (cancelled)

The rest of the season was delayed due to the Covid 19 pandemic.


 * Pro14 Round 14 23/8/20 Connacht 26-20 Ulster (stats)
 * Debut: Ian Madigan, Alby Mathewson


 * Pro14 Round 15 29/8/20 Ulster 10-28 Leinster (stats)
 * Pro14 Semi-Final 5/9/20 Edinburgh 19 Ulster 22 (stats)
 * Pro14 Final 12/9/20 Leinster 27-5 Ulster (stats)


 * Heineken Cup Quarter-Final 20/9/20 Toulouse 36-8 Ulster (stats)


 * Pro14 2019-2020: runners-up
 * Team of the year: John Cooney, Stuart McCloskey


 * Heineken Cup 2019-2020: quarter-finalists

Awards

 * Ulster Rugby Awards
 * Personality of the Year: Marcell Coetzee
 * Player of the Year: John Cooney
 * Rugby Writers Player of the Year: Marcell Coetzee
 * Supporters Club Player of the Year: Marcell Coetzee
 * Young Player of the Year: Tom O'Toole
 * Ulster A Player of the Year: Ethan McIlroy
 * Academy Player of the Year: David McCann
 * Women's Player of the Year: Kathryn Dane


 * FRU player of the year: Marcell Coetzee


 * Top try scorer: John Cooney (10)
 * Top points scorer: John Cooney (184)
 * Top tackler: Sean Reidy (270, 93%)
 * Most turnovers: Marcell Coetzee (19)

Links

 * Front Row Union review of the season