2008–09 Ulster Rugby season

2008–09 Ulster Rugby season
	Isaac Boss prepares to feed the scrum vs. Ospreys, Liberty Stadium, 27 September 2008
Ground(s)	Ravenhill Stadium (Capacity: 12,500)
Coach(es)	Matt Williams
Top scorer	Ian Humphreys (90)
Most tries	Darren Cave (7); Simon Danielli (7)
League(s)	Heineken Cup (3rd in pool); Celtic League (8th)
1st kit	2nd kit
← 2007–08	2009–10 →

The 2008–09 Ulster Rugby season was Ulster's 15th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and their only full season under head coach Matt Williams.

David Humphreys, who retired at the end of last season, was appointed to the newly created role of operations director, reporting to chief executive Michael Reid.[1]

Ulster finished third in their Heineken Cup pool, and eighth in the Celtic League. Williams, who had replaced Mark McCall in February 2008, resigned at the end of the season, having finished ahead of Connacht in the Celtic League, guaranteeing qualification for next season's Heineken Cup. Assistant coach Steve Williams also left after his contract was not renewed.[2]

For the following season, Ulster put a new management structure in place. Michael Reid was chief executive; David Humphreys was director of rugby, with overall responsibility for the senior team, the Ulster 'A' team (renamed the Ulster Ravens), the Ulster under-20s and the academy; and Brian McLaughlin was appointed head coach, assisted by forwards coaches Jeremy Davidson and Peter Sharp, and backs coach Neil Doak.[3]

Squad

Ulster Rugby squad
Props BJ Botha Jarlath Carey Tom Court Declan Fitzpatrick Justin Fitzpatrick Daniel Roach Bryan Young Hookers Rory Best (c) Nigel Brady Neil Hanna Stuart Philpott Locks Ryan Caldwell Carlo Del Fava Matt McCullough Ed O'Donoghue	Back row T. J. Anderson Kieron Dawson Robbie Diack* Stephen Ferris Chris Henry David Pollock Scrum-halves Isaac Boss Paul Marshall Cillian Willis Fly-halves Ian Humphreys Niall O'Connor	Centres Darren Cave Rob Dewey Seamus Mallon Paul Steinmetz Andrew Trimble Paddy Wallace Wings Chris Cochrane Simon Danielli Mark McCrea Paul McKenzie Timoci Nagusa Fullbacks Bryn Cunningham Clinton Schifcofske

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. ^* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality. Players and their allocated positions from the Ulster Rugby website.

Player transfers

Players in (Season 2008/2009)

BJ Botha (Natal Sharks)
Robbie Diack (Stormers)
Ian Humphreys (Leicester Tigers)
Ed O'Donoghue (Queensland Reds)
Daniel Roach
Clinton Schifcofske (Queensland Reds)
Cillian Willis (Leinster)
Timoci Nagusa (Tailevu Knights)[4]
T. J. Anderson (promoted from Academy)[5]

Players Out (Season 2008/2009)

Heineken Cup

Pool 4

Team	P	W	D	L	Tries for	Tries against	Try diff	Points for	Points against	Points diff	TB	LB	Pts
Harlequins (3)	6	5	0	1	16	12	4	144	115	29	2	0	22
Stade Français	6	3	0	3	13	11	2	131	109	22	1	2	15
Ulster	6	2	1	3	13	13	0	113	134	−21	0	1	11
Scarlets	6	1	1	4	12	18	−6	124	154	−30	0	2	8

11 October 2008
15:30

Ulster	10 – 26	Stade Français
Tries: P. Wallace 74' c Conv: N. O'Connor (1/1) Pen: N. O'Connor (1) 49'	Report	Tries: G. Bousses 23' c D. Szarzewski 60' c Conv: L. Beauxis (2/2) Pen: L. Beauxis (1) 15' Drop: J. Hernández (2) 10', 26' L. Beauxis (1) 63'

Ravenhill, Belfast
Attendance: 10,397

18 October 2008
15:00

Harlequins	42 – 21	Ulster
Tries: J. Turner-Hall 15' m T. Williams (2) 26' m, 61' m D. Care 33' c Penalty Try 40' c M. Brown 43' c Conv: C. Malone (3/6) Pen: C. Malone (2) 7', 66'	Report	Tries: T. Nagusa 2' c P. Wallace 52' c A. Trimble 57' c Conv: N. O'Connor (3/3)

Twickenham Stoop Stadium, London
Attendance: 12,368

5 December 2008
20:00

Ulster	26 – 16	Scarlets
Tries: D. Cave 25' c S. Danielli 34' m D. Pollock 64' m Conv: I. Humphreys (1/3) Pen: I. Humphreys (3) 7', 40', 59'	Report	Tries: C. Thomas 79' c Conv: S. Jones (1/1) Pen: S. Jones (3) 10', 28', 47'

Ravenhill, Belfast
Attendance: 8,729

12 December 2008
20:00

Scarlets	16 – 16	Ulster
Tries: D. Daniel 46' c Conv: S. Jones (1/1) Pen: S. Jones (3) 20', 53', 78'	Report	Tries: I. Humphreys 23' m P. Wallace 32' m Conv: I. Humphreys (0/2) Pen: I. Humphreys 71' Drop: I. Humphreys 12'

Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Attendance: 8,026

17 January 2009
14:35

Ulster	21 – 10	Harlequins
Tries: D. Cave 1' c R. Best 78' m Conv: I. Humphreys (1/1) C. Schifcofske (0/1) Pen: I. Humphreys (3/3) 8', 29', 39'	Report	Try: Penalty try 60' c Conv: N. Evans (1/1) Pen: N. Evans (1/1) 43' C. Malone (0/1)

Ravenhill, Belfast
Attendance: 8,861

24 January 2009
14:35

Stade Français	24 – 19	Ulster
Tries: J. Leguizamón 54' m M. Gasnier 77' c Conv: L. Beauxis (1/2) Pen: L. Beauxis (4/6) 28', 29', 49', 58'	Report	Tries: P. Steimetz 37' m N. Brady 80' m Conv: N. O'Connor (0/1) C. Schifcofske (0/1) Pen: N. O'Connor (1/3) 15' C. Schifcofske (2/3) 46', 72'

Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris
Attendance: 8,450

Celtic League

	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	Try bonus	Losing bonus	Pts
1	Munster	18	14	0	4	405	257	+148	49	23	6	1	63
2	Edinburgh	18	11	0	7	416	296	+120	40	30	6	5	55
3	Leinster	18	11	1	6	401	270	+131	38	20	4	2	52
4	Ospreys	18	11	0	7	397	319	+78	39	28	3	5	52
5	Scarlets	18	9	0	9	376	395	−19	41	46	3	1	40
6	Cardiff Blues	18	8	1	9	322	361	−39	31	36	2	2	38
7	Glasgow Warriors	18	7	0	11	349	375	−26	36	41	4	5	37
8	Ulster	18	7	0	11	298	331	−33	30	33	2	6	36
9	Newport Gwent Dragons	18	7	0	11	305	429	−124	26	39	1	4	33
10	Connacht	18	4	0	14	224	460	−236	20	54	1	3	20
Under the standard bonus point system, points are awarded as follows: 4 points for a win 2 points for a draw 1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries (or more) (Try bonus) 1 bonus point for losing by 7 points (or fewer) (Losing bonus)
Source: RaboDirect PRO12 Archived 2013-11-22 at the Wayback Machine

5 September 2008
19:30

Ulster	9–16	Scarlets
Pen: Schifcofske (3)	Report	Try: Daniel Con: Jones Pen: Jones (3)

Ravenhill
Attendance: 7,368

12 September 2008
19:05

Cardiff Blues	16–15	Ulster
Try: Halfpenny Con: Blair Pen: Blair (3)	Report	Try: Botha Boss Con: O'Connor Pen: O'Connor

Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 8,619

19 September 2008
19:30

Ulster	14–16	Newport Gwent Dragons
Try: Dawson Humphreys Con: Schifcofske (2)	Report	Try: Smith Con: Arlidge Pen: Arlidge (3)

Ravenhill
Attendance: 7,885

27 September 2008
17:30

Ospreys	43–0	Ulster
Try: Wells Hook (2) Williams Bowe Byrne Jones Con: Hook (5) Pen: Hook	Report

Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 7,225

3 October 2008
19:30

Ulster	13–9	Edinburgh
Try: Pollock Con: Schifcofske Pen: Schifcofske	Report	Pen: Blair (2) Godman

Ravenhill
Attendance: 8,418

25 October 2008
19:30

Ulster	22–6	Munster
Try: Nagusa (2) Boss Con: Humphreys (2) Pen: Humphreys	Report	Pen: Warwick

Ravenhill
Attendance: 10,058

28 November 2008
19:30

Ulster	53–13	Connacht
Try: Ferris Nagusa Danielli (2) McCrea Cave Cunningham Con: Humphreys (6) Pen: Humphreys (2)	Report	Try: Carr Con: Keatley Pen: Keatley (2)

Ravenhill
Attendance: 8,841

27 December 2008
19:30

Ulster	13–21	Leinster
Try: Cave Con: Humphreys Pen: Humphreys (2)	Report	Try: Elsom Keogh Con: Contepomi Pen: Contepomi (3)

Ravenhill
Attendance: 13,500

3 January 2009
19:30

Munster	11–37	Ulster
Try: Howlett Pen: Warwick (2)	Report	Try: Wallace Cave McCrea Court Trimble Con: Humphreys (3) Pen: Humphreys (2)

Thomond Park Stadium
Attendance: 25,623

9 January 2009
19:45

Edinburgh	21–15	Ulster
Try: Southwell Hamilton Con: Godman Pen: Godman (3)	Report	Pen: Humphreys (4) Wallace

Murrayfield
Attendance: 3,393

22 February 2009
16:10

Newport Gwent Dragons	26–16	Ulster
Try: Tovey (3) Con: Tovey Pen: Connor Tovey (2)	Report	Try: Danielli Con: Humphreys Pen: Humphreys Schifcofske (2)

Rodney Parade
Attendance: 6,112

7 March 2009
19:30

Ulster	12–0	Glasgow Warriors
Try: Cave Trimble Con: Humphreys	Report

Ravenhill
Attendance: 8,286

29 March 2009
17:30

Leinster	32–6	Ulster
Try: McFadden Cullen Elsom Keogh Con: Contepomi (3) Pen: Contepomi (2)	Report	Pen: Humphreys Schifcofske

RDS Arena
Attendance: 15,940

3 April 2009
19:35

Ulster	13–16	Ospreys
Try: Danielli Con: Schifcofske Pen: Schifcofske (2)	Report	Try: Tiatia Con: Hook Pen: Hook (3)

Ravenhill
Attendance: 9,600

17 April 2009
19:30

Glasgow Warriors	19–20	Ulster
Try: Evans Con: Gregor Pen: Gregor (2) Parks	Report	Try: Pollock Danielli Con: Schifcofske (2) Pen: Schifcofske (2)

Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,960

24 April 2009
19:30

Ulster	9–11	Cardiff Blues
Pen: Schifcofske O'Connor Drop: O'Connor	Report	Try: Loxton Pen: Sweeney

Ravenhill
Attendance: 7,809

8 May 2009
19:00

Connacht	12–14	Ulster
Try: Carr Browne Con: Keatley	Report	Try: Danielli Pen: Humphreys (2) Schifcofske

Sportsground
Attendance: 1,425

16 May 2009
19:30

Scarlets	43–17	Ulster
Try: Evans Day Williams Daniel Roberts Lyons Con: Priestland (5) Pen: Priestland	Report	Try: Paul Marshall Cave Con: O'Connor Humphreys Drop: O'Connor

Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 6,219

Friendlies

13 November 2008
19:30

Ulster	62–6	Portugal
Try: Cave (4) McCrea (2) Nagusa (2) Hanna Whitten Con: Humphreys (3) O'Connor (3)	Report	Pen: Cabral (2)

Ravenhill

Ulster Rugby Awards

The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held on 14 May 2009 at the Ramada Hotel, Belfast. Winners were:[8]

Magners Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: Stephen Ferris
Magners Rugby Writers Player of the Year: Stephen Ferris
Bank of Ireland Ulster Player of the Year: Rory Best
Vodafone Young Ulster Player of the Year: Darren Cave
Phoenix Academy Player of the Year: Willie Faloon

References

Richard Mulligan, "New role for Humphreys at Ulster", News Letter, 5 June 2008
"Williams quits as Ulster rugby boss", Belfast Telegraph, 21 May 2009
"McLaughlin Confirmed As New Ulster Coach", Irish Rugby, 23 June 2009
"Ulster sign Fijian flyer", Planet Rugby, 30 July 2008
Gavin Mairs, "'It's like having your own personal coach by your side'", Belfast Telegraph, 8 October 2008
"Ulster's Tim Barker reaches deal to join Castres", Irish Independent, 12 November 2007
"Bowe to join Ospreys", Irish Times, 25 January 2008
Richard Mulligan, "Ferris claims top accolade", News Letter, 15 May 2009

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[1] Richard Mulligan, "New role for Humphreys at Ulster", News Letter, 5 June 2008

[2] "Williams quits as Ulster rugby boss", Belfast Telegraph, 21 May 2009

[3] "McLaughlin Confirmed As New Ulster Coach", Irish Rugby, 23 June 2009

[4] "Ulster sign Fijian flyer", Planet Rugby, 30 July 2008

[5] Gavin Mairs, "'It's like having your own personal coach by your side'", Belfast Telegraph, 8 October 2008

[6] "Ulster's Tim Barker reaches deal to join Castres", Irish Independent, 12 November 2007

[7] "Bowe to join Ospreys", Irish Times, 25 January 2008

[8] Richard Mulligan, "Ferris claims top accolade", News Letter, 15 May 2009