2017–18 Ulster Rugby season

The 2017–18 season was Ulster's 24th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and Jono Gibbes' only season as head coach.

Ulster Rugby
2017–18 season
Head CoachJono Gibbes
Director of RugbyLes Kiss
CaptainRory Best
Pro144th in Conference B
European Rugby Champions Cup3rd in Pool 1
Top try scorerAll: Craig Gilroy (11)
Top points scorerAll: John Cooney (225)
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours
← 2016–17 2018–19 →

After the departure of Neil Doak, Jono Gibbes joined Ulster as head coach,[1] with Dwayne Peel joining him as assistant coach,[2] replacing Allen Clarke, who had left to join the coaching staff at Ospreys.[3] Aaron Dundon joined as scrum coach,[4] 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,[5] and he left for Montpellier. John Cooney was signed from Connacht to replace him.[6] Out-half Paddy Jackson and centre Stuart Olding were charged with rape and suspended from playing pending trial[7] (both would be acquitted, but have their contracts revoked).[8] Australian out-half Christian Lealiifano was signed on a five-month loan to cover.[9] Rory Best was restored to the captaincy.[10]

Other new arrivals were two South Africans, prop Schalk van der Merwe, signed from the Southern Kings, and loose forward Jean Deysel, signed from the Sharks. Back row forward Roger Wilson retired, lock Conor Joyce and centre Mark Best moved to Jersey Reds, hooker Johnny Murphy went to Rotherham Titans, and lock John Donnan, flankers Lorcan Dow and Stephen Mullholand, and prop Ricky Lutton were released.

The former Pro12 was renamed the Pro14 with the addition of two South African teams.

After a poor run of form, with eighteen tries conceded in four matches over the Christmas period,[11] Director of Rugby Les Kiss left in January, with Gibbes assuming all coaching responsibility of the team for the remainder of the season.[12] Gibbes cut short his contract at the end of the season,[13] and Dan McFarland, then Scotland's forwards coach, was hired as his replacement.[14]

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

Stars of the season were goal-kicking scrum-half John Cooney, who scored 225 points in all competitions, and academy back row forward Nick Timoney, who made 20 appearances and scored five tries for the senior team.[11]

Staff
Position Name Nationality
Director of Rugby Les Kiss  Australia
Operations Director Bryn Cunningham  Ireland
Head Coach Jono Gibbes  New Zealand
Assistant Coach Dwayne Peel  Wales
Scrum Coach Aaron Dundon  New Zealand
Skills Coach Niall Malone  Ireland
Head of Strength & Conditioning Jonny Davis  Ireland
Strength & Conditioning Coach Kevin Geary  Ireland

Squad
Ulster Rugby squad[15]

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

Fullbacks

(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.[16][17]
    • Internationally capped players in bold
    • Players qualified to play for Ireland on dual nationality or residency grounds*
    • Irish Provinces are currently limited to four non-Irish eligible (NIE) players and one non-Irish qualified player (NIQ or "Project Player").[18]

    Academy squad
    Ulster Rugby Academy squad

    Props

    Hookers

    Locks

    Back row

    Scrum-halves

    Fly-halves

    Centres

    Wings

    Fullbacks

    • None
    (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players, number in brackets indicates players stage in the three-year academy cycle.
    * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
    Players and their allocated positions from the Ulster Rugby website.[19]

      Player transfers

      European Rugby Champions Cup
      Main article: 2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup
      Team
      		 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
      La Rochelle (5) 6402156121+3518173120
      Wasps 6303154121+3321154117
      Ulster 6402132118+1415151017
      Harlequins 6105106188–821522217
      13 October 2017
      19:45
      Ulster 19–9 Wasps
      Try: Stockdale 54' m
      McCloskey 56' m
      Pen: Cooney (1/2) 14'
      Lealiifano (2/2) 69', 74'
      		 Report
      Highlights      		 Pen: Daly (1/1) 3'
      Gopperth (2/2) 40', 46'
      Kingspan Stadium
      Attendance: 15,291
      Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
      22 October 2017
      16:15
      (1 BP) La Rochelle 41–17 Ulster
      Try: Sinzelle 2' c
      Vito 50' c
      Gourdon 59' c
      Aguillon 62' c
      Eaton 65' c
      Con: Lamb (1/1) 3'
      Balès (2/2) 51', 60'
      Goillot (2/2) 64', 66'
      Pen: Balès (2/2) 22', 27'
      		 Report Try: Lealiifano 9' c
      Bowe 69' c
      Con: Lealiifano (1/1) 10'
      Pen: Lealiifano (1/1) 15'
      Stade Marcel-Deflandre
      Attendance: 16,000
      Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
      10 December 2017
      13:00
      Harlequins 5–17 Ulster
      Try: Sinckler 49' m
      		 Report
      Highlights      		 Try: Stockdale 25' m
      Pen: Cooney (4/5) 5', 61', 65', 78'
      Twickenham Stoop
      Attendance: 8,327
      Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (FFR)
      15 December 2017
      19:45
      (1 BP) Ulster 52–24 Harlequins (1 BP)
      Try: McCloskey 17' c
      Gilroy 43' c
      Piutau 55' m
      O'Connor 61' c
      Cooney 71' c
      Trimble 79' c
      Con: Cooney (5/6) 18', 45', 62', 72', 80'
      Pen: Cooney (4/4) 4', 9', 33', 50'
      		 Report Try: Smith 13' m
      Walker 29' c
      Chisholm 58' m
      Ward 66' c
      Con: Smith (2/4) 30', 67'
      Kingspan Stadium
      Attendance: 15,646
      Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (FFR)
      13 January 2018
      13:00
      Ulster 20–13 La Rochelle (1 BP)
      Try: Best 27' m
      Stockdale 34' m
      Timoney 44' c
      Con: Cooney (1/3) 45'
      Pen: Cooney (1/1) 49'
      		 Report
      Highlights      		 Try: Balès 42' c
      Con: Balès (1/1) 43'
      Pen: Balès (2/2) 8', 15'
      Kingspan Stadium
      Attendance: 15,004
      Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
      21 January 2018
      15:15
      (1 BP) Wasps 26–7 Ulster
      Try: Thompson 10' c
      Cruse 31' c
      Le Roux 46' m
      Cooper-Woolley 55' c
      Con: Cipriani (3/4) 11', 32', 56'
      		 Try: Reidy 23' c
      Con: Cooney (1/1) 24'
      Ricoh Arena
      Attendance: 13,124
      Referee: Jérôme Garcès (FFR)

      Pro14
      Main article: 2017–18 Pro14
      2017–18 Pro14 Tables
      Conference A
      Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
      1 Glasgow Warriors (SF) 211515614366+248813812276
      2 Munster (SF) 211317568361+207784210569
      3 Cheetahs (QF) 211209609554+55756810563
      4 Cardiff Blues 2111010502482+2056595554
      5 Ospreys 219012390487−9744605344
      6 Connacht 217014445477−3253545639
      7 Zebre 217014408593–18550784436
      Conference B
      Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
      1 Leinster (CH) 211416601374+227834610270
      2 Scarlets (RU) 211416528365+16369439370
      3 Edinburgh (QF) 211506494375+11962447168
      4 Ulster (PO) 211227538482+5668618262
      5 Benetton 2111010415451−3651556555
      6 Dragons 212217378672−29443944420
      7 Southern Kings 211020378829−451481194311
      If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order -[29]
      1. number of matches won
      2. the difference between points for and points against
      3. the number of tries scored
      4. the most points scored
      5. the difference between tries for and tries against
      6. the fewest red cards received
      7. the fewest yellow cards received

      Green background indicates teams that competed in the Pro14 play-offs, and also earned a place in the 2018–19 European Champions Cup
      (excluding South African teams who are ineligible)
      Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places that earned a place in the 2018–19 European Champions Cup, including the winner of the play-off between the two fourth-ranked European teams in each conference
      Yellow background indicates the loser of the play-off between the two fourth-ranked European teams in each conference, that earned a place in the 2018–19 European Rugby Challenge Cup.
      Plain background indicates teams that earned a place in the 2018–19 European Rugby Challenge Cup.
      (CH) Champions. (RU) Runners-up. (SF) Losing semi-finalists. (QF) Losing quarter-finalists. (PO) Champions Cup play-off winners.

        1 September 2017
        19:35
        (1 BP) Ulster 42–19 Cheetahs
        Try: Bowe 18' m
        O'Connor 26' c
        McCloskey 29' c
        Piutau 32' m
        Ludik 41' m
        Nelson 74' c
        Con: Cooney (2/5) 27', 30'
        Nelson (1/1) 75'
        Pen: Cooney (2/2) 8', 55'
        		 Report[30]
        Highlights        		 Try: Blommetjies 15' c
        Mapimpi 20' c
        Petersen 49' m
        Con: Small-Smith (2/3) 17', 22'
        Kingspan Stadium
        Attendance: 14,448
        Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
        9 September 2017
        18:05
        (1 BP) Benetton 14–21 Ulster
        Try: Ruzza 64' c, McKinley 70' c
        Con: McKinley (2/2) 65', 72'
        		 Report[31]
        Highlights        		 Try: Trimble (2) 8' c, 23' c
        Stockdale 60' c
        Con: Cooney (3/3) 9', 24', 61'
        Stadio Comunale di Monigo
        Attendance: 2,600
        Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)
        15 September 2017
        19:35
        Ulster 27–20 Scarlets (1 BP)
        Try: Stockdale 63' m
        Andrew 75' c
        Con: Lealiifano (1/1) 77'
        Pen: Cooney (4/4) 18', 31', 33', 51'
        Lealiifano (1/1) 71'
        		 Report[32]
        Highlights        		 Try: McNicholl 60' c
        J. Davies 67' c
        Con: Halfpenny (2/2) 62', 68'
        Pen: Halfpenny (2/2) 3', 57'
        Kingspan Stadium
        Attendance: 12,712
        Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
        22 September 2017
        19:35
        (1 BP) Ulster 52–25 Dragons
        Try: McCloskey 2' m
        Nelson 11' c
        Penalty try 19'
        Timoney (2) 24' c, 48' c
        Herbst 28' c
        Stockdale 43' m
        Shanahan 62' c
        Con: Nelson (4/6) 12', 25', 29', 49'
        Herron (1/1) 63'
        		 Report[33]
        Highlights        		 Try: Buckley 34' c
        Blacker 56' c
        Talbot-Davies 79' m
        Con: Jones (1/1) 34'
        O'Brien (1/2) 57'
        Pen: Jones (2/2) 6', 15'
        Kingspan Stadium
        Attendance: 12,291
        Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)
        30 September 2017
        15:35
        Zebre 27–23 Ulster (1 BP)
        Try: Licata 47' c
        Bellini 52' c
        Giammarioli 71' c
        Con: Canna (1/1) 49'
        Violi (2/2) 53', 73'
        Pen: Canna (2/4) 3', 21'
        		 Report[34]
        Highlights        		 Try: Trimble 16' c
        Cave 78' c
        Con: Cooney (1/1) 18'
        Cave (1/1) 78' c
        Pen: Cooney (3/3) 32', 39', 62'
        Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
        Attendance: 3,100
        Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
        6 October 2017
        19:35
        Ulster 16–8 Connacht
        Try: Stockdale 56' c
        Con: Cooney (1/1) 56'
        Pen: Cooney (3/3) 28', 44', 53'
        		 Report[35]
        Highlights        		 Try: McCartney 35' m
        Pen: J. Carty (1/1) 49'
        Kingspan Stadium
        Attendance: 14,363
        Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
        28 October 2017
        18:30
        Ulster 10–25 Leinster
        Try: Reidy 27' c
        Con: Lealiifano (1/1) 28'
        Pen: Lealiifano (1/1) 6'
        		 Report[36]
        Highlights        		 Try: Larmour 15' c
        L. McGrath (2) 58' m, 78' c
        Con: R. Byrne (1/2) 15'
        Marsh (1/1) 78'
        Pen: R. Byrne (2/3) 30', 37'
        Kingspan Stadium
        Attendance: 17,631
        Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)
        4 November 2017
        15:00
        (2 BP) Southern Kings 36–43 Ulster (1 BP)
        Try: B. Klaasen (2) 3' m, 62' c
        Penxe (2) 6' c, 73' c
        Makase 28' c
        Con: Zono (3/4) 7', 29', 63'
        Coleman (1/1) 74'
        Pen: Zono (1/1) 23'
        		 Report[37]
        Highlights        		 Try: Reidy 18' m
        Andrew (2) 26' m, 49' m
        Cooney 53' c
        Trimble 68' c
        Ross 72' c
        Diack 75' c
        Con: Cooney (1/4) 54'
        Lealiifano (3/3) 69', 72', 76'
        Wolfson Stadium
        Attendance: 2,836
        Referee: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
        24 November 2017
        19:05
        Ulster 23–22 Benetton (1 BP)
        Try: Bowe 17' c
        Trimble 77' c
        Con: Cooney (1/1) 18'
        Lealiifano (1/1) 78'
        Pen: Cooney (2/3) 22', 31'
        Lealiifano (1/1) 63'
        		 Report[38]
        Highlights        		 Try: Barbieri 55' c
        Con: Allan (1/1) 57'
        Pen: Allan (4/5) 4', 12', 38', 51'
        Banks (1/1) 72'
        Kingspan Stadium
        Attendance: 14,544
        Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
        1 December 2017
        19:35
        (1 BP) Dragons 32–32 Ulster (1 BP)
        Try: Screech 19' c
        Hewitt (2) 27' m, 77' m
        Belcher 66' m
        O'Brien 71' c
        Con: Henson (2/5) 20', 72'
        Pen: Henson (1/1) 24'
        		 Report[39]
        Highights        		 Try: Gilroy (2) 9' m, 54' c
        Penalty try 32'
        L. Marshall 41' m
        Lealiifano 80' m
        Con: Lealiifano (1/4) 56'
        Pen: Lealiifano (1/1) 4'
        Rodney Parade
        Attendance: 4,477
        Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
        23 December 2017
        19:35
        (1 BP) Connacht 44–16 Ulster
        Try: E. Masterson 2' m
        Aki 7' c
        O'Halloran 24' m
        Dillane (2) 54' c, 75' c
        Butler 59' c
        Con: J. Carty (4/6) 8', 56', 61', 76'
        Pen: J. Carty (2/2) 40', 47'
        		 Report[40]
        Highlights        		 Try: Gilroy 65' m
        Lyttle 79' m
        Pen: Cooney (2/2) 23', 32'
        Galway Sportsgrounds
        Attendance: 7,629
        Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
        1 January 2018
        17:35
        (1 BP) Ulster 24–17 Munster (1 BP)
        Try: Cave 57' c
        Gilroy (2) 61' m, 73' c
        Lyttle 79' m
        Con: Cooney (2/4) 58', 74'
        		 Report[41]
        Highlights        		 Try: N. Scannell (2) 13' m, 24' m
        Penalty try 33'
        Kingspan Stadium
        Attendance: 17,594
        Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU)
        6 January 2018
        17:35
        (1 BP) Leinster 38–7 Ulster
        Try: Larmour (2) 5' c, 66' m
        B. Daly 15' m
        McFadden (2) 47' c, 51' c
        Sexton 81' c
        Con: R. Byrne (3/4) 6', 48', 53'
        Sexton (1/2) 82'
        		 Report[42]
        Highlights        		 Try: Stockdale 72' c
        Con: Cooney (1/1) 74'
        RDS Arena
        Attendance: 17,373
        Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
        9 February 2018
        19:35
        (1 BP) Ulster 59–10 Southern Kings
        Try: Gilroy (3) 6' c, 38' c, 54' m
        McCloskey 17' c
        McPhillips 42' c
        Lyttle (2) 49' c, 58' m
        Treadwell 73' c
        Cave 76' c
        Con: Cooney (7/9) 7', 18', 39', 43', 50', 74', 77'
        		 Report[43]
        Highlights        		 Try: H. Klaasen 70' c
        Con: Van Rensburg (1/1) 70'
        Kingspan Stadium
        Attendance: 13,759
        Referee: Joy Neville (IRFU)
        16 February 2018
        19:35
        (1 BP) Ulster 16–17 Edinburgh
        Try: Cooney 8' c
        Con: Cooney (1/1) 9'
        Pen: Cooney (3/3) 42', 55', 66'
        		 Report[44] Try: Harries 33' c
        Carmichael 62' c
        Con: Hidalgo-Clyne (2/2) 35', 63'
        Drop: Weir (1/1) 80'
        Kingspan Stadium
        Attendance: 14,497
        Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
        24 February 2018
        19:35
        (1 BP) Scarlets 34–10 Ulster
        Try: Nicholas 43' c
        Conbeer 57' c
        Asquith 64' c
        Beirne 76' c
        Con: Jones (4/4) 44', 58', 65', 76'
        Pen: Jones (2/2) 9', 55'
        		 Report[45]
        Highlights        		 Try: McCloskey 2' c
        Con: Cooney (1/1) 3'
        Pen: Cooney (1/1) 50'
        Parc y Scarlets
        Attendance: 6,941
        Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
        24 March 2018
        15:15
        (1 BP) Cardiff Blues 35–17 Ulster
        Try: Evans 1' c
        Scully 12' c
        Dacey 56' m
        D. Lewis 80' c
        Con: Evans (4/5) 2', 13', 62', 80'
        Pen: Evans (2/2) 40', 70'
        		 Report[46]
        Highlights        		 Try: Shanahan 78' m
        Pen: Cooney (4/5) 5', 38', 45', 52'
        Cardiff Arms Park
        Attendance: 5,763
        Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
        6 April 2018
        19:35
        Edinburgh 20–32 Ulster (1 BP)
        Try: Weir 30' c
        Penalty try 57'
        Con: Weir (1/1) 31'
        Pen: Weir (2/2) 9', 15'
        		 Report[47]
        Highlights        		 Try: Cave 12' c
        Piutau 19' m
        Cooney 23' c
        Henderson 78' c
        Con: Cooney (3/4) 13', 25', 79'
        Pen: Cooney (2/2) 50', 64'
        Murrayfield Stadium
        Attendance: 4,989
        Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
        13 April 2018
        19:35
        Ulster 8–0 Ospreys
        Try: Stockdale 79' m
        Pen: Cooney (1/1) 6'
        		 Report[48]
        Kingspan Stadium
        Attendance: 13,267
        Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

        21 April 2018
        18:05
        (1 BP) Ulster 36–15 Glasgow Warriors
        Try: Cooney 11' c
        Timoney (2) 54' c, 82' m
        Reidy 60' m
        Con: Cooney (1/1) 12'
        McPhillips (1/2) 56'
        Pen: Cooney (3/3) 4', 39', 40'
        McPhillips (1/1) 68'
        		 Report[49]
        Highlights        		 Try: Gibbins (2) 21' c, 46' m
        Con: Russell (1/2) 21'
        Pen: Russell (1/1) 18'
        Kingspan Stadium
        Attendance: 16,186
        Referee: Stuart Berry (SARU)
        28 April 2018
        17:35
        Munster 24–24 Ulster
        Try: Williams 1' c
        Scott 26' c
        Copeland 48' c
        Con: Hanrahan (3/3) 2', 28', 49'
        Pen: Hanrahan (1/1) 67'
        		 Report[50]
        Highlights        		 Try: McCloskey 4' c
        Best (2) 32' c, 40' c
        Con: McPhillips (3/3) 5', 34', 40'
        Pen: McPhillips (1/1) 15'
        Thomond Park
        Attendance: 16,178
        Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

        Play-off for the 7th Champions Cup place

        The South African teams cannot compete in the European Rugby Champions Cup. The top three eligible teams in each conference automatically qualify for following year's Champions Cup. The fourth ranked eligible team in each conference meet in a play-off match with the winner taking the seventh Champions Cup place.

        Ulster had home advantage against Ospreys by virtue of finishing with the greater number of points accumulated during the PRO14 regular league (62, as opposed to Ospreys’ 44). The match was played on Sunday 20 May, at the Kingspan Stadium.[51]

        20 May 2018
        15:05
        Ulster 35–17 Ospreys
        Try: Gilroy (2) 34' m, 41' c
        Treadwell 52' c
        Stockdale 72' c
        Con: Cooney (3/4) 42', 53', 73'
        Pen: Cooney (3/3) 26', 64', 70'
        		 Report
        Highlights        		 Try: A. W. Jones 15' c
        Dirksen 61' m
        Biggar 77' m
        Con: Biggar (1/3) 16'
        Kingspan Stadium
        Attendance: 7,014
        Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

        End of season awards

        John Cooney was the competition's top scorer with 175 points, and was named at scrum-half on the Pro14 Dream Team.[52]

        Ulster A

        British and Irish Cup
        Main article: 2017–18 British and Irish Cup

        Pool 5
        Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
        Ulster A (Q)6501143111323023
        Cornish Pirates (Q)640216286763019
        Scarlets Premiership Select6204107158-511110
        Hartpury College6105124180-56228
        Source: Updated: 3 February 2018
        Points breakdown:
        *4 points for a win
        *2 points for a draw
        *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less
        *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match
        14 October 2017
        14:30
        Ulster A 24–18 Scarlets Premiership Select (BP)
        Report
        Rifle Park, Banbridge
        Attendance: 600
        Referee: Karl Dickson
        22 October 2017
        14:30
        Cornish Pirates 23–14 Ulster A
        Report
        Mennaye Field
        Attendance: 1,074
        Referee: Mike English
        9 December 2017
        14:30
        (2BP) Hartpury College 24–29 Ulster A (BP)
        Report
        College Stadium
        Attendance: 375
        Referee: Karl Dickson
        16 December 2017
        14:30
        (BP) Ulster A 27 – 19 Hartpury College
        Report
        Eaton Park, Ballymena
        Attendance: 450
        Referee: Hamish Smales
        12 January 2018
        17:00
        (BP) Ulster A 25 – 14 Cornish Pirates
        Report
        Shaw's Bridge, Belfast
        Attendance: 781
        Referee: Elgan Williams
        20 January 2018
        14:00
        Scarlets Premiership Select 13 – 24 Ulster A
        Report
        Church Bank Playing Fields, Llandovery
        Attendance: 50
        Referee: Fergal Kirby

        Quarter-final
        31 March 2018
        15:00
        Bedford Blues 16 – 10 Ulster A
        Report
        Goldington Road
        Attendance: 2,323
        Referee: Mike English

        Ulster Rugby Awards

        The Heineken Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held at the La Mon Hotel and Country Club, Castlereagh, on 10 May 2018. Winners were:[53]

        Season reviews

        References
        1. "Jono Gibbes to become head coach". ulsterrugby.com. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
        2. "Dwayne Peel joins Ulster backroom team as assistant coach". BBC Sport. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
        3. "Clarke leaving Ulster", EPCR, 20 March 2017
        4. "Dundon joins Ulster coaching staff". Planet Rugby. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
        5. Tom Hamilton, "IRFU rules force Springboks star Ruan Pienaar to leave Ulster", ESPN, 31 August 2016
        6. "Ulster Sign John Cooney From Connacht", The Runner Sports, 16 January 2017
        7. "IRFU Suspend Paddy Jackson & Stuart Olding After Being Charged By The PSNI", Pundit Arena, 25 July 2017
        8. "Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding's contracts revoked", BBC News, 14 April 2018
        9. Beth Newman, "Lealiifano on loan to Ulster", 22 August 2017
        10. "Rory Best confirmed as Ulster captain for 2017/18 season", Belfast Telegraph, 29 August 2017
        11. Ulster Rugby: Who did what 2017-18, The Front Row Union, 25 June 2018
        12. "Les Kiss to Leave Ulster Rugby". Richard Finlay. Ulster Rugby. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
        13. "La Rochelle confirm former Ulster head coach Jono Gibbes will become Director of Rugby on four-season deal", Irish Independent, 4 June 2018
        14. "Scotland coach Dan McFarland released early to take Ulster job", The Scotsman, 19 August 2018
        15. Appearances and scoring stats from ItsRugby.co.uk
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