2001–02 Ulster Rugby season

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2001–02 Ulster Rugby season
Ground(s)Ravenhill Stadium (Capacity: 12,500)
Coach(es)Alan Solomons
Captain(s)Andy Ward
Most appearancesNeil Best, Paddy Wallace (17 each)
Top scorerDavid Humphreys (202)
Most triesRyan Constable (6)
League(s)Heineken Cup (2nd in pool)
Celtic League (semi-finalists)
IRFU Interprovincial Championship (2nd)
← 2000–01 2002–03 →

The 2001–02 season was Ulster Rugby's seventh under professionalism, and their first under head coach Alan Solomons. They competed in the Heineken Cup, the IRFU Interprovincial Championship, and the inaugural Celtic League. Flanker Andy Ward was captain.[1]

Solomons, former assistant coach of South Africa and the Western Stormers, was appointed in January to succeed Harry Williams in June. Mark McCall remained assistant coach.[2] Former Springboks assistant coach Phil Mack, who had worked with Solomons with the Stormers, was appointed fitness advisor in place of Mike Bull.[3] Hooker Allen Clarke retired from playing and was named Director of Elite Player Development, establishing Ulster's first academy programme.[4]

The Irish, Scottish and Welsh unions agreed a format for the inaugural Celtic League in May 2001. It would involve all four Irish provinces, two teams from Scotland and nine from Wales, organised in two conferences. It would kick off on 18 August, with the final scheduled for 15 December.[5] Celtic league fixtures between Ulster and Leinster, and between Munster and Connacht, would count towards this year's IRFU Interprovincial Championship. The remaining Interprovincial fixtures would take place in April 2002.[6]

In the Celtic League, Ulster finished second in Pool A, qualifying for the playoffs. They beat Neath in the quarter-final, but lost to Munster in the semi-final. David Humphreys was the league's leading scorer with 122 points, and the "leading marksman" with 39 successful goal kicks.[7] In the Heineken Cup, they finished second in Pool 2, missing out on the knockout stage. They finished second in the Interprovincial Championship, qualifying for next season's Heineken Cup. David Humphreys was Ulster's Player of the Year. Lock Gary Longwell made his 100th appearance for Ulster in October 2001.[8]

Player transfers[]

Squad[]

Ulster Rugby squad[18]

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

  • Ireland Andy Ward (c) (14 apps, 14 starts, 20 pts)
  • Ireland Tony McWhirter (13 apps, 10 starts, 5 pts)
  • South Africa Russell Nelson (12 apps, 12 starts, 5 pts)
  • Ireland Neil McMillan (13 apps, 6 starts, 5 pts)
  • Australia David Allen (2 apps, 1 starts)
  • South Africa Robby Brink (1 app, 1 start)
  • Ireland Mike Haslett (1 app)

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

  • Ireland Jonathan Bell (11 apps, 11 starts)
  • Australia Adam Larkin (13 apps, 9 starts, 5 pts)
  • South Africa Shane Stewart (7 apps, 6 starts, 5 pts)
  • Australia Ryan Constable (10 apps, 2 starts, 25 pts)

Wings

  • Ireland Tyrone Howe (14 apps, 14 starts, 25 pts)
  • Ireland James Topping (9 apps, 9 starts, 10 pts)
  • Ireland Sheldon Coulter (8 apps, 6 starts)
  • Ireland Jan Cunningham (2 apps, 1 starts)
  • Ireland Scott Young

Fullbacks

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.

2001–02 Heineken Cup[]

Main article: 2001–02 Heineken Cup

Pool 2[]

Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts
France Stade Français 6 5 0 1 23 4 19 213 64 149 10
Ireland Ulster 6 4 0 2 17 11 6 196 142 54 8
England Wasps 6 2 0 4 9 9 0 120 186 −66 4
Italy Benetton Treviso 6 1 0 5 2 27 −25 102 239 −137 2
29 September 2001
15:30
Benetton Treviso Italy 28 – 33 Ireland Ulster
Try:
Con:
Pen: (7)
 Report[19] Try: Ward
Topping
Humphreys
Con: Humphreys (3)
Pen: Humphreys (4)
Stadio Comunale di Monigo
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: P. Adams
Ulster lineup
5 October 2001
18:50
Ulster Ireland 42 – 19 England London Wasps
Try: Humphreys
Howe
Con: Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys (6)
Drop: Humphreys (4)
 Report[20] Try: Green
Con: Logan
Pen: Logan (4)
Ravenhill
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: G. Desantis
Ulster lineup
27 October 2001
14:50
Stade Français France 40 – 11 Ireland Ulster
Try: Marconnet
Galthié

Dominici
Con: Domínguez (3)

Pen: Domínguez (4)
 Report[21] Try:
Pen: Wallace (2)
Stade Jean-Bouin
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Steve Lander
Ulster lineup
2 November 2001
14:50
Ulster Ireland 19 – 16 France Stade Français
Try: Howe
Con: Wallace
Pen: Humphreys (3)
Wallace
 Report[22] Try: James

Pen: Domínguez (2)
Ravenhill
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: N. Whitehouse
Ulster lineup
6 January 2002
15:45
London Wasps England 36 – 32 Ireland Ulster
Try: Denney
Roiser
Waters
Con: A. King (3)
Pen: A. King (5)
 Report[23] Try: Ward

Con: Wallace (2)
Pen: Humphreys (2)
Wallace (3)
Drop: Wallace
Loftus Road
Attendance: 5,556
Referee: G. Morandin
Ulster lineup
11 January 2002
19:00
Ulster Ireland 59 – 3 Italy Benetton Treviso
Try: Howe (2)
Doak (2)
Longwell

Larkin, penalty try
Con: Humphreys
Wallace (4)
Pen: Humphreys (3)
 Report[24] Pen:
Ravenhill
Attendance: 12,500
Referee: N. Whitehouse
Ulster lineup

2001-02 Celtic League[]

Main article: 2001–02 Celtic League

Pool A Table[]

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Pts
1 Ireland Leinster 7 7 0 0 281 114 +167 35 8 21
2 Ireland Ulster 7 4 1 2 194 157 +37 19 17 13
3 Scotland Glasgow 7 4 1 2 204 172 +32 25 17 13
4 Wales Llanelli 7 4 0 3 175 123 +52 14 7 12
5 Wales Swansea 7 3 0 4 124 158 −34 9 12 9
6 Wales Bridgend 7 3 0 4 161 208 −47 17 25 9
7 Wales Pontypridd 7 1 0 6 111 207 −96 8 25 3
8 Wales Ebbw Vale 7 1 0 6 134 245 −111 13 29 3

Match points were awarded as follows:

  • 3 points for a win
  • 1 point for a draw
Green background (rows 1 to 4) qualify for the knock-out stage.
Source: RaboDirect PRO12

Pool A Fixtures[]

17 August 2001
19:30
Ulster Ireland 30 – 13 Wales Swansea
Try:
Shields
Topping
Con: Humphreys (3)
Drop: Humphreys
 Report[25]
Match Centre 		Try:
Con: Henson
Pen: Henson
Ravenhill
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: C. White
Ulster lineup
24 August 2001
19:30
Glasgow Scotland 25 – 25 Ireland Ulster
Try: Simpson (2)
Nicol
Con: Hayes (2)
Pen: Hayes
MLaren
 Report[26]
Match Centre 		Try: Wallace


Con: Wallace
Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys (2)
Hughenden Stadium
Attendance: 6,095
Referee: N Whitehouse (Wales)
Ulster lineup
28 August 2001
19:00
Ulster Ireland 26 – 27 Wales Llanelli
Try: B. Cunningham
Pen: Humphreys (7)
 Report[27]
Match Centre 		Try:
Evans
Proctor
Con: Jones (3)
Pen: Jones (2)
Ravenhill
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: B. Dickson
Ulster lineup
31 August 2001
19:35
Leinster Ireland 31 – 9 Ireland Ulster
Try: O'Kelly
D'Arcy (2)
Hickie
Con:
Pen: (2)
Drop: Dempsey
 Report[28]
Match Centre 		Pen: Humphreys (2)
Wallace
Donnybrook
Referee: N Williams
Ulster lineup
7 September 2001
19:05
Ebbw Vale Wales 27 – 29 Ireland Ulster
Try:


Con: (3)
Pen:

Report[29]

Match Centre

Try: Howe

Con: Wallace (2)
Pen: Wallace (5)
Eugene Cross Park
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: T. Spreadbury
Ulster lineup
12 September 2001
19:30
Ulster Ireland 46 – 14 Wales Bridgend
Try: Shields
McMillan
Humphreys (2)

Ward (2)
Con: Humphreys (4)
Pen: Humphreys
 Report[30]
Match Centre 		Try: Ringer
James
Con:

Ravenhill
Attendance: 8,000
Ulster lineup
15 September 2001
14:30
Pontypridd Wales 20 – 29 Ireland Ulster
Try: McIntosh
Pen: Sweeney (5)
 Report[31][32]


Match Centre

Try: Best


Con: Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys (3)
Drop: Humphreys
Sardis Road
Attendance: 3,200
Referee: Chris White
Ulster lineup

Quarter final[]

30 November 2001
19:05
Ulster Ireland 38 – 29 Wales Neath
Try:
Ward
Con: Humphreys (2)
Pen: Humphreys (8)
 Report[33]
Match Centre
Video 		Try: Tiueti
Moore
Con: Jarvis (2)
Pen: Jarvis (4)
Ravenhill
Attendance: 12,000
Ulster lineup

Semi final[]

8 December 2001
15:00
Munster Ireland 15 – 9 Ireland Ulster
Pen: O'Gara (5)
 Report[34]
Match Centre 		Pen: Humphreys (3)
Lansdowne Road
Attendance: 12,500
Referee: I. Ramage
Ulster lineup

2001-02 IRFU Interprovincial Championship[]

Main article: IRFU Interprovincial Championship
Team P W D L F A BP Pts Status
3 2 0 1 86 35 2 12 Champions; qualified for next season's Heineken Cup
3 2 0 1 50 66 0 8 Qualified for next season's Heineken Cup
3 1 1 1 64 48 1 7 Qualified for next season's Heineken Cup
3 0 0 3 56 107 1 1

Celtic League pool matches between Irish provinces count towards the Interprovincial Championship.

22 April 2002
Connacht Connacht 17-18 Ulster Ulster
Try:
Pen: McHugh (4)
 Report[35] Try:
B. Cunningham
Con: Wallace
Pen: Wallace (2)
Galway Sportsgrounds
Referee: D. McHugh
Ulster lineup
12 May 2002
Ulster Ulster 23-18 Munster Munster
Try: Wallace
Doak
Con: Wallace (2)
Pen: Wallace (2)
Drop: Wallace
 Report[36] Try: O'Connell
Stringer
Con: O'Gara
Pen: O'Gara (2)
Ravenhill
Referee: Alan Lewis
Ulster lineup

Friendlies[]

3 August 2001
Ulster Ulster 33-15 England Coventry
Try: Bell
S. Best
Ward

Hughes
Con: Wallace (4)
 Report[37][38][39] Try: Truelove

Con:
Pen:
Ulster lineup
8 August 2001
Ulster Ulster 30-17 England Sale Sharks
Try: Shields

Larkin
Con: Humphreys
Wallace (2)
Pen: Wallace (3)
 Report[40] Try: Cueto
Shepherd
Con: Shepherd (2)
Pen: Shepherd
Ulster lineup
8 August 2001
Ulster Ulster 51-24 Munster Munster
Try: Humphreys
(2)
Doak
Larkin
Howe
Con: Humphreys (6)
Pen: Humphreys (3)
 Report[41][42] Try: Horan
Staunton
Con: Staunton
Pen: Staunton (3)
Holland
Ulster lineup

Ulster Rugby Awards[]

The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held on 23 May 2002. Winners were:[43]

Season reviews[]

References[]

  1. ^ Gavin Mairs, "New leader Ward can take Ulster back to the future", Belfast Telegraph, 1 August 2001
  2. ^ Pat Nugent, "Ulster appoint new Director of Coaching", RTÉ, 8 January 2001
  3. ^ "Mack appointed to fitness role", Ulster Rugby, archived 12 July 2001
  4. ^ "Dallas Jackals Names Allen Clarke as Head Coach and Director of Rugby", DJCoilRugby, 12 June 2020
  5. ^ "Celtic League gets green light to kick off in August", Evening Herald, 31 May 2001
  6. ^ Aidan Corr, "Munster face into a hectic season", Limerick Chronicle, 24 July 2001
  7. ^ Statzone, Pro12 Rugby, retrieved 2 June 2022
  8. ^ "No change for Ulster", BBC Sport, 2 October 2001
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c Amanda Fennelly, "Ulster finalise 2001-02 squad", RTÉ, 17 July 2001
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Shane Murray, "Ulster announce two signings", RTÉ, 25 April 2001
  11. ^ Brendan Fanning, "New twist for Crick", Irish Independent, 3 March 2002
  12. ^ "Davidson signs for Ulster", ESPN, 23 May 2001
  13. ^ Sinéad Kissane, "Ulster sign Argentine prop", RTÉ, 13 September 2001
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Ulster announce bulk of squad", ESPN, 19 March 2001
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Ulster axe winger Cunningham", BBC Sport, 19 September 2001
  16. ^ "Ulster Sign Sexton", Irish Rugby, 6 December 2001
  17. ^ "Inside back: Where are they now?", Irish Independent, 31 October 2010
  18. ^ Appearances and points not including friendlies
  19. ^ "Ulster cling on to win", BBC Sport, 29 September 2001
  20. ^ "Humphreys puts Wasps to flight", The Guardian, 6 October 2001
  21. ^ "Stade put Ulster to the sword", BBC Sport, 27 October 2001
  22. ^ Jim Stokes, "Ulster stun Stade with late try", BBC Sport, 2 November 2001
  23. ^ "Wasps edge out Ulster", ESPN, 6 January 2002
  24. ^ "Ulster crush Treviso", BBC Sport, 11 January 2002
  25. ^ Jim Stokes, "Ulster swamp Swansea", BBC Sport, 14 August 2001
  26. ^ "Home fans bemused at failure to win", The Herald, 25 August 2001
  27. ^ "Llanelli snatch dramatic win", BBC Sport, 28 August 2001
  28. ^ "D'Arcy double destroys Ulster", BBC Sport, 31 August 2001
  29. ^ "Wallace stars in Ulster fightback", BBC Sport, 7 September 2001
  30. ^ "Humphreys and Ulster in the mood", Irish Inependent, 13 September 2001
  31. ^ "Humphreys saves Ulster", BBC Sport, 15 September 2001
  32. ^ Micheal McGeary, "Home, Boys", Sunday Life, 16 September 2001
  33. ^ "Humphreys the hero for Ulster", BBC Sport, 30 November 2021
  34. ^ Peter O'Reilly, "Kicked Out", Sunday Tribune, 9 December 2001
  35. ^ John Fallon, "Connacht left to rue absent Elwood and lack of penetration", Connacht Sentinel, 23 April 2002
  36. ^ "Munster creak under the Guinness interpro strain", Limerick Leader, 13 May 2002
  37. ^ Jim Stokes, "Ward takes over captain's armband at Ravenhill", Irish Examiner, 1 August 2001
  38. ^ Gavin Mairs, "Alan's men shake off cobwebs", Belfast Telegraph, 4 August 2001
  39. ^ "Al is well with Ulster", Sunday Life, 5 August 2001
  40. ^ "Sharks can't scare Ulster", Belfast Telegraph, 9 August 2001
  41. ^ Ronnie Ingram, "Life and sol of the party", Sunday Life, 30 December 2001
  42. ^ "Humphreys in points bonanza", Irish Independent, 29 December 2001
  43. ^ "Humphries doubles up", BBC Sport, 24 May 2002
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