2004–05 Ulster Rugby season

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2004–05 Ulster Rugby season
Ground(s)Ravenhill Stadium (Capacity: 12,500)
Coach(es)Mark McCall
Top scorerDavid Humphreys (145)
Most triesTommy Bowe (9)
League(s)Heineken Cup (3rd in pool)
Celtic League (8th)
Celtic Cup (quarter-finalists)
← 2003–04 2005–06 →

The 2004–05 season was Ulster Rugby's tenth under professionalism, and their first under head coach Mark McCall. They competed in the Heineken Cup, the Celtic League and the Celtic Cup.

Former head coach Alan Solomons and forwards coach Adrian Kennedy left at the end of the previous season to join Northampton Saints.[1] Backs coach Mark McCall was named as the new head coach,[2] with Allen Clarke as his assistant.[3] Maurice Field replaced Clarke as head of the academy.[4]

In the Celtic League, they finished eighth. Tommy Bowe was the league's second top try scorer with eight.[5] In the Heineken Cup, they finished third in Pool 6, failing to qualify for the knockout stage. They went out of the Celtic Cup in the quarter-finals, losing to Neath-Swansea Ospreys. Neil Best was Ulster's Player of the Year. Kieran Campbell won the IRUPA award for Try of the Year.[6]

Squad[]

Senior squad[]

Ulster Rugby squad[16]

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

  • Ireland Neil Best (22 apps, 22 starts, 5 pts)
  • Ireland Roger Wilson (22 apps, 20 starts, 5 pts)
  • New Zealand Campbell Feather (26 apps, 17 starts, 15 pts)
  • Ireland Andy Ward (c) (17 apps, 13 starts, 5 pts)
  • South Africa Gavin Pfister (6 apps, 4 starts)
  • Ireland Gary Brown (4 apps, 1 starts)
  • Ireland Neil McMillan (1 apps, 1 starts)


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.

Academy squad[]

Academy squad[17]

Staff

  • Joe Miles - chairman
  • Allen Clarke - director
  • Maurice Field - manager
  • Roger Kennedy - strength and conditioning
  • Michael Webb - doctor
  • Phil Glasgow - physiotheraprist

Players

2004–05 Heineken Cup[]

Main article: 2004–05 Heineken Cup

Pool 6[]

Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff TB LB Pts
France Stade Français (3) 6 5 0 1 20 9 11 179 90 89 3 0 23
England Gloucester 6 3 0 3 14 12 2 144 128 16 1 1 14
Ireland Ulster 6 3 0 3 5 13 −8 88 139 −51 0 1 13
Wales Cardiff Blues 6 1 0 5 8 13 −5 98 152 −54 0 3 7
22 October 2004
19:30
Ulster Ireland 21 – 16 Wales Cardiff Blues
Pen: Humphreys (5)
Drop: Humphreys (2)
 Report[18] Try: Shanklin
Con: Thomas
Pen: Thomas (2)
Drop: Thomas
Ravenhill
Attendance: 9,600
Referee: Joël Jutge
Ulster lineup
30 October 2004
15:00
Gloucester England 55 – 13 Ireland Ulster
Try: MacRae
GoodridgeBezuidenhout
Simpson-Daniel
Garvey
Balding
Con: Paul (5)
Pen: Paul (4)
Drop: Paul
 Report[19] Try: Humphreys
Con: Humphreys (1)
Pen: Humphreys (2)
Kingsholm
Attendance: 12,467
Referee: Eric Darriere
Ulster lineup
4 December 2004
14:00
Stade Français France 30 – 10 Ireland Ulster
Try: Blin
Sowerby
Bergamasco
Con: Skrela (3)
Pen: Skrela (3)
 Report[20][21] Try: Bowe
Con: Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys
Stade Jean-Bouin
Attendance: 11,628
Ulster lineup
11 December 2004
13:00
Ulster Ireland 18 – 10 France Stade Français
Try: Campbell
Humphreys
Con: Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys
Drop: Humphreys
 Report[22][23] Try: Hernández
Con: Skrela
Drop: Skrela
Ravenhill
Attendance: 7,320
Referee: Nigel Williams
Ulster lineup
7 January 2005
19:30
Ulster Ireland 14 – 12 England Gloucester
Try: Cunningham
Pen: Humphreys (3)
 Report[24][25] Pen: Paul (3)
Drop: Amor
Ravenhill
Attendance: 11,435
Referee: Nigel Whitehouse
Ulster lineup
16 January 2005
17:15
Cardiff Blues Wales 16 – 12 Ireland Ulster
Try: Vaughton 48'
Thomas 71'
Pen: Macleod (2) 4', 22'
 Report[26][27] Pen: Humphreys (2) 6', 42'
Larkin (2) 57', 78'
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 3,962
Ulster lineup

2004-05 Celtic League[]

Main article: 2004–05 Celtic League
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
1 Wales Neath-Swansea Ospreys 20 16 1 3 508 267 +241 53 27 7 3 76
2 Ireland Munster 20 15 1 4 470 331 +139 54 33 6 1 69
3 Ireland Leinster 20 12 1 7 455 350 +105 46 32 4 3 57
4 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons 20 11 0 9 381 436 −55 39 43 4 2 50
5 Wales Llanelli Scarlets 20 9 0 11 402 446 −44 48 42 7 3 46
6 Scotland Glasgow Warriors 20 8 1 11 465 466 −1 40 58 4 7 45
7 Scotland Edinburgh 20 9 0 11 409 407 +2 47 40 4 4 44
8 Ireland Ulster 20 9 0 11 363 387 −24 37 34 2 5 43
9 Wales Cardiff Blues 20 8 1 11 350 404 −54 35 41 2 4 40
10 Ireland Connacht 20 7 1 12 317 407 −90 32 46 2 5 37
11 Scotland Borders 20 3 0 17 337 556 −219 31 66 2 4 18
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 22 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine
4 September 2004
14:30
Edinburgh Scotland 16–17 Ireland Ulster
Try: Blackadder
Con: Paterson
Pen: Paterson (3)
 Report[28] Try: Maxwell
Pen: Wallace (2)
Drop: Steinmetz
Wallace
Murrayfield
Attendance: 2,609
Ulster lineup
11 September 2004
17:15
Ulster Ireland 15–26 Ireland Leinster
Try: Cunningham
Maxwell
Con: Wallace
Pen: Wallace
 Report[29] Try: Warner
Gissing
O'Riordan
Con: O'Meara
Pen: O'Meara
McAllister (2)
Ravenhill
Attendance: 6,100
Referee: Nigel Williams
Ulster lineup
18 September 2004
14:30
Connacht Ireland 13–19 Ireland Ulster
Try: O'Loughlin
Con: Warwick
Pen: Warwick (2)
 Report[30] Try: Bowe
Bell
Pen: Humphreys (3)
Sportsground
Attendance: 1,300
Ulster lineup
25 September 2004
17:15
Ulster Ireland 24–37 Wales Neath-Swansea Ospreys
Try: Maggs
Cunningham

Con: Humphreys (3)
Pen: Humphreys
 Report[31] Try: Williams
Tiueti
Parker

Con: Henson (4)
Pen: Henson (2)
Drop: Henson
Ravenhill
Attendance: 5,638
Ulster lineup
8 October 2004
19:05
Ulster Ireland 21–28 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons
Try: McCormack
N. Best
Con: Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys (3)
 Report[32] Try: Morgan
Black
Brew
Con: Sweeney (2)
Pen: Sweeney (3)
Ravenhill
Attendance: 8,145
Ulster lineup
16 October 2004
19:15
Glasgow Warriors Scotland 34–20 Ireland Ulster
Try: Tkachuk
Parks (2)
Morrison
Con: Parks (4)
Pen: Parks (2)
 Report[33] Try: Bowe
Howe
Con: Humphreys (2)
Pen: Humphreys (2)
Hughenden
Attendance: 3,469
Ulster lineup
6 November 2004
17:15
Ulster Ireland 3–24 Ireland Munster
Pen: Larkin
 Report[34] Try: Payne
Lawler
Con: Burke
Pen: Burke (4)
Ravenhill
Attendance: 6,402
Ulster lineup
12 November 2004
19:30
Borders Scotland 19–20 Ireland Ulster
Try: Weston
Con:
Pen: (3)
Hore
 Report[35] Try: Cunningham
Steinmetz
Con: Larkin (2)
Pen: Larkin (2)
Netherdale
Attendance: 1,500
Ulster lineup
19 November 2004
19:30
Ulster Ireland 30–14 Wales Cardiff Blues
Try:
McCullough
Maxwell
Pen: Larkin (5)
 Report[36] Try: Thomas
Pen: Thomas (3)
Ravenhill
Attendance: 5,705
Ulster lineup
28 November 2004
18:00
Llanelli Scarlets Wales 22–9 Ireland Ulster
Try: John
Con: Bowen
Pen: Bowen (5)
 Report[37] Pen: Larkin (3)
Stradey Park
Attendance: 5,334
Ulster lineup
17 December 2004
19:30
Ulster Ireland 36–34 Scotland Edinburgh
Try: Maggs
Bowe
Steinmetz

Con: Steinmetz (2)
Pen: Humphreys (3)
Steinmetz
 Report[38] Try: Lee
Hogg
Callam

Con: Laney (4)
Pen: Laney (2)
Ravenhill
Attendance: 5,858
Ulster lineup
27 December 2004
17:05
Leinster Ireland 9–8 Ireland Ulster
Pen: Contepomi (3)
 Report[39] Try: Howe
Pen: Larkin
Donnybrook
Attendance: 5,500
Referee: Alain Rolland
Ulster lineup
1 January 2005
16:00
Ulster Ireland 23–14 Ireland Connacht
Try: Bowe
Steinmetz
Con: Humphreys (2)
Pen: Humphreys (3)
 Report[40] Try: Jackman
Pen: Warwick
Ravenhill
Attendance: 7,900
Referee: David Keane
Ulster lineup
21 January 2005
19:05
Neath-Swansea Ospreys Wales 22–21 Ireland Ulster
Try: Henson
Con: Henson
Pen: Henson (5)
 Report[41] Try: Bowe
Maxwell
Con: Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys (3)
St Helen's
Attendance: 4,142
Ulster lineup
18 February 2005
19:05
Newport Gwent Dragons Wales 13–11 Ireland Ulster
Try: Forster
Con: Warlow
Pen: Montgomery
 Report[42] Try: Cunningham
Pen: Humphreys
Drop: Humphreys
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 4,452
Referee: Andy Ireland
Ulster lineup
4 March 2005
19:30
Ulster Ireland 30–3 Scotland Glasgow Warriors
Try: Maggs
Bowe
Howe
S. Best
Con: Larkin
Wallace
Pen: Larkin (2)
 Report[43]
Ravenhill
Attendance: 6,215
Referee: Nigel Owens
Ulster lineup
18 March 2005
19:00
Munster Ireland 21–15 Ireland Ulster
Try: D. Wallace
Kelly
Con: Burke
Pen: Burke (3)
 Report[44] Try: Bowe
Wilson
Con: P. Wallace
Drop: P. Wallace
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 5,870
Referee: Andy Ireland
Ulster lineup
25 March 2005
19:30
Ulster Ireland 17–13 Scotland Borders
Try: Ward

Con: Steinmetz (2)
Pen: Humphreys
 Report[45] Try: Cusiter
Con: Hore
Pen: Hore
Drop:
Ravenhill
Attendance: 7,017
Referee: Phil Fear
Ulster lineup
8 April 2005
19:10
Cardiff Blues Wales 22–8 Ireland Ulster
Try: Shanklin
Quinnell
Sowden-Taylor
Con: Macleod (2)
Pen: Macleod
 Report[46] Try: Bowe
Pen: Wallace
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 5,600
Referee: David Changleng
Ulster lineup
15 April 2005
19:05
Ulster Ireland 16–3 Wales Llanelli Scarlets
Try: Steinmetz
Con: Steinmetz
Pen: Steinmetz (3)
 Report[47] Pen: Bowen
Ravenhill
Attendance: 7,948
Referee: Andy Ireland
Ulster lineup

Celtic Cup[]

Main article: Celtic Cup (rugby union)

Quarter-final[]

22 April 2005
Neath-Swansea Ospreys Wales 23-16 Ireland Ulster
Try: Terblanche
Jones
Con: Jones (2)
Pen: Jones (3)
 Report[48][49] Try: Penalty try
Con: Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys (2)
Swansea
Attendance: 8,273
Referee: Andrew Ireland
Ulster lineup

Ulster Rugby Awards[]

The Ulster Rugby Awrds ceremony was held at the Ramada Hotel on 12 May 2005. Winners were:[50]

  • Bank of Ireland Ulster Player of the Year: Neil Best
  • Guinness Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: Tommy Bowe
  • Club Ulster Supporters Player of the Year: Kieran Campbell
  • Kukri Schools Player of the Year: David Pollock, Royal School Dungannon
  • First Trust Bank Club of the Year: Ballymena RFC
  • Calor Gas Youth Player of the Year: Nigel Newell, Ballynahinch RFC
  • Dorrington B. Faulkner Award: Brian Reid, Coleraine RFC
  • Northern Bank Coach of the Year: Gerald McCarter, City of Derry R.F.C., Ulster U21s
  • Downtown Radio Club/PRO Media Liaison Officer of the Year: Joan Beatty, Enniskillen
  • Belfast Telegraph Club Team of the Year: Ballymena RFC 2nd XV
  • The Botanic Inns Merit Award: Suzanne Flemming

References[]

  1. ^ "Solomons Leaving Ulster", Irish Rugby, 16 February 2004
  2. ^ "McCall gets call to coach Ulster", The Irish Times, 23 March 2004
  3. ^ "Clarke named assistant coach at Ulster", ESPN, 8 April 2004
  4. ^ Gavin Mairs, "Sweet 16 move into Ulster academy", Belfast Telegraph, 12 August 2004
  5. ^ Statzone, Pro12 Rugby, retrieved 2 June 2022
  6. ^ "O'Connor takes top award", Evening Herald, 5 May 2005
  7. ^ "Kershaw joins Leeds on loan", ESPN, 24 February 2005
  8. ^ "Feather is surprise choice to lead Ulster", RTÉ Sport, 18 November 2004
  9. ^ "Ulster sign Kevin Maggs", Irish Examiner, 3 July 2004
  10. ^ "Pfister signs for Ulster", BBC Sport, 16 November 2004
  11. ^ "Clem Boyd To Retire", Irish Rugby, 4 November 2003
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b Gavin Mairs, "McCall's French connection", Belfast Telegraph, 22 April 2004
  13. ^ "Saintly Solomons leaves legacy", BBC Sport, 16 February 2004
  14. ^ "McWhirter out and Clarke in", Belfast Telegraph, 9 April 2004
  15. ^ "Ulster lose Constable", ESPN, 4 February 2004
  16. ^ "Profiles - 1st XV", Ulster Rugby, archived 6 March 2005
  17. ^ "Ulster's academy takes off", BBC Sport, 12 August 2004
  18. ^ "Ulster 21-16 Blues", BBC Sport, 22 October 2004
  19. ^ "Gloucester 55-13 Ulster", BBC Sport, 30 October 2004
  20. ^ "Stade Francais 30-10 Ulster", BBC Sport, 4 December 2004
  21. ^ "Ulster lose set-pieces and momentum", The Irish Times, 6 December 2004
  22. ^ "Ulster 18-10 Stade Francais", BBC Sport, 11 December 2004
  23. ^ "Humphreys strikes to lift gloom for Ulster", Irish Independent, 12 December 2004
  24. ^ "Ulster 14-12 Gloucester", BBC Sport 7 January 2005
  25. ^ Robert Kitson, "Gloucester lose their foothold in Belfast bog", The Guardian, 8 January 2005
  26. ^ "Cardiff Blues v Ulster", EPCR, 16 January 2005
  27. ^ "Blues 16-12 Ulster", BBC Sport, 16 January 2005
  28. ^ Match Report, Pro12 Rugby, 4 September 2004
  29. ^ "Leinster End Ulster Home Record", Pro12 Rugby, 11 September 2004
  30. ^ "Ulster Return To Winning Ways", Pro12 Rugby, 18 September 2004
  31. ^ "Ospreys Sink Ulster", Pro12 Rugby, 25 September 2004
  32. ^ "Dragons Move Up As Ulster Suffer Another Home Defeat", Pro12 Rugby, 8 October 2004
  33. ^ "Parks To The Fore As Ulster Fail Again", Pro12 Rugby, 4 November 2004
  34. ^ "More Ravenhill misery for Ulster", Pro12 Rugby, 6 November 2004
  35. ^ "Late fight back not enough for Borders", Pro12 Rugby, 12 NOvember 2004
  36. ^ "Ulster back to winning ways at home", Pro12 Rugby, 19 November 2004
  37. ^ "Scarlets ease the pressure with comfortable win", Pro12 Rugby, 28 November 2004
  38. ^ "Match report", Pro12 Rugby, 17 December 2004
  39. ^ "Contepomi secures the points for Leinster", Pro12 Rugby, 27 December 2004
  40. ^ "Ulster narrow the gap on Connacht", Pro12 Rigby, 1 January 2005
  41. ^ "Henson the hero for Ospreys", Pro12 Rugby, 21 January 2005
  42. ^ "Montgomery penalty sees Dragons scrape win over Ulster", Pro12 Rugby, 18 February 2005
  43. ^ "Second half surge sees Ulster home", Pro12 Rugby, 4 March 2005
  44. ^ "Munster keep title hopes alive", Pro12 Rugby, 18 March 2005
  45. ^ "Ulster see off battling Borders", Pro12 Rugby, 25 March 2005
  46. ^ "Blues miss out on vital bonus point", Pro12 Rugby, 8 April 2005
  47. ^ "Ulster keep Cup hopes alive", Pro12 Rugby, 15 April 2005
  48. ^ "Ospreys 23-16 Ulster", BBC Sport, 30 April 2005
  49. ^ "Celtic Cup: Ulster Effort Not Enough In Swansea", Irish Rugby, 1 May 2005
  50. ^ Gavin Mairs, "Bowe bags the top Ulster rugby gong", Belfast Telegraph, 13 May 2005
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