2016–17 Ulster Rugby season

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Ulster Rugby
2016–17 season
Head CoachNeil Doak
Director of RugbyLes Kiss
CaptainAndrew Trimble
Rob Herring
Pro125th
European Rugby Champions Cup4th in Pool 5
Top try scorerAll: Charles Piutau (9)
Jacob Stockdale (9)
Top points scorerAll: Paddy Jackson (162)
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours
← 2015–16 2017–18 →

The 2016–17 season was Ulster's 23rd season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and the third under Director of Rugby Les Kiss and head coach Neil Doak. They completed in the European Rugby Champions Cup and the final season of the Pro12 before it became the Pro14 with the addition of two teams from South Africa.

Ulster announced in August 2016 that Rory Best would vacate the captaincy of the province. The Ireland captain was replaced in his role by Andrew Trimble, the team's record try-scorer, and Rob Herring, who took on the role in Best's absence the previous season.[1][2] Scrum-half Ruan Pienaar was going into his last season with Ulster, after the IRFU blocked him from extending his contract.[3]

New arrivals were South African number 8 Marcell Coetzee from the Sharks, fullback Charles Piutau from Wasps, prop Rodney Ah You from Connacht, lock Kieran Treadwell from Harlequins, out-half Brett Herron from Bath, scrum-half Angus Lloyd from Trinity, and prop Anton Peikrishvili from Brive. Back row forward Nick Williams left for Cardiff Blues, centre Sammy Arnold for Munster, wing Rory Scholes for Edinburgh, and lock Dan Tuohy for Bristol. Out-half Ian Humphreys retired, and Willie Faloon, Paul Jackson, Ruaidhri Murphy, Bronson Ross, Paul Rowley, Frank Taggart and Sam Windsor were released. Academy players who made their debuts this season included flanker Nick Timoney and wing Rob Lyttle.

Assistant coach Joe Barakat left in December to join Western Force.[4] In early 2017 it was revealed that head coach Neil Doak and assistant coach Allen Clarke would not have their contracts renewed at the end of the season. Doak's replacement would be Jono Gibbes,[5] with Clarke to be succeeded by Dwayne Peel.[6]

In the Pro12, Ulster finished fifth, qualifying for next season's Champions Cup but missing out on the playoffs. Flanker Sean Reidy led the league in tackles with 263.[7] Ulster led the league in discipline and scrums.[8] At the end of the season, Charles Piutau was named Players' Player of the Season, and he and scrum-half Ruan Pienaar made the Pro12 Dream Team. Pienaar's try against Glasgow Warriors was named Try of the Season. They finished bottom of Pool 5 in the Champions Cup, winning two and losing four. Out-half Paddy Jackson was leading scorer with 162 points, with Ruan Pienaar contributing 100 points. Charles Piutau and wing Jacob Stockdale were joint leading try scorers with nine each. Sean Reidy was leading tackler with 329.[9]

At the end of the season, Ruan Pienaar departed for Montpellier, and flanker Roger Wilson retired with a record 221 appearances. Charles Piutau was Ulster's Player of the Season.

Staff[]

Position Name Nationality
Chief executive officer Shane Logan  Ireland
Director of Rugby Les Kiss  Australia
Head Coach Neil Doak  Ireland
Operation Director Bryn Cunningham  Ireland
Assistant Coach Allen Clarke  Ireland
Assistant Coach Joe Barakat  Australia
Head of Strength & Conditioning Jonny Davis  Ireland
Strength & Conditioning Coach Kevin Geary  Ireland

Squad[]

Senior squad[]

Ulster Rugby squad[23][24]

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.[25][26]
  • Irish Provinces are currently limited to four non-Irish eligible (NIE) players and one non-Irish qualified player (NIQ or "Project Player").[27]

Academy squad[]

Position[28] Name Nationality
Head Coach Kieran Campbell  Ireland
Strength & Conditioning Coach Matthew Maguire  Ireland
Strength & Conditioning Coach Matthew Godfrey  Ireland
Strength & Conditioning Coach Amy Davis  Ireland
Representative Team Performance Manager Michael Black  Ireland
Talent Development Officer Jonny Gillespie  Ireland
Elite Player Development Officer/Head Coach Ulster 'A' Alex Codling  Ireland
Elite Player Development Officer James Topping  Ireland
Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach David Drake  Ireland
Ulster Rugby Academy squad[29]

Props

Hookers

Locks

  • Ireland Alex Thompson (3)

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

  • Ireland Andy McGrath (2)

Centres

  • Ireland Rory Butler (1)

Wings

Fullbacks

(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.

European Rugby Champions Cup[]

Main article: 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup
Team
 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
France Clermont (1) 6 5 0 1 211 131 +80 26 18 5 1 26
France Bordeaux Bègles 6 3 0 3 118 120 –2 11 13 1 1 14
England Exeter Chiefs 6 2 0 4 110 146 –36 13 16 2 2 12
Ireland Ulster 6 2 0 4 131 173 –42 16 19 1 1 10
16 October 2016
14:00
Bordeaux Bègles France 28–13 Ireland Ulster
Try: 74' m
Penalty try 77' c
Connor 79' c
Con: Beauxis (2/3) 77', 79'
Pen: Madigan (2/2) 3', 45'
Beauxis (1/1) 54'
 Report[30]
Highlights 		Try: Trimble 21' c
Con: Jackson (1/1) 21'
Pen: Jackson (2/2) 39', 57'
Stade Chaban-Delmas
Attendance: 21,132
Referee: JP Doyle (RFU)
22 October 2016
19:45
Ulster Ireland 19–18 England Exeter Chiefs (1 BP)
Try: Reidy 31' c
Con: Jackson (1/1) 31'
Pen: Jackson (3/3) 5', 49', 71'
Drop: Jackson (1/1) 78'
 Report[31] Pen: Steenson (5/5) 7', 29', 51', 67', 74'
Drop: Steenson (1/2) 77'
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 16,843
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (FFR)
10 December 2016
13:00
(1 BP) Ulster Ireland 39–32 France Clermont (2 BP)
Try: Marshall (2) 6' c, 44' c
Henderson 15' m
Jackson 34' c
Piutau 53' c
Con: Jackson (4/5) 6', 35', 46', 54'
Pen: Jackson (2/2) 21', 57',
 Report[32] Try: Yato 1' c
Spedding 30' m
Abendanon 62' c
Chouly 73' c
Con: Parra (3/4) 2', 62', 73'
Pen: Parra (2/2) 9', 26'
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 16,316
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
18 December 2016
16:15
(1 BP) Clermont France 38–19 Ireland Ulster
Try: Toeava 1' c
Abendanon (2) 17' c, 23' c
Lopez 41' c
Penalty try 77' c
Con: Parra (4/4) 2', 19', 24', 42'
Lopez (1/1) 78'
Pen: Lopez (1/1) 69'
 Report[33] Try: Bowe (2) 56' c, 65' m
Van der Merwe 61' c
Con: Jackson (2/3) 57', 61'
Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin
Attendance: 18,739
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
15 January 2017
17:30
(1 BP) Exeter Chiefs England 31–19 Ireland Ulster
Try: Campagnaro (2) 20' m, 53' m
Waldrom (2) 29' c, 50' c
Penalty try 70' c
Con: Steenson (3/5) 29', 50', 71'
 Report[34] Try: Reidy 2' m
Piutau (2) 33' c, 59' c
Con: Jackson (2/3) 34', 60'
Sandy Park
Attendance: 10,671
Referee: Romain Poite (FFR)
21 January 2017
13:00
(1 BP) Ulster Ireland 22–26 France Bordeaux Bègles
Try: Trimble 18' m
Van der Merwe 27' c
Cave 58' c
Con: Jackson (2/3) 29', 58'
Pen: Jackson (1/2) 40'
 Report[35] Try: Lesgourgues 11' c
Tauleigne 22' c
Con: Madigan (2/2) 13', 23'
Pen: Madigan (2/2) 1', 31'
Hickey (2/2) 70', 74'
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 14,924
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)

Pro12[]

Main article: 2016–17 Pro12
2016–17 Pro12 · · discuss
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
1 Ireland Munster (RU) 22 19 0 3 602 316 +286 77 34 9 1 86
2 Ireland Leinster (SF) 22 18 0 4 674 390 +284 91 47 12 1 85
3 Wales Scarlets (CH) 22 17 0 5 537 359 +178 66 40 9 0 77
4 Wales Ospreys (SF) 22 14 0 8 556 360 +196 74 42 10 3 69
5 Ireland Ulster 22 14 1 7 521 371 +150 68 47 6 4 68
6 Scotland Glasgow Warriors 22 11 0 11 540 464 +76 72 53 9 5 58
7 Wales Cardiff Blues 22 11 1 10 508 498 +10 59 60 3 4 53
8 Ireland Connacht 22 9 0 13 413 498 −85 47 61 5 3 44
9 Scotland Edinburgh 22 6 0 16 400 491 −91 46 59 1 6 31
10 Italy Benetton Treviso 22 5 0 17 316 664 −348 35 92 1 2 23
11 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons 22 4 0 18 368 569 −201 38 71 1 6 23
12 Italy Zebre 22 3 0 19 318 773 −455 38 105 1 6 19
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[36]
  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 (rows 1 to 4) are play-off places and earn a place in the 2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup.
Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places that earn a place in the European Rugby Champions Cup.
Yellow background advances to a play-off for a chance to compete in the Champions Cup.[37]
(Q) indicates team has qualified for the play-offs and has qualified for the 2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup.
2 September 2016
19:35
(1 BP) Ulster Ireland 29–8 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons
Try: Lyttle (2) 21' c, 65' m
Stockdale 26' m
Pienaar 43' m
Herring 71' c
Con: Pienaar (2/5)
 Report[38]
Highlights 		Try: Howard 11' m
Pen: Macleod (1/1) 5'
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 13,789
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
10 September 2016
20:05
Benetton Treviso Italy 11–22 Ireland Ulster
Try: Benvenuti 80' m
Pen: Allan (2/2) 29', 37'
 Report[39]
Highlights 		Try: Marshall 4' c
Herring 54' m
Pienaar 58' c
Con: Pienaar (2/3) 4', 58'
Pen: Pienaar (1/1) 30'
Stadio Comunale di Monigo
Attendance: 2,800
Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU)
16 September 2016
19:05
Ulster Ireland 19–8 Wales Scarlets
Try: Ludik 18' m
Henderson 79' m
Pen: Jackson (3/3) 9', 16', 70'
 Report[40]
Highlights 		Try: Boyde 74' m
Pen: Patchell (1/2) 47'
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 13,663
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
23 September 2016
19:35
(1 BP) Glasgow Warriors Scotland 17–22 Ireland Ulster
Try: Reid 19' c
Seymour 57' c
Con: Russell (2/2) 19', 57'
Pen: Russell (1/1) 48'
 Report[41]
Highlights 		Try: Cave 16' m
Penalty try 39' c
Jackson 62' c
Con: Jackson (2/3) 39', 62'
Pen: Jackson (1/1) 6'
Scotstoun Stadium
Attendance: 7,351
Referee: (WRU)
1 October 2016
18:30
Ulster Ireland 9–7 Wales Ospreys (1 BP)
Pen: Jackson (3/5) 28', 44', 79'
 Report[42]
Ospreys 		Try: Smith 5' c
Con: Biggar (1/1)
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 15,767
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
7 October 2016
19:35
(1 BP) Connacht Ireland 30–25 Ireland Ulster (1 BP)
Try: Carty 2' c
Kelleher (2) 23' m, 52' m
Connolly 25' c
Con: Carty (2/4)
Pen: Carty (2/2) 37', 59'
 Report[43]
Highlights 		Try: Gilroy 33' m
Best 41' c
Payne 44' c
Con: Jackson (2/3)
Pen: Jackson (2/2) 5', 65'
Galway Sportsgrounds
Attendance: 6,194
Referee: (IRFU)
28 October 2016
19:35
(1 BP) Ulster Ireland 14–15 Ireland Munster
Try: Piutau 4' c
Lyttle 34' c
Con: Jackson (2/2) 5', 35'
 Report[44]
Highlights 		Try: Scannell 40' m
Taute 63' c
Con: Scannell (1/2) 64'
Drop: Scannell (1/1) 74'
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 17,629
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
4 November 2016
19:35
Edinburgh Scotland 28–17 Ireland Ulster
Try: Mata 3' c
Hoyland 10' m
Bradbury 47' c
Con: Tovey (2/3) 3', 47'
Pen: Kinghorn (1/1) 17'
Weir (2/2) 29', 35'
 Report[45] Try: 67' c
Stockdale 72' c
Con: Pienaar (2/2) 67', 72'
Pen: Pienaar (1/1) 26'
Murrayfield Stadium
Attendance: 3,556
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
3 December 2016
17:15
Cardiff Blues Wales 22–35 Ireland Ulster (1 BP)
Try: Dacey 40' m
Halaholo 70' c
Cuthbert 74' c
Con: Robinson (2/3) 70', 74'
Pen: Shingler (1/1) 5'
 Report[46]
Highlights 		Try: Piutau 25' c
McCloskey 29' c
McCall 37' c
Henry 62' c
Ludik 75' c
Con: Pienaar (5/5) 25', 29', 37', 62', 75'
BT Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 6,010
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
23 December 2016
19:35
Ulster Ireland 23–7 Ireland Connacht
Try: McCloskey 26' c
Ross 52' c
Con: Jackson (2/2) 28', 53'
Pen: Jackson (3/3) 20', 36', 67'
 Report[47]
Highlights 		Try: Carty 55'
Con: Carty (1/1) 56'
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 17,613
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
31 December 2016
15:00
Leinster Ireland 22–7 Ireland Ulster
Try: O'Loughlin (2) 6' c, 41' m
L. McGrath 32' c
Con: Nacewa (2/3) 7', 33'
Pen: Nacewa (1/1) 17'
 Report[48]
Highlights 		Try: Piutau 76' c
Con: Pienaar (1/1) 76'
RDS Arena
Attendance: 18,200
Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)
6 January 2017
19:35
Scarlets Wales 16–13 Ireland Ulster (1 BP)
Try: Penalty try 61' c
Con: D. Jones (1/1) 61'
Pen: D. Jones (3/3) 10', 13', 52'
 Report[49] Try: Stockdale 20' c
Con: Jackson (1/1) 21'
Pen: Jackson (2/2) 16', 40'
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 6,593
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
10 February 2017
19:35
(1 BP) Ulster Ireland 24–18 Scotland Edinburgh (1 BP)
Try: P. Marshall 10' c
Cave 19' m
Ludik 27' m
Stockdale 33' c
Con: Nelson (2/4) 10', 33'
 Report[50]
Highlights 		Try: Bradbury 2' m
McInally 36' m
Hoyland 58' m
Pen: Hidalgo-Clyne (1/1) 65'
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 15,462
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
18 February 2017
15:00
(1 BP) Ulster Ireland 37–17 Scotland Glasgow Warriors
Try: Bowe 22' m
Penalty try 33' c
Stockdale (2) 49' c, 78' c
Pienaar 53' m
Con: Pienaar (3/5) 33', 49', 78'
Pen: Pienaar (2/2) 10', 45'
 Report[51]
Highlights 		Try: Thomson 40' m
Cummings (2) 69' m, 74' c
Con: Thomson (1/3) 74'
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 16,545
Referee: (WRU)
26 February 2017
13:30
Zebre Italy 17–40 Ireland Ulster (1 BP)
Try: Palazzani 17' c
Bellini 59' c
Con: Palazzani (2/2) 17', 59'
Pen: Palazzani (1/1) 36'
 Report[52]
Highlights 		Try: Henry 7' c
Pienaar 14' c
Olding 45' c
Stockdale 51' c
Diack 71' c
Busby 78' m
Con: Pienaar (5/6) 7', 14', 45', 51', 71'
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: (IRFU)
3 March 2017
19:35
Ulster Ireland 19–7 Italy Benetton Treviso
Try: Payne 20' c
Reidy 52' c
Piutau 57' m
Con: Pienaar (2/3) 21', 53'
 Report[53]
Highlights 		Try: Paulo 70' c
Con: (1/1) 70'
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 15,196
Referee: (WRU)
11 March 2017
18:05
(1 BP) Ulster Ireland 68–21 Italy Zebre
Try: L. Marshall (2) 6' c, 14' c
Pienaar 17' c
Piutau (2) 25' c, 46' c
Stockdale 30' c
Gilroy 43' m
Andrew 53' c
Olding 68' c
P. Marshall 71' c
Con: Pienaar (6/7) 7', 15', 18', 26', 31', 45'
Olding (3/3) 54', 69', 72'
 Report[54]
Highlights 		Try: De Marchi 12' c
Roan 66' c
Greeff 75' c
Con: (1/1) 12'
Palazzani (2/2) 67', 76'
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 16,483
Referee: (WRU)
24 March 2017
19:35
Newport Gwent Dragons Wales 17–27 Ireland Ulster
Try: Landman 48' c
Griffiths 67' c
Con: O'Brien (2/2) 48', 67'
Pen: O'Brien (1/1) 13'
 Report[55] Try: Gilroy 8' c
Payne 59' c
Andrew 79' c
Con: Pienaar (2/2) 8', 59'
Jackson 79'
Pen: Pienaar (1/1) 34'
Jackson (1/1) 74'
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 4,877
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
7 April 2017
19:35
Ulster Ireland 24–24 Wales Cardiff Blues
Try: Jackson 10' c
Penalty try 27' c
L. Marshall 68' c
Con: Jackson (3/3) 11', 27', 69'
Pen: Jackson (1/1) 56'
 Report[56]
Highlights 		Try: Warburton 22' c
Lee-Lo (2) 46' c, 59' c
Con: Anscombe (3/3) 23', 47', 60'
Pen: Anscombe (1/1) 8'
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 15,752
Referee: (WRU)
15 April 2017
15:00
Munster Ireland 22–20 Ireland Ulster (1 BP)
Try: Lloyd 6' c
Earls 61' m
O'Callaghan 69' c
Con: Keatley (1/1) 7'
Bleyendaal (1/2) 71'
Pen: Keatley (1/1) 36'
 Report[57]
Highlights 		Try: Best 3' c
L. Marshall 64' c
Con: Jackson (2/2) 4', 65'
Pen: Jackson (2/3) 13', 52'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 20,047
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
29 April 2017
15:00
Ospreys Wales 24–10 Ireland Ulster
Try: Habberfield 8' c
Ardron 40' c
Leonard 79' c
Con: Biggar (3/3) 9', 41', 79'
Pen: Biggar (1/1) 25'
 Highlights Try: Stockdale 80' c
Con: Jackson (1/1) 80'
Pen: Jackson (1/1) 19'
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 8,168
Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)
6 May 2017
17:15
Ulster Ireland 17–13 Ireland Leinster (1 BP)
Try: Wilson 9' c
Trimble 55' c
Con: Jackson (2/2) 10', 56'
Pen: Jackson (1/1) 41'
 Highlights Try: Penalty try 62' c
Con: Carbery (1/1) 62'
Pen: Carbery (2/2) 4', 23'
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 17,676
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

End of season awards[]

Charles Piutau was named Players' Player of the Season, [58] and the left winger on the Pro12 Dream Team.[59]

Ulster A[]

British and Irish Cup[]

Main article: 2016–17 British and Irish Cup

Pool 1[]

Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
Jersey Jersey Reds 6 5 0 1 181 94 87 3 0 23
Ireland Ulster A 6 4 0 2 153 124 29 2 2 20
England London Scottish 6 2 0 4 134 157 −23 2 2 12
Wales Cardiff Blues Premiership Select 6 1 0 5 104 197 −93 0 3 7
Source: Updated: 10 March 2017
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 2016
19:00
Ulster A 19 – 6 Jersey Reds
Report
Shaw's Bridge, Belfast
Attendance: 200
Referee: Dewi Phillips
22 October 2016
14:30
(BP) London Scottish 34 – 29 Ulster A (2BP)
Report
Athletic Ground
Attendance: 906
Referee: Gareth Newman
9 December 2016
17:00
Ulster A 16 – 10 Cardiff Blues Premiership Select (BP)
Report
Eaton Park, Ballymena
Attendance: 1,301
Referee: Veryan Boscawen
17 December 2016
14:30
(BP) Cardiff Blues premiership Select 27 – 30 Ulster A
Report
Sardis Road, Pontypridd
Attendance: 325
Referee: Hamish Smales
13 January 2017
19:00
(BP) Ulster A 38 – 21 London Scottish
Report
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 4,813
Referee: Joy Neville
21 January 2017
14:00
(BP) Jersey Reds 26 – 21 Ulster A (BP)
Report
St Peter
Attendance: 1,406
Referee: Craig Evans

Quarter-finals[]

12 March 2017
15:00
Munster A 26 - 3 Ulster A
Report
Irish Independent Park, Cork
Attendance: 800
Referee: Fergus Kirby

Ulster Rugby Awards[]

The Heineken Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held at Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School, Belfast, on 6 May 2017. Winners were:[60]

  • Bank of Ireland Ulster Player of the Year: Charles Piutau
  • Heineken Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: Ruan Pienaar
  • BT Young Player of the Year: Jacob Stockdale
  • Rugby Writers Player of the Year: Sean Reidy
  • Ulster Rugby Supporters Club Player of the Year: Ruan Pienaar
  • Abbey Insurance Academy Player of the Year: Ross Kane

Roger Wilson was given a special award for retiring as the province's most capped player, with 221 appearances. Honours caps were awarded for appearance milestones to Tommy Bowe (150), Chris Henry (150), Luke Marshall (100) and Rob Herring (100).

The Danske Bank Schools Player of the Year was won by Michael Lowry of RBAI, beating nominees James Hume (RBAI) and Stewart Moore (Ballymena Academy).

Season reviews[]

References[]

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  2. ^ "Rob Herring named as Ulster captain during World Cup". Ulster Rugby. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  3. ^ Tom Hamilton, "IRFU rules force Springboks star Ruan Pienaar to leave Ulster", ESPN, 31 August 2016
  4. ^ "Ulster Rugby assistant coach Joe Barakat to leave in December", Belfast Telegraph, 21 September 2016
  5. ^ Jonathan Bradley, "All Black Jono Gibbes joins Ulster in coaching role", Belfast Telegraph, 13 February 2017
  6. ^ Jonathan Bradley, "Doak plans to end 23 years at Kingspan with a flourish", Belfast Telegraph, 5 April 2017
  7. ^ URC Player Statistics, accessed 28 May 2022
  8. ^ URC Team Statistics, retrieved 28 May 2022
  9. ^ "Ulster Rugby: Who did what 2016 – 2017", The Front Row Union, 17 May 2017
  10. ^ "All-Black utility back Charles Piutau confirm move to Ulster". BBC Sport. 1 April 2015.
  11. ^ "Connacht and Ireland tighthead prop Rodney Ah You to join Ulster". BBC Sport. 18 January 2016.
  12. ^ "Ulster have signed Irish-qualified England Under-20 lock Kieran Treadwell". BBC Sport. 22 January 2016.
  13. ^ "Springboks back row Marcell Coetzee agrees Ulster move". Sky Sports. 11 February 2016.
  14. ^ "Bath fly-half Brett Herron signs professionally for Ulster". BBC Sport. 6 April 2016.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b "Ulster sign Dubling Trinity scrum-half Angus Lloyd". Ulster Rugby. 20 July 2016.
  16. ^ "Ulster sign Georgia prop Anton Peikrishvili from CA Brive". Sky Sports. 1 September 2016.
  17. ^ "Nick Williams: Cardiff Blues sign Ulster number eight". BBC Sport. 23 December 2015.
  18. ^ "Munster sign Ulster prospect centre Sam Arnold". Independent.ie. 4 February 2016.
  19. ^ "Edinburgh sign Ulster winger Rory Scholes". BBC Sport. 2 March 2016.
  20. ^ "Ulster fly-half Ian Humphreys announces retirement at end of season". BBC Sport. 8 March 2016.
  21. ^ "Bristol sign Ireland and Ulster lock Dan Tuohy". Bristol Post. 6 December 2016.[permanent dead link]
  22. ^ "Ulster release fly-half Windsor and call up Patterson". Belfast Live. 15 December 2016.
  23. ^ Adam McKendry, "Ulster Rugby squad 2016/17", Belfast Live, 24 November 2016
  24. ^ Appearances and scoring stats from ItsRugby.co.uk
  25. ^ "Ulster First Team". Ulster Rugby. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  26. ^ "Squad confirmed for 2019/20 season". Ulster Rugby. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  27. ^ "Not all rules are made to be broken". Irish Independent. 4 September 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2018. Ireland's set-up demands a maximum of five NIEs - one of whom is a project player
  28. ^ "Academy Management", Ulster Rugby, archived 19 December 2016
  29. ^ "Hughes Insurance Academy Squad", Ulster Rugby, archived 16 December 2016
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  31. ^ "European Rugby Champions Cup (EPCR)". epcrugby.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
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