2017–18 Ulster Rugby season

Ulster Rugby

2017–18 season
Head Coach	Jono Gibbes
Director of Rugby	Les Kiss
Captain	Rory Best
Pro14	4th in Conference B
European Rugby Champions Cup	3rd in Pool 1
Top try scorer	All: Craig Gilroy (11)
Top points scorer	All: John Cooney (225)
Home colours Away colours Third colours
← 2016–17 2018–19 →

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. Rory Best was captain. They competed in the inaugural Pro14 (successor competition to the Pro12) and the European Rugby Champions Cup.

After the departure of Neil Doak, Jono Gibbes joined Ulster as head coach, with Dwayne Peel joining him as assistant coach, replacing Allen Clarke, who had left to join the coaching staff at Ospreys. Aaron Dundon joined as scrum coach, with Niall Malone remaining as skills coach.

Out-half Paddy Jackson and centre Stuart Olding were charged with rape and suspended from playing pending trial (both would be acquitted, but have their contracts revoked). Australian out-half Christian Lealiifano was signed on a five-month loan to cover. Rory Best was restored to the captaincy. The IRFU had blocked South African scrum-half Ruan Pienaar extending his contract as part of their restrictions on foreign players, and he left for Montpellier. John Cooney was signed from Connacht to replace him. 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.

After a poor run of form, with eighteen tries conceded in four matches over the Christmas period, Director of Rugby Les Kiss left in January, with Gibbes assuming all coaching responsibility of the team for the remainder of the season. Ulster finished third in Pool 1 of the Champions Cup, failing to qualify for the knockout stage. They finished fourth of seven in Conference B of the Pro14, failing to qualify for the playoffs, and having to beat Ospreys in a playoff to qualify for next season's Champions Cup. Gibbes cut short his contract at the end of the season. Former Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll described the province as "a bit of a basket case", facing "Administration issues, senior players retiring, the well documented court case, now no number 10 to build the team around, no coach next year, struggling for Champions Cup rugby next season."

Academy flanker Nick Timoney had a breakthrough season, making twenty appearances and scoring five tries. John Cooney was Ulster's leading scorer with 225 points; he was the Pro14's top scorer with 175 points, and made the Pro14 Dream Team. Wing Craig Gilroy was the team's leading try scorer with eleven. Lock Alan O'Connor was leading tackler with 226. John Cooney was Ulster's Player of the Year.

This was fullback Charles Piutau's last season with Ulster: he moved to Bristol Bears at the end of the season. Wings Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble and flanker Chris Henry retired. Centre Jared Payne also retired as a player, and was appointed defence coach.

Staff

Position	Name	Nationality
Chief executive officer	Shane Logan	Ireland
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

Senior squad

Players In

• John Cooney from Connacht
• Schalk van der Merwe from Southern Kings
• Jean Deysel from Sharks
• Christian Lealiifano from Brumbies

Players Out

• Roger Wilson retired
• Conor Joyce to Jersey Reds
• Mark Best to Jersey Reds
• Jonny Murphy to Rotherham Titans
• Ruan Pienaar to Montpellier
• John Donnan released
• Lorcan Dow released
• Ricky Lutton released
• Stephen Mulholland released

Ulster Rugby squad
Props Wiehahn Herbst* (18 apps, 14 starts, 5 pts) Callum Black (17 apps, 12 starts) Ross Kane (promoted from academy, 12 apps, 5 starts) Rodney Ah You (17 apps, 7 starts) Kyle McCall (13 apps, 7 starts) Tom O'Toole (5 apps, 2 starts) Schalk van der Merwe (4 apps, 2 starts) Andrew Warwick (6 apps, 1 start) Johnny Simpson (1 app) Tommy O'Hagan (promoted from academy, no apps) Hookers Rob Herring (22 apps, 14 starts) Rory Best (c) (10 apps, 7 starts, 15 pts) John Andrew (4 apps, 2 starts, 10 pts) Adam McBurney (3 apps) Locks Alan O'Connor (24 apps, 21 starts, 10 pts) Kieran Treadwell (23 apps, 19 starts, 10 pts) Iain Henderson (15 apps, 14 starts, 5 pts) Peter Browne* (9 apps, 8 starts) Matthew Dalton (8 apps, 2 starts)	Back row Sean Reidy (22 apps, 18 starts, 20 pts) Nick Timoney (20 apps, 17 starts, 25 pts) Jean Deysel (13 apps, 13 starts) Matty Rea (18 apps, 11 starts) Chris Henry (18 apps, 8 starts) Robbie Diack (13 apps, 6 starts, 5 pts) Clive Ross (7 apps, 6 starts, 5 pts) Greg Jones (4 apps, 2 starts) Marcell Coetzee (1 app, 1 start) Aaron Hall (1 app, 1 start) Scrum-halves John Cooney (25 apps, 22 starts, 226 pts) Aaron Cairns (promoted from academy, 8 apps, 5 starts, 5 pts) Paul Marshall (10 apps, 3 starts, 5 pts) David Shanahan (5 apps, 1 start) Johnny Stewart (4 apps, 1 start) Fly-halves Christian Lealiifano (17 apps, 17 starts, 47 pts) Johnny McPhillips (12 apps, 9 starts, 19 pts) Brett Herron* (3 apps, 1 start, 2 pts) Paddy Jackson (no apps)	Centres Stuart McCloskey (25 apps, 25 starts, 35 pts) Luke Marshall (16 apps, 12 starts) Darren Cave (17 apps, 10 starts, 22 pts) Callum Patterson (6 apps, 6 starts, 5 pts) Stuart Olding (no apps) Jared Payne (no apps) Wings Jacob Stockdale (19 apps, 18 starts, 50 pts) Craig Gilroy (12 apps, 12 starts, 55 pts) Tommy Bowe (18 apps, 11 starts, 15 pts) Andrew Trimble (12 apps, 9 starts, 30 pts) Rob Lyttle (promoted from academy, 6 apps, 2 starts, 20 pts) David Busby (promoted from academy, 2 apps) Jack Owens (promoted from academy, no apps) Fullbacks Charles Piutau (22 apps, 22 starts, 15 pts) Louis Ludik* (24 apps, 19 starts, 5 pts) Peter Nelson (10 apps, 3 starts, 20 pts)
(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.

• 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").

Academy squad

Players joining the academy this year were out-half Michael Lowry and centre James Hume, from RBAI's three-time Schools' Cup-winning team; prop Tom O'Toole from Campbell College; lock/back row Matthew Dalton, from BRA, hooker Alexander Clarke (son of former Ulster hooker and assistant coach Allen Clarke), from Ballymena Academy; flanker Joe Dunleavy, from City of Derry R.F.C.; lock John McCusker, from Rainey Old Boys R.F.C.; lock Jack Regan; flanker Greg Jones and prop Eric O'Sullivan. Wing Robert Baloucoune and scrum-half Graham Curtis joined later in the season.

Position	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
Props Peter Cooper (3) Eric O'Sullivan (1) Tom O'Toole (1) (5 apps, 2 starts) Hookers Alexander Clarke (1) Adam McBurney (2) (3 apps) Zack McCall (2) Locks Matthew Dalton (1) (8 apps, 2 starts) John McCusker (1) Jack Regan (1)	Back row Joe Dunleavy (1) Aaron Hall (2) (1 app, 1 start) Marcus Rea (2) Nick Timoney (3) (20 apps, 17 starts, 25 pts) Greg Jones (1) (4 apps, 2 starts) Scrum-halves Johnny Stewart (2) (4 apps, 1 start) Graham Curtis (1) Fly-halves Angus Curtis (2) (2 apps) Michael Lowry (1)	Centres Rory Butler (2) James Hume (1) Wings Robert Baloucoune (1) 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.

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)	6	4	0	2	156	121	+35	18	17	3	1	20
Wasps	6	3	0	3	154	121	+33	21	15	4	1	17
Ulster	6	4	0	2	132	118	+14	15	15	1	0	17
Harlequins	6	1	0	5	106	188	–82	15	22	2	1	7

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)

Ulster lineup

• 1. Kyle McCall, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 4. Kieran Treadwell, 5. Iain Henderson, 6. Robbie Diack, 7. Sean Reidy, 8. Jean Deysel, 9. John Cooney, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Jacob Stockdale, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 13. Luke Marshall, 14. Louis Ludik, 15. Charles Piutau. Replacements: 16. John Andrew, 17. Callum Black, 18. Rodney Ah You (for Herbst 64), 19. Matthew Rea, 20. Clive Ross (for Deysel 64), 21. Paul Marshall (for Cooney 64), 22. Peter Nelson, 23. Tommy Bowe (for L. Marshall 68).

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 Highlights	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)

Ulster lineup

• 1. Callum Black, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 4. Kieran Treadwell, 5. Alan O'Connor, 6. Iain Henderson, 7. Chris Henry, 8. Sean Reidy, 9. Paul Marshall, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Tommy Bowe, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 13. Darren Cave, 14. Andrew Trimble, 15. Charles Piutau. Replacements: 16. Rory Best (for Herring 61), 17. Andrew Warwick (for Black 70), 18. Rodney Ah You (for Herbst 52), 19. Robbie Diack (for O'Connor 56), 20. Matty Rea (for Reidy 67), 21. John Cooney (for Lealiifano 47), 22. Luke Marshall (for Cave 64), 23. Jacob Stockdale (for Trimble 52).

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)

Ulster lineup

• 1. Callum Black, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 4. Alan O'Connor, 5. Kieran Treadwell, 6. Iain Henderson, 7. Sean Reidy, 8. Nick Timoney, 9. John Cooney, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Jacob Stockdale, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 13. Tommy Bowe, 14. Craig Gilroy, 15. Charles Piutau. Replacements: 16. John Andrew, 17. Andrew Warwick (for Black 70), 18. Rodney Ah You (for Herbst 63), 19. Matty Rea, 20. Chris Henry (for Treadwell 51), 21. Paul Marshall, 22. Peter Nelson, 23. Louis Ludik (for Bowe 47).

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 Highlights	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)

Ulster lineup

• 1. Callum Black, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 4. Alan O'Connor, 5. Kieran Treadwell, 6. Iain Henderson, 7. Chris Henry, 8. Nick Timoney, 9. John Cooney, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Jacob Stockdale, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 13. Louis Ludik, 14. Craig Gilroy, 15. Charles Piutau. Replacements: 16. John Andrew (for Herring 34-44, 52), 17. Andrew Warwick (for Black 41), 18. Ross Kane (for Herbst 41), 19. Matty Rea (for Treadwell 68), 20. Sean Reidy (for Timoney 55), 21. Paul Marshall (for Cooney 75), 22. Peter Nelson (for Stockdale 65), 23. Andrew Trimble (for Piutau 60).

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)

Ulster lineup

• 1. Callum Black, 2. Rory Best, 3. Rodney Ah You, 4. Alan O'Connor, 5. Iain Henderson, 6. Matty Rea, 7. Sean Reidy, 8. Nick Timoney, 9. John Cooney, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Jacob Stockdale, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 13. Louis Ludik, 14. Craig Gilroy, 15. Charles Piutau. Replacements: 16. Rob Herring (for Best 72), 17. Kyle McCall (for Black 57), 18. Ross Kane (for Ah You 63), 19. Kieran Treadwell (for Rea 57), 20. Chris Henry (for Reidy 63), 21. David Shanahan, 22. Jonny McPhillips (for Lealiifano 72), 23. Darren Cave (for Gilroy 26).

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'	ReportHighlights	Try: Reidy 23' c Con: Cooney (1/1) 24'

Ricoh Arena Attendance: 13,124 Referee: Jérôme Garcès (FFR)

Ulster lineup

• 1. Kyle McCall, 2. Rory Best, 3. Rodney Ah You, 4. Alan O'Connor, 5. Kieran Treadwell, 6. Iain Henderson, 7. Sean Reidy, 8. Nick Timoney, 9. John Cooney, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Jacob Stockdale, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 13. Darren Cave, 14. Louis Ludik, 15. Charles Piutau. Replacements: 16. Rob Herring (for Best 56), 17. Andrew Warwick (for McCall 54), 18. Wiehahn Herbst (for Ah You 50), 19. Matty Rea (for Treadwell 56), 20. Chris Henry (for Timoney 65), 21. David Shanahan (for Lealiifano 72), 22. Jonny McPhillips (for Ludik 32), 23. Rob Lyttle (for Stockdale 17).

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)	21	15	1	5	614	366	+248	81	38	12	2	76
2	Munster (SF)	21	13	1	7	568	361	+207	78	42	10	5	69
3	Cheetahs (QF)	21	12	0	9	609	554	+55	75	68	10	5	63
4	Cardiff Blues	21	11	0	10	502	482	+20	56	59	5	5	54
5	Ospreys	21	9	0	12	390	487	−97	44	60	5	3	44
6	Connacht	21	7	0	14	445	477	−32	53	54	5	6	39
7	Zebre	21	7	0	14	408	593	–185	50	78	4	4	36
Conference B
	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TBP	LBP	PTS
1	Leinster (CH)	21	14	1	6	601	374	+227	83	46	10	2	70
2	Scarlets (RU)	21	14	1	6	528	365	+163	69	43	9	3	70
3	Edinburgh (QF)	21	15	0	6	494	375	+119	62	44	7	1	68
4	Ulster (PO)	21	12	2	7	538	482	+56	68	61	8	2	62
5	Benetton	21	11	0	10	415	451	−36	51	55	6	5	55
6	Dragons	21	2	2	17	378	672	−294	43	94	4	4	20
7	Southern Kings	21	1	0	20	378	829	−451	48	119	4	3	11
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order - number of matches won the difference between points for and points against the number of tries scored the most points scored the difference between tries for and tries against the fewest red cards received 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Highlights	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 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 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 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

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 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 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.

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.

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)	6	5	0	1	143	111	32	3	0	23
Cornish Pirates (Q)	6	4	0	2	162	86	76	3	0	19
Scarlets Premiership Select	6	2	0	4	107	158	-51	1	1	10
Hartpury College	6	1	0	5	124	180	-56	2	2	8
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:

• Bank of Ireland Ulster Player of the Year: John Cooney (nominees: Nick Timoney, Stuart McCloskey)
• Heineken Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: Paul Marshall
• BT Young Player of the Year: Nick Timoney (nominees: Matty Rea, Johnny McPhillips)
• Rugby Writers Player of the Year: John Cooney (nominees: Jacob Stockdale, Nick Timoney)
• Ulster Rugby Supporters Club Player of the Year: John Cooney (nominees: Rory Best, Jacob Stockdale)
• Abbey Insurance Academy Player of the Year: Nick Timoney (nominees: Tom O'Toole, Angus Curtis)
• CD Group Ulster A Player of the Year: Tom O'Toole (nominees: Clive Ross, Matthew Agnew)
• Community Rugby Champions: Patrick Baird, Malone RFC; Noel Brown, Cooke RFC (nominees: Clem Bassett, Ballynahinch RFC; Liam Foley, Bangor RFC)
• Referee of the Year: Chris Busby
• Women's Player of the Year: Larissa Muldoon, Railway Union RFC (nominees: Beth Cregan, Cooke RFC; Brittany Hogan, Cooke RFC)
• U18 Girls Player of the Year: Bethany McDowell, Malone RFC (nominees: Kelly McCormill, Monaghan RFC; Lucinda Kinghan, Monaghan RFC)
• Youth Player of the Year: Conor McMenamin, Letterkenny RFC (nominees: Seif Eldin Abd El Gawad, Carrickfergus RFC; Charlie Clarke, Rainey Old Boys R.F.C.)
• Schools' Player of the Year: Aaron Sexton, Bangor Grammar School (nominees: John McKee, Campbell College; Nathan Doak, Wallace High School)
• Dorrington B Faulkner Award: Mark Orr
• Club Player of the Year: Matthew Agnew, Ballymena RFC (nominees: Andrew Morrison, Banbridge RFC; Peter Cromie, Banbridge RFC)
• Club of the Year: City of Armagh RFC (nominees: Malone RFC, Grosvenor RFC)
• Special Recognition Award: Norman Pollock

Season reviews

• Ulster Rugby: Who did what 2017-18, The Front Row Union, 25 June 2018