2018–19 Ulster Rugby Season
The 2018-19 season was Ulster's 25th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and Dan McFarland's first season as head coach. Rory Best was captain. They competed in the Pro14, making the semi-finals, and the European Rugby Champions Cup, making the quarter-finals. Events Personnel changes After the resignation of Jono Gibbes, Dan McFarland was announced as Ulster's new head coach on 30 April 2018. Initially he was to serve his notice as Scotland's forwards coach and join Ulster in January 2019, with Simon Easterby to act as interim head coach until then. But in August, an agreement was reached with Scotland for McFarland to join Ulster before the new season. Jared Payne, who retired as a player at the end of last season, became the new defence coach. Banbridge head coach Dan Soper joined as skills coach. Shane Logan stepped down as Chief Executive in September 2018, with Jonny Petrie appointed as his successor. There were significant changes to the playing sq ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Ulster Rugby
Ulster Rugby is one of the four professional provincial rugby teams from the island of Ireland. They compete in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup. The team represents the IRFU Ulster Branch, which is one of the four primary branches of the IRFU and is responsible for rugby union throughout the geographical Irish province of Ulster, comprising Northern Ireland ( Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone) and three counties in the Republic of Ireland which are Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan. History Foundation (1868–1879) A number of clubs were operating in Ulster prior to the foundation of the Irish Rugby Football Union and the Ulster branch. The Belfast-based Northern Ireland F.C., founded in 1868, was the earliest club to operate in the province. Clubs from this era still in existence include Dungannon and Queen's University. The first Irish inter-provincial game took place in 1875 between Ulster and Leinster, with Ulster b ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Dan Soper
Daniel Soper is a rugby union coach from New Zealand who has been assistant coach at Ulster since 2021. Born in Alexandra, he played for Otago Sharks, setting a club scoring record of 260 points in 1997, and represented North Otago in the National Provincial Championship. He first came to Northern Ireland in 1998 to play for Banbridge RFC, and had a season in Italy, playing for Petrarca Padova in the 1999–2000 Heineken Cup. Returning to Northern Ireland, he played and coached at Ballynahinch RFC and Banbridge RFC while working as a schoolteacher at Wallace High School, Lisburn, Sullivan Upper School, Ballyclare High School, and Royal Belfast Academical Institution. In club rugby, he coached Ballynahinch to the "grand slam" of the Ulster Senior Cup, the All-Ireland Cup and the Ulster Senior League in 2009. He became head coach of Banbridge in 2010, and led them to two promotions in the All Ireland League. In schools rugby, he coached future Irish international Darren Ca ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Newcastle Falcons
Newcastle Falcons is a rugby union team that play in Premiership Rugby, England's highest division of rugby union. The club was established in 1877 as the Gosforth Football Club. Around 1882 the club merged with the Northumberland Football Club and briefly assumed their name until 1887. In 1990, the name was changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1996, following the start of professionalism the club briefly adopted the name Newcastle Rugby Club before adopting its current name. Newcastle has won 5 major titles. They won the Premiership in 1998 and four domestic cups in 1976, 1977, 2001 and 2004. Newcastle was the only English club of Jonny Wilkinson, where he played from 1997 to 2009, and as well as Wilkinson in 2003 Newcastle saw three players in the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final with Mathew Tait starting and Toby Flood appearing from the bench. Mark Wilson played in the 2019 Rugby Wo ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Rodney Ah You
Rodney Ah You (born 27 October 1988) is a New Zealand born Irish rugby union player. Ah You's primary position is as a prop, and he can play at both tighthead and loosehead. He currently plays for French side Rugby Club Vannes in the Rugby Pro D2. Ah You has represented Ireland at full international level. After qualifying for Ireland in October 2013 through residency, he made his debut on 7 June 2014 against . Career Club Early career At a young age Ah You's primary sporting interest was boxing, only taking up rugby at the age of 16. He started out playing as a back row forward, but credits former Crusaders player Dave Hewett with his move to the front row. Ah You progressed quickly in the sport, being capped by the Canterbury senior team before he had turned 20, and playing at under-age level for New Zealand. Ah You did not make the step up to Super Rugby level, however, and had not been called up for the Crusaders team by the time he left Canterbury for Connacht. Connach ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Worcester Warriors
Worcester Warriors Rugby Football Club is a professional rugby union club, based in Worcester, England, that is currently in Administration (law), administration and which has been suspended and will be relegated from Premiership Rugby, the top division of domestic rugby. Founded in 1871, in 1975 they moved to their most recent home, Sixways Stadium, located to the north of the city. The team colours are gold and blue. Placed in the eighth tier of English rugby with the advent of the English rugby union league competition, the club were able to build a strong team due to extensive financial support from their backer and chairman Cecil Duckworth, being promoted repeatedly through the league system. Worcester were first promoted to the highest tier, the Premiership in 2004, and returned there on two occasions following relegation to the RFU Championship. Worcester won one major trophy, the 2021-22 Premiership Rugby Cup, 2022 Premiership Cup, and won the RFU Championship, se ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Callum Black
Callum Black (born 25 February 1986) is an American-born Irish former rugby union player for Worcester Warriors in the English Premiership. He plays as a loosehead prop. Black was born in Washington, D.C. in the United States, and raised in England where he attended Hartpury College. He joined the Worcester Warriors academy straight from College and joined the senior squad towards the end of the 2008–09 season. He enjoyed loan spells at both Otley and Plymouth during his time with the Worcester Warriors. He joined Ulster for the 2011/12 season. On 8 February 2018, Black resigned for Worcester Warriors back in the Aviva Premiership Premiership Rugby, officially known as Gallagher Premiership Rugby, or the Gallagher Premiership for sponsorship reasons, is an English professional rugby union competition. The Premiership has consisted of thirteen clubs since 2021, and is the ... from the 2018-19 season. Black is Irish-qualified through his paternal grandfather, who was origin ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Bristol Bears
Bristol Bears (officially Bristol Rugby Club or Bristol Rugby) are a professional rugby union club based in Bristol, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby. The club was founded as Bristol Football Club in 1888; between 1921 and 2014, home matches were played at the Memorial Ground, since when they have been played at Ashton Gate Stadium in the south-west of the city. The current head coach is Pat Lam who was appointed in 2017. In the 2021-22 Premiership Rugby season Bristol finished 10th entitling them to compete in the 2022-23 European Rugby Challenge Cup. In 2018, the club rebranded as Bristol Bears; between 2001 and 2005 the club were known as Bristol Shoguns due to a sponsorship deal with Mitsubishi. Bristol won the 1983 John Player Cup and have also won England's second division four times, most recently in 2017–18. In 2019-2020, Bristol won The European Challenge Cup for the first time. History Formation and early history ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Charles Piutau
Salesi Tu'ipulotu "Charles" Piutau (born 31 October 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays in the fullback (and occasionally wing) position for England club Bristol Bears in the Premiership, and formerly for New Zealand's national team the All Blacks. Early life Piutau was born in New Zealand, from Tongan parents. He grew up on the Auckland suburb of Mangere and attended Wesley College. He is the youngest of 10 children. Rugby playing career Junior level In 2010, Piutau represented Tonga at the IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina. Piutau was the top try scorer for the New Zealand Under-20s in their 2011 World Championship winning campaign. Charles played club rugby for Pakuranga United Rugby Club. He is the younger brother of Bristol Bears centre Siale Piutau. Club career Piutau made his debut for Auckland in 2010. He was brought into the Blues squad in 2012 and confirmed as fullback in 2014. On 1 April 2015, it was announced Piutau would join Irish ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Chris Henry (rugby Union)
Chris Henry (born 17 October 1984) is a former Irish rugby union rugby player. He played for Ulster and Ballymena Rugby Club. He was educated at the Wallace High School in Lisburn before going to Queen's University Belfast. In November 2009, he was named in Ireland's 39-man squad for the 2009 end of year rugby tests and again in the squad for the 2010 mid-year rugby test series when he received his first cap vs Australia. In November 2014, Henry suffered a temporary blockage of a small blood vessel in his brain before Ireland were due to play South Africa in the end-of-year international series. Honours Ireland A *Churchill Cup: **Winner (1): 2009 Ireland *Six Nations Championship: 2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ... References External linksUlster ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Jean Deysel
Jean Roy Deysel (born 5 March 1985 in Virginia, Free State, South Africa) is a former professional rugby union player who most recently played for Ulster in the Pro14. Deysel signed a two-year contract to join Japanese side Toyota Verblitz at the conclusion of the 2014 Super Rugby season. On 16 March 2017, it was announced that Deysel had joined Irish Pro12 side Munster on a three-month loan as injury cover for his compatriot Jean Kleyn. On 8 April 2017, Deysel made his debut for Munster when he started against Scottish side Glasgow Warriors in a 2016–17 Pro12 fixture. Munster won 10–7, with Deysel being replaced by Peter O'Mahony in the 42nd minute. On 22 April 2017, Deysel made his European debut when he replaced Tommy O'Donnell in Munster's 2016–17 semi-final defeat at the hands of defending champions Saracens in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. On 27 May 2017, Deysel made his final appearance for Munster when he came off the bench against Scarlets in the 2017 Pro12 Grand Fin ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Peter Browne (rugby Union)
Peter Browne (born 25 October 1987) was a professional rugby union player, having most recently played for Ulster Rugby, having left London Welsh at the end of the 2014–15 season. He was previously at Harlequins and Newcastle Falcons. Educated at Dean Close School, Cheltenham, Browne went on to become a theology student at Durham University. Browne made his first team debut for the Newcastle Falcons against London Wasps during the 2007/8 season. Capped by England Students that same year, he can play at either back row ( Number eight) and second row (Lock). He is also eligible to play for Ireland through his father, Rev. The Reverend is an honorific style most often placed before the names of Christian clergy and ministers. There are sometimes differences in the way the style is used in different countries and church traditions. ''The Reverend'' is correctly ... Leonard Browne who is the current Headmaster of Dean Close Preparatory School. On Tuesday 16 October 201 ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Paul Marshall (rugby Union)
Paul Marshall (born 26 July 1985) is a former Irish rugby union player who was educated at Methodist College Belfast. Ulster Paul Joined Ulster at the beginning of the 2006/2007 on a full contract having graduated from the Ulster Academy. His first senior game was against Newport Gwent Dragons on November 9, 2006, coming on as a substitute. He used to play scrum-half for Ulster and is a former captain of the Ulster U21 rugby team. In early January 2012 Paul signed a new 2-year contract extension with Ulster. He was named Most Improved Player for the 2011/12 season at the annual Awards Dinner. He was man-of-the-match against Castres in the Heineken Cup at the start of the 2012/13 campaign. Marshall signed a new three-year contract in October 2013 that will keep him at Ulster until the summer of 2017. Which came as a surprise after turning down a lucrative deal from an English-based club. Ireland Marshall was part of the Irish Under 21 Six Nations team in the 05/06 season and wa ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |