The 2010–11 Ulster Rugby season was

Ulster Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United King ...

's 17th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and their second under head coach Brian McLaughlin. This season marked the debuts of two South Africans, scrum-half

Ruan Pienaar Ruan Pienaar (born 10 March 1984) is a South African professional rugby union player who currently plays either as a scrum-half or as a fly-half for the in the Currie Cup. Pienaar is the son of former Springbok fullback Gysie Pienaar. Ruan ...

(replacing

Isaac Boss Isaac Boss (born 9 April 1980, in Tokoroa, New Zealand) is a New Zealand–born Irish rugby union former player. His grandmother was born in Glenarm, County Antrim, thereby qualifying him to play for Ireland. He played scrum-half or fullb ...

, who had moved to

Leinster Leinster ( ; ga, Laighin or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, situated in the southeast and east of Ireland. The province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of Ir ...

) and second row forward Johann Muller. Ulster were quarter-finalists in the

European Rugby Champions Cup The European Rugby Champions Cup (known as the Heineken Champions Cup for sponsorship reasons) is an annual rugby union tournament organised by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR). It is the top-tier competition for clubs who compete in a pre ...

, and semi-finalists in the

Celtic League The Celtic League is a pan-Celtic organisation, founded in 1961, that aims to promote modern Celtic identity and culture in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man – referred to as the Celtic nations; it places part ...

was Player of the Year.

Nevin Spence Nevin Spence (26 April 199015 September 2012) was a Northern Ireland-born Irish rugby union player for Ulster in the Pro12. He played as a Centre, but could also play Wing. He was educated firstly at Dromore High School, where he was introduced ...

was

IRUPA The Rugby Players Ireland is the representative body for professional rugby players in Ireland. Founded in October 2001, its aims are to promote and protect the welfare of professional rugby players in Ireland. The Chief Executive Officer is Si ...

Young Player of the Year. Forwards coach Jeremy Davidson left at the end of the season.

Staff

Squad

Senior squad

Players in (Season 2010/2011)

* Johann Muller: ''from''

Sharks Sharks are a group of elasmobranch fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, five to seven gill slits on the sides of the head, and pectoral fins that are not fused to the head. Modern sharks are classified within the clade Selachimorp ...

* Tim Barker: ''from''

Glasgow Warriors Glasgow Warriors are a professional rugby union side from Scotland. The team plays in the United Rugby Championship league and in the European Professional Club Rugby tournaments. In the 2014–15 season they won the Pro12 title and became t ...

''from''

Pedrie Wannenburg Pedrie Johannes Wannenburg (2 January 1981 – 22 April 2022) was a South African rugby union player. He last coached for Austin Elite Rugby in North American Major League Rugby. He played for Austin in 2018, Denver Stampede in the now defunct ...

: ''from''

Bulls Bulls may refer to: *The plural of bull, an adult male bovine *Bulls, New Zealand, a small town in the Rangitikei District Sports *Bucking bull, used in the sport of bull riding *Bulls (rugby union), a South African rugby union franchise operated ...

* Adam D'Arcy ''from'' Manly RFC *

Paul Emerick Paul Emerick (born January 24, 1980) is the head coach of the American Raptors in Glendale, Colorado. He was the defense and skills coach and the 2019 interim head coach for the Houston SaberCats of Major League Rugby. He was a former USA intern ...

from Overmach Parma * Jerry Cronin from

Ballynahinch Ballynahinch may refer to: Northern Ireland * Ballynahinch, County Armagh, a townland *Ballynahinch, County Down, a town Republic of Ireland *Ballynahinch (barony), in County Galway *Ballynahinch, County Galway, a townland in County Galway * Bally ...

Promoted from academy

* Adam MacklinMicheal McGeary, "New deals for Ulster quartet", ''Belfast Telegraph'', 13 January 2010 * Paddy McAllister * Neil McComb * Ian Porter *

Tommy Seymour Thomas Samuel Fenwick Seymour (born 1 July 1988) is a Scottish former professional rugby union player. He made 55 international appearances for the Scotland national rugby union team 2013–2019, scoring 20 tries which placed him fourth-top try ...

* Jamie Smith

Players out (Season 2010/2011)

''to''

Ed O'Donoghue Ed O'Donoghue (born 24 June 1982 in London, UK) is an Irish rugby union player. Position O'Donoghue's position of choice is as a lock and he can also operate as a flanker. Early years He was born in London to an Irish father and an Australian ...

''to''

Timoci Nagusa Timoci Nagusa (born 14 July 1987) is a Fijian rugby union footballer. He plays as a wing. He played his rugby for French club, Montpelier for 10 years before leaving for ProD2 club Grenoble in 2020. He is 1.88m (6'2) and weighs 88 kg. He w ...

''to''

Montpellier Montpellier (, , ; oc, Montpelhièr ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the Departments of ...

Brendan Fanning, "Italians add life to party", ''Sunday Independent'', 29 August 2010 *

Justin Fitzpatrick Justin Michael Fitzpatrick (born 21 November 1973) is an Irish former rugby union player who most recently was head coach of the Houston SaberCats of Major League Rugby (MLR). He previously played for London Irish, Castres Olympique, Dungannon ...

''retired''"Ex-Ireland prop Fitzpatrick embedded in US rugby's exciting rise"
The 42, 13 January 2019 * Tamaiti Horua ''released''"Magners League – Ins And Outs"
Irish Rugby, 23 July 2010 *

Matt McCullough Matt McCullough (born 9 September 1981) is a retired Irish rugby union footballer. He played for Ulster Rugby, Ulster. McCullough was educated at Ballymena Academy and Trinity College Dublin. He captained the School's 1st XV rugby team 1999–20 ...

''retired'' *

Cillian Willis Cillian Willis (born 19 January 1985) is a former professional rugby union footballer. His primary position was scrum-half. He was born in Dublin and educated at Blackrock College in Williamstown and University College Dublin, where in 2006 he ...

''to''

Connacht Rugby Connacht Rugby ( ga, Rugbaí Connachta) is one of the four professional provincial rugby teams from the island of Ireland. Connacht competes in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup. The team represents the IRFU Con ...

* David Pollock ''retired'' *

Bryn Cunningham Bryn Cunningham (born 30 March 1978) is an Irish rugby union administrator and former player. He played fullback for Ulster Rugby, Ulster, making 150 appearances between 1997 and 2010, and was the team's Player of the Year in 2002–2003. Since 2 ...

''retired'' *

Clinton Schifcofske Clinton Schifcofske (born 10 November 1975), also known by the nickname of "Choka", is an Australian former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer. During his career, he played for the Crusaders in the Super League. as well as th ...

Celtic Crusaders Crusaders Rugby League ( cy, Croesgadwyr Rygbi'r Gynghrair) was a professional rugby league club based in Bridgend and later in Wrexham, Wales. They played for six seasons in the Rugby Football League competitions, including three years in the ...

(rugby league)

Academy squad

Players in

Iain Henderson William Iain Henderson (born 21 February 1992) is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays lock for Ulster, Ireland, and the British and Irish Lions. He has been the captain of Ulster since the 2019, and first captained Ireland in 2021 ...

Paddy Jackson David Patrick Lindsay James "Paddy" Jackson (born 5 January 1992) is a professional rugby union player from Northern Ireland who plays for Gallagher Premiership side London Irish. He primarily plays at fly-half and previously played for Irish p ...

* Kyle McCall * Ali Birch * Conor Carey *

Craig Gilroy Craig Gilroy (born 11 March 1991) is an Irish rugby union player who wing for Ulster, and is a former Ireland international. he was Ulster's player of the year in 2014–15, and was named in the Pro12 Dream Team twice. Born in Bangor, County D ...

* David McGuigan * Stephen Lecky * Blane McIlroy * David McIlwaine

Players out

* James Sandford to

Rotherham Titans Rotherham Rugby Union Football Club, or Rotherham Titans is a professional rugby union team from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, currently playing in the fourth tier of the English rugby union league system, following their relegation from the Nat ...

* Sean Dougall * Pal Pritchard * Jonny Shiels

Heineken Cup

Pool 4

*Biarritz won the tiebreaker over Ulster with a 6–4 advantage in head-to-head competition points.

Quarter-final

Celtic League

Semi-final

Ulster Ravens

British and Irish Cup

Pool C

Home attendance

Ulster Rugby Awards

The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held on 10 May 2011 at the Culloden Hotel, Holywood. Winners were:Niall Crozier, "Boks bag top gongs at awards", ''Belfast Telegraph'', 11 May 2011 *Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: Johann Muller *Ulster Player of the Year:

*Supporters Club Player of the Year: Johann Muller *Young Ulster Player of the Year:

*Ulster Academy Player of the Year:

*Most Improved Ulster Player of the Year: Adam D'Arcy *Youth Player of the Year: Conall Doherty, City of Derry R.F.C. *Club of the Year:

City of Armagh RFC The City of Armagh Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Armagh, Northern Ireland, playing in Division 1A of the All-Ireland League (rugby union), All-Ireland League. Honours *Ulster Senior League (rugby union), Ulster Senior Leagu ...

*Club Player of the Year: Paul Pritchard,

Ballymena RFC Ballymena Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in the town of Ballymena, Northern Ireland, playing in Division 2A of the All-Ireland League. It is affiliated to the Ulster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union. The club fields fiv ...

*Schools Player of the Year: John Creighton,

Campbell College Campbell College located in Belfast, Northern Ireland and founded in 1894 comprises a preparatory school department (junior age) and a senior Northern Ireland 'Voluntary Grammar' school, the latter meaning, in terms of provision of education, a ...

*Dorrington B. Faulkner Award: Ronnie Clements, Limavady RFC

Season reviews

"Review of Ulster's Season"
Ulster Rugby, 1 June 2011

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ulster 2010-11 2010–11 in Irish rugby union 2010–11 Celtic League by team 2010–11 Heineken Cup by team