2011–12 Ulster Rugby season

The 2011–12 Ulster Rugby season was Ulster's 18th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and their third under head coach Brian McLaughlin. They competed in the Heineken Cup and the inaugural Pro12, successor competition to the Celtic League.

They finished sixth in the Pro12, and qualified for next season's Champions Cup as the third highest placed Irish team. Scrum-half Ruan Pienaar, lock Dan Tuohy and prop BJ Botha made the Pro12 Dream Team. They finished second in their pool in the Heineken Cup, beat Edinburgh in the semi-final, and lost to Leinster in the final. Out-half Ian Humphreys was Ulster's top scorer with 168 points. Wings Andrew Trimble and Craig Gilroy were joint top try scorers with six each. Flanker Chris Henry was Player of the Year. Craig Gilroy won the IRUPA Try of the Year award.

Brian McLaughlin, who was coaching Ulster while on sabbatical from his regular job as a teacher at Royal Belfast Academical Institution, stood to lose his teaching position and pension if he extended his contract with Ulster any further, and as head coach risked losing his job at any time. Director of rugby David Humphreys decided to offer him the security of a full-time position coaching the academy, and to replace him as head coach with Mark Anscombe.

Players in (Season 2011/2012)

 * 🇳🇿 John Afoa from 🇳🇿 Auckland Blues
 * Callum Black from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Worcester
 * Mike McComish from Connacht
 * 🇳🇿 Jared Payne from 🇳🇿 Auckland Blues
 * Lewis Stevenson from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Harlequins
 * Stefan Terblanche from Sharks (On 3 Month Deal)

Promoted from academy

 * Niall Annett
 * Paddy Jackson
 * Luke Marshall
 * James McKinney

Players out (Season 2011/2012)

 * T. J. Anderson to Connacht
 * BJ Botha to Munster Rugby
 * Ryan Caldwell to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Bath
 * 🇺🇸 Paul Emerick to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Wasps
 * Mark McCrea to Connacht
 * Niall O'Connor to Connacht
 * Tommy Seymour to Glasgow Warriors
 * Jamie Smith to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Newport Gwent Dragons
 * Bryan Young to 🇮🇹 Cavalieri

Players in

 * Stuart Olding
 * Chris Farrell
 * Jonny Murphy
 * Peter Nelson
 * Ryan Jablonski
 * David O'Mahony
 * James Simpson
 * Neil Faloon
 * Conor Joyce
 * Sean O'Connell

Players out

 * Niall Annett to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Worcester Warriors
 * Dominic Gallagher
 * Stephen Lecky
 * James McKinney

End-of-season awards
2011–2012 Dream Team

Ulster Rugby Awards
The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held at the Culloden Hotel on 10 May 2012. Winners were:


 * Ulster Player of the Year: Chris Henry
 * Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: Stephen Ferris
 * Young Player of the Year: Craig Gilroy
 * Supporters Club Player of the Year: Pedrie Wannenburg
 * Academy Player of the Year: Chris Farrell
 * Most Improved Player of the Year: Paul Marshall
 * Dorrington B. Faulkner Award: John Wilson
 * Youth Player of the Year: Russell Blair
 * Schools Player of the Year: James Harrison
 * Club Player of the Year: Richard Lutton
 * Club of the Year: Malone RFC