2012–13 Ulster Rugby season

The 2012–13 season was Ulster's 19th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and their first under head coach Mark Anscombe, replacing Brian McLaughlin who failed to get his contract re-signed. They competed in the Pro12 and the European Rugby Champions Cup.

Major signings included number eight Nick Williams from the now defunct Aironi, wing Tommy Bowe returning from his four-year stay at the Ospreys, and flanker Roger Wilson returning after four years with Northampton Saints. Hooker Rob Herring joined from Western Province.

Centre Nevin Spence died, along with his brother Graham and father Noel, in an accident at the family farm in Hillsborough, County Down on 15 September 2012. where they were overcome by fumes in a slurry tank. Spence's sister was treated in hospital and survived the accident. As a mark of respect for Spence, a minute's silence was observed at many rugby games in Britain and Ireland the following week. A memorial service was held at Ravenhill Stadium, the home ground of Ulster Rugby, on Sunday 23 September 2012.

Ulster started the season with 13 consecutive wins in all competitions, the longest unbeaten run in their history. They finished top of the table of the Pro12 with 17 wins, and after beating Welsh side Scarlets in the semi-finals 28–17, it was an-all Ireland final between Ulster and Leinster. Leinster were the eventual champions, defeating Anscombe's side 24–18. Scrum-half Ruan Pienaar was the league's second-top scorer with 172 points. Ulster won the Fair Play Award, and Nick Williams was Players' Player of the Year. Williams and centre Luke Marshall made the Pro12 Dream Team. Andrew Trimble's try against Connacht was Try of the Season. They topped their pool in the Champions Cup with five wins out of six, qualifying for the quarter-finals, where they lost 27–16 to Saracens.

Ruan Pienaar was Ulster's top scorer with 205 points. Andrew Trimble was top try scorer with twelve, and was named Ulster's Player of the Year. Nick Williams was IRUPA Players' Player of the Year, and Craig Gilroy won the IRUPA Try of the Year award.

Players in (Season 2012/2013)

 * Tommy Bowe from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Ospreys
 * 🇦🇺 Sean Doyle from 🇦🇺 Southern Districts
 * Rob Herring from Western Province
 * Niall O'Connor from Connacht Rugby
 * Neil Walsh (unattached, trial)
 * 🇳🇿 Nick Williams from 🇮🇹 Aironi
 * Roger Wilson from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Northampton

Promoted from academy

 * Michael Allen
 * Ali Birch
 * Chris Cochrane
 * Michael Heaney
 * Iain Henderson

Players out (Season 2012/2013)

 * Tim Barker to Rainey Old Boys
 * Jerry Cronin to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Doncaster Knights
 * Simon Danielli retired
 * Willie Faloon to Connacht Rugby
 * Conor Gaston to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 London Irish
 * Ian Humphreys to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 London Irish
 * Andi Kyriacou to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Cardiff Blues
 * James McKinney to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Rotherham Titans
 * Ian Porter one-year sabbatical
 * Nevin Spence deceased
 * Stefan Terblanche retired
 * Pedrie Wannenburg to 🇫🇷 Castres
 * Ian Whitten to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Exeter Chiefs

Players in

 * Alan O'Connor
 * Rory Scholes
 * Jake Caulfield

Players out

 * Ryan Jablonski
 * John Burns
 * David O'Mahony
 * David McGuigan
 * Blane McIlroy
 * Conor Gaston

Final
The final was contested on Saturday, 25 May 2013, between the winners of the two semi-finals.

End-of-season awards
2012–2013 Dream Team

Pool 1

 * Match postponed from 19 January 2013 as Ulster were unable to fly due to the bad weather. Despite this match being a dead rubber (the outcome of this game will have no bearing on qualification for the knockout stages nor on the ranking of the qualifiers), the match was rearranged as Bridgend would lose revenue otherwise.

Ulster Rugby Awards
The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held on 10 May 2013. Winners were:


 * Bank of Ireland Ulster Player of the Year: Andrew Trimble
 * Heineken Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: Nevin Spence
 * BT Sports Young Player of the Year: Iain Henderson
 * Ulster Rugby Supporters Club Player of the Year: Andrew Trimble
 * Abbey Insurance Academy Player of the Year: Stuart Olding
 * Belfast Telegraph Most Improved Player of the Year: Robbie Diack
 * Danske Bank Ulster Schools Player of the Year: Jack Owens, Campbell College