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.

[1] 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.

Props Hookers Locks Back row Scrum-halves Fly-halves Centres Wings Fullbacks

Props Hookers Locks Back row Scrum-halves Fly-halves Centres Wings Fullbacks Ulster lineup: 1.

Willie Faloon (for Ferris 76'), 21.

Tom Court (for McAllister 50'), 18.

Lewis Stevenson (for Ferris 71'), 20.

Willie Faloon (for Wannenburg 71'), 21.

Lewis Stevenson (for Ferris 77'), 20.

Willie Faloon (for Henry 67'), 21.

Declan Fitzpatrick (for McAllister 50'), 18.

Willie Faloon (for Diack 58'), 21.

Ali Birch (for Faloon 73'), 21.

Willie Faloon (for Wannenburg 11'), 21.

Lewis Stevenson (for Muller 58'), 20.

Ali Birch (for Diack 55'  72'), 21.

Tom Court (for McAllister 12'), 19.

Replacements: Callum Black, Paddy McAllister, Adam Macklin, Jerry Cronin, John Burns, Lewis Stevenson, Mike McComish, Willie Faloon, Ian Porter, Paddy Jackson, Graig Gilroy.

Replacements: Andrew Warwick, Callum Black, Declan Fitzpatrick, James Simpson, Ali Birch, Blane McIlroy, Conor Gaston.

Replacements: Ian Whitten (for Spence 50'), Tim Barker (for Stevenson 50'), Callum Black (for McAllister 55'), Dan Tuohy (for McComb 61'), Paddy Jackson (for Humphreys 61'), Robbie Diack (for Wannenburg 72'), Peter Nelson (for Gaston 72'), Ian Porter (for P. Marshall 72'), Luke Marshall (for Cave 78'), Adam Macklin (for Cronin 79').

[50][51] The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held at the Culloden Hotel on 10 May 2012.