2012–13 Pro12

Changes for the season

Italy

Zebre replaced Aironi Rugby after they had their licence revoked by the Italian Rugby Federation for financial reasons. Roberto Manghi will become their Head coach for their début season.

Scotland

Ahead of this season Glasgow Warriors moved home, leaving their previous home of Firhill in the Maryhill area of the city for the smaller Scotstoun Stadium. They also came into the season with a new head coach, with former Scotland stand-off Gregor Townsend replacing Sean Lineen.

Ireland

New Zealander Rob Penney replaced Tony McGahan as director of rugby at Munster, and fellow New Zealander Mark Anscombe replaced Brian McLaughlin as head coach of Ulster.{{cite web|url=http://www.limerickleader.ie/sport/rugby/gritty-munster-off-to-winning-start-1-4219086 In Munster, Paul O'Connell stood down as captain, with Doug Howlett announced as his replacement.{{cite web|url=http://thescore.thejournal.ie/doug-howlett-munster-captain-571108-Aug2012/

Wales

The Welsh regions saw a number of changes in coaching personnel, as Phil Davies took over the reins at Cardiff Blues, Steve Tandy replaced Sean Holley as Ospreys head coach and former Ireland international Simon Easterby succeeding Nigel Davies at the Scarlets, after he departed to take over at English Premiership side Gloucester. Scarlets also announced that Rob McCusker would replace Matthew Rees as captain.

On 28 August 2012, the Welsh Rugby Union announced a new annual event which will feature all four regions playing in a doubleheader at Millennium Stadium (similar to the long-established London Double Header in the English Premiership). The first of these events took place on 30 March 2013, with an initial contract set to run for four years.

Teams

Table

Fixtures

All times are local.

Round 1

Harries 19' c D. Evans (2) 27' c, 39' c

Gilroy 45' c

Li. Williams 26' c North (2) 42' m, 73' c Fenby (2) 48' c, 76' c Murphy 64' m Priestland (2/3) Madigan 80' c

O'Dea 58' c

Round 2

penalty try 60' c

van Schalkwyk 59' c Naoupu 57' c McCarthy 80' c

Fenby 35' m North 57' m

Marshall 33' c Jennings 46' c Carr 49' m Macken 80' c Nacewa (1/1) Prydie 52' m D. Evans 59' c

Jackson (2/2) 56', 68'

Round 3

Fusaro 28' c Jackson (1/1) 75'

T. Visser (2) 38' c, 80' c Ford 43' c penalty try 59' c

North 49' m J. Davies 80' c J. Williams (1/2)

Semenzato 77' c Burton (1/1) 66'

Round 4

Dirksen 75' c

Murchie 25' c Van der Merwe (2) 46' c, 69' m White 49' c

Spence in a farming accident on 15 September.

Macken (2) 57' m, 66' c

Roberts 31' c Tovey 68' c Ma'afu 80' c

Ronan 13' c Murray 53' m Zebo 57' c O'Donnell 72' c Robling (1/1) 40'

Round 5

T. Visser 60' m

G. Davies (1/1) 47' Williams (2) 29' c, 66' c Bowe (2) 48' m, 55' m Payne 53' c Trimble 77' c

Van der Merwe 34' m Morrison 40' c Garcia (1/2) 10'

Vainikolo 23' c O'Halloran 36' m Naoupu 74' m Loughney 78' c Nikora (1/1)

penalty try 54' c Hibbard 68' c Keatley (1/1) 66'

Semenzato 51' c Barbieri 67' c

Round 6

Stoddart 70' m Priestland (1/1) 66' Prydie (1/1) 60'

Williams 40' c L. Marshall 78' m

Halangahu (2/2) 40', 54' Thomas 37' m Biggar 73' c

Jones 57' m Fife 78' c Barbieri (2) 40' c, 55' c

Madigan 21' c O'Driscoll 53' c Murray 67' c

Round 7

Williams 32' c Pienaar 37' m Cave 60' c Trimble 61' c Payne 78' c

Reynolds 20' c G. Davies 40' c

Jones 56' c O'Dea 76' m

Tipuric 37' m Thomas 42' c Fotuali'i 72' c

Madigan 7' c Heaslip (2) 18' c, 30' c D. Kearney 26' c Healy 35' m Murphy 42' c Browne 54' c Carr 80' m Halfpenny 64' c James 69' c

Botes (1/1) 63' Wight (1/1) 57'

Round 8

Jones 64' m Sweeney (1/1) 59' Laulala 78' c

Payne (2) 31' c, 66' c Pienaar 35' c Wilson 57' c Gilroy 80' c

Reid 28' c Ryder 43' m Seymour (2) 62' m, 68' c

Duffy 74' m

Round 4 rescheduled match

PostZebUls Halangahu 44' m van Schalkwyk (2) 54' m, 65' c penalty try 75' c

This match – originally scheduled to be held during Round 4, on 21 September 2012 – was postponed due to the death of Ulster player Nevin Spence in a farming accident on 15 September.

Round 9

Nitoglia 40' m

Hanrahan (1/1) 80'

Round 10

Fussell 42' c Allen 79' c Patchell (2/2) 47', 52'

Loamanu (2) 25' m, 42' c McLean 39' m Botes 72' m

Poolman 69' c Scott 35' c McInally 65' c

J. Sexton 34' c McFadden (2) 59' c, 78' m Healy 69' m McFadden (1/3) McFadden (1/1) 52'

O'Donnell 23' c penalty try 74' c

Round 11

Williams 44' c Trimble 75' c Pienaar (1/2) 30'

1872 Cup 1st round

Harley 14' m

Welsh Round

King 48' m Fotuali'i 66' m

Round 12

Ghiraldini 44' c Venditti 79' c Garcia (1/1) 39'

Zebo 45' c P. O'Mahony 50' c

McGrath 73' c

Beck 62' c

1872 Cup 2nd round

T. Visser 76' c Jackson 29' m Pyrgos 55' m

Round 13

Tebaldi 72' c

Williams 56' c Trimble 73' c penalty try 76' c McComb 77' c Jackson (3/3) S. Williams 80' c S. Williams (1/1)

Hogg (2) 28' c, 77' c Seymour 39' c Matawalu 74' c Weir (2/2)

D'Arcy 38' c J. Sexton 57' c Madigan 67' c

Naoupu 27' c Poolman 44' c

Copeland 70' c

Round 14

Olding (1/1) 65'

Murphy 40' c

Prydie 68' c Prydie (2/2) 40', 72' Giusti 25' c

Swift 76' c

Sherry 75' m

Tebaldi 9' c Dunbar 11' c Eddie 61' c Murchie 75' c Russell (2/3)

Round 15

Matawalu 20' c Dunbar 37' c Paris 60' c Swinson (2) 65' c, 75' m Strauss 68' c Thomson 80' c Wight (2/3)

Diack (2) 40' m, 57' c Andrew 73' c

Leonard (1/1) 58'

Cronin (2) 13' c, 27' c Auva'a 69' c McFadden (1/1)

Round 16

Copeland 61' m Faloon (2) 5' c, 64' m

Seymour 28' m Murchie 41' m Matawalu 73' m

Webb 57' c

Dundon 48' c Murphy 70' c Cooney 80' c

Giusti 19' m la Grange 34' c Semenzato 61' m Toniolatti 78' c

Round 17

S. Jones 79' m D. Kearney (2) 17' c, 65' c

O. Williams (1/4) 67'

Olding 33' c Barbieri 51' c

Matawalu (2) 56' c, 64' m Weir 60' c

Duffy 21' c Garcia (1/1) 71'

Round 18

Venditti 57' m Snyman 47' c

Habberfield 7' c Beck 21' c Isaacs 42' c Biggar 64' c Arhip 73' c Tipuric 76' c Morgan (2/2) Faletau 69' m

Varley (2) 14' m, 50' c

penalty try 58' c Reed 49' c

Horne 32' c

Round 19

Matawalu 28' c Jackson 57' c Bennett 70' c Hogg 74' c Barclay 80' c Weir (2/2) Kilcoyne 26' c Howlett 77' c Keatley (1/1)

Henderson 62' m

waterlogged pitch.

Judgement Day

Main article: Judgement Day (rugby union)

D. Evans 75' c J. Davies 66' c

Spratt 33' c

Round 20

L. Williams 46' c

Olding 35' c Cave 38' c P. Marshall 45' c

Henshaw 76' c Duffy (1/1) 40'

Evans 36' m Roberts 73' c

Jones 27' m

Biggar 50' c Webb 80' c

Round 21

Wardle 75' m O'Mahony 58' m Stander 65' c Murphy 72' c

Maitland 17' m Matawalu 56' m Van der Merwe 80' m Horne (1/2) 70' Lewis 61' c

Vainikolo 17' c Nikora (1/1) 49' Trimble 11' m Best 32' c Bowe 71' c Payne 74' m

Rizzo 60' c Favaro 80' c

L. Williams 66' c Priestland (1/1)

Halangahu 40' c Festuccia 73' m McFadden 15' c Carr 46' c Ryan 59' c Nacewa 61' c

Round 19 rescheduled match

PostTreCon penalty try 72' c O'Donohoe 80' c This match – originally scheduled to be held during Round 19, on 30 March 2013 – was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Round 22

Maitland 70' c Hogg (1/1)

Laidlaw 19' m Talei 25' c Lydiate 63' c Prydie 65' c

Healy 79' c Madigan (1/1) John 37' m Isaacs 72' c

Vosawai 49' c Morisi 65' m Loamanu 73' c

Trimble (2) 43' c, 54' c Diack 78' c

Venditti 36' m Garcia (2/3) 28', 40' Butler 17' c Botha 65' c

Play-offs

Semi-finals

The semi-finals were played on the weekend of 10/11 May 2013; these followed a 1 v 4, 2 v 3 system with the games being played at the home ground of the higher placed teams. Diack 34' m Court 43' c Timani 79' c

Bennett 75' m

Final

Main article: 2013 Pro12 Grand Final

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

Heaslip 63' m

|}

Leading scorers

Note: Flags to the left of player names indicate national team as has been defined under IRB eligibility rules, or primary nationality for players who have not yet earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-IRB nationalities.

Top points scorers

Top try scorers

End-of-season awards

2012/2013 Dream Team

Notes

References

References

1. "Leading Points-Scorers". RaboDirect Pro12.
2. "Leading Try-Scorers". RaboDirect Pro12.
3. (25 May 2013). "Leinster defeat Ulster 24-18 to claim the RaboDirect PRO12 title". RTÉ Sport.
4. (25 May 2013). "Leinster hold on to win PRO12 title". ESPN.
5. (25 May 2013). "Pro12 final: Ulster 18-24 Leinster". BBC Sport.
6. (25 May 2013). "Schmidt gets perfect send-off as Leinster claim Rabo title in thriller". Irish Independent.
7. "Rugby Union Tournaments | RaboDirect PRO12 | New PRO12 team to be called Zebras". Planet Rugby.
8. (28 August 2012). "Derby Delight at Millennium Stadium". [[Welsh Rugby Union]].
9. "Pro12: Glasgow Warriors". [[Pro14.
10. (7 June 2012). "Zebre Step Up As New Italian Team". Irishrugby.ie.
11. "RaboDirect PRO12 Fixtures & Results". Celtic Rugby.
12. "Home".
13. "Home".
14. "Home".
15. "Home".
16. "Home".
17. "Home".
18. "Home".
19. "Home".
20. "Home".
21. "Home".
22. "Home".
23. "Home".
24. "Home".
25. "Home".
26. "Home".
27. "Home".
28. "Home".
29. "Home".
30. "Home".
31. "Home".
32. (17 September 2012). "Ulster postpone match with Zebre". ESPN Scrum.
33. "Home".
34. "Home".
35. "Home".
36. "Home".
37. "Home".
38. "Home".
39. "Home".
40. "Home".
41. "Home".
42. "Home".
43. "Home".
44. "Home".
45. "Home".
46. "Home".
47. "Home".
48. "Home".
49. "Home".
50. "Home".
51. "Home".
52. "Home".
53. "Home".
54. "Home".
55. "Home".
56. "Home".
57. "Home".
58. "Home".
59. "Home".
60. (25 September 2012). "Ulster versus Zebre rescheduled for 18 November". RTÉ.
61. "Home".
62. "Home".
63. "Home".
64. "Home".
65. "Home".
66. "Home".
67. "Home".
68. "Home".
69. "Home".
70. "Home".
71. "Home".
72. "Home".
73. "Home".
74. "Home".
75. "Home".
76. "Home".
77. "Home".
78. "Home".
79. "Home".
80. "Home".
81. "Home".
82. "Home".
83. "Home".
84. "Home".
85. "Home".
86. "Home".
87. "Home".
88. "Home".
89. "Home".
90. "Home".
91. "Home".
92. "Home".
93. "Home".
94. "Home".
95. "Home".
96. "Home".
97. "Home".
98. "Home".
99. "Home".
100. "Home".
101. "Home".
102. "Home".
103. "Home".
104. "Home".
105. "Home".
106. "Home".
107. "Home".
108. "Home".
109. "Home".
110. "Home".
111. "Home".
112. "Home".
113. "Home".
114. "Home".
115. "Home".
116. "Home".
117. "Home".
118. "Home".
119. "Home".
120. "Home".
121. "Home".
122. "Home".
123. "Home".
124. "Home".
125. (30 March 2013). "Benetton Treviso v Connacht Postponed". [[Irish Rugby Football Union]].
126. "Home".
127. "Home".
128. "Home".
129. "Home".
130. "Home".
131. "Home".
132. "Home".
133. "Home".
134. "Home".
135. "Home".
136. "Home".
137. "Home".
138. "Home".
139. "Home".
140. "Home".
141. "Home".
142. "Home".
143. "Home".
144. "Home".
145. "Home".
146. "Home".
147. "Competition Rules: Season 2011–2012 (Rule 3.6)". RaboDirect PRO12.
148. "Home".
149. "Home".
150. "Home".
151. "Classy Ruan Pienaar reverse pass sees Andrew Trimble score try - Connacht v Ulster 19 Apr 2013".
152. (3 May 2013). "2013 RaboDirect PRO12 Dream Team Has Lions Flavour". RaboDirect PRO12.