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 Kin ...
's 24th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and Jono Gibbes' only season as head coach.
Rory Best
Rory David Best (born 15 August 1982) is an Irish former rugby union player from Northern Ireland and was the captain of the Ireland national team from 2016 to 2019. He played hooker for Ulster and was registered for Banbridge RFC, having pr ...
was captain. They competed in the inaugural
Pro14
The United Rugby Championship (URC) is an annual rugby union competition involving professional teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales. The current name was adopted in 2021 when the league expanded to include four South Afr ...
(successor competition to the Pro12) and 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 ...
.
Events
Personnel changes
After the departure of
Neil Doak
Neil George Doak (born 21 June 1972) is a Northern Irish former cricketer and rugby union player. He currently works as a rugby union coach, and has served as attack and backs coach with English club side Worcester Warriors, and Georgia during t ...
Dwayne Peel
Dwayne John Peel (born 31 August 1981) is a Welsh rugby union coach and former player. He was the most capped scrum-half for the Wales national rugby union team with 76 caps, until his record was surpassed by Mike Phillips on 16 March 2013.
Yo ...
joining him as assistant coach, replacing Allen Clarke, who had left to join the coaching staff at
Ospreys
The osprey (''Pandion haliaetus''), , also called sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey with a cosmopolitan range. It is a large raptor reaching more than in length and across the wings. It is brown o ...
.
Aaron Dundon
Aaron Dundon (born 22 June 1982) is a retired rugby union player from New Zealand. He played for the Irish team Leinster Rugby in the Pro12 and European Rugby Champions Cup. His primary playing position was at hooker. Since retirement, Dundon ha ...
joined as scrum coach, with
Niall Malone
Niall Gareth Malone (born 30 April 1971 in Leeds, England) is a former rugby union player who played out-half for Leicester, Worcester, Ulster and Ireland. Having worked as an elite player development officer with Ulster's academy and as skills ...
remaining as skills coach.
Out-half
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 ...
and centre
Stuart Olding
Stuart Olding (born 11 March 1993) is a rugby union rugby player. He plays at centre and fullback. Olding played for Ulster from 2011 until 2018 when his contract was revoked. At international level, he has played for the Ireland U-20 and Irela ...
were charged with rape and suspended from playing pending trial (both would be acquitted, but have their contracts revoked). Australian out-half
Christian Lealiifano
Christian Leali'ifano (born 24 September 1987), is an Australian professional rugby player. He is of Samoan heritage, and his surname is spelled Leali'ifano when using Samoan diacritics. He currently plays for Moana Pasifika in the Super Rug ...
was signed on a five-month loan to cover.
Rory Best
Rory David Best (born 15 August 1982) is an Irish former rugby union player from Northern Ireland and was the captain of the Ireland national team from 2016 to 2019. He played hooker for Ulster and was registered for Banbridge RFC, having pr ...
was restored to the captaincy. The IRFU had blocked South African 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 ...
extending his contract as part of their restrictions on foreign players, and he left for Montpellier. John Cooney was signed from Connacht to replace him. Other new arrivals were two South Africans, prop
Schalk van der Merwe
Schalk van der Merwe (16 April 1961 – 24 January 2016) was a professional tennis player from South Africa.
His best performance in a Grand Slam tournament was a third-round appearance at the 1982 US Open, where he had wins over Derek Tarr ...
, signed from the
Southern Kings
The Southern Kings were a South African professional rugby union team that competed in Super Rugby and Pro14. They were based in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape province and played their home matches at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. They wer ...
, and loose forward
Jean Deysel
Jean Roy Deysel (born 5 March 1985 in Virginia, Free State, South Africa) is a former professional rugby union player who most recently played for Ulster in the Pro14.
Deysel signed a two-year contract to join Japanese side Toyota Verblitz at ...
, signed from the
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 Selachi ...
. Back row forward Roger Wilson retired, lock Conor Joyce and centre
Mark Best
Mark Treloar Best (born 29 November 1994) is an English former first-class cricketer.
Best was born at Nuneaton in November 1994. He was educated at Bablake School, before going up to Loughborough University. While studying at Loughborough, h ...
moved to
Jersey Reds
Jersey Reds is a rugby club based in Jersey, Channel Islands that currently competes at the RFU Championship, which is the second tier of English professional rugby.
Until season 2022/23, the professional arm of Jersey Reds was part of Jers ...
, hooker
Johnny Murphy
John Joseph Murphy (July 14, 1908 – January 14, 1970) was an All-Star American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (1932, 1934–43, 1946–47) who later became a front office executive in the game.
Yankees' relief ace
After ...
went 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 t ...
, and lock John Donnan, flankers Lorcan Dow and Stephen Mullholand, and prop
Ricky Lutton
Ricky Lutton (born 26 February 1986) from Belfast is a rugby union player, who formerly played prop for Ulster
Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional I ...
were released.
Players joining the academy this year were out-half
Michael Lowry
Michael Lowry (born 13 March 1953) is an Irish Independent politician who has served as a Teachta Dála (TD) since 1987, currently for the Tipperary constituency. He previously served as Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications fro ...
and centre
James Hume James Hume may refer to:
* James Hume (architect) (1798–1868), architect in Sydney, Australia
* James Hume (cricketer) (1858–1909), Scottish-born New Zealand cricketer
* James Hume (magistrate) (1808–1862), British magistrate and political co ...
, from
RBAI
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution is an independent grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland. With the support of Belfast's leading reformers and democrats, it opened its doors in 1814. Until 1849, when it was superseded by what today is ...
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 ...
BRA
A bra, short for brassiere or brassière (, or ; ), is a form-fitting undergarment that is primarily used to support and cover breasts. It can serve a range of other practical and aesthetic purposes, including enhancing or reducing the appe ...
, hooker Alexander Clarke (son of former Ulster hooker and assistant coach Allen Clarke), from
Ballymena Academy
Ballymena Academy is a mixed gender grammar school in the market town of Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1828 as a small provincial school for children in the town and surrounding agricultural hinterland.
Admiss ...
; flanker Joe Dunleavy, from
City of Derry R.F.C.
City of Derry Rugby Football Club is a rugby club, formed in 1881 in Derry, Northern Ireland. They currently play in the Ulster Rugby Championship Division 1 after relegation from Division 2C of the All-Ireland League in 2022.
The club's pu ...
Jack Regan
John Vincent Regan (12 September 1912 – 11 August 1988) was an Australian rules footballer who represented Collingwood in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1930s and 1940s.
Playing career
Recruited from Northcote, Regan str ...
Eric O'Sullivan
Eric O'Sullivan (born 30 November 1995) is an Irish rugby union player who plays loosehead prop for United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup side Ulster and internationally for Ireland.
Born in Dublin, O'Sullivan attended Temp ...
.Michael Sadlier, "Ulster recruit school stars for Academy fast-tracking", ''Belfast Telegraph'', 29 July 2017 Wing
Robert Baloucoune
Robert Baloucoune (born 19 August 1997) is an Irish rugby union player who plays on the wing for United Rugby Championship and European Champions Cup side Ulster, and internationally for Ireland
Early career
Baloucoune was born in Enniskille ...
and scrum-half
Graham Curtis
Graham Curtis (born 12 September 1999) is an Zimbabwe-born Irish rugby union player who plays for Queen's University in the All-Ireland League, and has represented Ireland at Sevens. He preferred position is scrum-half.
Ulster
Curtis joined t ...
After a poor run of form, with eighteen tries conceded in four matches over the Christmas period,Ulster Rugby: Who did what 2017-18 The Front Row Union, 25 June 2018 Director of Rugby
Les Kiss
Les Kiss (born 9 December 1964) is an Australian professional rugby union coach who is the head coach of London Irish in the Gallagher Premiership. He is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the Brisbane Rugby League and ...
left in January, with Gibbes assuming all coaching responsibility of the team for the remainder of the season. Ulster finished third in Pool 1 of the Champions Cup, failing to qualify for the knockout stage. They finished fourth of seven in Conference B of the
Pro14
The United Rugby Championship (URC) is an annual rugby union competition involving professional teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales. The current name was adopted in 2021 when the league expanded to include four South Afr ...
, failing to qualify for the playoffs, and having to beat
Ospreys
The osprey (''Pandion haliaetus''), , also called sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey with a cosmopolitan range. It is a large raptor reaching more than in length and across the wings. It is brown o ...
in a playoff to qualify for next season's Champions Cup. Gibbes cut short his contract at the end of the season. Former Ireland captain
Brian O'Driscoll
Brian Gerard O'Driscoll (born 21 January 1979) is an Irish former professional rugby union player. He played at outside centre for the Irish provincial team Leinster and for Ireland. He captained Ireland from 2003 until 2012, and captained th ...
described the province as "a bit of a basket case", facing "Administration issues, senior players retiring, the well documented court case, now no number 10 to build the team around, no coach next year, struggling for Champions Cup rugby next season."
Academy flanker
Nick Timoney
Nick Timoney (born 1 August 1995) is an Irish rugby union player, who plays in the back row for Ulster and Ireland. He is regarded as a "hybrid" player, an athletic forward with the pace of a back.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 ...
was the team's leading try scorer with eleven. Lock Alan O'Connor was leading tackler with 226. John Cooney was Ulster's Player of the Year.
This was fullback
Charles Piutau
Salesi Tu'ipulotu "Charles" Piutau (born 31 October 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays in the fullback (and occasionally wing) position for England club Bristol Bears in the Premiership, and formerly for New Zealand's nation ...
's last season with Ulster: he moved to
Bristol Bears
Bristol Bears (officially Bristol Rugby Club or Bristol Rugby) are a professional rugby union club based in Bristol, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby.
The club was founded as Bristol Football Club in 1 ...
at the end of the season. Wings
Tommy Bowe
Thomas John Bowe (born 22 February 1984) is an Irish former rugby union player from County Monaghan, Ireland. He played on the wing for Ulster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions. In March 2012, after four years with Ospreys in Swansea, W ...
and
Andrew Trimble
Andrew Trimble (born 20 October 1984) is a former Irish rugby union player who played for Ulster and represented Ireland at international level.
Club career
He attended Coleraine Academical Institution, where he competed in the Ulster Schoo ...
Jared Payne
Jared Benjamin Payne (born 13 October 1985) is a retired rugby union centre who played for Ulster and the Ireland national team. He was a member of the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, but did not play a test match. Since his ...
also retired as a player, and was appointed defence coach.
Jean Deysel
Jean Roy Deysel (born 5 March 1985 in Virginia, Free State, South Africa) is a former professional rugby union player who most recently played for Ulster in the Pro14.
Deysel signed a two-year contract to join Japanese side Toyota Verblitz at ...
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 Selachi ...
*
Christian Lealiifano
Christian Leali'ifano (born 24 September 1987), is an Australian professional rugby player. He is of Samoan heritage, and his surname is spelled Leali'ifano when using Samoan diacritics. He currently plays for Moana Pasifika in the Super Rug ...
from
Brumbies
The ACT Brumbies (known from 2005–2022 as simply the Brumbies) is an Australian professional rugby union team based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (ACT), The team competes in Super Rugby and named for the feral horses which inhab ...
*
Schalk van der Merwe
Schalk van der Merwe (16 April 1961 – 24 January 2016) was a professional tennis player from South Africa.
His best performance in a Grand Slam tournament was a third-round appearance at the 1982 US Open, where he had wins over Derek Tarr ...
from
Southern Kings
The Southern Kings were a South African professional rugby union team that competed in Super Rugby and Pro14. They were based in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape province and played their home matches at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. They wer ...
Promoted from academy
*
David Busby
David Busby (born 3 February 1994) is an Irish rugby union player, currently playing for the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby. He plays as a wing or fullback.
Busby was born in Portadown, Northern Ireland and attended Portadown Col ...
Ross Kane
Ross Kane (born 14 October 1994) is a professional rugby union player from Northern Ireland, who plays at tighthead prop for Ealing Trailfinders.
A native of Bangor, County Down, he started playing mini-rugby with Donaghadee Rugby Club. At sch ...
*
Rob Lyttle
Rob Lyttle (born 28 January 1997) is an Irish rugby union player who plays wing for Ulster.
Born in Donaghcloney, County Down, he played mini rugby at Dromore RFC as a child. He attended Royal Belfast Academical Institution, where he appeared in ...
*
Tommy O'Hagan
A list of players who have appeared for Ulster Rugby since rugby union was declared open to professionalism on 26 August 1995.
Current players
Ben Carson
Born 24 February 2002. Centre. Attended Wallace High School, Lisburn. Joined the Ulster a ...
Mark Best
Mark Treloar Best (born 29 November 1994) is an English former first-class cricketer.
Best was born at Nuneaton in November 1994. He was educated at Bablake School, before going up to Loughborough University. While studying at Loughborough, h ...
to
Jersey Reds
Jersey Reds is a rugby club based in Jersey, Channel Islands that currently competes at the RFU Championship, which is the second tier of English professional rugby.
Until season 2022/23, the professional arm of Jersey Reds was part of Jers ...
* John Donnan ''released''
* Lorcan Dow ''released''
* Conor Joyce to
Jersey Reds
Jersey Reds is a rugby club based in Jersey, Channel Islands that currently competes at the RFU Championship, which is the second tier of English professional rugby.
Until season 2022/23, the professional arm of Jersey Reds was part of Jers ...
*
Christian Lealiifano
Christian Leali'ifano (born 24 September 1987), is an Australian professional rugby player. He is of Samoan heritage, and his surname is spelled Leali'ifano when using Samoan diacritics. He currently plays for Moana Pasifika in the Super Rug ...
to
Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi
Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi (also called Toyota Jido Shokki as distinct from Toyota, which was renamed Toyota Verblitz) is a Japanese rugby team owned by Toyota Industries. They were promoted to Japan's top-flight league Top League for the ...
*
Angus Lloyd
Angus Lloyd was a British businessman and fashion designer. In 1963, Lloyd and his business partner, Henri Strzelecki, founded the Henri Lloyd clothing line in Manchester. Under Lloyd and Strzelecki, the company became known for its pioneering u ...
to
Munster
Munster ( gle, an Mhumhain or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the south of Ireland. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" ( ga, rí ruirech). Following th ...
*
Ricky Lutton
Ricky Lutton (born 26 February 1986) from Belfast is a rugby union player, who formerly played prop for Ulster
Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional I ...
''released''
* Stephen Mulholland ''released''
*
Jonny Murphy
Jonny Murphy (born 6 February 1992) is a former professional rugby union player from Northern Ireland, who played hooker for Ulster (2015-17), Rotherham Titans (2017-18) and Connacht (2018-22).
Early life
Murphy was born in Belfast in 1992. ...
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 t ...
*
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 ...
Franco van der Merwe
Franco van der Merwe (born 15 March 1983 in Paarl) is a South African rugby union footballer. His regular playing position is lock, although he can also operate as a flanker. Previous clubs include Irish side Ulster in the Pro12, London Irish ...
to
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Rugby ( cy, Rygbi Caerdydd) are one of the four professional Welsh rugby union teams. They compete in the United Rugby Championship and in European Professional Club Rugby competitions.
Based in Cardiff, the team play at Cardiff ...
* Roger Wilson ''retired''
* Internationally capped players in bold
* Players qualified to play for on dual nationality or residency grounds*
* Irish Provinces are currently limited to four non-Irish eligible (NIE) players and one non-Irish qualified player (NIQ or "Project Player").
Academy squad
Players in
*
Michael Lowry
Michael Lowry (born 13 March 1953) is an Irish Independent politician who has served as a Teachta Dála (TD) since 1987, currently for the Tipperary constituency. He previously served as Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications fro ...
from
RBAI
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution is an independent grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland. With the support of Belfast's leading reformers and democrats, it opened its doors in 1814. Until 1849, when it was superseded by what today is ...
*
James Hume James Hume may refer to:
* James Hume (architect) (1798–1868), architect in Sydney, Australia
* James Hume (cricketer) (1858–1909), Scottish-born New Zealand cricketer
* James Hume (magistrate) (1808–1862), British magistrate and political co ...
from
RBAI
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution is an independent grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland. With the support of Belfast's leading reformers and democrats, it opened its doors in 1814. Until 1849, when it was superseded by what today is ...
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 ...
*
Eric O'Sullivan
Eric O'Sullivan (born 30 November 1995) is an Irish rugby union player who plays loosehead prop for United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup side Ulster and internationally for Ireland.
Born in Dublin, O'Sullivan attended Temp ...
from
Dublin University
The University of Dublin ( ga, Ollscoil Átha Cliath), corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin, is a university located in Dublin, Ireland. It is the degree-awarding body for Trinity College Dubl ...
*
Robert Baloucoune
Robert Baloucoune (born 19 August 1997) is an Irish rugby union player who plays on the wing for United Rugby Championship and European Champions Cup side Ulster, and internationally for Ireland
Early career
Baloucoune was born in Enniskille ...
from
Portora Royal School
Portora Royal School located in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, was one of the public schools founded by the royal charter in 1608, by James I, making it one of the oldest schools in Ireland at the time of its closure. Original ...
University College Dublin R.F.C.
University College Dublin Rugby Football Club is based in Dublin, Ireland, and plays in Division 1A of the All-Ireland League. They play their home games at UCD Bowl.
The club was founded in 1910 and they won their first trophy, the Leinster Ju ...
BRA
A bra, short for brassiere or brassière (, or ; ), is a form-fitting undergarment that is primarily used to support and cover breasts. It can serve a range of other practical and aesthetic purposes, including enhancing or reducing the appe ...
*
Jack Regan
John Vincent Regan (12 September 1912 – 11 August 1988) was an Australian rules footballer who represented Collingwood in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1930s and 1940s.
Playing career
Recruited from Northcote, Regan str ...
from
University College Dublin R.F.C.
University College Dublin Rugby Football Club is based in Dublin, Ireland, and plays in Division 1A of the All-Ireland League. They play their home games at UCD Bowl.
The club was founded in 1910 and they won their first trophy, the Leinster Ju ...
*
Graham Curtis
Graham Curtis (born 12 September 1999) is an Zimbabwe-born Irish rugby union player who plays for Queen's University in the All-Ireland League, and has represented Ireland at Sevens. He preferred position is scrum-half.
Ulster
Curtis joined t ...
Ballymena Academy
Ballymena Academy is a mixed gender grammar school in the market town of Ballymena in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1828 as a small provincial school for children in the town and surrounding agricultural hinterland.
Admiss ...
* Joe Dunleavy from
City of Derry R.F.C.
City of Derry Rugby Football Club is a rugby club, formed in 1881 in Derry, Northern Ireland. They currently play in the Ulster Rugby Championship Division 1 after relegation from Division 2C of the All-Ireland League in 2022.
The club's pu ...
* Michael Lagan
* Craig Trenier
* Alex Thompson
* Conall Boomer
* Andy McGrath
Ulster 'A'
The following players, other than players from the senior squad and academy, appeared for Ulster 'A' this season.
European Rugby Champions Cup
Pro14
Play-off for the 7th Champions Cup place
The South African teams cannot compete in the European Rugby Champions Cup. The top three eligible teams in each conference automatically qualify for following year's Champions Cup. The fourth ranked eligible team in each conference meet in a play-off match with the winner taking the seventh Champions Cup place.
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 Kin ...
had home advantage against
Ospreys
The osprey (''Pandion haliaetus''), , also called sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey with a cosmopolitan range. It is a large raptor reaching more than in length and across the wings. It is brown o ...
by virtue of finishing with the greater number of points accumulated during the PRO14 regular league (62, as opposed to Ospreys’ 44). The match was played on Sunday 20 May, at the Kingspan Stadium.
End of season awards
John Cooney was the competition's top scorer with 175 points, and was named at scrum-half on the Pro14 Dream Team.
Nick Timoney
Nick Timoney (born 1 August 1995) is an Irish rugby union player, who plays in the back row for Ulster and Ireland. He is regarded as a "hybrid" player, an athletic forward with the pace of a back.Stuart McCloskey
Stuart McCloskey (born 6 August 1992) is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays centre for Ulster Rugby, and has six caps for Ireland. He has been Ulster's player of the year twice, and has twice been named on the Pro14 Dream Team. H ...
)
*Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: Paul Marshall
*Young Player of the Year:
Nick Timoney
Nick Timoney (born 1 August 1995) is an Irish rugby union player, who plays in the back row for Ulster and Ireland. He is regarded as a "hybrid" player, an athletic forward with the pace of a back.Matty Rea
Matthew Rea (born 21 September 1993) is an Ireland, Irish professional rugby union player who plays for Ulster Rugby, Ulster as a back row forward.
He was educated at Ballymena Academy, and helped the school win the 2010 Ulster Schools' Cup fina ...
,
Johnny McPhillips
Johnny McPhillips (born 13 April 1997) is a professional rugby union player who plays for US Carcassonne in France's Pro D2, the second division. Between 2019 and 2021 he played 21 times for Leicester Tigers and between 2017 and 2019 he mad ...
)
*Rugby Writers Player of the Year: John Cooney (nominees:
Jacob Stockdale
Jacob Stockdale (born 3 April 1996) is an Irish professional rugby union player who currently plays for Ulster Rugby, Ulster and for Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland. He plays on the wing or at fullback. He holds the record for tries s ...
,
Nick Timoney
Nick Timoney (born 1 August 1995) is an Irish rugby union player, who plays in the back row for Ulster and Ireland. He is regarded as a "hybrid" player, an athletic forward with the pace of a back.John Cooney (nominees:
Rory Best
Rory David Best (born 15 August 1982) is an Irish former rugby union player from Northern Ireland and was the captain of the Ireland national team from 2016 to 2019. He played hooker for Ulster and was registered for Banbridge RFC, having pr ...
,
Jacob Stockdale
Jacob Stockdale (born 3 April 1996) is an Irish professional rugby union player who currently plays for Ulster Rugby, Ulster and for Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland. He plays on the wing or at fullback. He holds the record for tries s ...
)
*Academy Player of the Year:
Nick Timoney
Nick Timoney (born 1 August 1995) is an Irish rugby union player, who plays in the back row for Ulster and Ireland. He is regarded as a "hybrid" player, an athletic forward with the pace of a back.Tom O'Toole,
Angus Curtis
Angus Curtis (born 26 March 1998) is an Irish rugby union player, currently playing for United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup side Ulster. He plays as a fly-half or centre.
Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, Curtis' father is ...
)
*Ulster A Player of the Year: Tom O'Toole (nominees:
Clive Ross
Clive Ross (born 14 June 1989) is a former Irish rugby union player who was educated at Midleton College and played for Ulster as a flanker until 2020.
Ulster
Ross joined Ulster in Summer 2014 after playing for two seasons at Lansdowne Lansdo ...
, Matthew Agnew)
*Community Rugby Champions: Patrick Baird,
Malone RFC
Malone RFC (Malone Rugby Football Club) is a rugby union club based in Belfast, in Northern Ireland. It is currently in the Division 1B of the All-Ireland League. The club is affiliated with the Ulster Branch, itself part of the Irish Rugb ...
; Noel Brown,
Cooke RFC
Cooke Rugby Football Club, which was founded in 1910, is the oldest junior rugby club in Belfast, Northern Ireland. They currently field 3 Senior Men's teams, the 1st XV playing in Qualifying 1, and a successful Women's team, which competes in th ...
(nominees: Clem Bassett,
Ballynahinch RFC
Ballynahinch Rugby Club is an Irish rugby union club based in the County Down town of Ballynahinch in Northern Ireland. Founded in 1954, the club is affiliated to the Ulster Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union.
The first team currently pl ...
; Liam Foley,
Bangor RFC
Bangor Rugby Football Club (Welsh: Clwb Rygbi Bangor) is a Welsh rugby union team based in Bangor, North Wales. Bangor RFC is a founding member of the Welsh Rugby Union. The club fields a Seniors, Youth, Juniors and Ladies teams.
History
Bangor ...
)
*Referee of the Year:
Chris Busby Chris Busby may refer to:
* Christopher Busby, British scientist
* Chris Busby (referee)
{{hndis, Busby, Chris ...
*Women's Player of the Year:
Larissa Muldoon
Larissa Muldoon (born 11 March 1991), from Ballybofey, Co Donegal, is a rugby union player for Railway Union Sports Club, Railway Union, Ulster Rugby, Ulster rugby and the Irish Rugby Football Union.
Her first sport was Ladies' Gaelic footbal ...
,
Railway Union RFC
Railway Union Sports Club is a multi-sports club based in Sandymount, Dublin 4, Ireland. The club was founded in 1904 and was originally known as the Railway and Steam Packet Athletic and Social Union. The club organises teams in various sports a ...
(nominees: Beth Cregan,
Cooke RFC
Cooke Rugby Football Club, which was founded in 1910, is the oldest junior rugby club in Belfast, Northern Ireland. They currently field 3 Senior Men's teams, the 1st XV playing in Qualifying 1, and a successful Women's team, which competes in th ...
Cooke RFC
Cooke Rugby Football Club, which was founded in 1910, is the oldest junior rugby club in Belfast, Northern Ireland. They currently field 3 Senior Men's teams, the 1st XV playing in Qualifying 1, and a successful Women's team, which competes in th ...
)
*U18 Girls Player of the Year: Bethany McDowell,
Malone RFC
Malone RFC (Malone Rugby Football Club) is a rugby union club based in Belfast, in Northern Ireland. It is currently in the Division 1B of the All-Ireland League. The club is affiliated with the Ulster Branch, itself part of the Irish Rugb ...
(nominees: Kelly McCormill, Monaghan RFC; Lucinda Kinghan, Monaghan RFC)
*Youth Player of the Year: Conor McMenamin,
Letterkenny RFC
Letterkenny RFC is a rugby union club based in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The club has strong ties with Dave Gallaher, the New Zealand national rugby union team, New Zealand rugby union footballer, best known as the captain of ...
(nominees: Seif Eldin Abd El Gawad, Carrickfergus RFC; Charlie Clarke, Rainey Old Boys R.F.C.)
*Schools' Player of the Year:
Aaron Sexton
Aaron Sexton (born 24 August 2000) is an Irish rugby union player who plays Wing (rugby union), wing or Fullback (rugby union), fullback for Ulster Rugby, Ulster in the United Rugby Championship
Sexton is also a track sprinter, winning the 2018 ...
,
Bangor Grammar School
(Maintain justice)
, established = 1856
, type = Voluntary grammar school
, religious_affiliation = Interdenominational
, head_label = Principal
, head = E P Huddleson
, r_head_label = Chaplains
, r_head = Nig ...
(nominees: John McKee,
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 ...
;
Nathan Doak
Nathan Doak (born 17 December 2001) is an Irish rugby union player who plays scrum-half for Ulster in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup.
The son of the former Ulster scrum-half and head coach Neil Doak, he w ...
, Wallace High School)
*Dorrington B Faulkner Award: Mark Orr
*Club Player of the Year: Matthew Agnew,
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 five ...
(nominees: Andrew Morrison,
Banbridge RFC
Banbridge RFC (Banbridge Rugby Football Club) is a rugby union club based in Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland, in the province of Ulster. It currently plays in Division 1B of the Energia All-Ireland League after gaining promotion in ...
; Peter Cromie,
Banbridge RFC
Banbridge RFC (Banbridge Rugby Football Club) is a rugby union club based in Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland, in the province of Ulster. It currently plays in Division 1B of the Energia All-Ireland League after gaining promotion in ...
)
*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.
Honours
* Ulster Senior League: 2
** 2016-17, 2017-18
*Ulster Senior Cup
The Ulster Senior C ...
(nominees:
Malone RFC
Malone RFC (Malone Rugby Football Club) is a rugby union club based in Belfast, in Northern Ireland. It is currently in the Division 1B of the All-Ireland League. The club is affiliated with the Ulster Branch, itself part of the Irish Rugb ...
, Grosvenor RFC)
*Special Recognition Award: Norman Pollock