2007–08 Ulster Rugby season

The 2007–08 Ulster Rugby season was Ulster's 14th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and their fourth under head coach Mark McCall. They competed in the Heineken Cup and the Celtic League

Steve Williams joined as assistant coach at the beginning of the season, replacing Allen Clarke, who had left to become the manager of the IRFU's elite player programme. After a poor run of results, Mark McCall resigned as head coach in November 2007. Steve Williams took over on an interim basis, and Matt Williams was appointed as McCall's permanent replacement in December. Ulster finished bottom of their pool in the Heineken Cup, and second from bottom in the Celtic League. Tommy Bowe was Ulster's Player of the Year, and IRUPA Players' Player of the Year. David Humphreys, who retired at the end of the season, was inducted into the IRUPA Hall of Fame.

Players in (Season 2007/2008)

 * Jarlath Carey from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Rotherham Titans
 * Simon Danielli from Border Reivers
 * 🇮🇹 Carlo Del Fava from 🇫🇷 Bourgoin
 * Rob Dewey from Edinburgh
 * Kieran Hallett from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Bedford Blues
 * Neil Hanna from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Rotherham Titans
 * Seamus Mallon from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Northampton Saints
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Matt Miles from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Pertemps Bees
 * 🇳🇿 Grant Webb from Toyota Verblitz

Promoted from academy

 * Darren Cave
 * Niall O'Connor
 * David Pollock

Players Out (Season 2007/2008)

 * John Andress to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Exeter Chiefs
 * 🇦🇺 Sam Harding released
 * Kevin Maggs to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Bristol Rugby
 * Andy Maxwell to Edinburgh
 * Paul Shields to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Northampton Saints
 * Lewis Stevenson to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Exeter Chiefs
 * Scott Young to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Doncaster Knights

Players in

 * Tommy Seymour
 * James Sandford
 * Ian Porter
 * Chris Cochrane
 * Jamie Smith
 * Ian Whitten
 * Paul Karayiannis
 * Pat Steenkamp
 * Sam McDonald
 * Chris Quinn

Players out

 * Michael Ferguson
 * Phil Coulter
 * Stuart Megaw
 * Richard Fegan
 * Dale Black

Ulster Rugby Awards
The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held on 15 May 2008 at the La Mon House Hotel outside Belfast. Winners were:


 * Guinness Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: David Humphreys
 * Bank of Ireland Ulster Player of the Year: Tommy Bowe
 * Vodafone Young Ulster Player of the Year: Niall O'Connor
 * Kukri Sportswear Club of the Year: City of Armagh RFC
 * First Trust Club Player of the Year: Ian Porter, QUB
 * Ken Goodall Award for Outstanding Player at the Sports Institute: Ian Whitten, QUB
 * Special Merit Award: Latimer Adair, Ballynahinch RFC
 * Calor Gas Youth Player of the Year: James Simpson, Ballynahinch RFC
 * Northern Bank Schools Player of the Year: Jonathan Shiells, Coleraine Academical Institution