2014–15 Ulster Rugby season

The 2014–15 season was Ulster's 21st season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and their first under Director of Rugby Les Kiss and head coach Neil Doak. They completed in the European Rugby Champions Cup and the Pro12.

New signings for this season included out-half Ian Humphreys, returning from his spell at London Irish, lock Franco van der Merwe, flanker Sean Reidy and fullback Louis Ludik. Rory Best was reinstated as captain, following the retirement of Johann Muller at the end of the previous season.

In June 2014, David Humphreys left his post as the province's Director of Rugby, joining English Premiership side Gloucester. Later that month, head coach Mark Anscombe also left the province "with immediate effect". assistant coach Les Kiss filled the role of Director of Rugby on an interim basis. In October 2014, Kiss returned to his position with the Ireland team, with Neil Doak taking the role of head coach. Kiss would return to his role with Ulster on a full-time basis following the 2015 World Cup. Bryn Cunningham was appointed the new team manager, responsible for recruiting players and negotiating contracts. Defence coach Jonny Bell left at the end of the season to become assistant coach at Gloucester, replaced by Joe Barakat.

Ulster entered the season with their home stadium, Ravenhill, redeveloped, with the stadium's capacity having been increased to 18,196, and renamed the Kingspan Stadium after its sponsor.

Ulster finished fourth in the Pro12, qualifying for the semi-finals and next season's Champions Cup. They lost the semi-final to Glasgow Warriors. Ulster led the league in scrums. Franco van der Merwe and wing Craig Gilroy made the Pro12 Dream Team, and Gilroy's try against Scarlets was named Try of the Year. They finished third in their pool in the Champions Cup. Scrum-half Ruan Pienaar was Ulster's top scorer with 121 points. Craig Gilroy was top try scorer with twelve, and was named Ulster's Player of the Year.

Ulster's second team, the Ulster Ravens, competed in the British and Irish Cup, finishing third in their pool.

Prop Declan Fitzpatrick retired at the end of the season.

Players in

 * Ross Adair from Ballynahinch
 * 🇳🇿 Tim Boys from 🇳🇿 Southland
 * Charlie Butterworth from Lansdowne
 * Wiehahn Herbst from
 * Ian Humphreys from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 London Irish
 * Louis Ludik from 🇫🇷 Agen
 * Ruaidhrí Murphy from 🇦🇺 Brumbies
 * 🇳🇿 Sean Reidy from 🇳🇿 Counties Manukau
 * Clive Ross from Lansdowne
 * Dave Ryan from 🇮🇹 Zebre
 * Michael Stanley from 🇳🇿 Counties Manukau
 * Franco van der Merwe from

Promoted from academy

 * Conor Joyce
 * Kyle McCall
 * Stuart McCloskey
 * Peter Nelson
 * Bronson Ross
 * Rory Scholes
 * James Simpson
 * Andrew Warwick

Players out

 * 🇳🇿 John Afoa to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Gloucester
 * Niall Annett to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Worcester Warriors
 * Chris Cochrane retired
 * Tom Court to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 London Irish
 * 🇦🇺 Sean Doyle to 🇦🇺 Brumbies
 * Chris Farrell to 🇫🇷 Grenoble
 * Stephen Ferris retired
 * Adam Macklin to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Rotherham Titans
 * Paddy McAllister to 🇫🇷 Aurillac
 * David McIlwaine to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Yorkshire Carnegie
 * James McKinney to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Rotherham Titans
 * Johann Muller retired
 * Ian Porter to Connacht
 * Paddy Wallace retired

Players in

 * Jacob Stockdale from Wallace High School
 * Sammy Arnold
 * Jack Owens
 * David Busby
 * Michael Lagan
 * Craig Trenier
 * Paul Jackson
 * Alex Thompson
 * Joshua Atkinson
 * Lorcan Dow
 * Frank Taggart
 * Connor Young
 * Sean O'Hagan

Players out

 * Jack Caulfield

Ulster Ravens
The following players, other than players from the senior squad and academy, appeared for the Ulster Ravens this season.

End of season awards
Wing Craig Gilroy and lock Franco van der Merwe made the Pro12 Dream Team.

Ulster Rugby Awards
The Heineken Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held at the Culloden Estate and Spa, Holywood. Winners were:


 * Bank of Ireland Ulster Player of the Year: Craig Gilroy
 * Heineken Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: Rory Best
 * BT Young Player of the Year: Stuart McCloskey
 * Rugby Writers Player of the Year: Craig Gilroy
 * Ulster Rugby Supporters Club Player of the Year: Darren Cave
 * Abbey Insurance Academy Player of the Year: Sammy Arnold
 * Danske Bank Ulster Schools Player of the Year: Rob Lyttle