2015–16 Ulster Rugby season

The 2015–16 season was Ulster's 22nd season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and the second under Director of Rugby Les Kiss and head coach Neil Doak. They competed in the European Rugby Champions Cup and the Pro12.

In the Pro12, Ulster finished fourth, qualifying for the playoffs and for next season's Champions Cup. They lost to Leinster in the semi-final. Ulster won the Fair Play Award, and wing Craig Gilroy made the Pro12 Dream Team. In the Champions Cup, they finished second in Pool 1, missing out on the knockout stage. Academy wing Jacob Stockdale made his senior debut this season. Centre Stuart McCloskey was Ulster's Player of the Year. Out-half Paddy Jackson was Ulster's leading scorer with 200 points. Craig Gilroy was leading try scorer with ten. Lock Franco van der Merwe was leading tackler with 261. At the end of the season, number eight Nick Williams left for Cardiff Blues, and lock Dan Tuohy for Bristol Bears. Out-half Ian Humphreys retired.

Players In

 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Peter Browne from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 London Welsh
 * Willie Faloon from Connacht
 * Stephen Mulholland from Ballymena
 * Paul Rowley from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 London Welsh
 * Frank Taggart from Ballymena
 * 🇦🇺 Sam Windsor from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Worcester Warriors

Promoted from academy

 * John Andrew
 * Sammy Arnold
 * Alan O'Connor

Players Out

 * Ross Adair to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Jersey
 * Michael Allen to Edinburgh Rugby
 * Ricky Andrew to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Nottingham
 * 🇳🇿 Tim Boys to Southland/Crusaders
 * Charlie Butterworth to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Jersey
 * Declan Fitzpatrick retired
 * Michael Heaney to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Doncaster Knights
 * Mike McComish released
 * Neil McComb to Belfast Harlequins
 * Dave Ryan to 🇫🇷 Agen
 * James Simpson released
 * Michael Stanley to 🇳🇿 Counties Manukau

Players in

 * Nick Timoney from Blackrock College
 * Ross Kane from Ballymena R.F.C.
 * Johnny McPhillips 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 from Newcastle Falcons
 * Jake Byrne
 * Peter Cooper
 * Liam Free
 * Andy McGrath

Players out

 * Paul Jackson
 * Jonny Murphy
 * Joshua Atkinson
 * Frank Taggart
 * Sean O'Hagan

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 was joint top try scorer with 10, and was named in the Pro12 Dream Team. Ulster won the competition's Fair Play award.

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: Stuart McCloskey
 * Heineken Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: Nick Williams
 * BT Young Player of the Year: Kyle McCall
 * Rugby Writers Player of the Year: Franco van der Merwe
 * Ulster Rugby Supporters Club Player of the Year: Paddy Jackson
 * Abbey Insurance Academy Player of the Year: Adam McBurney

Season reviews

 * Ulster: Season Review 2015 – 2016, The Front Row Union, 23 May 2016