2018–19 Ulster Rugby season

The 2018–19 season was Ulster's 25th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and Dan McFarland's first season as head coach. Rory Best was captain. They competed in the Pro14, making the semi-finals, and the European Rugby Champions Cup, making the quarter-finals.

Personnel changes
After the resignation of Jono Gibbes, Dan McFarland was announced as Ulster's new head coach on 30 April 2018. Initially he was to serve his notice as Scotland's forwards coach and join Ulster in January 2019, with Simon Easterby to act as interim head coach until then. But in August, an agreement was reached with Scotland for McFarland to join Ulster before the new season. Jared Payne, who retired as a player at the end of last season, became the new defence coach. Banbridge head coach Dan Soper joined as skills coach. Shane Logan stepped down as Chief Executive in September 2018, with Jonny Petrie appointed as his successor.

There were significant changes to the playing squad. Aside from Jared Payne, wings Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble, scrum-half Paul Marshall, and loose forwards Peter Browne, Jean Deysel and Chris Henry also retired. Also departing were fullback Charles Piutau to Bristol Bears, props Callum Black to Worcester Warriors, Rodney Ah You to Newcastle Falcons and Wiehahn Herbst to the Bulls, out-half Brett Herron to Jersey Reds, and centre Callum Patterson to the Cornish Pirates. Scrum-half Aaron Cairns, flanker Robbie Diack and prop Schalk van der Merwe were released. Out-half Paddy Jackson and centre Stuart Olding, whose contracts were terminated in the fallout from their trial and acquittal for rape, signed for Perpignan and Brive respectively. Rory Best remained captain.

Ulster were in need of an experienced out-half after the end of Christian Lealiifano's loan period and Jackson's departure. In June they attempted to sign South African out-half Elton Jantjies, but were blocked by the IRFU, who insisted they needed to sign an Irish-qualified player. Leinster's Joey Carbery and Ross Byrne were talked about, but Carbery opted to sign for Munster and Byrne stayed at Leinster. On 18 July, Billy Burns, who qualified for Ireland through his Irish grandfather, was signed from Gloucester.

Other new arrivals were prop Marty Moore, signed from Wasps; flanker Jordi Murphy, from Leinster; utility back Will Addison, from Sale Sharks; wing Henry Speight, from the Brumbies; and, in a short-term loan deal, lock Ian Nagle, from Leinster. Academy players who made their debut for the senior team this season were prop Eric O'Sullivan, wings Robert Baloucoune and Angus Kernohan, centre James Hume, fullback Michael Lowry and flanker Marcus Rea. Former academy prop Tommy O'Hagan also made his senior debut.

Seven players joined the academy this season: back row forward Matthew Agnew, from Malone RFC; out-half Bruce Houston, centre Stewart Moore, and back-rower Azur Allison, from Ballymena Academy; back rower David McCann, from RBAI; outside back Iwan Hughes, from Bristol Bears; and wing Angus Kernohan, from Ballymena Academy.

Sponsorship
Ulster renewed their sponsorship deal with construction materials firm Kingspan, who would continue as Ulster's jersey sponsor until 1923. Their stadium naming deal would continue until 2024.

Season
In the Pro14, Ulster finished second in Conference B, qualifying for the playoffs and next season's Champions Cup. They defeated Connacht in the quarter-final, but lost to Glasgow Warriors in the semi-final. Ulster led the league in defence. Scrum-half John Cooney and centre Stuart McCloskey made the Pro14 Dream Team. They finished second in Pool 4 of the Champions Cup, making the quarter-finals, where they lost to Leinster. Wing Jacob Stockdale was named on the longlist for EPCR European Player of the Year.

John Cooney was leading scorer with 142 points. Hooker Rob Herring was leading try scorer with eight. Flanker Nick Timoney was leading tackler with 303, just ahead of number eight Marcell Coetzee with 301. Stuart McCloskey was Ulster's Player of the Year. Captain and hooker Rory Best and centre Darren Cave retired at the end of the season.

Players In

 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Will Addison from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Sale Sharks
 * Alan Bennie from Lansdowne
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Billy Burns from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Gloucester
 * Caleb Montgomery from Banbridge
 * Marty Moore from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Wasps
 * Jordi Murphy from Leinster
 * Ian Nagle from Leinster (loan deal)
 * 🇦🇺 Henry Speight from 🇦🇺 Brumbies (short-term deal)
 * Alexander Thompson from Terenure

Promoted from academy

 * Angus Curtis
 * Greg Jones
 * Adam McBurney
 * Tom O'Toole
 * Johnny Stewart
 * Nick Timoney

Players Out

 * Rodney Ah You to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Newcastle Falcons
 * Callum Black to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Worcester Warriors
 * Tommy Bowe retired
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Peter Browne retired
 * Aaron Cairns to Ballynahinch
 * Jean Deysel retired
 * Robbie Diack released
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Brett Herron to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Jersey Reds
 * Chris Henry retired
 * Paddy Jackson to 🇫🇷 Perpignan
 * Paul Marshall retired
 * Stuart Olding to 🇫🇷 Brive
 * Callum Patterson to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Cornish Pirates
 * Jared Payne retired
 * 🇳🇿 Charles Piutau to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Bristol Bears
 * Andrew Trimble retired
 * Schalk van der Merwe released


 * 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").

Players in

 * Stewart Moore from Ballymena Academy
 * David McCann from RBAI
 * Angus Kernohan from Ballymena Academy.
 * Bruce Houston from Ballymena Academy
 * Azur Allison from Ballymena Academy
 * Matthew Agnew from Malone RFC
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Iwan Hughes, from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Bristol Bears

Players out

 * Peter Cooper
 * Alexander Clarke
 * John McCusker
 * Rory Butler

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

End of season awards
Inside centre Stuart McCloskey and scrum-half John Cooney were named the Pro14 Dream Team.

Ulster Rugby Awards
The Heineken Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast, on 9 May 2019. Winners were:


 * Player of the Year: Stuart McCloskey
 * Personality of the Year: Rory Best
 * Young Player of the Year: Eric O'Sullivan
 * Rugby Writers Player of the Year: Marcell Coetzee
 * Supporters Club Player of the Year: Stuart McCloskey
 * Academy Player of the Year: Michael Lowry
 * Ulster A Player of the Year: Aaron Sexton
 * Women's Player of the Year: Claire McLaughlin, Old Belvedere R.F.C.
 * Youth Player of the Year: Matthew Sands, City of Armagh RFC
 * Boys' Schools Player of the Year: Tom Stewart, Belfast Royal Academy
 * Girls' Schools Player of the Year: Zara Flack, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School
 * Real Rugby Heroes Award (adult category): Victor Kearney, Donegal Town RFC
 * Real Rugby Heroes Award (youth category): Heather Thornton, Rainey Old Boys R.F.C.
 * Dorrington B. Faulkner Award: Barney McGonigle
 * Club Player of the Year: Ross Adair, Ballynahinch RFC
 * Referee of the Year: Peter Martin
 * Club of the Year: Queen's University RFC
 * U18 Girls Player of the Year: Kelly McCormill, Cooke RFC

Season reviews

 * "Ulster’s progression in 2019", The Front Row Union, 8 May 2019
 * "Making an impact at Ulster Rugby", The Front Row Union, 23 May 2019
 * Ulster Men: Who did what 2018-19, The From Row Union, 18 July 2019
 * "Dan McFarland: Season Review", Ulster Rugby, 6 June 2019
 * "Ulster continue to make strides", United Rugby, 12 June 2019