2021–22 Ulster Rugby season

The 2021–22 season was Ulster Rugby's 28th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and Dan McFarland's fourth season as head coach. They competed in the inaugural United Rugby Championship (successor competition to the Pro14) and the European Rugby Champions Cup.

The major new signing was South African number eight Duane Vermeulen. Ulster finished third in the URC, and second in the Irish Shield, qualifying for the playoffs and for next season's Champions Cup. They beat Munster at home in the quarter-final, but went out in the semi-final to the Stormers in Cape Town. Lock Alan O'Connor won the URC Tackle Machine award, and flanker Nick Timoney and centre James Hume were named in the league's Dream Team. Ulster won all four of their pool games in the Champions Cup, finishing second and qualifying for a two-legged round of sixteen playoff against Toulouse, which they lost by an aggregate score of 49–50. Fullback Michael Lowry was nominated for European Player of the Year and made his debut for Ireland. James Hume was Ulster's Player of the Year.

Ulster used 46 players this season, compared to Leinster with 60, Munster with 59 and Connacht with 46. Alan O'Connor, Billy Burns and Nick Timoney made the most appearances for the province, each appearing in 24 out of 26 games. Robert Baloucoune was top try scorer with 11. Nick Timoney was RTÉ's choice for Ulster's player of the season, and Andrew Warwick was their most underrated player. Nathan Doak had a breakthrough season, deputising for the injured John Cooney as scrum-half and goal kicker, and finishing the season the team's leading scorer with 132 points.

Personnel changes
Assistant coach Dwayne Peel left in the off-season to become head coach of Scarlets. Skills coach Dan Soper was promoted to assistant, and Craig Newby joined as the new skills coach. Gavin Hogg, formerly rugby development officer, became the new academy manager, assisted by Willie Faloon as elite performance development officer.

After the departure of Marcell Coetzee last season, Ulster attempted to sign Fijian forward Leone Nakarawa, but the move fell through following a medical report. As the season began, Ulster announced the signing of South African number 8 Duane Vermeulen, who would join the squad in November after the autumn internationals. Other new arrivals were lock Mick Kearney, signed from Zebre Parma, and hooker Declan Moore, signed from Munster as short-term injury cover.

Joining the senior squad from the academy on development contracts were wing Aaron Sexton, scrum-half Nathan Doak, hooker Tom Stewart, wing Ethan McIlroy, prop Callum Reid flanker David McCann, lock Cormac Izuchukwu, and wing Ben Moxham.

Five new players joined the academy: out-half James Humphreys, son of Ulster great David Humphreys, joining from the Gloucester academy; RBAI centre Jude Postlethwaite; and three players from Sullivan Upper School, lock Harry Sheridan, prop George Saunderson and scrum-half Conor McKee.

Departing were hooker Adam McBurney to Edinburgh, Matt Faddes to Otago, and out-half Bill Johnston to Ealing Trailfinders, making his loan move last season permanent. Fullback Louis Ludik retired. Scrum-half Alby Mathewson and prop Kyle McCall were released, and academy centre Hayden Hyde moved to Harlequins' academy.

Sponsorship
British government minister Michael Gove wrote to Ulster in December, urging the team to end their relationship with principal sponsor Kingspan, after the firm was criticised by the inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire for supplying some of the insulation materials involved. This led to protests outside Ravenhill before Ulster's Champions Cup game against Clermont in January 2022.

Summer internationals
Lock Iain Henderson was selected for the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa. He didn't play in any of the tests, but made four appearances, including starting against Japan and captaining the side against the Sharks.

Centre James Hume, wing Robert Baloucoune and flanker Nick Timoney all made their Ireland debuts in the summer international against the United States in July, and uncapped fullback Michael Lowry trained with the Ireland squad for the summer internationals.

Pre-season
Ulster played two friendlies, home and away, against Saracens. The home match was played at the Kingspan on 3 September 2021, and Saracens won 45–21. The away match at the Honourable Artillery Company grounds in London on 9 September 2021, and Ulster won 33–3.

First block
Ulster won their first four matches of the URC season. Hooker Bradley Roberts made his first competitive start, and scored a try in the season opener at home to Glasgow Warriors. Scrum-half John Cooney went off injured in the first half, replaced by 19-year-old Nathan Doak, who scored a try and three conversions. With Cooney missing, Doak started in the away win against Zebre Parma and the home wins against Benetton and Lions, and continued to impress. Hooker Rob Herring made his 200th appearance for Ulster against Benetton. Fullback Will Addison sustained a fracture to his lower leg in the October match against the Lions. Ulster's winning run was halted by a defeat away to Connacht at the Aviva Stadium on 23 October.

Autumn international break
Club competition then took a break for the Autumn internationals. Lock Iain Henderson came on as a replacement for Ireland in the 60–5 win over Japan, and started in the 29–20 victory over New Zealand, with hooker Rob Herring coming off the bench. Henderson and wing Robert Baloucoune started, with prop Tom O'Toole and flanker Nick Timoney coming off the bench, in the 53–7 win against Argentina. Centres James Hume and Stuart McCloskey were named in the 38-man squad, but did not make an appearance. Hooker Bradley Roberts was called up for Wales, and made his international debut from the bench against South Africa.

Second block
After the break, John Cooney returned to action for a 20–10 away win over Leinster, with the back row of Marcus Rea, Nick Timoney and David McCann impressing, but this was followed by a disappointing away loss to Ospreys, in which wing Craig Gilroy made his 200th appearance for Ulster.

Having been awarded development contracts at the start of the season, scrum-half Nathan Doak and wing Ethan McIlroy signed long-term senior contracts in December - Doak for four years, McIlroy for three.

It was announced that Former head coach Neil Doak would return to Ulster as elite player development officer for the academy in early 2022.

Ulster opened their Champions Cup season on 11 December with an away win against Clermont, which marked Duane Vermeulen's debut for the province. The following weekend they defeated Northampton Saints at home, with fullback Michael Lowry scoring two tries. The next two scheduled URC matches, Interpros at home to Connacht on 26 December and Leinster on 1 January, were postponed because of Covid-19 cases. Ulster's next game was a tight away defeat to Munster, before the Champions Cup resumed with an away win against Northampton Saints, which marked Nathan Doak's first European start, and a home win against Clermont, in which Ulster built up a 22-point lead before Clermont almost pulled it back with three late tries. These four pool victories earned Ulster a two-legged round of 16 tie against reigning champions Toulouse.

Six Nations international break
Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, Michael Lowry, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Tom O'Toole and Nick Timoney were called up to the Ireland squad for the 2022 Six Nations Championship on 19 January. Bradley Roberts was called up for Wales.

A depleted Ulster side, missing most of their internationals, defeated Scarlets at home on 28 January. Wing Craig Gilroy, who received a yellow card for a dangerous tackle during the game, was later cited and banned for four matches. The home tie against Connacht was rescheduled for 4 February, on the eve of Ireland's opening match of the Six Nations against Wales. Robert Baloucoune, Michael Lowry and Nick Timoney, who had not been selected for that game, were temporarily released from the Ireland camp back to Ulster. Baloucoune and Lowry started, Timoney came off the bench, and Baloucoune scored two tries, in a 32–12 victory. Hooker Declan Moore, who had joined Ulster as short-term injury cover from Munster, and had just agreed to a permanent move next season, unexpectedly made his debut after a last-minute injury to John Andrew, and scored a try. The following day, James Hume came off the bench in Ireland's 29–7 victory over Wales.

Fullback Michael Lowry was named on the long list for EPCR European Player of the Year for the 2021–22 season, and made his debut for Ireland against Italy in the Six Nations on 27 February 2022.

James McCormick, Reuben Crothers, James McNabney, Josh Hanlon, Adam McNamee, Scott Wilson, Jude Postlethwaite, Lorcan McLoughlin and Ben Carson appeared for Ireland in the 2022 U20 Six Nations.

In February, lock David O'Connor joined Ealing Trailfinders until the end of the season, and academy centre Jude Postlethwaite signed a development contract, to be upgraded to a full senior contract after a year. Academy scrum-half Lewis Finlay signed for English Championship club Ampthill.

Third block
Having beaten Leinster away in November, Ulster completed a rare double by defeating them at home on a rainy night in March. They then travelled to South Africa, losing narrowly to the Stormers in Cape Town after a late try by Callum Reid, which would have put Ulster ahead, was disallowed after TMO review. URC head of officials Tappe Henning later admitted the try should have stood. Alan O'Connor made his 150th appearance for Ulster against the Stormers. The following week, against the Bulls in Pretoria, Andrew Warwick made his 150th appearance as Ulster fell to a 34–16 defeat. The trip to South Africa saw centre Luke Marshall return to action after 16 months out with a knee injury. He came off the bench against the Stormers, and started, and scored, against the Bulls.

Ulster won the away leg of their Champions Cup round of 16 tie against Toulouse 26–20, with Robert Baloucoune scoring a hat-trick after Toulouse wing Juan Cruz Mallia was shown an early red card. Taking a six-point lead into the second leg at home, they lost 30–23, going out of the competition 49–50 on aggregate. Flanker Nick Timoney made his 100th appearance for the province in the second leg.

Former Springboks and Ulster flanker Pedrie Wannenburg was killed in a car accident in Texas in April.

In the wake of the defeat at home to Toulouse, Ulster suffered their first home loss in the URC, at home to Munster. The following week, they ended their losing run by inflicting a first home league defeat on Edinburgh in a close contest, confirming their qualification for the quarter-finals. Two weeks later, they secured a home quarter-final by defeating the Sharks at home. They defeated Munster in the quarter-final at Ravenhill on 3 June, earning a semi-final away to the Stormers. They led late in the semi-final in Cape Town, but the Stormers came back to win with a last-minute converted try.

Post-season
Alan O'Connor won the URC Tackle Machine award for the 2021–22 season, after making 195 tackles with a 97.5% success rate in that competition. Flanker Nick Timoney and centre James Hume were named in the URC Dream Team.

In the annual Ulster Rugby Awards, James Hume was named Men's Player of the Year and Rugby Writers' Player of the Year; Michael Lowry was Supporters' Club Player of the Year; and Ethan McIlroy was Young Men's Player of the Year.

Players in

 * Mick Kearney from 🇮🇹 Zebre Parma (short-term deal)
 * 🇦🇺 Declan Moore from Munster (short-term loan)
 * Duane Vermeulen from Bulls

Promoted from academy

 * Nathan Doak
 * Cormac Izuchukwu
 * David McCann
 * Ethan McIlroy
 * Ben Moxham
 * Callum Reid
 * Aaron Sexton
 * Tom Stewart

Players out

 * Marcell Coetzee to Bulls
 * 🇳🇿 Matt Faddes to 🇳🇿 Otago
 * Bill Johnston to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Ealing Trailfinders
 * Louis Ludik retired
 * 🇳🇿 Alby Mathewson released
 * Adam McBurney to Edinburgh
 * Kyle McCall released

Players in

 * Harry Sheridan from Sullivan Upper School.
 * Jude Postlethwaite from RBAI
 * Conor McKee from Sullivan Upper School
 * James Humphreys from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Gloucester academy
 * George Saunderson from Sullivan Upper School

Players out

 * Hayden Hyde to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Harlequins academy
 * Bruce Houston to Heriot's Rugby Club

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

Awards
The Ulster Rugby Awards were announced online on 23 June 2022. Winners were:


 * Bank of Ireland Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: Ashleigh Orchard
 * Heineken Men's Player of the Year: James Hume (nominees: Robert Baloucoune, Michael Lowry, Nick Timoney, Andrew Warwick)
 * Deloitte Women's Player of the Year: Aishling O'Connell, Cooke RFC (nominees: Keelin Brady, Railway Union RFC; Beth Cregan, Cooke RFC; Kelly McCormill, Cooke RFC; Fiona Tuite, Old Belvedere RFC)
 * Ulster Rugby Supporters Club Player of the Year: Michael Lowry
 * Rugby Writers' Player of the Year: James Hume (nominees: Robert Baloucoune, Michael Lowry, Nick Timoney)
 * Openreach Young Men's Player of the Year: Ethan McIlroy (nominees: Nathan Doak, Ben Moxham)
 * Deloitte Young Women's Player of the Year: Jorja Battishill, Malone RFC (nominees: Sophie Barrett, Enniskillen RFC; Rachael McIlroy, Queen's University RFC; Fern Wilson, Malone RFC)
 * Kukri Club of the Year: Queen's University RFC (nominees: Ballymena RFC, Ballynahinch RFC, Virginia RFC)
 * Ken Goodall Club Player of the Year: David Whitten, Queen's University RFC (nominees: Michael Orr, Queen's University RFC; Shea O'Brien, City of Armagh RFC)
 * Dorrington B. Faulker (Services to Rugby) Award: Anne Scott, Inishowen RFC president
 * Referee of the Year: Chris Busby
 * Deloitte U18 Girls' Player of the Year: Sadhbh McGrath, City of Derry RFC (nominees: Farrah Cartin-McCloskey, Enniskillen RFC; Sarah Shrestha, Loughborough University)
 * Ulster Carpets Boys' Youth Player of the Year: Ethan Graham, Monaghan RFC/Belfast Met RFC (nominees: Michael Burnett, City of Armagh RFC; Mark Lee, Rainey Old Boys R.F.C.)
 * Danske Bank Girls' Schools Player of the Year: Sophie Barrett, Erne Integrated College (nominees: Moya Hill, Erne Integrated College; Zara Hutchinson, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School)
 * Danske Bank Boys' Schools Player of the Year: Joe Hopes, Campbell College (nominees: Ben McFarlane, Methodist College Belfast; Josh Stevens, Methodist College Belfast)

Season reviews

 * "The Ulster depth chart: Under-the-radar signings and Stockdale's return", The 42, 16 September 2022