Ulster Rugby/2021-2022

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In Dan McFarland's fourth season as head coach, Ulster are competing in the United Rugby Championship and the Heineken Cup.

Coaching team

 * Dan McFarland, head coach
 * Dan Soper, assistant coach
 * Jared Payne, defence coach
 * Roddy Grant, forwards coach
 * Craig Newby, skills coach

Squad
Players in italics are in the squad but have not yet played this season.


 * Loosehead prop: Andrew Warwick, Eric O'Sullivan, Callum Reid, Jack McGrath
 * Hooker: Rob Herring, Bradley Roberts, John Andrew, Tom Stewart, Declan Moore
 * Tighthead prop: Tom O'Toole, Marty Moore, Ross Kane, Gareth Milasinovich
 * Locks: Alan O'Connor, Sam Carter, Iain Henderson, Kieran Treadwell, Mick Kearney, Cormac Izuchukwu, David O'Connor
 * Blindside flanker: Matty Rea, Marcus Rea, Greg Jones, Sean Reidy
 * Openside flanker: Nick Timoney, Sean Reidy, Jordi Murphy
 * Number 8: David McCann, Duane Vermeulen, Nick Timoney
 * Scrum-half: Nathan Doak, John Cooney, Dave Shanahan
 * Out-half: Billy Burns, Michael Lowry, Ian Madigan
 * Left wing: Ethan McIlroy, Jacob Stockdale
 * Inside centre: Stuart McCloskey, Stewart Moore
 * Outside centre: James Hume, Angus Curtis, Stewart Moore, Luke Marshall
 * Right wing: Craig Gilroy, Robert Baloucoune, Aaron Sexton
 * Fullback: Michael Lowry, Will Addison, Ethan McIlroy, Ben Moxham, Rob Lyttle

Academy

 * Azur Allison (back row)
 * Ben Carson (centre)
 * Rueben Crothers (back row)
 * Lewis Finlay (scrum-half)
 * James Humphreys (fly-half)
 * James McCormick (hooker)
 * Conor McKee (scrum-half)
 * Jude Postlethwaite (centre)
 * Conor Rankin (wing, fullback)
 * George Saunderson (prop)
 * Harry Sheridan (lock, back row)

Pre-season
Senior assistant coach Dwayne Peel left at the end of last season to become head coach of the Scarlets. Former skills coach Dan Soper took his place, and Craig Newby was hired as the new skills coach.

South African international number 8 Duane Vermeulen was signed to replace Marcell Coetzee, and would join Ulster in November after the Rugby Championship. Former Leinster, Connacht and Zebre lock Mick Kearney was signed on a short-term contract. Hooker Bradley Roberts, signed as short term injury cover in November 2020, was awarded a full professional contract for 2021-22.

Players promoted from the academy: scrum-half Nathan Doak, lock Cormac Izuchukwu, back row forward David McCann, wing Ethan McIlroy, prop Callum Reid, wing Aaron Sexton, and hooker Tom Stewart.

Players leaving: wing Matt Faddes to Otago; centre Hayden Hyde to Harlequins; fly-half Bill Johnston to Ealing Trailfinders (loan deal made permanent); hooker Adam McBurney to Edinburgh. Fullback Louis Ludik retired. Scrum-half Alby Mathewson and prop Kyle McCall were released.

14/06/21 Ireland squad named for Summer Tests Series. Ulster callups: Will Addison, Billy Burns, Robert Baloucoune, Rob Herring, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Tom O'Toole, Jacob Stockdale, Nick Timoney


 * Friendly 03/09/21 Ulster 21-45 Saracens
 * Friendly 09/09/21 Saracens 3-33 Ulster (full match)

17/09/21 Ireland training camp. Ulster players called up: fullback Will Addison, wing Robert Baloucoune, fly-half Billy Burns, lock Iain Henderson, hooker Rob Herring, centres James Hume and Stuart McCloskey, prop Eric O’Sullivan, wing Jacob Stockdale, and back row forward Nick Timoney.

Season

 * URC Round 1 24/09/21 Ulster Rugby 35-29 Glasgow Warriors (stats, highlights)
 * Debut: Mick Kearney


 * URC Round 2 02/10/21 Zebre Parma 3-36 Ulster Rugby (stats, highlights)
 * URC Round 3 08/10/21 Ulster Rugby 28-8 Benetton Rugby (stats, highlights)
 * URC Round 4 15/10/21 Ulster Rugby 26-10 Emirates Lions (stats, highlights, full game)
 * URC Round 5 23/10/21 Connacht Rugby 36-11 Ulster Rugby (stats, highlights)

Nick Timoney excelled at openside flanker in the first block of games. Scrum-half John Cooney went off with a hamstring injury in the first half of the first game against Glasgow, and was replaced by academy graduate Nathan Doak, who was very impressive for the rest of the block, including taking over the goal kicking. Two more academy graduates were central to the team: Ethan McIlroy started every game at either fullback or wing, and David McCann started every game but the first at number 8. Fullback Will Addison's season was cut short by a fractured leg sustained against the Lions.

International break for 2021 Autumn internationals. Ireland callups: wing Robert Baloucoune, lock Iain Henderson, hooker Rob Herring, centre James Hume, centre Stuart McCloskey, prop Tom O’Toole, back row forward Nick Timoney. Hooker Bradley Roberts was called up for Wales.


 * URC Round 6 27/11/21 Leinster Rugby 10-20 Ulster Rugby (stats, highlights)
 * URC Round 7 04/12/21 Ospreys 19-13 Ulster Rugby (stats, highlights)
 * Debut: Tom Stewart


 * Heineken Cup Round 1 11/12/2021 ASM Clermont Auvergne 23-29 Ulster Rugby (stats, full game, highlights)
 * Debut: Duane Vermeulen


 * Heineken Cup Round 2 17/12/20212 Ulster Rugby 27-22 Northampton Saints (stats, highlights first half, second half)

Matty Rea, James Hume, Tom O'Toole, Billy Burns, Marty Moore, Jordi Murphy and Stuart McCloskey signed new contracts. Nathan Doak and Ethan McIlroy had their development contracts upgraded to senior contacts, and academy winger Ben Moxham was awarded a development contract. hooker Declan Moore joined from Munster Rugby as short-term injury cover.


 * URC Round 8 26/12/21 Ulster Rugby -v- Connacht Rugby (postponed)

31/12/21 John Cooney and Will Addison sign new contracts. Irish-qualified flanker Sean Reffell will join Ulster from Saracens next season.


 * URC Round 9 1/1/22 Leinster Rugby -v- Ulster Rugby (postponed)

2/2/22 Gareth Milasinovich joins Saracens on loan.


 * URC Round 10 8/1/22 Munster Rugby -v- Ulster Rugby
 * Heineken Cup Round 3 16/1/22 Northampton Saints -v- Ulster Rugby
 * Heineken Cup Round 4 22/1/22 Ulster Rugby -v- ASM Clermont Auvergne
 * URC Round 11 28/1/22 Ulster Rugby -v- Scarlets

The Six Nations is scheduled to run from 5 February to 19 March


 * URC Round 12 20/2/22 Dragons -v- Ulster Rugby
 * URC Round 13 4/3/21 Ulster Rugby -v- Cardiff Rugby
 * URC Round 14 26/3/22 DHL Stormers -v- Ulster Rugby
 * URC Round 15 2/4/22 Vodacom Bulls -v- Ulster Rugby
 * URC Round 16 22/4/22 Ulster Rugby -v- Munster Rugby
 * URC Round 17 30/4/22 Edinburgh Rugby -v- Ulster Rugby
 * URC Round 18 21/5/22 Ulster Rugby -v- Cell C Sharks