| Club: | Ulster Rugby |
| Season: | 2024–25 |
| Manager: | Richie Murphy |
| Mgrtitle: | Head Coach |
| Chairman: | Bryn Cunningham |
| Chrtitle: | Operations Director |
| Captain: | Iain Henderson |
| League: | United Rugby Championship |
| League Result: | TBC |
| Cup1: | Champions Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | TBC |
| Pattern So1: | _red_midband_color_2 |
| Leftarm1: | fcfcfc |
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| Shorts1: | fcfcfc |
| Socks1: | 000000 |
| Pattern B2: | _blackcollar |
| Pattern La2: | _blackborder |
| Pattern Ra2: | _blackborder |
| Pattern So2: | _band_black |
| Leftarm2: | ff0000 |
| Body2: | ff0000 |
| Rightarm2: | ff0000 |
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| Pattern B3: | _navycollar |
| Pattern Sh3: | _redbottom |
| Pattern So3: | _redtop |
| Leftarm3: | FFBF00 |
| Body3: | FFBF00 |
| Rightarm3: | FFBF00 |
| Shorts3: | 000080 |
| Socks3: | FFBF00--> |
| Prevseason: | 2023–24 |
| Nextseason: | 2025–26 |
The 2024–25 season will be Ulster Rugby's 31st season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and Richie Murphy's first full season as head coach..
Richie Murphy, who joined as interim head coach last season following the departure of Dan McFarland, was confirmed as head coach on a two-year contract.[1] Skills coach Craig Newby left for Ealing Trailfinders.[2] Jimmy Duffy, former assistant coach at Connacht, Ireland under-20s and Western Force, joined as forwards coach.[3] Incumbent forwards coach Roddy Grant left by mutual consent.[4] Sam Dodge arrived as head of athletic performance.[5] Hugh McCaughey was confirmed as Chief Executive Officer until the end of 2025.[6]
Centre Angus Curtis retired partway through last season on medical advice after a series of concussions.[7] Prop Steven Kitshoff cut short his stay at Ulster and returned to the Stormers,[8] where he was joined by flanker Dave Ewers.[9] Out-half Billy Burns joined Munster on a one-year contract.[10] Centre Luke Marshall retired.[11] Utility back Will Addison signed for his former club, Sale Sharks.[12] Fullback Shea O'Brien, prop James French and flanker Greg Jones were released.[13]
New signings included wing Werner Kok from the Sharks,[14] and Irish-qualified out-half Aidan Morgan from the Hurricanes.[15] Scrum-half Michael McDonald returned from his season-long loan at Connacht.[16] Academy prop Scott Wilson, flankers Lorcan McLoughlin and James McNabney[17] and out-half James Humphreys[18] joined the senior squad on development contracts. Ireland Sevens player Zac Ward joined on a trial until the autumn international window.
Seven players joined the academy: centres Sam Berman, Wilhelm de Klerk and Jonny Scott, scrum-half Clarke Logan, flankers James McKillop and Bryn Ward, and out-half Jack Murphy.[19] Prop George Saunderson left the academy after retiring from the game on medical grounds.[20]
Six Ulstermen were named in Andy Farrell's Ireland squad for their two-match tour of South Africa in July 2024: Rob Herring, Tom O'Toole, Nick Timoney, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale and the uncapped Cormac Izuchukwu.[21] Nathan Doak was called up after Craig Casey was injured in the first test.[22] Herring and McCloskey appeared from the bench in the second test.
Two pre-season friendlies have been arranged, at home to Benetton on 7 September,[23] and away to Exeter Chiefs on 14 September 2024.[24] Ulster will also face Queensland Reds at home on 7 February 2025, as part of the Reds' European tour.[25]
| Position | Name | Nationality | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief executive officer | Hugh McCaughey |  Ireland | |
| Operations director | Bryn Cunningham | Ireland | |
| Head coach | Richie Murphy | Ireland | |
| Assistant coach | Dan Soper |  New Zealand | |
| Defence coach | Jonny Bell | Ireland | |
| Forwards coach | Jimmy Duffy | Ireland | |
| Academy manager | Gavin Hogg | ||
| Elite performance development officer | Willie Faloon | ||
| Elite performance development officer | Neil Doak |
The below squad reflects the confirmed joiners and leavers for the 2024–25 season. Amendments to the squad will be made as-and-when announcements are confirmed by the province.
Aidan Morgan from Hurricanes
Angus Curtis retired Dave Ewers to Stormers[9]| Ulster Rugby squad | ||
|---|---|---|
| Props
Hookers
Locks | Back row
Scrum-halves
Fly-halves
| Centres
Wings Fullbacks |
| (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality. ST denotes a short-term signing. |
| Ulster Rugby academy squad | ||
|---|---|---|
Props
Hookers
Locks
| Back row
Scrum-halves
Fly-halves
| Centres
Back three
|
| Number in brackets indicates players stage in the three-year academy cycle. * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality. Players and their allocated positions from the Ulster Rugby website. |
See main article: 2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup.
See main article: 2024–25 United Rugby Championship.
| Position | Name | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Murray Houston | |
| Scrum and defence coach | Eric O'Sullivan | Ireland |
| Backs coach | Grace Davitt | Ireland |
| Team manager | Marianne Breem | Ireland |
| Athletic development | Kevin Gallagher | Ireland |
| Physio | Naomi Hamilton | Ireland |
| Ulster Senior Women's Squad[28] | |
|---|---|
Forwards
| Backs
|
| (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. |
See main article: IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series.
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | BP | Pts | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 43 | 1 | 10 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 59 | 51 | 1 | 5 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 47 | 54 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 44 | 63 | 1 | 3 |