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.Neil Treacy, "False dawn - The Irish provinces' end of season report", RTÉ Sport, 19 June 2022 Nathan Doak had a breakthrough season, deputising for the injured John Cooney as scrum-half and goal kicker,Jamie Lyall, "Nathan Doak: 'I fell out of love with the game'", Rugby Pass, 10 June 2022 and finishing the season the team's leading scorer with 132 points.
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.Rebecca Black, "Ulster Rugby urged to reconsider relationship with sponsor Kingspan", Yahoo News, 22 December 2021 This led to protests outside Ravenhill before Ulster's Champions Cup game against Clermont in January 2022.Justin Kelly, "Protests urge Ulster Rugby to cut ties with sponsor Kingspan", Derry Now, 22 January 2022
Men's season Personnel changes Assistant coach Dwayne Peel left in the off-season to become head coach of Scarlets."Dwayne Peel appointed head coach ahead of 2021-22 season", Scarlets.Wales, 19 April 2021 Skills coach Dan Soper was promoted to assistant,"Soper Named Ulster Assistant Coach", IrishRugby.ie, 3 February 2021 and Craig Newby joined as the new skills coach."Craig Newby: Former All Black to join Ulster as skills coach", BBC Sport, 15 March 2021 Gavin Hogg, formerly rugby development officer, became the new academy manager, assisted by Willie Faloon as elite performance development officer."Ulster Rugby appoint new Academy Manager with Faloon also set to make a return", Huge Rugby, 21 May 2021
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.Gerry Thornley, "Ulster’s Leone Nakarawa move falls through over medical report", Irish Times, 10 January 2021 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."Duane Vermeulen: Ulster sign Springbok World Cup-winning forward", BBC Sport, 16 September 2021 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,Michael Sadlier, "Carter, Lowry and Stewart extend stay at Ulster", Belfast Telegraph, 30 January 2021 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."Ulster Rugby Academy squad for 2021/22 season confirmed", Ulster Rugby, 12 August 2021
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.
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.Iain Henderson profile at Lionsrugby.com
Centre James Hume,Neil Treacy, "'I'd be bricking it going into games' - Ulster's Hume flourishing after finding his self belief", RTÉ Sport, 22 January 2022 wing Robert BaloucouneDarren Fullerton, "Robert Baloucoune thanks Ulster teammate for helping him have a 'bawl' on his Ireland debut", Belfast Live, 19 August 2021 and flanker Nick Timoney"The dramatic 7.45 am SOS call Ireland put into Belfast on Sunday morning", RugbyPass.com, 22 November 2021 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.Cian Tracey, "Uncapped Ulster back Michael Lowry to train with Ireland squad ahead of summer tests", Irish Independent, 22 June 2021
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."Doak, McCloskey and McIlroy agree long-term extensions with Ulster", Ulster Rugby, 23 December 2021
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: Neil Doak set for coaching return with academy", BBC Sport, 7 December 2021
In February, lock David O'Connor joined Ealing Trailfinders until the end of the season,"Highlights: February 2022", Rugby Players Ireland, 28 February 2022 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."Match Preview: 1881 v Richmond Vikings, Sat 12th Feb 2022", Ampthill RUFC, 11 February 2022
Pre-season friendlies 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.
Domestic season: 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.Michael Morrow, "Ulster 35-29 Glasgow Warriors: Hosts hold on to win league opener in nine-try thriller", BBC Sport, 24 September 2021 With Cooney missing, Doak started in the away win against Zebre Parma and the home wins against Benetton and Lions, and continued to impress.Michael Sadlier, "Nathan Doak: I want to make a name for myself and win silverware with Ulster", Belfast Telegraph, 28 January 2022 Hooker Rob Herring made his 200th appearance for Ulster against Benetton.Ruaidhri O'Connor, "Herring hungry for more with Ireland after joining 200 club", Irish Independent, 13 October 2021 Fullback Will Addison sustained a fracture to his lower leg in the October match against the Lions.Jonathan Bradley, "Ulster's luckless Will Addison sustains broken leg", Belfast Telegraph, 18 October 2021 Ulster's winning run was halted by a defeat away to Connacht at the Aviva Stadium on 23 October."Report | Connacht 36 Ulster 11", Ulster Rugby, 23 October 2021
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,Ruaidhri O'Connor, "Ireland show ambition, aggression and accuracy to rout Japan as Sexton celebrates century with a try", Irish Independent, 6 November 2021 and started in the 29–20 victory over New Zealand, with hooker Rob Herring coming off the bench."Ireland 29-20 New Zealand: Ireland claim pulsating win over All Blacks", Sky Sports, 14 November 2021 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."Ireland 53-7 Argentina: Ireland score seven tries to demolish Argentina", Sky Sports, 21 November 2021 Centres James Hume and Stuart McCloskey were named in the 38-man squad, but did not make an appearance."Ireland Squad Named For Autumn Nations Series", Irish Rugby, 20 October 2021 Hooker Bradley Roberts was called up for Wales, and made his international debut from the bench against South Africa.David Skippers, "United Rugby Championship: Bradley Roberts to swap Ulster for the Dragons", Planet Rugby, 25 January 2022
Domestic season: 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,Michael Morrow, "Leinster 10-20 Ulster: Courageous visitors end Leinster's unbeaten start" BBC Sport, 27 November 2021 but this was followed by a disappointing away loss to Ospreys,"Report | Ospreys 19 Ulster 13", Ulster Rugby, 4 December 2021 in which wing Craig Gilroy made his 200th appearance for Ulster."200 Club | Craig Gilroy", Ulster Rugby, 30 December 2021
Ulster opened their Champions Cup season on 11 December with an away win against Clermont, which marked Duane Vermeulen's debut for the province.Michael Morrow, "Clermont Auvergne 23-29 Ulster: Visitors deny Clermont fightback to claim famous win", BBC Sport, 11 December 2021 The following weekend they defeated Northampton Saints at home, with fullback Michael Lowry scoring two tries."Heineken Champions Cup: Ulster hold off Northampton Saints for 27-22 win", Sky Sports, 17 December 2021 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."New dates set for Ulster’s inter-pro clashes against Connacht and Leinster" Irish Independent, 21 January 2022 Ulster's next game was a tight away defeat to Munster,"Report | Munster 18 Ulster 13", Ulster Rugby, 8 January 2022 before the Champions Cup resumed with an away win against Northampton Saints, which marked Nathan Doak's first European start,"Report | Northampton 20 Ulster 24", Ulster Rugby, 16 January 2022 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.Michael Cantillon, "Ulster 34-31 Clermont Auvergne: Irish province hold off comeback to claim Heineken Champions Cup win in Belfast", Sky Sports, 22 January 2022 These four pool victories earned Ulster a two-legged round of 16 tie against reigning champions Toulouse.
Six Nations international break