The 2014–15 season was Ulster's 21st season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union, and their first under Director of Rugby Les Kiss and head coach Neil Doak. They completed in the European Rugby Champions Cup and the Pro12.
New signings for this season included out-half Ian Humphreys, returning from his spell at London Irish, lock Franco van der Merwe, flanker Sean Reidy and fullback Louis Ludik. Rory Best was reinstated as captain, following the retirement of Johann Muller at the end of the previous season.
In June 2014, David Humphreys left his post as the province's Director of Rugby, joining English Premiership side Gloucester. Later that month, head coach Mark Anscombe also left the province "with immediate effect". assistant coach Les Kiss filled the role of Director of Rugby on an interim basis. In October 2014, Kiss returned to his position with the Ireland team, with Neil Doak taking the role of head coach. Kiss would return to his role with Ulster on a full-time basis following the 2015 World Cup. Bryn Cunningham was appointed the new team manager, responsible for recruiting players and negotiating contracts."Cunningham appointed new team manager", News Letter, 31 October 2014 Defence coach Jonny Bell left at the end of the season to become assistant coach at Gloucester, replaced by Joe Barakat."Ulster's Jonathan Bell to join Gloucester as assistant coach", The Irish Post, 27 January 2015
Ulster entered the season with their home stadium, Ravenhill, redeveloped, with the stadium's capacity having been increased to 18,196, and renamed the Kingspan Stadium after its sponsor.Niall Crozier, "Money is the name of the game in Ulster stadium name-change" Belfast Telegraph, 5 June 2014
The Heineken Cup was reorganised as the European Rugby Champions Cup. Rather than three Irish provinces qualifying as of right, the top team from each country in the Pro12, and the top three in the league table other than those four qualified. Ulster qualified by league position, and finished third in their pool.
Ulster finished fourth in the Pro12, qualifying for the semi-finals and next season's Champions Cup. They lost the semi-final to Glasgow Warriors. Ulster led the league in scrums.URC Team Statistics, retrieved 28 May 2022 Franco van der Merwe and wing Craig Gilroy made the Pro12 Dream Team, and Gilroy's try against Scarlets was named Try of the Year.
Scrum-half Ruan Pienaar was Ulster's top scorer in all competitions with 121 points. Craig Gilroy was top try scorer with twelve, and was named Ulster's Player of the Year.
Ulster's second team, the Ulster Ravens, competed in the British and Irish Cup, finishing third in their pool.
Prop Declan Fitzpatrick retired at the end of the season.
Staff Position Name Nationality Director of Rugby Les Kiss Head Coach Neil Doak Forwards Coach Allen Clarke Defence Coach Jonny Bell Team Manager Bryn Cunningham Head of Strength & Conditioning Jonny Davis Strength & Conditioning Coach Kevin Geary Head of Physiotherapy Gareth Robinson Physiotherapist Alan McAldin
Squad Senior squad
Players in Ross Adair from Ballynahinch Tim Boys from Southland Charlie Butterworth from Lansdowne Wiehahn Herbst from Ian Humphreys from London IrishDavid Kelly, "Connacht signings trump rival provinces’ purchases", Irish Independent, 23 August 2013 Louis Ludik from Agen Ruaidhrí Murphy from Brumbies Sean Reidy from Counties Manukau Clive Ross from Lansdowne Dave Ryan from Zebre Michael Stanley from Counties Manukau Franco van der Merwe from
Promoted from academy Conor Joyce Kyle McCall Stuart McCloskey Peter Nelson Bronson Ross Rory Scholes James Simpson Andrew Warwick
Players out John Afoa to Gloucester Niall Annett to Worcester Warriors Chris Cochrane retired Tom Court to London Irish Sean Doyle to Brumbies Chris Farrell to GrenobleChris Farrell to leave Ulster for French pastures - Belfast Newsletter Stephen Ferris retired Adam Macklin to Rotherham Titans Paddy McAllister to Aurillac David McIlwaine to Yorkshire Carnegie James McKinney to Rotherham Titans Johann Muller retired Ian Porter to ConnachtBBC Sport - South African lock Franco van der Merwe to join Ulster Paddy Wallace retired
Squad Ulster Rugby squadAppearances and scoring stats from ItsRugby.co.ukProps Wiehahn Herbst* (24 apps, 23 starts, 5 pts) Callum Black (26 apps, 20 starts) Andrew Warwick (22 apps, 8 starts, 5 pts) Declan Fitzpatrick (12 apps, 3 starts, 5 pts) Ricky Lutton (2 apps, 2 starts) Bronson Ross* (20 apps, 1 start) Ruaidhrí Murphy (3 apps, 1 start) Kyle McCall (1 app) Dave Ryan (no apps)
Hookers Rory Best (c) (18 apps, 17 starts, 15 pts) Rob Herring (23 apps, 12 starts, 5 pts) John Andrew (2 apps)
Locks Franco van der Merwe (27 apps, 26 starts, 15 pts) Dan Tuohy (12 apps, 12 starts, 15 pts) Lewis Stevenson (18 apps, 8 starts) Iain Henderson (9 apps, 8 starts, 5 pts) Alan O'Connor (11 apps, 6 starts) Neil McComb (4 apps, 1 start) Charlie Butterworth (no apps) James Simpson (no apps)Back row Roger Wilson (27 apps, 22 starts) Robbie Diack (24 apps, 20 starts, 5 pts) Clive Ross (18 apps, 13 starts) Nick Williams (16 apps, 13 starts, 15 pts) Chris Henry (13 apps, 12 starts, 10 pts) Mike McComish (6 apps, 4 starts, 10 pts) Sean Reidy* (8 apps, 3 starts) Tim Boys (no apps) Conor Joyce (no apps)
Scrum-halves Ruan Pienaar (17 apps, 16 starts, 121 pts) Paul Marshall (20 apps, 12 starts, 10 pts) Michael Heaney (8 apps, 1 start)
Fly-halves Paddy Jackson (17 apps, 16 starts, 94 pts) Ian Humphreys (21 apps, 13 starts, 92 pts)Centres
Darren Cave (26 apps, 23 starts, 40 pts) Stuart Olding (17 apps, 12 starts, 12 pts) Jared Payne (12 apps, 11 starts, 5 pts) Stuart McCloskey (15 apps, 9 starts, 5 pts) Luke Marshall (11 apps, 6 starts, 5 pts) Sammy Arnold (2 apps, 1 start) Michael Stanley (2 apps, 1 start)
Wings Craig Gilroy (23 apps, 21 starts, 65 pts) Tommy Bowe (17 apps, 16 starts, 40 pts) Michael Allen (11 apps, 10 starts, 5 pts) Andrew Trimble (6 apps, 4 starts, 20 pts) Rory Scholes (4 apps, 2 starts) Ross Adair (1 app, 5 pts)
Fullbacks Louis Ludik* (25 apps, 24 starts, 20 pts) Peter Nelson (8 apps, 4 starts) Ricky Andrew (3 apps, 1 start) (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. Italics denotes academy players who appeared in the senior team. * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality. Players and their allocated positions from the Ulster Rugby website.
Academy squad
Players in Jacob Stockdale from Wallace High School"Jacob Stockdale has signed a new deal with Ulster", The Irish Times, 21 February 2018 Sammy Arnold Jack Owens David Busby Michael Lagan Craig Trenier Paul Jackson Alex Thompson Joshua Atkinson Lorcan Dow Frank Taggart Connor Young Sean O'Hagan
Players out Jack Caulfield
Position"Academy Coaches", Ulster Rugby, archived 19 March 2015 Name Nationality Elite Performance Development Manager Allen Clarke Representative Team Performance Manager Michael Black Academy Schools Coach Brian McLaughlin Strength & Conditioning Coach David Drake Strength & Conditioning Coach Amy Davis Sub-Academy Fitness Coach Matthew Maguire Physiotherapist David Minion
Ulster Rugby Academy squad"Academy Squad", Ulster Rugby, archived 19 March 2015Props
Michael Lagan (1) Craig Trenier (1)
Hookers
John Andrew (2) Paul Jackson (1) Jonny Murphy (4)
Locks John Donnan (2) Alan O'Connor (3) Alex Thompson (1)Back row Joshua Atkinson (1) Lorcan Dow (1) Frank Taggart (1)
Scrum-halves David Shanahan (2) Connor Young (1)
Fly-halves Sean O'Hagan (1)Centres Sammy Arnold (1) Jacob Stockdale (1)
Back three Jack Owens (1) David Busby (1) (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players, 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.
Season record Competition Played Won Drawn Lost PF PA PD TF TA 2014-15 Champions Cup 6 2 0 4 116 146 -30 16 15 2014-15 Pro12 23 14 2 7 538 388 150 60 35 Total 29 16 2 11 654 534 120 76 50
European Rugby Champions Cup
Pool 3
Pro12
Semi-final
End of season awards Wing Craig Gilroy and lock Franco van der Merwe made the Pro12 Dream Team.
Home attendance Domestic LeagueEuropean CupTotal League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance2014–15 Pro121116,03717,13913,5012014–15 European Rugby Champions Cup316,179 16,93115,659224,94616,068
Friendly
Ulster Women 2014-15 Women's Interprovincial Series
Team P W D L PF PA BP Pts 1 3 3 0 0 38 7 0 12 2 3 2 0 1 42 21 1 9 3 3 1 0 2 54 29 2 6 4 3 0 0 3 11 88 3 3
Ulster Rugby Awards The Heineken Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held at the Culloden Estate and Spa, Holywood. Winners were:"Best, Gilroy And Cave Among The Ulster Award Winners", Irish Rugby, 1 May 2015
Bank of Ireland Ulster Player of the Year: Craig Gilroy Heineken Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year: Rory Best BT Young Player of the Year: Stuart McCloskey Rugby Writers Player of the Year: Craig Gilroy Ulster Rugby Supporters Club Player of the Year: Darren Cave Abbey Insurance Academy Player of the Year: Sammy Arnold Danske Bank Ulster Schools Player of the Year: Rob Lyttle
References