2023–24 Ulster Rugby season
Ulster Rugby 2023–24 rugby season / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2023–24 season was Ulster Rugby's 30th season since the advent of professionalism in rugby union. They competed in the United Rugby Championship the European Rugby Champions Cup, and the EPCR Challenge Cup. It was Dan McFarland's sixth season as head coach. Despite some good results, including a home win against Racing 92 in the Champions Cup and an away win against Leinster in the URC, Ulster slipped back in the league, and poor performances against Bath, Harlequins and Toulouse dumped them out of the Champions Cup. After an away defeat in the URC against Ospreys in February, McFarland left his position, replaced by former Ireland under-20 head coach Richie Murphy. CEO Jonny Petrie also left, replaced on an interim basis by Hugh McCaughey. Murphy oversaw two away losses in South Africa and a quarter-final exit in the Challenge Cup, but form improved in the league, with four straight wins, including a home win against Leinster, and a losing bonus point away to Munster secured a quarter-final place, losing away to a full-strength Leinster side, and qualification for next season's Champions Cup.
2023–24 season | ||||
Head Coach | Dan McFarland (until 21 February 2024) Dan Soper (interim) Richie Murphy | |||
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Operations Director | Bryn Cunningham | |||
Captain | Iain Henderson | |||
United Rugby Championship | 6th in table Quarter-finals | |||
Champions Cup Challenge Cup | 5th in Pool B Quarter-finals | |||
Top try scorer | All: Nick Timoney (12) | |||
Top points scorer | All: John Cooney (141) | |||
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New signings this season included South African prop Steven Kitshoff and Zimbabwean flanker Dave Ewers, both of whom left at the end of the season. Prop Scott Wilson, hooker Zac Solomon, lock Joe Hopes, and flankers Reuben Crothers and Lorcan McLaughlin made their debuts from the academy. Centre Ben Carson and fullback Shea O'Brien also made their debuts. Scrum-half John Cooney was Ulster's leading scorer with 141 points in all competitions, and was named Ulster's supporters club player of the year for the third time, and selected in the URC team of the season for the fifth time. Number eight Nick Timoney was leading try scorer with 12. Flanker David McCann was named Ulster's player of the year and rugby writers' player of the year. Lock Harry Sheridan was young player of the year.
Ulster Women won their first interpro since 2012, finishing third in the IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series. Back rower Brittany Hogan was Ulster's women's player of the year, and fellow back rower Sophie Barrett was young women's player of the year.
In the All-Ireland League, Instonians topped Division 2B and were promoted for the second season running. Clogher Valley topped Division 2B and were promoted in their first season in senior rugby. Malone were relegated from Division 2A, Belfast Harlequins were relegated from Division 2B, and Bangor dropped into junior rugby after being relegated from Division 2B. Ulster junior champions Ballyclare were promoted to senior level after winning the provincial playoffs.