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The draw for 2020-21 group stage took place in Lausanne today with Ulster having home and away fixtures against Gloucester and last season’s quarter final opponents, Toulouse. While it’s still up in the air whether there will be supporters at the games, Ulster have two very good European away trips ahead of them. Completely outclassed […]
It’s been over a year since Ulster began their 2019-2020 season and a 36-8 defeat to Toulouse in the Heineken Champions Cup quarter final ended the campaign, leaving Dan McFarland just two weeks to get the boys prepared for season 2020-21. A PRO14 final and a quarter final appearance in Europe marked a headline improvement […]
Ulster are in the driving seat to claim a runners up spot in the knockout stages of the Heineken Champions Cup and a win against bottom side Bath would make that a certainty. As expected Dan McFarland has opted for a full strength side unlike his opposite number, Stuart Hooper, who has rested a number […]
Ulster came into round five with confidence that they could topple Clermont Auvergne in their home fortress, however Clermont’s strength shone through as they ran out 20-3 winners in the second half after trailing 10-9 at the break. The confidence from Dan McFarland’s men was evident from the start with Stuart McCloskey making the opening […]
Ulster face the daunting prospect of travelling to central France to take on powerhouses Clermont Auvergne in a game that could decide who takes top spot in Pool 3. The French side trail Ulster by one point in second place even though Ulster defeated them in Belfast in November but their bonus point wins against […]
Dan McFarland has made two changes for Ulster’s return fixture against Harlequins tomorrow night at Twickenham Stoop. Kieran Treadwell replaces Alan O’Connor in the second row while Matt Faddes comes onto the right wing ahead of Craig Gilroy. Both O’Connor and Gilroy are retained in the 23 and find themselves on the bench. A fourth […]
A John Cooney penalty snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for Ulster Rugby as they remain top of the group at the half way mark. It was by no means a vintage performance from Ulster but the start they made was certainly impressive albeit the opening try alluded them until after the half way […]
Ulster make it two European wins on the bounce with a hard fought victory over Clermont Auvergne at Kingspan last night. Jordi Murphy scored off a rolling maul in the first half while John Cooney chased his own kick to finish off a superb individual effort for the second try in the second half. Ulster’s […]
Ulster have a chance to go two from two for the first time since 2013 as they take on a resurgent Clermont side at Kingspan Stadium tomorrow evening. Dan McFarland has made four changes from the side that defeated Bath on Saturday. Louis Ludik replaces the injured Rob Lyttle, Eric O’Sullivan starts at loosehead instead […]
Ulster kick off this year’s European adventure with an away trip to Bath – their first away fixture in gameweek one since Bordeaux in 2016. As expected, Dan McFarland has named a strong panel with Will Addison returning to the starting team after picking up an injury against Zebre while there’s no room for Matt […]
A late Ross Byrne penalty edged out Ulster in Saturday’s attritional Champions Cup match at the Aviva Stadium. Tries from Kieran Treadwell and Luke Marshall were not enough as Ulster battled bravely but ultimately succumbed to a strong Leinster side. I picked out Ulster’s tendency to concede an early try against Leinster in the last […]
The teams are out for Ulster’s first European quarter final in five years as they take on Leinster in the Aviva Stadium tomorrow evening. Dan McFarland has made eight changes to the side and there’s a big welcome back for Luke Marshall who starts on the bench. Luke makes his first appearance since the Champions […]
Two second half tries from Marty Moore and Robert Baloucoune sees Ulster progress to the quarter finals of the Champions Cup for the first time in four years. It was a frustrating first half for Ulster as they struggled to get any possession in the Leicester half. The home side deservedly lead 10-0 at the […]
Iain Henderson’s inclusion in the starting lineup is the big news ahead of Leicester v Ulster tomorrow afternoon (15:15). John Cooney is also included among the replacements in the only other change to the match day panel. Rory Best will lead the pack from the front alongside Eric O’Sullivan and Marty Moore. Henderson is partnered […]
The FRU chats to Alex Blackwell, a Leicester Tigers season ticket holder for 15 years, to gain an opposition perspective on Ulster, what’s gone wrong at Tigers and what there is to do in Leicester after the match. Out of the running for European progression before the January fixtures and in lowly seventh in the Guinness Premiership, what has happened at Leicester […]
Ulster ground out a memorable European win over Racing 92 to all but secure a knockout round appearance in April thanks to a try from Robert Baloucoune and a brace from Jacob Stockdale. As expected, Ulster took the game to the Parisians in the opening stages of the match with big hits from Kieran Treadwell […]
It’s a baptism of fire for Robert Baloucoune as he will make his first Heineken Champions Cup appearance tomorrow against Racing 92. As expected the big guns are back ahead of what could prove to be a decisive game in Ulster’s Champions Cup run this season with Dan McFarland making 13 changes in total. Given […]
Two tries from Iain Henderson helped Ulster to a comfortable bonus point victory over Scarlets in the Heineken Champions Cup tonight. Jacob Stockdale and John Cooney added the other two scores to give Ulster a crucial five-point win which sees them move to 14 points with a home match against Racing 92 and a trip […]
Dan McFarland names an unchanged side as Ulster welcome Scarlets to the Kingspan in the second of the back-to-back matches in the Heineken Champions Cup. Injuries have taken they’re toll on Scarlets with James Davies and Kieron Fonotia being ruled out, however they do welcome back Jake Ball into the second row which will give them a boost at […]
Ulster produced one of the finest away performances in recent years with a stunning 25-24 win over Scarlets at Parc-y-Scarlets. Despite going three points down early on, tries from Jacob Stockdale, Henry Speight, Will Addison and Marcell Coetzee secured a memorable victory. Rhys Patchell gave Scarlets the lead after two minutes with a penalty in […]
Ulster are boosted with the return of Iain Henderson, Will Addison and Rory Best to the starting line up as the teams are announced for the first of back to back games against Scarlets in the Heineken Champions Cup. Best is joined in the front row by Eric O’Sullivan and Marty Moore while Alan O’Connor picked […]
A second half blitz from Racing 92 see them run out 44-12 winners against Ulster tonight. Dave Shanahan and Jacob Stockdale scored Ulster’s tries in the first half and no points after the 21st minute was costly for this young Ulster side. Racing’s gameplan was evident from the off, they were keen on hitting the […]
Ulster have named their team that will face the difficult task of toppling group favourites, Racing 92 tomorrow evening (KO 17:30 UK/IRE). Dan McFarland retains his faith in Michael Lowry at fullback while John Cooney has not recovered and therefore misses the trip to the ‘U’ arena. After coming on for Ross Kane towards the […]
Three second half tries from Alan O’Connor, Will Addison and Jacob Stockdale got Ulster off to a flying start against Leicester Tigers in a tough Heineken Champions Cup group. The visitors led 3-0 in a dull game at the interval but controlled most of the possession and territory in the first half. From the off, […]