Updated at 21.52
FOLLOWING OUR STUDY of the 43-man Connacht squad and Leinster’s 48-player group, today we turn our attention towards Ulster.
Dan McFarland confirmed his 43-man senior squad back in May and will be looking towards the return of rugby next month with some excitement.
Depth will be more important than ever for the provinces as they get set to finish the 2019/20 campaign before launching almost immediately into the 2020/21 season.
Included in brackets after each player’s name is their age and number of Ulster caps in the format [age, caps]. Players have been listed by number of caps.
Loosehead prop
Andrew Warwick [29, 123]
Kyle McCall [28, 60]
Eric O’Sullivan [24, 40]
Jack McGrath [30, 11]
Former Lions loosehead Jack McGrath found form after his move from Leinster last summer, rebounding from a thumb injury in November to regain a place in the Ireland squad for the 2020 Six Nations.
The skillful Eric O’Sullivan continues to improve and will hope to apply more pressure on McGrath this season, while the experienced Andrew Warwick and Kyle McCall provide two homegrown Ulster options.
Hooker
Rob Herring [30, 180]
John Andrew [27, 63]
Adam McBurney [23, 24]
The retirement of Rory Best last year saw Rob Herring move into the first-choice hooker role with both Ireland and Ulster, for whom he has been an influential leader in recent years.
Herring is relishing the starting opportunities for province and country, though his international involvement will mean Ulster’s depth will be tested at hooker.
27-year-old John Andrew got just one start last season and will be battling with the abrasive 23-year-old Adam McBurney for minutes in the number two shirt if and when Herring is away.
Ulster’s academy includes two hookers in Ireland U20s prospect Tom Stewart and the goal-kicking James McCormick.
Tighthead prop
Ross Kane [25, 46]
Tom O’Toole [21, 41]
Marty Moore [29, 31]
Gareth Milasinovich [27, 0]
10-times capped Ireland international Marty Moore has been atop the tighthead pecking order since his move from Wasps in 2018 and will be hoping to impress national team boss Andy Farrell.
Farrell included 21-year-old prospect Tom O’Toole in his Six Nations squad this year, providing the athletic Drogheda native with early exposure to international training standards. Scrum specialist McFarland will be important in O’Toole’s ongoing development.
Ross Kane didn’t get a start at tighthead last season but has shown his dynamism in the past, while it will be fascinating to see how Gareth Milasinovich fares after his first season with the province was ended before it even started due to an ACL injury. Formerly of Worcester Warriors, the 130kg South Africa native is Irish-qualified.
Second row
Iain Henderson [28, 112]
Alan O’Connor [27, 106]
Kieran Treadwell [24, 87]
David O’Connor [25, 6]
Sam Carter [30, 7]
Having moved into the role of Ulster captain last season, 28-year-old Iain Henderson is more important than ever to the province and will hope ongoing strong form in the white jersey can see him continue to add to his 55 Ireland caps.
Experienced Aussie Sam Carter was signed from the Brumbies last summer and suffered a shoulder injury in November just as he was getting going. Himself and Henderson would provide a strong second row pairing when fit and available.
Having reached the 100-cap milestone with Ulster last season, Alan O’Connor has become a central member of the set-up and showed up very well in 2019/20 as his handling and decision-making skills improved to go along with his aggression.
Younger brother David was a relative latecomer to professional rugby after impressing in the AIL and will be aiming to add to his seven Ulster caps.
Meanwhile, Ireland-capped Kieran Treadwell is still only 24 and possesses the kind of dynamism that other locks would love to have. Ulster will challenge him to deliver more consistently and nail down the nuts-and-bolts of lock play to match that athleticism around the pitch.
Back row
Sean Reidy [31, 122]
Nick Timoney [24, 60]
Matty Rea [26, 42]
Marcell Coetzee [29, 41]
Jordi Murphy [29, 27]
Greg Jones [24, 16]
Marcus Rea [22, 2]
Marcell Coetzee has been a sensation in the back row for Ulster over the last two seasons, largely putting his injury nightmares behind him and showing the quality that the northern province had been sure he could deliver.
That said, he was unlucky to miss last year’s World Cup after a badly-timed injury, while Ulster will be hoping the reformatted Rugby Championship this November and December doesn’t deprive them of Coetzee’s services at a crucial juncture.
Jordi Murphy has become a key player since joining from Leinster in 2018 and he will head into this season determined to force his way back into the Ireland squad. Coetzee and Murphy are obvious starters for the biggest Ulster games.
31-year-old Sean Reidy, the hard-nosed stalwart of the back row, has adapted to the blindside flank well since Murphy’s arrival but others will be eyeing that spot. The challenge for Matty Rea is to be consistent after getting his second Champions Cup start last season.
The quietly effective and skillful Greg Jones covers the blindside and number eight, while the hard-running and hard-working Nick Timoney can play across the three back row positions. 22-year-old Marcus Rea, the younger brother of Matty, will be hoping for his first senior start in the season ahead.
Scrum-half
John Cooney [30, 60]
David Shanahan [27, 58]
Johnny Stewart [22, 14]
Alby Mathewson [34,0]
John Cooney’s form with Ulster over the last couple of seasons has truly outstanding and he pushed Conor Murray close for Ireland starts during this year’s Six Nations.
With the 30-year-old set to be away on Ireland duty plenty during the upcoming campaign, the signing of the highly-experienced and still-very-fit Alby Mathewson seems a clever bit of business. As he showed at Munster, where he also pushed Murray for starts, Mathewson still has plenty of good rugby left in him.
David Shanahan’s superb support running make him a constant try-scoring threat when he’s on the pitch, while former Ireland U20 scrum-half Johnny Stewart provides another option.
Out-half
Billy Burns [26, 36]
Bill Johnston [23, 11]
Ian Madigan [31, 0]
26-year-old Billy Burns has quietly gone about becoming an important player for Ulster since joining from Gloucester in 2018, with his attacking kicking a clear strength in his game and his management of the team improving all the time.
He worked his way into the Ireland squad for this year’s Six Nations but McFarland will hope to see 23-year-old Bill Johnston and the experienced Ian Madigan apply pressure for the number 10 shirt in the new season.
Madigan’s return to Irish rugby from Bristol will be intriguing and his ability to play at out-half, inside centre, and fullback is potentially very useful. McFarland will hope he and Mathewson are good mentors for younger players too.
Ex-Munster man Johnston grew into his first season with Ulster in 2019/20, improving with game time and earning his first two Champions Cup caps, while midfielder Angus Curtis is another option for the province at out-half.
Similarly, fullback Michael Lowry can also play at number 10 and is certainly in the Damian McKenzie mould of providing game-breaking quality from either position.
Centre
Luke Marshall [29, 140]
Stuart McCloskey [27, 120]
James Hume [21, 16]
Angus Curtis [22, 13]
Stewart Moore [20, 2]
Stuart McCloskey is a crucial figure for McFarland’s side, with his power, offloading and passing skills, choke-tackling and jackaling making him a threat on both sides of the ball.
The experienced and intelligent Luke Marshall is an underrated midfield partner for McCloskey and provides ever-growing leadership in the Ulster squad.
There is real potential in the crop of young midfielders behind the established pair. Curtis is a clever playmaker who covers out-half too, while the powerful James Hume picks excellent lines and has sharp offloading skills.
Academy graduate Stewart Moore is one for Irish rugby to watch. He looks like a potentially complete centre who could offer a genuine run/pass/kick triple threat. A daring, classy offload on his debut against Leinster last December hints at the 20-year-old being comfortable with stepping up.
Back three
Craig Gilroy [29, 182]
Louis Ludik [33, 105]
Jacob Stockdale [24, 63]
Rob Lyttle [23, 29]
Michael Lowry [21, 20]
Will Addison [27, 19]
Robert Baloucoune [22, 21]
Matt Faddes [28, 12]
The versatile Will Addison is the obvious starter at fullback if he can stay fit and Ireland boss Farrell will also be hoping that’s the case when rugby returns.
The aforementioned Lowry is another exciting option in the number 15 shirt with his ability to break defences and create opportunities for others. Matt Faddes is versatile and very quick when fully fit, covering fullback, 13, and the wings. The dependable and tough Louis Ludik has major experience across the back three but primarily featured on the wing last season.
Addison’s fellow international, Jacob Stockdale, is the clear first-choice on the left wing and will only continue to improve, while he can play 15 too. The battle for the third spot in Ulster’s frontline back three will be interesting.
Robert Baloucoune makes strong defensive reads, has explosive athletic qualities, and trained with Ireland last year – a recognition of his ability – and McFarland will certainly hope to see the ever-improving Enniskillen man move onto a new level this season.
23-year-old Rob Lyttle is a creative finisher and regularly beats defenders but will be working hard on his consistency and decision-making in defence. Ludik ended up starting three Champions Cup games out wide last season and is excellent in the air and in contact.
The most-capped Ulster player of the back three contingent is Craig Gilroy, who has undoubted finishing prowess and searing pace but has been learning the ropes of Ulster’s refreshed defensive system in recent seasons.
Academy
Ulster’s academy includes a handful of players who have already made senior debuts for the province in out-half Bruce Houston, number eight Azur Allison, and wing/fullback Ethan McIlroy.
Back row Dave McCann, this year’s Ireland U20s captain, will be hoping to get Pro14 exposure, while there are big hopes for the likes of lightning-quick Year 2 wing Aaron Sexton and dynamic centre Hayden Hyde, among others.
An interesting new crop of Year 1 players includes promising scrum-half Nathan Doak, son of former Ulster coach Neil, and 20-year-old Ireland 7s international Cormac Izuchukwu, a lock or blindside flanker in 15s rugby.
Year 1:
Ben Carson [centre]
Reuben Crothers [back row]
Nathan Doak [scrum-half/out-half]
Lewis Finlay [scrum-half]
Cormac Izuchukwu [lock/back row]
James McCormick [hooker]
Year 2:
Hayden Hyde [centre]
Conor Rankin [back three]
Aaron Sexton [back three]
Tom Stewart [hooker]
Ethan McIlroy [back three]
Callum Reid [loosehead prop]
Year 3:
Azur Allison [back row]
Bruce Houston [out-half]
Dave McCann [back row].
I’m excited about this Ulster squad. We were in bad shape a few years ago with coaches coming and going, retirements of great players like Bowe and Trimble and the legal proceedings against Jackson and Olding. McFarland has been excellent, he’s brought through plenty of youngsters and developed a strong ethic within the team. I hope to see the academy producing more homegrown players and for them to get exposure in the senior side to aid their development. It’s been brilliant to see the progress we’ve made in a relatively short time and I’m looking forward to seeing the upcoming season. I live in south Wales now so most of the games I see are away matches here or in south west England but it’s great that we are a match for any side.
What’s the story behind the “goal kicking” hooker James McCormick, as mentioned in the article?
@Gally Had: No story really other than the fact he has been the goal kicker for his school teams. Pretty good at it but it’s unlikely he will carry it on into senior rugby.
He is a very good hooker and a strong runner so hopefully the “goal kicking “ tag will soon drop.
Like the other two squads before there’s plenty of strengths and weaknesses but you really only notice where they are positionally until it’s laid out like this. For me ulster look very strong in the back line, plenty of options and more important quality in all the backline positions. The positions that stand out as being weak depthwise would be at hooker and in the backrow. There’s an obvious lack of international standard after Coetzee and Murphy and while there’s some decent fellas coming up, I’m not sure how far they’ll go outside of maybe Allison. 3 senior hookers seems a bit light too but Stewart is highly rated so maybe that’s enough.
Ulster management have done a great job over the last few seasons rebuilding the squad. They’ve got a a great core group and some exciting prospects coming through. With this squad they should be looking at knockout rugby in Europe and Pro14. Anything could happen in the Pro14 if they can get home advantage. But they’re maybe not strong enough (outside top 6) in Europe.
The one key weakness is probably at 10 and I don’t know of there is anybody available that they could potentially sign. Other than that a few injuries could derail their season completely.
Still a bit baffled that Ali Matheson signed to be 2nd behind cooney, he could walk into most sides in Europe.
@Chris Mc: Happy days, then. Unfortunately Shanahan lacks the all round game to stand in for Cooney.
@Sustainable Hedgehog:
Bar injury I don’t think he will ever play for ulster again.
Much much better coming through.
He is just a boy in a mans game
@Sustainable Hedgehog: delighted for ulster on form they have the 2 best 9′s on the island. Just wondering why he’d go to another club where even if he’s playing well enough he’ll more than likely get dropped for the international player to suit the irfu.
Madigan couldn’t make the Bristol A team robbing a living
@Pretty Ladee: but he will make the ulster one
@Chris Mc: A team?
Decent squad however there is a large number of relatively untried players below the first 23. Plagued with injuries last season so will hope for better luck in that department this season. Need Coetzee to remain fighting fit. Look a bit thin at hooker and centre when Herring and ChooChoo are away on Ireland duty.
@Ro Molloy: Back row is light but maybe that will give opportunities to Allison and McCann. As for centre, I think we are strong. Hume is a great prospect and Addison is a natural 13. Like in the back row a lack of depth creates opportunities for the youngsters. If you judge our depth by Leinster standards we are light but who isn’t? Our first choice 23 are a match for anyone.