2021–22 Ulster Rugby season
Provincial Rugby Union team season / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
2021–22 season | ||||
Head Coach | Dan McFarland | |||
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Operations Director | Bryn Cunningham | |||
Captain | Iain Henderson Alan O'Connor Nick Timoney | |||
United Rugby Championship | Semi-final | |||
European Rugby Champions Cup | Round of 16 | |||
Top try scorer | All: Robert Baloucoune (11) | |||
Top points scorer | All: Nathan Doak (132) | |||
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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.[1] Nathan Doak had a breakthrough season, deputising for the injured John Cooney as scrum-half and goal kicker,[2] and finishing the season the team's leading scorer with 132 points.