2023–24 Ulster Rugby Season
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 Rugby, Leinster in the URC, Ulster slipped back in the league, and poor performances against Bath Rugby, Bath, Harlequin F. C., Harlequins and Stade Toulousain, Toulouse dumped them out of the Champions Cup. After an away defeat in the URC against Ospreys (rugby union), 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, i ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Ulster Rugby
Ulster Rugby is one of the four professional provincial rugby union teams from the island of Ireland. They compete in the Irish regional pool of the United Rugby Championship and in the European Rugby Champions Cup, each of which they have won once. Ulster were the first Irish team and the first team outside England and France to win the European Cup in 1999. The team represents the IRFU Ulster Branch, which is one of the four primary branches of the IRFU and is responsible for rugby union throughout the geographical Irish province of Ulster, comprising Northern Ireland ( Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone) and three counties in the Republic of Ireland which are Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan. Prior to professionalisation, Ulster were a representative amateur team taking part in the IRFU Interprovincial Championship. They have also competed in the now defunct Celtic Cup (2003–05). Their development team, Ulster A, formerly known as the Ulster Rav ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Racing 92
Racing 92 () is a French professional rugby union club based in the Hauts-de-Seine department, Paris' western inner Banlieue, suburbs that competes in Top 14. The club plays its home matches at the 30,681-capacity Stadium#Types, domed stadium Paris La Défense Arena, located near the La Défense business district. Founded in 1890 as the rugby union section of the Paris sports club Racing Club de France, Racing 92 is one of the oldest rugby clubs in France and has traditionally worn a sky blue and white hooped home kit since its inception. The club in its current form is the result of a merger with US Métro in 2001, having been rebranded ''Métro Racing 92'' and then ''Racing Métro 92'' from 2005 to 2015 when the club took its current name. ''92'' refers to the number of the Hauts-de-Seine department that henceforth supports the team. After a stint in the Pro D2, second division, Racing Métro 92 returned to the first division in 2009–10 Top 14 season, 2009 and very quickly em ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Reuben Crothers
A list of players who have appeared for Ulster Rugby since rugby union was declared open to professionalism on 26 August 1995. Current players Jacob Boyd Loosehead prop. Son of former Ulster prop Clem Boyd. Captained RBAI to the Ulster Schools' Cup in 2023, and was Boys' Schools Player of the Year in the 2023 Ulster Rugby Awards. Joined the Ulster academy in 2023."Ulster Rugby Academy 2023/24 squad confirmed" Ulster Rugby, 29 June 2023 Made 4 appearances for Ireland under-20 in the 2024 under-20 Six Nations, and 2 in the 2024 under-20 World Championships. Made his senior debut for Ulster against Benetton in February 2025. [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Scott Wilson (rugby Union)
Scott Wilson (born 6 August 2002) is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a prop forward for Ulster Rugby. Early life From Maghaberry, he was a neighbour of Irish rugby international Stephen Ferris growing up. Wilson was a season-ticket holder at Ulster Rugby from the age of eight years-old. He played rugby at Wallace High School, and was part of the team that shared the Ulster Schools' Cup with The Royal School, Armagh after the final was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He studied at Queen's University Belfast. He played for Queen's in the second tier of the All Ireland League prior to his call-up to the Ulster first team. Career A prop forward, he missed time during the 2022-23 season with three surgeries, one on his elbow and two on his ankle, and a concussion. He made his debut for Ulster Rugby against Munster Rugby on 10 November 2023. He scored his first try for Ulster in the last-16 win away to Montpellier Hérault Rugby in the EPCR Challenge Cup on 7 April ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Dave Ewers
David Peter Ewers (born 3 November 1990) is a Zimbabwean rugby union player who is currently contracted to the Stormers. He previously played for Ulster, Exeter Chiefs and Cornish Pirates. He is capable of playing both Flanker and Number 8. Ewers is known for his destructive ball carrying, and exceptional defensive capabilities. Early life Ewers attended Hillcrest Preparatory School in Mutare, before his family left Zimbabwe when he was 13, returning to his English grandparents in Ivybridge. His father was a teacher and working on a farm at the time. Ewers attended the AASE programme run by Ivybridge Community College in 2009 and 2010. Ewers was a member of the Ivybridge squad 1st XV which contended the AASE final of 2009 & 2010 and won the North of England 7s Tournament the same year. Rugby playing career Club level Ewers was signed up by the Chiefs in 2010 and made his first start for Exeter in the British and Irish Cup against Newport. Before becoming a senior member ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Steven Kitshoff
Steven Kitshoff (born 10 February 1992) is a South African former rugby union player who last played for the Stormers. His playing position was loosehead prop. He represented the South Africa national team and has previously played for in the French Top 14 and Western Province in the Currie Cup. He joined Ulster for the 2023–24 season. Kitshoff was a member of the South Africa Under 20 team that won the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship. In addition, Kitshoff was part of the Western Province team that won the 2012 Currie Cup. He retired from professional rugby in 2025 due to complications sustained in a serious neck injury in 2024. Early life and education Kitshoff attended Hendrik Louw Primary School and Paul Roos Gymnasium. Career Kitshoff first broke through during the 2011 season, making 5 substitute appearances for the Stormers and then 5 Currie Cup appearances for Western Province while still only a teenager. He became more of a regular during 2012, nailing down th ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby () is one of the professional provincial rugby union, rugby teams from the island of Ireland. They compete in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup. The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union, IRFU's Munster Branch, which is responsible for rugby union throughout the Irish province of Munster. The team motto is "To the brave and faithful, nothing is impossible." This is derived from the motto of the MacCarthy Mor dynasty, MacCarthy clan – "Forti et Fideli nihil difficile". Their main home ground is Thomond Park, Limerick, though some games are played at Musgrave Park, Cork, Musgrave Park, Cork (city), Cork. History Foundation and early years Munster was officially founded in 1879, at the same time as Leinster Rugby, Leinster and Ulster Rugby, Ulster, with Connacht Rugby, Connacht being founded ten years later in 1889. The first interprovincial matches between Leinster, Ulster and Munster, however, were held in 1875. The foun ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Jonny Petrie
Jonathan Michael Petrie (born 19 October 1976) is a Scottish rugby union executive and former player. During his active career he played at flanker for Glasgow Warriors and Scotland. Petrie had two seasons in Scotland's under-21 team, making his debut against the Irish in 1997 while he was playing in France with Colomiers. Petrie's Scotland A debut was in the 99–0 win over the Netherlands at Murrayfield in December 1999. He won his first cap in the second test on the tour of New Zealand in 2000, his first try for Scotland came in 31–8 November 2000 win against Samoa. He was given the captaincy by then Scotland coach Frank Hadden in 2005 leading Scotland to their first ever victory against the Barbarians. Petrie was Club Captain of Glasgow Warriors from 2004 to 2006. Jon Petrie was denied his first Test series as captain by injury ahead of the matches against Argentina, Samoa and New Zealand in November 2005. His later career was blighted by injury and he was eventually repl ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Ospreys (rugby Union)
The Ospreys (), formerly the Neath–Swansea Ospreys ''www.walesonline.co.uk'', accessed 22 October 2020 is one of the four professional teams from . They compete in the and in European Professional Club Rugby ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Stade Toulousain
Stade Toulousain () (), also referred to as Toulouse, is a professional rugby union club based in Toulouse, France. They compete in the Top 14, France's top division of rugby, and the European Rugby Champions Cup. Toulouse is the most successful club in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup/European Rugby Champions Cup a record six times – in 1995–96 Heineken Cup, 1996, 2002–03 Heineken Cup, 2003, 2004–05 Heineken Cup, 2005, 2009–10 Heineken Cup, 2010, 2020–21 European Rugby Champions Cup, 2021 and 2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup, 2024. They were also runners-up in 2003–04 Heineken Cup, 2004 and 2007–08 Heineken Cup, 2008 against Wasps RFC, London Wasps and Munster Rugby, Munster, respectively. Stade Toulousain have also won a record 23 Bouclier de Brennus, Boucliers de Brennus, the French domestic league trophy. It is traditionally one of the main providers for the French national rugby union team, French national team and its youth academy is one of th ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |