Personnel changes New arrivals were scrum-half
Alby Mathewson, formerly of
Munster, and out-half
Ian Madigan from
Bristol Bears, although due to the delays caused by COVID-19, both had actually made their debuts and the end of the previous season. Academy centre
Stewart Moore joined the senior squad on a development contract. Hooker
Bradley Roberts was signed from
Rainey Old Boys as short-term injury cover, and ended up being kept on permanently. Wing
Angus Kernohan departed for
Ealing Trailfinders, hooker Zack McCall, prop
Tommy O'Hagan and flanker
Clive Ross were released. Six new players joined the academy, including three from
Wallace High School - flanker
Reuben Crothers, centre
Ben Carson and scrum-half
Nathan Doak - as well as
Down High School scrum-half Lewis Finlay,
Ireland Sevens lock
Cormac Izuchukwu and
Dalriada School hooker
James McCormick.
Pre-season Due to the mid-season break during the 2019–20 season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season started later than usual. The two South African teams, the
Cheetahs and
Southern Kings, would not take part. The
EPCR agreed a new format for the
2020–21 European Rugby Champions Cup in response to COVID-19: the top eight eligible teams from the Pro14, the
Gallagher Premiership and
Top 14 competed in a 24-team tournament divided into two pools of twelve teams, with each team playing four games in the pool stage - two at home and two away.
First block The Pro14 season started on 2 October. Ulster started the season with five straight victories.
Autumn internationals The
Ireland team for the
Autumn Nations Cup was announced on 5 November, and included five Ulster players, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Billy Burns, Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale. Burns made his international debut against Wales. Eric O'Sullivan was called up during the tournament, and made his debut against Georgia. The Pro14 season continued during the tournament, and Ulster played three games, winning them all.
Second block Ulster lost their first two games in the
Champions Cup, at home against Toulouse and away to Gloucester. After the first two rounds, the
EPCR took the decision to temporarily suspend rounds 3 and 4, and later confirmed that rounds 3 and 4 would not take place. Ulster were eliminated from the Champions Cup and joined the
Challenge Cup in the round of 16. In the Pro14, they won their next two matches, but lost a third, away to Leinster. It was announced in December 2020 that the 2020–21 Pro14 season would conclude after 16 rounds, with the winners of each conference advancing straight to the final on 27 March 2021. Four South African
Super Rugby teams - the
Bulls,
Lions,
Sharks and
Stormers - would then be introduced in the
Rainbow Cup.
Six Nations break The Ireland squad for the
2021 Six Nations Championship was announced on 25 January, and included Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Tom O'Toole, Billy Burns and Stuart McCloskey, with Jacob Stockdale added to the squad later. Ulster played five Pro14 matches during the tournament, winning four and losing once, at home to Leinster. They finished second in Conference A, missing out on the final.
Third block Having been eliminated from the Champions Cup, Ulster joined the Challenge Cup in the round of sixteen. After strong performances in away wins against
Harlequins and
Northampton Saints, Ulster faced a semi-final away to
Leicester Tigers. They controlled the game in the first half, but after
John Cooney departed with a head injury, Ulster's performance fell away, and a masterclass by England fly-half
George Ford won the tie for Leicester. Leading try-scorer Marcell Coetzee left in April. He had announced his intention to go home to South Africa and join the
Bulls, but after he sustained a season-ending injury in March, the club agreed to release him from his contract early. Ulster's poor performance in the second half of the Challenge Cup semi-final followed them into the Rainbow Cup, and they finished tenth of twelve in the European pool.
Post-season Ulster led the Pro14 in offloads with 130, tackle success at 90%, lineout success at 92%, scrums won at 97% and kicks retained with 11, and were second in points scored, tries, metres gained, defenders beaten, clean breaks and turnovers won. Scrum-half
John Cooney was the league's leading points scorer with 115, and led the league in try assists with 13 and clean breaks with 22. Cooney, Fullback
Michael Lowry, number 8
Marcell Coetzee and loosehead prop
Eric O'Sullivan were named in the Pro14 Dream Team. Coetzee was named Players' Player of the Year, and was joint top try scorer, alongside
Leinster's
Scott Penny and
Connacht's
Alex Wootton. Academy players
Cormac Izuchukwu,
Nathan Doak,
David McCann,
Callum Reid and
Aaron Sexton all made their senior debuts this season.
Billy Burns and
Eric O'Sullivan made their international debuts with
Ireland. At the Ulster Rugby Awards,
Alan O'Connor was named Player of the Year, with
Iain Henderson Personality of the Year,
John Cooney Supporters' Club Player of the Year,
Nick Timoney Rugby Writers Player of the Year, and
James Hume Young Player of the Year. ==Staff==