r/UlsterRugby

well lads, that was abusive by hmp monty, now i do not want to be all doom and gloom, we got shagged that is a fact. However atleast the rugby was a bit sexy this year. Id just say our main issue is the fact the squad lacks some amount of depth like our scrum cannot compete yet i remain so much more hopefull to the future compared to this time two years ago. also tbf we got shagged by a team that as fucked every team in the top 14 par a few. what are all yer thoughts? side note, the drinking game taking a shot every time they mentioned the heat did not go well.

Every final I watch with ulster I’m embarrassed to be a supporter as we get pumped everytime. First final I saw was against Leinster in Heineken cup and we’ve been slaughtered ever since in finals.

Can’t imagine what the good old days were like 😪

Everything about this game is disgraceful. Ulster look completely apathetic, defence is nonexistent with exclusively soaking tackles, and the refereeing has been shocking. The entire event is fucking woeful.

Edit: it's very clear that Montpellier are by far the better team. When I referred to the refereeing I meant that Carley did not need to give them the helping hand at the beginning which only helped their momentum.

Ulster forwards struggling in this heat vs sizeable opposition. Bryn ward could make a big change when he comes on

Love the boys but this is grim beyond belief.

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Anyone elses premier sports almost skipping. Sound is fine but the picture is in frames

I'm not suggesting that general Irish rugby podcasts should give equal weight to the Leinster and Ulster finals. Leinster is the showpiece, sure. But Leinster players themselves talked about the importance of their Challenge Cup win in the rebuild. I'd have thought maybe between a quarter to a third of coverage would have been reasonable?

I was surprised that some podcasts have completely ignored an Irish province in a cup final, and others have shuffled in a 10 minute(?) segment in an hour+ weighted similarly to Munster/Connacht URC quarter finals or Munster's seemingly endless governance missteps. I'm not saying all outlets, and I'm obviously not including clearly Ulster rugby focused podcasts here.

It's baffling particularly given the wider context of Ireland squad players or potential Ireland squad players have made such an impact this season. And the province's remarkable turnaround from last year. And the transition for the under 20s coaching ticket bedding in and fruition. And the importance of the academy players, a wider topic of interest in irish rugby

There's appetite for deep dives from outside each provinces in question - examples include plenty of interest in Lancaster's Connacht rebuild and the Dexcom, in Squidge discussing how Leinster's academy is the envy of all of Wales's development pathways (ok not Irish media but ye get my point), in the structural issues Munster face in being almost unique amongst pro rugby to be split across two home cities

But where's the love/interest for us nordies? (please don't respond with a clichéd basic "they never care" - Ulster has been featured pretty prominently across all-island rugby media this season, I've lost count of southern pundits saying "they're actually the most entertaining province to watch"). Last season was a kindness, "if you don't have anything nice to say..."

I'm not annoyed, I'm genuinely slightly puzzled - I'm that guy who subscribe to locally-focused rugby podcasts around the world to hear local perspectives (I know, it's borderline worrying behaviour) and my impression was that this is weird.

Just curious to hear any thoughts. Anyway, SUFTUM, come on the Ulster, and good luck to Leinster on Saturday

(edit for spelling mistake)

The season started so well but ended in such brutal fashion. Overall, how do you view the season as a whole.

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What a time to be alive. Very proud to be an Ulster fan this season. Best of luck to the lads, hell of a shift this year.

UUUUUULLLSTER

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2026/05/20/mccloskey-and-moloney-macdonald-take-top-honours-at-rugby-players-ireland-awards/

Also, Rob Baloucoune won the men's try of the year for his try against Italy, and Brittany Hogan was nominated for women's 15s player of the year. Pretty good haul for Ulster players this year.

Including detailed analysis on strength of Montpellier

Dermody was Southland's Assistant Coach, to Brad Mooar, in 2014. In 2018 he joined Tasman as co-Head Coach with Andrew Goodman at Tasman when the Mako's won the NPC Premiership titles in 2019 and 2020.

Dermody was interim coach of the Highlanders in Super Rugby in 2021 while Tony Brown was on international duty with Japan. After Brown's tenure, Dermody was announced as the Highlander's Head Coach from 2023.[3]

Richie said in the media briefing that they have made 9 new signings, do we know who the other 5 are? Ignoring the 4 already announced.