Fixtures
- Sunday, December 11: Sale Sharks v Ulster (AJ Bell Stadium, 1pm KO)
- Sunday, January 21: Ulster v Sale Sharks (Kingspan Stadium, 8pm KO)
History in the HCC
Ulster lifted EPCR’s biggest prize in 1999 after a 21-6 final victory over Colomiers in Dublin, Simon Mason kicking all the Irish province’s points from six penalties.
They have reached the final on one other occasion, losing to 42-14 to domestic rivals Leinster Rugby at Twickenham in 2012.
Last season
Ulster progressed from the Heineken Champions Cup pool stage with ease, winning all four of their matches, with two wins apiece over ASM Clermont Auvergne and Northampton Saints.
However, the Irish province failed to make it further than the Round of 16, agonisingly losing 50-49 to Stade Toulousain over two legs.
Head coach
Dan McFarland is the head coach of Ulster, a role he has been in since 2018. As a player, McFarland was a prop and had stints with Stade Français Paris and Connacht Rugby, where he joined the coaching set-up upon retiring in 2006.
He coached Emerging Ireland and Ireland Wolfhounds before becoming an assistant coach at Glasgow Warriors in 2015, holding the same role with Scotland for a season ahead of taking over at Ulster.
Key players
There is a strong presence of Ireland internationals in the Ulster set-up. Amongst the forwards is hooker Rob Herring, who has been a regular at Ulster since joining a decade ago, and lock Iain Henderson, the club captain. The dynamic Nick Timoney can play across the back row.
Wing Robert Baloucoune scored a hat-trick of tires in the first leg of Ulster’s Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 tie with Toulouse last season and will be a key figure once again for the Irish province. Wing Jacob Stockdale is another try threat, as is centre Stuart McCloskey.
Meanwhile, electric full-back Michael Lowry made his first appearance for Ireland this year, and also earnt a nomination for EPCR’s European Player of the Year award, finishing the 2021-22 Heineken Champions Cup with three tries.
South African international Duane Vermeulen joined the club last season and is a huge presence at No.8 while new signing Rory Sutherland, a Scottish international, offers further reinforcement at prop.
Other pool fixtures
Ulster take on TOP 14 side and Heineken Champions Cup holders La Rochelle on December 17 and January 14, home and away respectively.
How to get there
Kingspan Stadium is located at 134 Mount Merrion Avenue in East Belfast. Main access routes into the stadium include via the Cregagh Road and the Ravenhill Road via Onslow Parade.
Find out how to get there by bus, rail or car here.
