They competed in the inaugural Pro14 (successor competition to the Pro12) and the European Rugby Champions Cup.

After the departure of Neil Doak, Jono Gibbes joined Ulster as head coach,[1] with Dwayne Peel joining him as assistant coach,[2] replacing Allen Clarke, who had left to join the coaching staff at Ospreys.

Out-half Paddy Jackson and centre Stuart Olding were charged with rape and suspended from playing pending trial[5] (both would be acquitted, but have their contracts revoked).

[6] Australian out-half Christian Lealiifano was signed on a five-month loan to cover.

[8] The IRFU had blocked South African scrum-half Ruan Pienaar extending his contract as part of their restrictions on foreign players,[9] and he left for Montpellier.

[10] Other new arrivals were two South Africans, prop Schalk van der Merwe, signed from the Southern Kings, and loose forward Jean Deysel, signed from the Sharks.

Back row forward Roger Wilson retired, lock Conor Joyce and centre Mark Best moved to Jersey Reds, hooker Johnny Murphy went to Rotherham Titans, and lock John Donnan, flankers Lorcan Dow and Stephen Mullholand, and prop Ricky Lutton were released.

Players joining the academy this year were out-half Michael Lowry and centre James Hume, from RBAI's three-time Schools' Cup-winning team; prop Tom O'Toole from Campbell College; lock/back row Matthew Dalton, from BRA, hooker Alexander Clarke (son of former Ulster hooker and assistant coach Allen Clarke), from Ballymena Academy; flanker Joe Dunleavy, from City of Derry R.F.C.

; lock John McCusker, from Rainey Old Boys R.F.C.

; lock Jack Regan; flanker Greg Jones and prop Eric O'Sullivan.

[11] Wing Robert Baloucoune and scrum-half Graham Curtis joined later in the season.

[12] After a poor run of form, with eighteen tries conceded in four matches over the Christmas period,[13] Director of Rugby Les Kiss left in January, with Gibbes assuming all coaching responsibility of the team for the remainder of the season.

[14] Ulster finished third in Pool 1 of the Champions Cup, failing to qualify for the knockout stage.

They finished fourth of seven in Conference B of the Pro14, failing to qualify for the playoffs, and having to beat Ospreys in a playoff to qualify for next season's Champions Cup.

Gibbes cut short his contract at the end of the season.

[15] Former Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll described the province as "a bit of a basket case", facing "Administration issues, senior players retiring, the well documented court case, now no number 10 to build the team around, no coach next year, struggling for Champions Cup rugby next season.

"[16] Academy flanker Nick Timoney had a breakthrough season, making twenty appearances and scoring five tries.

Wing Craig Gilroy was the team's leading try scorer with eleven.

Wings Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble and flanker Chris Henry retired.

Centre Jared Payne also retired as a player, and was appointed defence coach.

Props Hookers Locks Back row Scrum-halves Fly-halves Centres Wings Fullbacks

Props Hookers Locks Back row Scrum-halves Fly-halves Centres Wings Fullbacks The following players, other than players from the senior squad and academy, appeared for Ulster 'A' this season.

Green background indicates teams that competed in the Pro14 play-offs, and also earned a place in the 2018–19 European Champions Cup(excluding South African teams who are ineligible) Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places that earned a place in the 2018–19 European Champions Cup, including the winner of the play-off between the two fourth-ranked European teams in each conference Yellow background indicates the loser of the play-off between the two fourth-ranked European teams in each conference, that earned a place in the 2018–19 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Plain background indicates teams that earned a place in the 2018–19 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

The South African teams cannot compete in the European Rugby Champions Cup.

The top three eligible teams in each conference automatically qualify for following year's Champions Cup.

The fourth ranked eligible team in each conference meet in a play-off match with the winner taking the seventh Champions Cup place.

Ulster had home advantage against Ospreys by virtue of finishing with the greater number of points accumulated during the PRO14 regular league (62, as opposed to Ospreys’ 44).

John Cooney was the competition's top scorer with 175 points, and was named at scrum-half on the Pro14 Dream Team.

The Heineken Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held at the La Mon Hotel and Country Club, Castlereagh, on 10 May 2018.