After the resignation of Jono Gibbes, Dan McFarland was announced as Ulster's new head coach on 30 April 2018.

[1] But in August, an agreement was reached with Scotland for McFarland to join Ulster before the new season.

[2] Jared Payne, who retired as a player at the end of last season, became the new defence coach.

[4] Shane Logan stepped down as Chief Executive in September 2018,[5] with Jonny Petrie appointed as his successor.

[7] Aside from Jared Payne, wings Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble, scrum-half Paul Marshall, and loose forwards Peter Browne, Jean Deysel and Chris Henry also retired.

Also departing were fullback Charles Piutau to Bristol Bears, props Callum Black to Worcester Warriors, Rodney Ah You to Newcastle Falcons and Wiehahn Herbst to the Bulls, out-half Brett Herron to Jersey Reds, and centre Callum Patterson to the Cornish Pirates.

Scrum-half Aaron Cairns, flanker Robbie Diack and prop Schalk van der Merwe were released.

Out-half Paddy Jackson and centre Stuart Olding, whose contracts were terminated in the fallout from their trial and acquittal for rape,[8] signed for Perpignan and Brive respectively.

Ulster were in need of an experienced out-half after the end of Christian Lealiifano's loan period[9] and Jackson's departure.

In June they attempted to sign South African out-half Elton Jantjies, but were blocked by the IRFU, who insisted they needed to sign an Irish-qualified player.

[13] On 18 July, Billy Burns, who qualified for Ireland through his Irish grandfather, was signed from Gloucester.

[14] Other new arrivals were prop Marty Moore, signed from Wasps; flanker Jordi Murphy, from Leinster; utility back Will Addison, from Sale Sharks; wing Henry Speight, from the Brumbies; and, in a short-term loan deal, lock Ian Nagle, from Leinster.

Academy players who made their debut for the senior team this season were prop Eric O'Sullivan,[15] wings Robert Baloucoune[16] and Angus Kernohan,[17] centre James Hume, fullback Michael Lowry[18] and flanker Marcus Rea.

[19] Former academy prop Tommy O'Hagan also made his senior debut.

[20] Seven players joined the academy this season: back row forward Matthew Agnew, from Malone RFC; out-half Bruce Houston, centre Stewart Moore, and back-rower Azur Allison, from Ballymena Academy; back rower David McCann, from RBAI; outside back Iwan Hughes, from Bristol Bears;[21] and wing Angus Kernohan, from Ballymena Academy.

[23] In the Pro14, Ulster finished second in Conference B, qualifying for the playoffs and next season's Champions Cup.

They defeated Connacht in the quarter-final, but lost to Glasgow Warriors in the semi-final.

[24] Scrum-half John Cooney and centre Stuart McCloskey made the Pro14 Dream Team.

They finished second in Pool 4 of the Champions Cup, making the quarter-finals, where they lost to Leinster.

Wing Jacob Stockdale was named on the longlist for EPCR European Player of the Year.

Flanker Nick Timoney was leading tackler with 303, just ahead of number eight Marcell Coetzee with 301.

Captain and hooker Rory Best and centre Darren Cave retired at the end of the season.

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 compete in the Pro14 play-offs, and also earn a place in the 2019–20 European Champions Cup(excluding South African teams who are ineligible) Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places that earn a place in the 2019–20 European Champions Cup 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 2019–20 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2019–20 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Inside centre Stuart McCloskey and scrum-half John Cooney were named the Pro14 Dream Team.

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Kyle McCall, Eric O'Sullivan, Marty Moore, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell, Jack Regan, Caleb Montgomery, Clive Ross, Sean Reidy, Greg Jones, David Shanahan, Billy Burns, Angus Curtis, James Hume, Aaron Sexton, Jack Owens, Will Addison.

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Andrew Warwick, Tom O'Toole, Alex Thompson, Caleb Montgomery, Greg Jones, Chris Henry, David Shanahan, Angus Curtis, Darren Cave, Jack Owens.

The Heineken Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast, on 9 May 2019.