[6] Centre Angus Curtis retired partway through last season on medical advice after a series of concussions.

[7] Prop Steven Kitshoff cut short his stay at Ulster and returned to the Stormers,[8] where he was joined by flanker Dave Ewers.

[12] Fullback Shea O'Brien, prop James French and flanker Greg Jones were released.

[14] New signings included wing Werner Kok from the Sharks,[15] and Irish-qualified out-half Aidan Morgan from the Hurricanes.

Ireland Sevens player Zac Ward joined on a trial until the autumn international window.

[20] Prop Corrie Barrett, formerly of Doncaster Knights, joined on a one-year contract after a successful pre-season trial.

[21] Seven players joined the academy: centres Sam Berman and Wilhelm de Klerk, hooker Jonny Scott, scrum-half Clarke Logan, flankers James McKillop and Bryn Ward, and out-half Jack Murphy.

[22] Prop George Saunderson left the academy after retiring from the game on medical grounds.

[23] Six Ulstermen were named in Andy Farrell's Ireland squad for their two-match tour of South Africa in July 2024: Rob Herring, Tom O'Toole, Nick Timoney, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale and the uncapped Cormac Izuchukwu.

Cormac Izuchukwu, Harry Sheridan, Scott Wilson, Jack Murphy, Jude Postlethwaite and Zac Ward were selected for Emerging Ireland for the 2024 Toyota Challenge in South Africa.

[26] Ulster won their first pre-season friendly at home against Benetton,[27] and lost their second the following Saturday away to Exeter Chiefs.

Prop Corrie Barrett, out-half Aidan Morgan, and replacements hooker James McCormick and wing Werner Kok made their Ulster debuts.

Former Connacht hooker Tadgh McElroy was signed as short-term injury cover,[29] and travelled with the squad on two-week mini-tour to South Africa.

Academy lock Charlie Irvine made his debut from the start against the Bulls, as did hooker McElroy and out-half James Humphreys from the bench.

In the 2024 end-of-year rugby union internationals, Rob Herring, Tom O'Toole and Iain Henderson came off the bench for Ireland against New Zealand on 8 November.

Jacob Stockdale and international debutant Cormac Izuchukwu started, and Tom O'Toole, Iain Henderson and Stuart McCloskey came off the bench against Fiji on 23 November.

Ulster lost narrowly at home to Leinster in the URC on 29 November, then opened their Champions Cup campaign with heavy away defeats to Toulouse and Bordeaux.

Between the two matches, wing Aaron Sexton left to join the NFL International Player Pathway.

Two interpros followed - a narrow home defeat to Munster, in which out-half Jack Murphy made his debut from the bench, and a win away against Connacht, in which academy centre Wilhelm de Klerk made his debut from the bench, before the Champions Cup resumed with an away defeat to Leicester Tigers.

Former Ulster wing Rob Lyttle re-signed as short-term injury cover,[31] and appeared in the final pool game, a bonus point home win against Exeter Chiefs, which was enough to qualify for the round of sixteen.

Rob Herring, Iain Henderson and Cormac Izuchukwu were selected for the Ireland quad for the 2025 Six Nations.

James Hume, Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale appeared on their return from injury.

South African back row forward Juarno Augustus will join Ulster from Northampton Saints next season.

[34] Academy locks Charlie Irvine and Joe Hopes will join the senior squad on development contracts.

Mark Sexton will join from Connacht as backs coach, with Dan Soper moving to a player development and transition role.

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

Backs: David Shanahan, Conor McKee, Zac Ward, James Humphreys, Ben Carson, Jack Murphy.

Replacements: Forwards: John Andrew (for McCormick 55'), Eric O'Sullivan (for Warwick 40'), Scott Wilson (for Barrett 40'), Henry Walker, Reuben Crothers (for Marcus Rea 55'), Callum Reid, Nick Timoney, Backs: David Shanahan (for Doak 59'), James Humphreys (for Morgan 65'), Stewart Moore (for Carson 21'), Werner Kok (for McIlroy 65'), Ben Moxham (for Sexton 36'), Rory Telfer (for Ward 40').

Replacements: James McCormick (for Stewart 46'), Eric O’Sullivan (for Warwick 46'), Bryan O’Connor (for Barrett 40'), Jacob Boyd (for O'Sullivan 68') Harry Sheridan (for Dalton 57'), Kieran Treadwell (for O'Connor 57'), Tom Brigg (for McLoughlin 68'), Reuben Crothers (for Matty Rea 57'), David Shanahan (for McKee 46'), James Humphreys (for Morgan 57'), Wilhelm de Klerk (for Hume 46'), Michael Lowry (for Stockdale 40'), Stewart Moore (for McCloskey 40').

Replacements: Conor Magee, Jack Boal, Cameron Doak, Flynn Longstaff, James McKillop, Josh Stevens, Michael McDonald, Fraser Cunningham, Josh Gibson, Conor Rankin, Jack Harte.