Back Row- Neil Doak, Simon Harland, Gary Longwell, Stephen Richards Middle Row -Paul Karayiannis, Neil Simpson, James Sandford, Sam McDonald,Willie Faloon, Tommy Seymore Front Row- Ian Whitten, Mark Robinson, Owen McMurray, Jamie Smith, IanPorter, Chris Cochrane, Chris Quinn.

There are currently 20 young players in the Ulster Academy, aged between 18 and 21 years old; however, the identification process of this young talent begins as early as U16/Medallion level through both the Youth and the School systems. There are two types of contract awarded to Academy players. Level 1 is to a player aged approximately 16 – 19 years old, or to a player who is making a positional change. A player on a Level 2 contract is typically aged between 18 and 21 years old, and will receive a degree of financial support, which enables him to combine his studies with necessary Academy programme without the need for a part-time job.

Not every player with the Academy system will graduate to professional rugby, however, these young men are the cream of the crop, and the natural progression for them is from the Academy, to a Development Contract with Ulster Rugby where they will be training full-time with the Squad and then on to a Full Professional Contract. Thirteen of the current Ulster squad have come through the Academy in the last three seasons.

Michael Reid, Chief Executive of IRFU Ulster Branch credits the structure of the Academy system saying, "Success at this level highlights the work of the Sports Institute, the Academy and the Sub Academy work of Neil Doak. Ulster's success is built on the strong foundations of the Schools game which has been developed and nurtured by Gary Longwell, all the Coaches and Back up Team."

Academy member Thomas Anderson training hard at the Academy's base, the Sports Institute at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown.