Ulster win the Celtic League, May 2006

Ulster Rugby participates in the Heineken Cup and the Magners League and provides the biggest regular supporter numbers for a true "sport for all" in Northern Ireland. Ulster Rugby, with its playing and administrative based at Ravenhill in Belfast, is the only sport running a full-time professional team based in Northern Ireland, with a full game development structure behind it.

Before the Professional Era

In the amateur Rugby Union era Ulster's players trained and competed in their spare time and the team enjoyed considerable success, throughout the 1980's in particular. They regularly played international touring sides from the all over the world such as New Zealand, Australia and Italy. The inter-provincial championship was viewed as a significant achievement in Irish rugby at the time, with Ulster competed against Munster, Connacht and Leinster for the title.

In the early 80's a number of Ulster players such as Colin Patterson, David Irwin, Trevor Ringland and Keith Crossan were selected for the Ireland squad who went on to win the Triple Crown. During the 1984-85 Season, Ulster XV won the interprovincial championships for the first time since 1976. The Ulster side strengthened and in the same season they defeated Australia at Ravenhill. Current Ulster Rugby Doctor, David Irwin captained the side to a 15-13 win- Ulster's first victory over a major touring side with a now legendary performance.

The season signalled the start of Ulster's most successful period in their history with the David Irwin/Willie Anderson axis controlling things on the field, Ulster either won or shared the interprovincial championship every season until the beginning of the professional era (more than any other Irish province)
The Ulster players form was recognised when in 1987 eight Ulster players were selected to compete with Ireland in the Rugby World Cup where they progressed to the quarter finals.

The Beginning of the Professional Era

Harry Williams was Ulster's first coach in the professional era and presided over what is arguably the club's greatest achievement when the side lifted the European Cup in January 1999, defeating French side Colomiers, 21 - 6 in the final which was played at Lansdowne Road. Just eight of the players in the squad during that season were playing rugby professionally with the majority of the squad "part-timers", combining a rugby career with a day job.

From 2001-04 Ulster Rugby was coached by Alan Solomons, a former Assistant Coach of the Springboks and Head Coach at The Stormers and Western Province in his native South Africa. It was during this time that Ulster Rugby completely embraced the professional era with a roster of full-time players.

Solomons coached Ulster to a 3 year unbeaten home record in the Heineken Cup and in the 2003-04 season Ulster finished second in very a closely contested Celtic League Championship. Without doubt two of his greatest moments with Ulster included the winning of the Celtic Cup on 20th December 2003, defeating Edinburgh 27 - 21 at Murrayfield, and less than a month later, defeating English Premiership giants Leicester Tigers 33 - 0 in the Heineken Cup at Ravenhill.

2004 - present

In July 2004, Mark McCall, himself a member of Ulster's European Cup winning side in 1999, took over the reigns as Ulster Rugby Head Coach with European Cup team-mate Allen Clarke as his Assistant. In October 2004 Neil Kelly, a former rugby league player and coach joined the staff.

In May 2006 Ulster Rugby was crowned Celtic League champions. In a league season which saw the team win 14, lose 5 and draw 1 match, the competition went down to the wire and Ulster lifted the trophy after defeating The Ospreys 19 - 17 at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea. The 2006/07 season saw Ulster drop to 6th in the Magners League with a disappointing Heineken Cup campaign.

Ahead of the 2007/08 season Head Coach Mark McCall signed a number of new players including Scottish Internationals Simon Danielli and Rob Dewey as well as Italian Lock Carlo Del Fava and Steve Williams was appointed Assistant Coach. In November 2007 Mark McCall resigned and Steve Williams stepped in as Caretaker Coach until new Head Coach Matt Williams was appointed in February 2008. Ulster had a difficult season but ended on a high by qualify for the Heineken Cup competition.

Ahead of the 2008/09 season, Head Coach Matt Williams signed seven new players, including South African international BJ Botha. Ian Humphreys, Ed O'Donoghue, Clinton Schifocofske, Timoci Nagusa, Cillian Willis and Robbie Diack were the other new additions to the Ulster squad.

2009/10 saw Ulster Rugby return to a full Ulster Management set-up with former Irish Skills Coach Brian McLaughlin at the helm. Ulster and Irish legend David Humphreys took on the role of Operations Director, while Jeremy Davidson and Neil Doak joined the set-up as Assistant Coaches.

Ulster welcomed new faces; Dan Tuohy, a lock from Exeter Chiefs, Andy Kyriacou, a hooker from Saracens and Tamaiti Horua, a flanker/No8 from Western Forces.

Ravenhill - home of Ulster Rugby

The Ravenhill Stadium, with a capacity of 12,300 is the home of Ulster Rugby but equally hosts finals of Club and School competitions from Under 10 Mini Rugby to the Senior Clubs Final. The Stadium is owned by the I.R.F.U, and houses the administration centre for the game and changing facilities.

In 2004 the Ulster Squad re-located their training base to Newforge Country Club in South Belfast but the side retains its close links to Ravenhill, the spiritual home of Ulster Rugby and all matches are played there.

Before 1954, Ireland home games were shared between Lansdowne and Ravenhill in Belfast. Ravenhill had not hosted an International match since February 1954 when Ireland beat Scotland 6-0 and Ulster Rugby was honoured to host Ireland v Italy Rugby World Cup warm up match on 24th August 2007, which will marked the first international at Ravenhill in 53 years.

2008 saw Phase 1 of the Ravenhill Redevelopment start with the foundations being laid for a new high spec corporate stand at Ravenhill. In September 2009 the New Stand - Stand B was opened. The £4.5million stand boasts; 20 high-spec corporate boxes, 532 premier seats, plus full bar and restaurant facilities.

Ireland beat Italy 23-20 as fans look on at Ravenhill