Dan McFarland to step down after almost six seasons in charge of Ulster

Ulster coach Dan McFarland is set to step down as Ulster coach after almost six seasons in charge. The news comes after Sunday’s last minute 19-17 defeat to Ospreys.

Fans criticised the head coach's post match response, in which he appeared to deflect blame towards the referee.

“Ultimately, the game came down to two instances, both where we were in control, one in their 22 where they got an intercept pass and the second one was at the end of the game where we were in total control and the refereeing decision called a scrum on the back of a maul," he told Viaplay Sports.

“I have literally no idea what that was about. You see that every week. I’m going to ask and find out because ultimately those two instances decided the game in the Ospreys’ favour.”

🗣️ "I'm going to ask and find out, because ultimately those two instances decided the game in the Ospreys favour."@UlsterRugby head coach Dan McFarland speaks on the game today and refereeing decisions against his team pic.twitter.com/mFzG5x5Kzn

— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) February 18, 2024

Absolutely shameless 😂😂 To stand there whining about the ref after some of the calls that went their way. Embarrassing.

— The Great Cornholio. (@ClarkyDrums) February 18, 2024

As a Ulster rugby season ticket holder I'm embarrassed by this and by the way our great club is in such decline ATM

— Graham Rowe ?? (@UlsterPirate) February 18, 2024

The ospreys had 2 men sin binned and Ulster didn't capilise.....deflecting blame off himself as a substandard head coach

— Andy Wilson (@Andywilson2904) February 18, 2024

I don't like my coach blaming refs. That's nonsense. At times, Ulster were a shambles.

— Bryan Gault (@gaultstats) February 18, 2024

According to the Irish Independent, McFarland was set to inform the Ulster squad of his departure on Wednesday morning.

His contract is set to run until 2025 but pressure has been on the coach of late after failing to progress to the Champions Cup playoffs and after a third defeat in five games.

Assistant coach Dan Soper is rumoured to step into the role for the time being.

McFarland has been in charge since 2018 and guided Ulster to the PRO 14 final in 2019/20 and the URC semi-finals in 2021/22.

They are currently in eighth position on the URC table and host the Dragons next Saturday.