Ulster wing Zac Ward hunts URC Play-Offs and Challenge Cup glory in historic first season

Tuesday, 12 May 2026 at 11:00

byTom Sansom

It has already been a breakthrough season for Zac Ward, and the Ulster winger believes the best could still be to come for Ulster Rugby.

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The former Ireland Sevens star has become one of the standout performers in the United Rugby Championship during his first full campaign in Belfast, helping drive Ulster’s charge towards silverware on across both the United Rugby Championship and in the EPCR Challenge Cup.

Ward has scored 13 tries across all competitions this season, while no player in the URC has beaten more defenders (55), made more clean breaks (27) or gained more metres (960). Those remarkable numbers have also earned the 27-year-old recognition at international level with Ireland A.

Now, with Ulster pushing for a URC Play-Off spot and preparing for an EPCR Challenge Cup final against Montpellier in Bilbao, Ward admits he is thriving in his new environment.

“I'm loving it. I was definitely ready for the change off the back of the Olympics and ever since I've come into Ulster I've felt really welcomed,” he said.

“We’ve had a great season. There’s just been a real good buzz around the place. Everyone is on the same page and it is really enjoyable. We’ve got a final to look forward to, a big game this week now and then on to Bilbao.

“The last time Ulster won a bit of silverware was 2006. So it’s 20 years and it’s something really special. To be really close to being able to do that is class. For me, personally, to keep developing and trying to push us on to get silverware is pretty important.”

Ward’s rise has been anything but conventional. The son of former Ireland international Andy Ward, he started his senior career at Ballynahinch as a flanker — the same position his father played — before switching to sevens rugby in 2021.

After impressing on the World Series circuit and at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Ward joined Ulster on trial at the beginning of last season. A move to the wing proved inspired, with the powerful 6ft 3in flyer quickly cementing himself as one of the province’s most dangerous attacking weapons.

His partnership with South African speedster Werner Kok has become one of the most effective wing pairings in the URC, with the duo competing near the top of the league’s try-scoring charts.

“We are just enjoying playing together,” said Ward. "The guys are putting us in the right spaces and all we’ve got to do is not mess it up and fall over the line with it.”

Ulster’s supporters have also played a huge role in the province’s resurgence this season, according to Ward, with Friday night’s clash against table-toppers Glasgow Warriors set to produce another electric atmosphere at the Affidea Stadium.

“They have been phenomenal,” he said. “We talk about giving the crowd something to cheer about. That’s what we always want to do. Last year, we probably made it very difficult for them to get up for us. But this year, with the brand of rugby we are playing, they are getting behind us. We want to go out there and perform for them, to fill the seats and create a real buzz around the place.”

There was certainly no shortage of drama during Ulster’s recent 38-38 draw with the DHL Stormers, a result that came just a week after their emotional Challenge Cup quarter-final victory over Exeter Chiefs.

Ulster battled back from a 17-7 deficit and overcame a 20-minute red card for captain Iain Henderson to lead late on, only for a penalty try in the dying seconds to deny them victory.

“It was massively disappointing,” Ward admitted. “We had the game in our hands. We just sort of let off the gas a little bit in the last play. If you do that against a top-of-the-table side, they are going to make it count.”

Those frustrations were shared by stand-in skipper Nick Timoney, who praised Ulster’s resilience but acknowledged they should have closed the game out.

“Ultimately, we were disappointed not to win,” he said. "There was lots of good effort. Our spirit was decent. It was probably the best part of our game. We stuck in there and dealt well with being down to 14 men for 20 minutes. Our attack was decent as well, but we need to be winning games when we score 38 points. It was obviously a disappointing finish.”

Despite the setback, Ulster’s season remains alive. Victory over Glasgow would secure a place in the URC Play-Offs before attention turns fully towards the Challenge Cup final in Bilbao.

“It’s closer than what we would want at this time of the year, but we need to stand up and get a result. It’s an important week. It’s in our hands still,” said Timoney.