Ulster's hopes of playing Investec Champions Cup rugby next season look to be over, but Richie Murphy has vowed his side will learn from their chastening experiences in this campaign.
Last night's 38-20 defeat to Munster leaves the province five points back from the play-off spots with a game to play, although that gap could grow greater over the weekend, ending their slim hopes of Champions Cup qualification.
There has been a significant transition in the squad during Murphy’s first full season in charge. His son Jack (20) has emerged as first choice out-half this season, while more trust has been placed in homegrown talent over the campaign, such as Jude Postlethwaite, Ben Carson and James McNabney.
"That's the way we are going. We are backing the youth," Murphy said last night, as he looked ahead to next season.
"We know there is probably a little bit of pain at the moment but we are willing to keep pushing through because we can see the potential in those players, and I think you guys will have seen that potential too.
"You can't put 20/21/22/23-year-olds out there and expect them to hit the ground running when they are playing against some serious high-level international players.
"There's going to be an area of growth. I suppose from our point of view, it's been a very broken year in relation to the team that we have been able to put out, especially the first part of the year where we were chopping and changing four, five, six, seven players week-in, week-out, but the last couple of weeks we have had a closer run at things.
"Ultimately over the course of the season, our league position doesn't lie. We haven't quite been good enough."
Those younger and inexperienced players will have to take on even more responsibility next season, with experienced pillars of the team leaving, such as John Cooney, Kieran Treadwell, John Andrew, Alan O’Connor and Matty Rea among those departing.
But the former Ireland Under-20 head coach says they will come back stronger after learning some valuable lessons in 2024/25.
"Everyone is going to be a year older. Everyone is going to be a little bit wiser. I think getting into this summer, we'll know exactly where we are, we know exactly what we need to go about.
"There has been massive development in Ulster in relation to a whole new coaching team in the last 12 months, a whole new strength and conditioning programme and team in the last six months, so those things are bedding in and all of us understanding everything.
"Of course we want to win games, we are not happy with the idea of playing in the Challenge Cup but ultimately that's where we are. And that might be something to go after next year.
"We have an eye on a number of other players within our academy system that we want to try and get up into our senior team. It's very hard to blood all young players at the same time, so it's just trying to find the right times for those opportunities.
"I think we will be better next year and these experiences will drive these lads on."
To supplement those younger players, number 8 Juarno Augustus will arrive from Northampton in the summer, and Murphy was effusive in his praise for the South African’s performance in last week’s Champions Cup win against Leinster.
And Murphy expects some more signings to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
"Our squad depth is our squad depth, it's just that we are quite young and inexperienced in certain areas. I think we will have 42 players next year. That's been built around the parameters that are set up for us at this moment in time with budget and with how it's laid out.
"We are obviously bringing in (Juarno) Augustus as a back-rower for next year who will give us a little bit of experience and know-how in that area, but ultimately in certain positions we are still going to be quite young.
"There are some other signings but we're not in a position to announce them at the moment."
