Ulster’s Tom Stewart Calls for Honest Review After Winless Start

Ulster hooker Tom Stewart has urged his teammates to engage in candid self-reflection following a lackluster start to the United Rugby Championship campaign. The province remains winless after drawing with Glasgow Warriors and Munster, alongside an earlier defeat to Edinburgh.

Stewart, who stepped up to lead the side in the absence of injured captain Iain Henderson, admitted his own form has not met required standards. He emphasized the need for players and coaches to confront their shortcomings directly as they prepare for their upcoming European Champions Cup fixture against Zebre.

“From a personal point of view, I’m not happy with my performances,” Stewart said. “I don’t think I’ve come to the party well enough. I don’t know if it’s my preparation or the mental side of the game. It’s something I really need to look at and plan better.”

The 25-year-old, who scored a try on his seventh Ireland cap during the summer against Japan, added that he needs to review his intent in collisions and his overall process. He stressed that avoiding difficult video analysis is counterproductive.

“It’s hard when you have a game like that; you don’t want to watch it back or look at the nitty-gritty of what you haven’t done well,” Stewart explained. “But that’s where you find the fixes and the learnings. The hardest stuff you watch will be the most impactful going forward.”

Head coach Richie Murphy also expressed his frustration, describing himself as “bitterly disappointed” after Ulster were forced to fight back to secure a 26-26 draw with their Irish rivals. Stewart called for “honest conversations” within the squad this week to determine where the team currently stands.

Ulster face a challenging run ahead, traveling to Italy to face Zebre on Saturday before undertaking difficult away fixtures against South African giants the Bulls and the Stormers.