Tom Stewart questions own form and calls for Ulster squad review

Ulster hooker Tom Stewart has called for players and coaches to confront their shortcomings after a winless start to the United Rugby Championship season, while questioning his own performances. In comments reported by BBC Sport on Sunday, the stand-in captain said he needed to examine both his preparation and his approach to matches following the 26-26 draw with Munster in Belfast.

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Ulster have now drawn successive matches against Glasgow and Munster after opening with a defeat by Edinburgh. Their recovery against Munster brought another draw but still left them searching for a first league victory. Head coach Richie Murphy expressed disappointment after the match, and Stewart's assessment also focused on problems that the result had not resolved.

The 25-year-old led Ulster against both Glasgow and Munster while Iain Henderson was absent through injury. Stewart said he was dissatisfied with his own contributions and had not yet established whether preparation or the mental demands of playing were behind his form. He said he needed to understand the cause before deciding how best to address it, rather than presenting a definite explanation for his performances.

Stewart identified his commitment in collisions and the processes behind his decisions as areas he wanted to examine on video. He also called for direct discussions across the squad and coaching staff during the coming week. His comments placed responsibility on himself as well as the wider group, with the hooker seeking a clearer assessment of where Ulster stand after the opening three league fixtures.

He acknowledged that reviewing a disappointing performance could be uncomfortable, particularly when it meant scrutinising individual errors or aspects of play that had fallen short. However, Stewart argued that avoiding those moments would prevent players from finding solutions. He said the most difficult passages to revisit could provide the most useful lessons as the team seeks improvement.

Stewart, who scored against Japan on his seventh Ireland appearance over the summer, now faces another run of away fixtures with Ulster. BBC Sport reported that they begin their Challenge Cup campaign at Zebre next Saturday before travelling to South Africa for United Rugby Championship matches against the Bulls and Stormers.