'We can see a plan beyond this year' - Murphy

Richie Murphy is completing his first full season as Ulster head coach

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy says everyone involved with the squad is "hurting" in light of the province's failure to qualify for the United Rugby Championship play-offs but adds that they can "see a plan beyond this year and beyond next year".

Ulster's failure to finish in the top eight of the URC table also means that they miss out on qualification for next season's Champions Cup and will instead take part in the second-tier Challenge Cup.

"Over the course of the season we haven't quite nailed it. There have been a lot of tight battles and five different games within one score, a couple of them within one point, but ultimately we weren't good enough across the course of the season," Murphy said.

"We knew at the start of the year we had a certain amount of inexperience in our squad and it was going to take time to build but we still felt we were good enough to make the top eight. But we haven't been able to achieve that.

"It's really important that we go back to the drawing board. The players we have here at the moment will all be a year older, a little bit more experienced, have a good summer and then attack next season and make sure we are not in the same position."

Ulster's failure to progress to the league quarter-finals was sealed with a defeat to Munster on Saturday and now they conclude their season with an away trip to Edinburgh on Friday.

"Ultimately against Munster, they put us under a lot of pressure and when the pressure came on, we weren't good enough on the day.

"Everyone was very disappointed but we have another game. We are aiming to make sure we finish on a high against Edinburgh.

"We're all hurting, disappointed, but any time you play for Ulster you play for pride. In a game which, in theory, doesn't mean that much, it means a lot to us in terms of who we play for and who we represent."

"So we're looking for one last big effort and try and come out on the right side of it."

'We've got to trust the process'

The former Ireland Under-20s coach believes the summer addition of South African back row Juarno Augustus from Northampton Saints on a three-year deal will boost Ulster's hopes next season.

He describes the number eight as "a top player who is very much in an around that South African squad at just 26-years-old".

"There are a couple more players coming in who we haven't announced yet to try and bolster certain positions," he added.

"There are certain areas in our squad where we are a little bit weak but we've got to build from within. That was the task that was set before me at the start."

Mark Sexton, who previously worked with Murphy during his successful spell with the Ireland Under-20s, will join the coaching team in the summer, arriving from Connacht to specialise in the side's attacking play.

"We're assembling a coaching team, another member joining this summer, Mark Sexton, will help us, and a different role for Dan Soper, Willie [Faloon] coming in halfway through the year, giving him his first taste of senior coaching.

"Myself and Jimmy [Duffy] being the older, more experienced coaches within that group. So that group will work very well and settle in.

"The players we have here are very good, they work really hard, so we've just got to trust the process."