Ulster v Edinburgh matchday: URC season starts tonight in Belfast
Competitive rugby is back at Affidea Stadium tonight. Ulster open the 2026/27 BKT United Rugby Championship season at home to Edinburgh, with kick-off in Belfast at 7.45pm BST.
Ulster v Edinburgh: matchday details
- Fixture: Ulster Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby
- Competition: BKT United Rugby Championship – Round 1
- Date: Friday 25 September 2026
- Kick-off: 7.45pm BST / UK-Ireland time
- Venue: Affidea Stadium, Belfast
- TV: Premier Sports
The league season starts here
Tonight is Ulster’s first competitive fixture of 2026/27 after the September warm-up programme. It is also a quick rematch with Edinburgh: Ulster won 28-26 at Hive Stadium in the pre-season meeting on 4 September, but Round 1 brings league points and a very different level of consequence.
What to watch tonight
The step up from pre-season: the warm-ups gave Ulster a chance to test combinations and new faces. Tonight is the first indication of how those combinations look when URC points are at stake.
Edinburgh’s new-look side: Edinburgh have named four starting debutants — Alec Hepburn, James Grayson, Kienan Higgins and Geordie Gwynn — while Magnus Bradbury and Matt Currie co-captain the visitors.
A home start: beginning the league campaign at Affidea Stadium gives Ulster the opportunity to put early points on the board before the Round 2 trip to Glasgow Warriors.
Watching on TV
The game is being shown live on Premier Sports. Kick-off is at 7.45pm BST.
Getting home from Affidea Stadium
Translink lists a special return service for the Ulster v Edinburgh fixture, with buses due to depart Affidea Stadium at 9.45pm. Supporters using the service should check their departure point with the driver when they arrive at the stadium.
Ulster v Edinburgh Match Hub
Our permanent Ulster v Edinburgh Match Hub has the core fixture information in one place. Team news, matchday coverage, the result and reaction can all sit around that hub without duplicating the main fixture page.
SUFTUM.