Tag Edinburgh Rugby

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.

Michael Lowry will captain Ulster in Friday night’s United Rugby Championship opener against Edinburgh at Affidea Stadium, with Richie Murphy naming a starting XV containing five summer signings.

Eight players in the matchday 23 are in line to make their first competitive Ulster appearances, while James McNabney returns to competitive action at number eight after missing all of last season with a long-term knee injury.

Ulster v Edinburgh: match details

• Fixture: Ulster Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby
• Date: Friday 25 September 2026
• Kick-off: 7.45pm BST / UK-Ireland time
• Venue: Affidea Stadium, Belfast
• Competition: United Rugby Championship – Round 1
• TV / stream: Premier Sports and URC.tv

For the permanent fixture information and any late updates, see the Ulster v Edinburgh Match Hub.

Ulster team v Edinburgh

Eric O’Sullivan, James McCormick and Argentina international Eduardo Bello form the front row. Bello is one of the new arrivals making a first competitive start, with fellow summer signings Eli Snyman and Ben Donnell paired together in the second row.

David McCann starts at blindside flanker, Martin Moloney makes his competitive Ulster debut at openside and McNabney returns at number eight.

Conor McKee and Jack Murphy are the half-backs. Jamie Benson makes his competitive debut at inside centre alongside Ben Carson, while Aitzol Arenzana-King and Robert Baloucoune start on the wings. Lowry captains the side from full-back.

Starting XV

1. Eric O’Sullivan
2. James McCormick
3. Eduardo Bello
4. Eli Snyman
5. Ben Donnell
6. David McCann
7. Martin Moloney
8. James McNabney
9. Conor McKee
10. Jack Murphy
11. Aitzol Arenzana-King
12. Jamie Benson
13. Ben Carson
14. Robert Baloucoune
15. Michael Lowry (captain)

Replacements

16. Henry Walker
17. Tom McAllister
18. Keynan Knox
19. Harry Sheridan
20. James McKillop
21. Matthew Devine
22. Jake Flannery
23. Zac Ward

Five new signings start

Bello, Snyman, Donnell, Moloney and Benson are all handed their first competitive Ulster starts. It gives the opening league team a noticeably different look from last season, particularly in the tight five and midfield.

There is also experience around the new faces. Baloucoune returns to the starting side after his involvement with Ireland over the summer, while last season’s leading try scorer Zac Ward is among the replacements.

McNabney makes his competitive return

McNabney’s selection at number eight is another significant part of the team news. He missed the whole of last season after a serious knee injury and now returns for Ulster’s first competitive fixture of 2026/27.

Arenzana-King also keeps his place after an eye-catching pre-season in which he scored four tries across the Edinburgh and Ospreys warm-up matches.

What the bench looks like

Murphy has gone with a 5:3 split. Henry Walker, Tom McAllister, Keynan Knox, Harry Sheridan and James McKillop provide the forward cover, with Matthew Devine, Jake Flannery and Zac Ward covering the backs.

Walker, Knox and Devine are among the players who could make their competitive Ulster debuts if introduced.

Season starts under the lights in Belfast

Friday’s match is Ulster’s first league fixture of the new season and a quick competitive rematch with Edinburgh after the sides met in pre-season earlier this month. Kick-off is at 7.45pm at Affidea Stadium.

We’ll keep the Match Hub as the permanent home for fixture details, broadcast information and further match updates.

Ulster open the 2026/27 United Rugby Championship season at home to Edinburgh Rugby on Friday 25 September, with kick-off at 7.45pm BST at Affidea Stadium.

It is Ulster’s first competitive fixture of the new campaign and comes two weeks after the final pre-season game against Ospreys. Edinburgh will already be familiar opposition: the sides also met in a warm-up fixture at Hive Stadium earlier in September, but this time league points are on the line.

Ulster v Edinburgh: fixture details

• Fixture: Ulster Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby
• Date: Friday 25 September 2026
• Kick-off: 7.45pm BST / UK-Ireland time
• Venue: Affidea Stadium, Belfast
• Competition: United Rugby Championship – Round 1
• TV: Premier Sports

The competitive season starts at home

After two September pre-season fixtures, Richie Murphy’s side begin the URC campaign in Belfast. The Edinburgh game is the first of 18 scheduled regular-season league fixtures for Ulster and the first opportunity to turn the work of pre-season into championship points.

The quick rematch with Edinburgh also gives the opening round an extra layer of interest. The pre-season meeting provided a first look at new combinations and summer arrivals; Round 1 should give a much clearer indication of how Ulster intend to approach the competitive campaign.

What to watch

The opening selection: the first competitive team sheet of the season will show which combinations have won the early selection battles after the Edinburgh and Ospreys warm-up matches.

New faces under competitive pressure: several summer arrivals have been involved during pre-season. The URC opener will be the first chance to see which of them are trusted immediately when league points matter.

A home start: beginning at Affidea Stadium gives Ulster the opportunity to establish early momentum before travelling to Glasgow Warriors in Round 2.

How to watch Ulster v Edinburgh

Kick-off is at 7.45pm BST on Friday 25 September. Premier Sports holds live rights to every United Rugby Championship match. The Match Hub on this page will carry the latest confirmed broadcast details and any late fixture updates.

What comes next?

Ulster travel to Scotstoun Stadium to face Glasgow Warriors on Saturday 3 October, with another 7.45pm BST kick-off. The first interprovincial fixture follows at home to Munster on Saturday 10 October.

Team news for the Edinburgh opener will be added when the official matchday squad is announced.

Ulster are back in match action tonight, with Michael Lowry captaining a 27-player squad for the pre-season trip to Edinburgh Rugby at Hive Stadium.

Richie Murphy has mixed senior experience, Academy players and summer arrivals for the first warm-up fixture of the 2026/27 campaign. Scrum-half Matthew Devine and fly-half Jamie Benson will make their first appearances in an Ulster jersey, while several other new signings are set to feature from the bench.

Edinburgh v Ulster: match details

• Fixture: Edinburgh Rugby v Ulster Rugby
• Date: Friday 4 September 2026
• Kick-off: 7.45pm (UK/Ireland time)
• Venue: Hive Stadium, Edinburgh
• Competition: Scottish Building Society pre-season friendly
• TV: Premier Sports 2

For the wider fixture background, including the quick turnaround before the teams meet again in the URC, see our Edinburgh v Ulster pre-season fixture guide.

Ulster team v Edinburgh

Lowry starts at full-back and leads the side. Eric O’Sullivan, James McCormick and Academy tighthead Tom McAllister form the front row, with Harry Sheridan and Joe Hopes in the second row. James McKillop, Tom Brigg and David McCann make up the back row.

The new half-back pairing is one of the most interesting selections. Devine starts at scrum-half after joining from Connacht, with Benson at fly-half following his move from Harlequins. Daniel Hawkshaw starts at inside centre alongside Ben Carson, while Aitzol Arenzana-King and Chay Mullins are on the wings.

Ulster starting XV

1. Eric O’Sullivan
2. James McCormick
3. Tom McAllister
4. Harry Sheridan
5. Joe Hopes
6. James McKillop
7. Tom Brigg
8. David McCann
9. Matthew Devine
10. Jamie Benson
11. Aitzol Arenzana-King
12. Daniel Hawkshaw
13. Ben Carson
14. Chay Mullins
15. Michael Lowry (captain)

Ulster replacements

Henry Walker, Flynn Longstaff, Eduardo Bello, Ben Donnell, Eli Snyman, Martin Moloney, James McNabney, Clark Logan, Jake Flannery, Jonny Scott, Jed Findlay and Jack Murphy.

New faces get an early opportunity

Devine and Benson are not the only summer arrivals involved. Eduardo Bello, Eli Snyman, Ben Donnell and Martin Moloney are named among the replacements, giving Murphy the chance to spread minutes across a large squad.

There is also a welcome return to a matchday squad for James McNabney as he continues his comeback from a long-term ACL injury. With 12 replacements available, the emphasis is clearly on game time and combinations rather than treating this like a normal competitive matchday 23.

What to watch from Ulster tonight

The Devine-Benson partnership: two new half-backs starting together means supporters will get an immediate look at how they manage territory, tempo and Ulster’s attack.

Younger forwards under pressure: McAllister, McKillop and Brigg all start in a pack that will be tested by an Edinburgh side also using the night to assess combinations.

Competition in the back three: Arenzana-King and Mullins start on the wings with Lowry at full-back, offering pace and a chance for the newer faces to make an early impression.

Edinburgh will rotate heavily too

Edinburgh have named two XVs, with each unit expected to get around 40 minutes. New recruits Alec Hepburn, James Grayson and Geordie Gwynn are among the first-half starters, while Kienan Higgins is due to feature after the interval.

That makes tonight exactly what a useful pre-season game should be: plenty of changes, fresh combinations and an opportunity for both coaching teams to learn more before competitive rugby begins.

How to watch

Kick-off at Hive Stadium is 7.45pm and the match is being shown live on Premier Sports 2.

We will keep an eye on the key talking points from Edinburgh as Ulster’s 2026/27 preparations move up a level.

Ulster are due to return to match action on Friday 4 September when they travel to Edinburgh for a pre-season friendly at Hive Stadium. Kick-off is at 7.45pm, giving supporters an early look at the province before the 2026/27 United Rugby Championship campaign begins later in the month.

Edinburgh v Ulster: fixture details

• Fixture: Edinburgh Rugby v Ulster Rugby
• Date: Friday 4 September 2026
• Kick-off: 7.45pm
• Venue: Hive Stadium, Edinburgh
• Competition: Pre-season friendly

What the fixture means for Ulster

The trip to Edinburgh will be one of the first opportunities to judge how Ulster are shaping up for the new season. Pre-season results never tell the whole story, but the game should give the coaching staff valuable match minutes and offer supporters a first proper look at combinations, returning players and new arrivals under competitive pressure.

It is also a useful dress rehearsal for a fixture that will become very familiar very quickly. Edinburgh and Ulster meet again just three weeks later, this time in the BKT United Rugby Championship at Affidea Stadium on Friday 25 September, also with a 7.45pm kick-off.

Team news

No matchday squad has been confirmed yet. Rugby Ulster will update this page when the teams are announced, with the key selections and what they could tell us about Ulster’s plans for the season ahead.

How to watch Edinburgh v Ulster

Broadcast or streaming information has not yet been confirmed in the official fixture information available at the time of writing. We will add viewing details here if an official broadcaster or stream is announced.

Tickets

Edinburgh Rugby lists the match at Hive Stadium on its official fixtures and ticket pages. Supporters planning to travel should check the Edinburgh Rugby ticket page for the latest availability and sale information.

Rugby Ulster next-fixture tracker

This is the fixture we will keep at the top of Rugby Ulster as the next game approaches. We will update it with team news, broadcast details and any important supporter information, then move the focus to the next Ulster fixture after full-time.

Fixture information checked against Edinburgh Rugby’s official announcement and fixture listings.

Kick Off: 19:45 BST

Home Game: Kingspan Stadium

Pro14

Ulster Rugby V Edinburgh Rugby

We take on Edinburgh in the second game of the season at the Kingspan. Let’s hope Ulster Rugby can get another win under the belt and start to build up a good position in the league.

Roll up, get your tickets here.

It is rumoured that Jordi Murphy will make his debut for Ulster this weekend. He has a chance to hit the ground running, building on last weeks victory.

If you can’t make it to the stadium will you be watching on TV? Let your thoughts be known, take a look at what other fans have articulated over on Rugby Ulster’s Pro14 Premier Sports Poll.

Ulster Rugby V Edinburgh Rugby