Edinburgh v Ulster team news: Lowry captains pre-season opener
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
- Eric O’Sullivan
- James McCormick
- Tom McAllister
- Harry Sheridan
- Joe Hopes
- James McKillop
- Tom Brigg
- David McCann
- Matthew Devine
- Jamie Benson
- Aitzol Arenzana-King
- Daniel Hawkshaw
- Ben Carson
- Chay Mullins
- 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.
