Tag Ospreys

It is matchday at Affidea Stadium. Ulster host Ospreys tonight in their final pre-season fixture before the United Rugby Championship campaign begins, with kick-off in Belfast at 7.45pm.

The game is also available to watch live through Ulster Rugby’s official streaming service, giving supporters a final chance to see how Richie Murphy’s side is shaping up before competitive rugby returns.

Ulster v Ospreys: match details

• Fixture: Ulster Rugby v Ospreys
• Date: Friday 11 September 2026
• Kick-off: 7.45pm BST / UK-Ireland time
• Venue: Affidea Stadium, Belfast
• Competition: Bank of Ireland pre-season friendly
• Watch: Ulster Rugby Live (£7.50)

What to watch tonight

James Hume is back in the midfield

One of the most encouraging selections is the return of James Hume at outside centre. Jamie Benson moves to inside centre and Jack Murphy starts at fly-half, giving Ulster a different midfield combination to the one used in Edinburgh last week.

Hume’s return gives Ulster another experienced attacking option in a backline that also includes Matthew Devine at scrum-half and Michael Lowry, who captains the side from full-back.

A new-look pack gets its chance

Eduardo Bello starts at tighthead, while Ben Donnell and Eli Snyman form the second row. David McCann, Martin Moloney and James McNabney make up the back row, with McNabney wearing number eight.

Pre-season is about more than the final score, so the set piece, defensive organisation and how quickly the new combinations settle should all be worth watching closely.

One final rehearsal before the URC

This is Ulster’s last warm-up before the competitive season starts at home to Edinburgh on Friday 25 September. That makes tonight a useful final opportunity to sharpen combinations, build match fitness and put pressure on the selection picture before the league opener.

Ulster team v Ospreys

Ulster’s starting XV is Eric O’Sullivan, James McCormick, Eduardo Bello, Ben Donnell, Eli Snyman, David McCann, Martin Moloney, James McNabney, Matthew Devine, Jack Murphy, Aitzol Arenzana-King, Jamie Benson, James Hume, Chay Mullins and Michael Lowry.

For the full replacements list and the selection changes from last week’s Edinburgh game, see our Ulster v Ospreys team-news guide.

How to watch Ulster v Ospreys

Kick-off is at 7.45pm BST. The match is being streamed live on Ulster Rugby Live, with the official stream listed at £7.50.

For supporters heading to the ground, the fixture is at Affidea Stadium in Belfast.

What are you watching for?

Hume’s return, the Murphy-Benson combination, the new-look pack and the battle for places all give Ulster supporters plenty to keep an eye on. What do you most want to see from the final pre-season hit-out?

James Hume returns to Ulster’s starting XV for Friday night’s home pre-season meeting with Ospreys at Affidea Stadium, with Richie Murphy reshuffling both the pack and midfield for the province’s final warm-up before the new United Rugby Championship campaign.

Eduardo Bello starts at tighthead after coming from the bench against Edinburgh, while Ben Donnell and Eli Snyman form a new second row. David McCann moves to blindside flanker, Martin Moloney starts at openside and James McNabney is named at number eight. In the backs, Matthew Devine remains at scrum-half, Jack Murphy starts at 10, Jamie Benson moves to inside centre and Hume comes in at 13.

Ulster v Ospreys: match details

• Fixture: Ulster Rugby v Ospreys
• Date: Friday 11 September 2026
• Kick-off: 7.45pm BST / UK-Ireland time
• Venue: Affidea Stadium, Belfast
• Competition: Bank of Ireland pre-season friendly
• Watch: Ulster Rugby Live (£7.50)

For the permanent fixture information and Match Hub, see our Ulster v Ospreys pre-season fixture guide.

Ulster team v Ospreys

Starting XV

1. Eric O’Sullivan
2. James McCormick
3. Eduardo Bello
4. Ben Donnell
5. Eli Snyman
6. David McCann
7. Martin Moloney
8. James McNabney
9. Matthew Devine
10. Jack Murphy
11. Aitzol Arenzana-King
12. Jamie Benson
13. James Hume
14. Chay Mullins
15. Michael Lowry

Replacements

Tom McAllister, Henry Walker, Flynn Longstaff, Harry Sheridan, Joe Hopes, James McKillop, Tom Brigg, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Jonny Scott, Daniel Hawkshaw, Ben Carson.

What has changed from Edinburgh?

Hume returns in midfield: Hume comes into the starting side at outside centre, with Benson moving from fly-half to number 12 and Jack Murphy taking over at 10. Daniel Hawkshaw and Ben Carson move to the replacements.

Bello gets the tighthead start: Argentina international Eduardo Bello moves into the starting front row, with Tom McAllister among the replacements. Eric O’Sullivan and James McCormick continue at loosehead and hooker.

A new-look back five of the scrum: Donnell and Snyman start together in the second row, while McCann, Moloney and McNabney make up the back row. Harry Sheridan, Joe Hopes, James McKillop and Tom Brigg all move to the bench.

Continuity in the back three: Aitzol Arenzana-King and Chay Mullins remain on the wings, with Michael Lowry again at full-back. Devine also keeps the scrum-half jersey after starting the pre-season win in Edinburgh.

How to watch Ulster v Ospreys

The match kicks off at 7.45pm BST on Friday. Ulster Rugby’s official live streaming service is carrying the Bank of Ireland pre-season friendly for £7.50.

The Ospreys fixture is Ulster’s final pre-season test before the competitive campaign begins at home to Edinburgh on Friday 25 September.

Ulster return to Affidea Stadium on Friday 11 September for a pre-season friendly against Ospreys, with kick-off at 7.45pm.

Ulster v Ospreys: fixture details

• Fixture: Ulster Rugby v Ospreys
• Date: Friday 11 September 2026
• Kick-off: 7.45pm UK/Ireland time
• Venue: Affidea Stadium, Belfast
• Competition: Pre-season friendly

Ulster’s next pre-season test

The Ospreys game follows Ulster’s trip to Edinburgh on 4 September and gives the province another important opportunity to build combinations and match sharpness before the competitive campaign begins.

For supporters, it is also the first home fixture in this short pre-season run. With the match at Affidea Stadium, the emphasis should be on how the squad develops from the Edinburgh outing and which combinations are beginning to settle ahead of the United Rugby Championship.

What to watch

Selection will be one of the main talking points. Pre-season gives the coaching staff room to balance established players, summer arrivals and Academy talent while managing minutes across the squad.

Rather than reading too much into the result, the more useful signs will be continuity, defensive organisation, set-piece progress and which players put themselves in contention for the opening competitive fixtures.

Latest team, TV and match information

The Match Hub on this page is the source for the latest confirmed fixture information. Team news, broadcast details and any important changes can be added there as they are confirmed, without changing this permanent fixture URL.

Tickets

Tickets are listed through Ulster Rugby’s ticketing channels for the home pre-season fixture at Affidea Stadium. Supporters should check the official club ticket route for the latest availability and matchday information.

What comes next?

Ulster’s first confirmed United Rugby Championship fixture is also at home, against Edinburgh on Friday 25 September. That makes the Ospreys game a useful final home-stage test before the league campaign gets under way.