Head Coach Richie Murphy also welcomes back a trio of Ireland internationals, with Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole and Cormac Izuchukwu all included in the starting XV.
Boyd, a former Danske Bank Schools’ Cup winning captain with RBAI, featured off the bench in last weekend’s friendly versus Queensland Reds, and the 20-year-old will start at loosehead prop. Herring and O’Toole will provide international level experience alongside him in the front row.
Alan O’Connor returns in the second row and will captain the side, with Izuchukwu joining him in the Ulster engine room.
Nick Timoney and David McCann continue at openside flanker and number eight respectively, with Matty Rea getting the nod at blindside.
Behind the pack, scrum-half Nathan Doak and fly-half Aidan Morgan make up the half-back partnership.
After completing their comebacks from injury lay-offs against the Reds last week, Jacob Stockdale, Stuart McCloskey and James Hume all return to competitive action in the Ulster backline.
McCloskey and Hume resume a familiar midfield partnership, with Stockdale named on the left wing, joining right wing Michael Lowry and fullback Stewart Moore in the back three.
Another prop, Bryan O’Connor, is also in line to earn his first Ulster cap from the bench.
John Andrew, Scott Wilson, Kieran Treadwell and Reuben Crothers are the other forward replacements, with Dave Shanahan, Jake Flannery and Jude Postlethwaite named as the backline options.
Ulster Rugby team v Benetton Rugby, Sat 15 Feb, 5.15pm UK/Ire time, Stadio Monigo, BKT United Rugby Championship Round 11 (live on Premier Sports):
Across Rounds 11 and 12 the BKT URC is inviting teams, players and fans to celebrate the communities and people who helped launch the careers of the league’s players and coaches. The players’ origin clubs are included alongside their names below.
1\. Jacob Boyd (Royal Belfast Academical Institution)
2\. Rob Herring (SACS) (245)
3\. Tom O’Toole (Ashbourne RFC) (115)
4\. Alan O’Connor (Capt) (Skerries RFC) (204)
5\. Cormac Izuchukwu (Tullamore RFC) (37)
6\. Matty Rea (Ballymena RFC) (106)
7\. Nick Timoney (Blackrock College RFC) (158)
8\. David McCann (Cooke RFC) (59)
9\. Nathan Doak (Lisburn RFC) (80)
10\. Aidan Morgan (King’s College) (11)
11\. Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan RFC) (125)
12\. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor RFC) (196)
13\. James Hume (Malone RFC) (95)
14\. Michael Lowry (Dromore RFC) (116)
15\. Stewart Moore (Ballymoney RFC) (75)
Replacements:
16\. John Andrew (Ballymena RFC) (130)
17\. Bryan O’Connor (Crosshaven RFC)
18\. Scott Wilson (Dromore RFC) (26)
19\. Kieran Treadwell (Chipstead RFC) (171)
20\. Reuben Crothers (Lisburn RFC) (5)
21\. Dave Shanahan (Clontarf RFC) (96)
22\. Jake Flannery (Kilfeacle & District RFC) (17)
23\. Jude Postlethwaite (Lisburn RFC) (24)