Ulster welcome Cardiff Blues to Kingspan Stadium on Friday night in Round 4 of the 2019/20 Guinness PRO14 Championship.
Ulster are unbeaten on home soil for a year, with a favourable record against Welsh regions to boot, and will be keen to keep up the pace at the summit of Conference A after the electric starts made to the Guinness PRO14 by both Leinster and the Toyota Cheetahs.
Cardiff are without a win since a Round 1 triumph at the Isuzu Southern Kings, but have shown battling resolve in their latest defeats, something that they will look to convert into victory this time around.
Here is everything you need to know about the game…
Match Details
- Date: Friday 25th October 2019
- Kick-Off: 7.35pm
- Venue: Kingspan Stadium
- Competition: Guinness PRO14
- Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 38th Championship appearance), AR1: Sean Gallagher (IRFU), AR2: Dave Sutherland (SRU), TMO: Neil Paterson (SRU)
Team News
Will Addison will make his return to action in what will be his first appearance of the season. Billy Burns will lead the Ulster men out for the first time in a competitive game. Summer signing Jack McGrath also returns to the starting XV. Ulster team: (15-9) Will Addison, Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall, James Hume, Louis Ludik, Billy Burns (Capt.), John Cooney; (1-8) Jack McGrath, John Andrew, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Matthew Rea, Sean Reidy, Marcell Coetzee. Replacements (16-23) Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Ross Kane, Sam Carter, Nick Timoney, David Shanahan, Bill Johnston, Matt Faddes. Cardiff Blues team: (15-9): Matthew Morgan; Jason Harries, Garyn Smith, Willis Halaholo, Aled Summerhill; Jarrod Evans, Lloyd Williams; (1-8): Brad Thyer, Liam Belcher, Scott Andrews, Josh Turnbull, Rory Thornton, Will Boyde, Olly Robinson, Nick Williams (capt) Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Corey Domachowski, Keiron Assiratti, Seb Davies, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Lewis Jones, Jason Tovey, Harri Millard
Ticketing
A limited number of tickets are still available, from £17 for adults and £12 for juniors, or £46 for a family of four. To purchase tickets, simply click here or contact the Ulster Rugby Ticket Office for more information – (028) 9049 3222 (option 2). Tickets will be available on the gate from 6.05pm on Friday, but it is recommended to book in advance for best available tickets and to avoid queues.Team Talk
Travel & Security
Useful linksEntertainment
Friday's game will be our annual Halloween fixture, with a number of Halloween themed performers, including fire performers and face painting, in the Fan Zone. There will be live music with David Wright in The Clubhouse Bar, and the Cool FM Street Team will be providing live entertainment in the Fan Zone. Also in the Fan Zone, you can test your skills with the River Rock Passing Challenge. Junior Season Ticket holders can pop along to the ‘OUR Club’ headquarters (located in Players Lounge at corner of Family Stand / Grandstand), where they can take part in fun activities and meet some of their playing heroes. Also in the Players Lounge, you can experience Ulster Rugby’s first virtual reality (VR) project, supported by Bank of Ireland. The 3-minute clip features highlights of the players’ pre-match routine, including the team talk by Rory Best, as well as on-pitch action and reaction from the crowd. View a preview of the VR experience below.Meet the Players
Prior to the game, non-playing squad members will be making appearances at various locations throughout the Fan Zone and and new Kukri Pop-Up Shop (located at the back of the Grandstand). After the game, members of the playing squad will meet supporters, sign autographs and pose for photos at the back of the Grandstand approximately 15 minutes after full-time.