Match Details
🤝 Ulster vs Dragons<br>
🗓 Friday 26 September, 8.05pm<br>
🏟 Affidea Stadium<br>
🏆 BKT United Rugby Championship – Round 1<br>
📺 Live on Premier Sports
Fan Zone
The Ulster Rugby Fan Zone at Affidea Stadium opens at 6.35pm.
Look out for our Welcome Team on arrival, they’ll be handing out brand-new 2025/26 Ulster Rugby flags to get the atmosphere buzzing.
Inside the Fan Zone, you’ll find a wide range of food options, while the Cool FM crew keep the energy high with their pre-match playlist.
And don’t forget to say hi to Sparky, our mascot, as he makes his way around the crowd before kick-off and throughout the game!
Ulster Rugby Foundation Raffle
Next Friday, the Ulster Rugby Foundation will be raising funds for grassroots rugby and inclusive community programmes through a special match-night raffle.
🎟 Tickets will be on sale in the Fan Zone, with some brilliant prizes up for grabs:
🏆 1st Prize: £250<br>
👕 2nd Prize: Werner Kok Signed Print<br>
🎟 3rd Prize: 2 Tickets to Ulster v Vodacom Bulls
Tickets are available now 👉 Click here
The draw will take place at half-time, with winners announced live in the stadium, and also shared on the Ulster Rugby website and social channels.
Tickets
Don’t miss your chance to be part of an unforgettable night, grab your tickets now!
Officials
Referee: Griffin Colby<br>
Assistant Referees: Andrew Cole & Sam Holt
Team News
Ulster have named a strong side for their opener, James Hume is in line to make his 100th appearance in Ulster shirt and Juarno Augustus is poised to make his Ulster debut off the bench.
View both match day squads in the official digital match programme below 👇
Digital Match Programme
Our official digital match programme includes an exclusive interview with Ulster's latest centurion James Hume, a Q&A with Tom Stewart and a comprehensive review of our opponents Dragons.
Getting to Affidea Stadium
Affidea Stadium is located in a residential area with parking restrictions and road closures in the immediate area on match-day.
Please do not park in the streets around the stadium, which are required for safe egress and emergency vehicles. Illegal parking will result in ticket fines.
Free Park & Ride
- A free of charge Park & Ride service is provided on match days by Ulster Rugby, operated by Translink, located at Pirrie Park (Methodist College Playing Fields car park) on the Ravenhill Road side of the stadium and also along Montgomery Road (opposite Podium for Sport) on the Mount Merrion side of the stadium. There are plenty of car parking spaces available and free buses run constantly along these routes from 90 minutes prior to the game until 90 minutes after the final whistle.
Park & Stride
- We also have a secure match day parking facility at Belfast Metropolitan College Castlereagh campus, which is a 10 minute walk from the Mount Merrion Avenue entrance to the stadium. The cost is just £5 per car which can be paid by contactless payment on arrival or you can pre-book online.
City Centre Shuttle Bus
- Free City Centre shuttle buses will also leave from Mount Merrion Avenue after the park and ride shuttle services end, approx. 45-60 minutes after full time.
Public & Special Event Bus
- Translink will be operating Rugby Special buses, traveling to and from the Belfast Grand Central Station. For more information, visit www.translink.co.uk/ulsterrugby.
At the Stadium:
Fan Zone:
- The Affidea Stadium Fan Zone will be up and running from gates open at 6.35pm.
- We will be broadcasting the DHL Stormers v Leinster in the bars from gates open.
- The Cool FM Roadshow will provide the pre-match tunes and fan competitions as supporters warm up for the game.
- The Castore Store will be open from gates open until 30 minutes post-match, selling the new Ulster Rugby Home and Away jerseys, as well as the 25/26 Trainingwear range.
- Our team mascot Sparky will be in position around the stadium bowl.
- The Food Village, Castore Shop and public bars only accept contactless payments.
Player Meet & Greet Opportunities:
- 6.45-7.30pm: At the new giant stretch tent in the fanzone.
- 15 mins after full-time: Members of the playing squad will meet supporters, sign autographs and post for photos outside the players entrance at the back of the Grandstand.
Stadium Bars:
Next Friday our new & improved fan zone will be in full swing, set under a giant stretch tent, the tent will offer supporters:
- Two new bars with tables and seating
- Food trucks
- Music by Cool FM
All public bars in the stadium will open at 6.35pm, with live music from the Lively Lads in the Clubhouse Bar both before and after the match.
Please note: The food village, Castore shop, and public bars only accept contactless payments.
Also on the Pitch:
- At half-time, there will be two mini rugby exhibition games: Monaghan v Lisburn at the AbbeyAutoline Family Stand End and Ballynahinch v Dungannon at the Nevin Spence Memorial Stand End.