Match Details
🤝 Ulster v Edinburgh<br>
🗓 Friday 12 September, 7.35pm <br>
🏟 Affidea Stadium<br>
🏆 Bank of Ireland Pre-Season Friendly<br>
📺 Live on Ulster Rugby Live
Fan Zone
The Ulster Rugby Fan Zone at Affidea Stadium will open at 6:05pm this Friday.
When you arrive, keep an eye out for our Welcome Team who will be handing out our brand new 2025/26 Season Ulster Rugby flags to help get you into the matchday spirit.
In the Fan Zone, you can enjoy a range of food options while the Cool FM crew sets the atmosphere with their pre-match playlist.
And don’t forget to say hello to Sparky, our mascot, who will be making his way around the Fan Zone before the match and around the stadium during the game.
Ulster Rugby Foundation
The Ulster Rugby Foundation will be raising funds to support grassroots rugby programs and inclusive initiatives that make a difference across our community with a match-night raffle this Friday.
Our Foundation volunteers will be selling tickets throughout the fan zone with amazing prizes up for grabs:
- 1st prize: 2 x Seated Tickets for Ulster v Dragons
- 2nd prize: Rugby ball, signed by the Ulster squad
- 3rd prize: Signed John Cooney Print
Tickets for the raffle can also be purchased online right up until 7.35pm on match-night here: https://uk.givergy.com/matchnightraffle12sep/?
The winner will be drawn at halftime during Friday's match and will be announced in the stadium, as well as on Ulster Rugby's website and Social Channels.
Tickets
Click the link below to secure your place and join us for an unforgettable night of rugby for the first time this season!
Officials
Referee: Andrew Cole<br>
Assistant Referees: Keane Davison & Stuart Gaffkin
Team News
Ulster have named a formidable lineup, with Iain Henderson captaining the side, there are also starts for recent Ireland internationals Cormac Izuchukwu and Tom O'Toole, as Richie Murphy's side ramps up their preparations ahead of their BKT URC opener against Dragons.
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 Head of Athletic Performance Sam Dodge, Q&A with Jude Postlethwaite and get to know our newly elected Ulster Branch President Paul Hart.
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 6.05pm.
- 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:
- 6.15-7.00pm: 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:
This Friday will see the debut of our new & improved fan zone, set under a giant stretch tent, the tent will offer supporters:
- Two new bars with tables and seating
- Food trucks
Please note: For the Edinburgh game, food and drink will be served at separate bars. From the Dragons game onwards, you’ll be able to order both from the same point.
- All public bars open at 6.05pm, with live music in the Clubhouse Bar from Sunshine Duo before and after the match.
- Drinks can be consumed inside the public bars, within the Fan Zone or in your seats / terrace.
Also on the Pitch:
- At half-time, there will be two mini rugby exhibition games: Ballymoney v Omagh at the AbbeyAutoline Family Stand End and Portadown v Carrickfergus at the Nevin Spence Memorial Stand End.