🤝 Ulster vs Exeter Chiefs
🗓 Saturday 2 May | Kick-off: 5.30pm
🏟 Affidea Stadium
🏆 EPCR Challenge Cup – Semi-Final
📺 Live on Premier Sports
Fan Zone
Get ready for game night! The Ulster Rugby Fan Zone opens from 3.30pm at Affidea Stadium.
🎉 Keep an eye out for our friendly Welcome Team on arrival, they’ll be handing out 2025/26 Ulster Rugby flags.
🍔 Enjoy a bite to eat from a wide range of food outlets while the Cool FM team sets the atmosphere with their pre-match playlist.
👋 Be sure to say hello to Sparky, our much-loved mascot, who’ll be meeting supporters before kick-off and throughout the match.
“The 9 Counties”
Our supporters’ area, The 9 Counties, will once again be open inside the Nevin Spence Memorial Stand. Entry is located to the right-hand side of the Scrum Bar.
What’s on offer in The 9 Counties:
- Premium glassware with locally sourced food and drink
- A comfortable seated supporters’ space
- Priority access for Season Ticket Holders
- Pre- and post-match entertainment, including live coverage
- Exhibits, memorabilia, and stories celebrating Ulster Rugby’s proud heritage
Season Ticket Holders who have claimed tickets will receive priority access from 3.30pm–4.00pm. After this time, the area will be open to all ticket holders until capacity is reached.
Support the Ulster Rugby Foundation Raffle
Show your support for grassroots rugby and inclusive community programmes by entering our match-night raffle, proudly run by the Ulster Rugby Foundation.
🎟 Raffle tickets will be on sale in the Fan Zone, with three fantastic prizes up for grabs:
🥇 Ulster Rugby Signed Jersey
🥈 Stuart McCloskey Signed Print
🥉 2 x tickets to Ulster V DHL Stormers
🎫 Tickets are available to purchase now via the link below.
🕐 The draw will take place at half-time, with winners announced in-stadium and shared across our website and social media channels.
There is still time to grab your tickets for tomorrow's game, with only terrace tickets remaining! 🎟
Officials
Referee: Pierre Brousset
Assistant Referees: Luc Ramos & Craig Evans
Team News
Ulster have named a a formidable 23 despite recent injury concerns, there are welcome returns to the starting 15 for Tom O'Toole, Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney and Jude Postlethwaite who had all been racing to be passed fit.
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 Captain Iain Henderson, extensive coverage of our journey in the EPCR Challenge Cup thus far and a preview of this evening's opponents Exeter Chiefs.
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.
Park & Ride
- A 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 on the Mount Merrion side of the stadium (opposite Podium for Sport). In order to ensure quick entry, we strongly encourage all supporters to pre-book their parking. There are plenty of car parking spaces available and buses run constantly along these routes from 90 minutes prior to the game until 90 minutes after the final whistle. The cost is just £5 per car for Pirrie Park which can be pre-booked online, we cannot accept cash at Pirrie Park. Montgomery road parking is free.
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.
Fan Zone:
The Affidea Stadium Fan Zone opens from 3.30pm, ready to welcome fans as soon as the gates open.
On arrival, keep an eye out for our Welcome Team, who’ll be handing out 2025/26 Ulster Rugby flags to help kick-start your matchday atmosphere.
Inside the Fan Zone, you’ll find a wide range of food and drink options to get you set for kick-off.
The Cool FM crew will be bringing the energy with a pre-match playlist to get you in the mood.
And don’t forget to say hello to Sparky, our mascot, who’ll be meeting fans before kick-off and throughout the game.
Over 18s only.
Player Meet & Greet Opportunities:
3.45–4.30pm: Meet the players under the giant stretch tent in the Fan Zone.
15 minutes after full-time: Members of the playing squad will greet supporters, sign autographs, and take photos outside the players’ entrance at the back of the Grandstand.
Stadium Bars:
Our new and improved Fan Zone will be buzzing with activity under the giant stretch tent, offering fans:
- Two new bars with tables and seating
- A variety of food trucks
- Music from Cool FM
All public bars throughout the stadium will open at 3.30pm, there will also be live music in the Clubhouse Bar before and after the match.
Screens in the bars will be showing the culmination of Leinster v Toulon in the Investec Champions Cup Semi-Final.
Please note: The Food Village, Castore Shop, and public bars accept contactless payments only.
Also on the Pitch:
At half-time, enjoy an exhibition match between:
- Donaghadee Sharkies v Portadown Panthers at the AbbeyAutoline Family Stand End
- Cavan Lions v Newforge Tigers at the Nevin Spence Memorial Stand End