🤝 Ulster vs Leinster
🗓 Friday 17 April | Kick-off: 7.45pm
🏟 Affidea Stadium
🏆 BKT URC – Round 15
📺 Live on Premier Sports
Fan Zone
Get ready for game night! The Ulster Rugby Fan Zone opens from 5.45pm at Affidea Stadium.
🎉 Look out for our friendly Welcome Team on arrival, they’ll be giving out 2025/26 Ulster Rugby flags.
🍔 Grab a bite from a great selection of food outlets while the Cool FM team sets the mood with their pre-match playlist.
👋 Don’t forget to say hello to Sparky, our much-loved mascot, who’ll be meeting supporters before kick-off and throughout the match.
🍔 Our Friends from Finnebrogue and Tayto will be giving out free hotdogs and crisps while stocks last, so make sure to get down early!
“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 5.45pm–6.15pm. After this time, the area will be open to all ticket holders until capacity is reached.
2026 Ulster Rugby Foundation Day Fixture
This Friday sees the return of our Ulster Rugby Foundation Day Fixture proudly sponsored by BL Refrigeration & Airconditioning Ltd and Orto Pizza!
Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, which raised an incredible £13,000 in support of the Ulster Rugby Foundation this year’s Foundation Day aims to go even bigger and better, with a range of activities designed to engage supporters and raise vital funds.
We'll have a host of match night activities:
Bring a Pound to the Ground
Foundation volunteers and ambassadors will be on the ground throughout the stadium, encouraging fans to support the “Bring a Pound to the Ground” initiative. Donation buckets will be located around the stadium, making it easy for supporters to contribute and make a difference.
Half-Time Match Night Raffle
Our volunteers will be selling raffle tickets in the Fan Zone, with the chance to win ten amazing prizes including:
🥇 Signed Ulster Rugby Jersey
🥈 2 x Spirit of 99 Hospitality Tickets DHL Stormers
🥉 Signed Ulster Rugby Ball
🎟 See all the prizes and purchase raffle tickets at:
👉 https://uk.givergy.com/matchnightraffle17apr
The raffle will be drawn at half-time, with winners announced in-stadium, on the Ulster Rugby website, and across our social channels.
Silent Auction
A special Foundation Day Silent Auction is now live, giving supporters the opportunity to bid on a range of exciting Ulster Rugby prizes. Items will include signed merchandise, unique experiences, and much more.
Every donation, big or small, helps the Ulster Rugby Foundation continue its work in delivering positive impact through rugby across communities.
Bid now on a range of amazing prizes here: https://uk.givergy.com/URFoundationDay2026/?controller=home
There is still time to grab your tickets for tomorrow's game, with only terrace tickets remaining! 🎟
Officials
Referee: Andrew Brace
Assistant Referees: Andrew Cole & Tomas O'Sullivan
Team News
Ulster have named a a very strong 23 for this inter-pro derby, Iain Henderson skippers the side, with recent Ireland internationals Tom Stewart, Tom O'Toole, Cormac Izuchukwu, Nathan Doak, Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale all starting.
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 Cover Star Juarno Augustus, extensive coverage of the and a preview of this evening's opponents La Rochelle.
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 5.45pm, 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:
6.00–6.45pm: 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 6.00pm, there will also be live music in the Clubhouse Bar before and after the match.
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:
- Dungannon v Ballyclare at the AbbeyAutoline Family Stand End
- Armagh v Coleraine at the Nevin Spence Memorial Stand End