Match Details
🤝 Ulster vs Racing 92<br>
🗓 Friday 5 December, 8.00pm<br>
🏟 Affidea Stadium<br>
🏆 EPCR Challenge Cup – Round 1<br>
📺 Live on Premier Sports
Fan Zone
Gear up for match night! The Ulster Rugby Fan Zone opens at 6.00pm at Affidea Stadium.
🎉 Look out for our Welcome Team when you arrive, they’ll be handing out our brand-new 2025/26 Ulster Rugby flags!
🍔 Inside the Fan Zone, tuck into a great selection of tasty food options, including some festive specials for this fixture, while the Cool FM crew keeps the atmosphere buzzing with their pre-match playlist.
👋 And don’t miss Sparky, our much-loved mascot, as he meets fans before kick-off and throughout the game!
Support the Ulster Rugby Foundation Raffle
Make a difference by supporting grassroots rugby and inclusive community programmes through our special match-night raffle, hosted by the Ulster Rugby Foundation.
🎟 Raffle tickets will be on sale in the Fan Zone, with three fantastic prizes up for grabs:
🥇 Ultimate Ulster Rugby Supporter’s Bundle<br>
(Includes hospitality tickets for one of the following fixtures, Cardiff on 31 January 2026, Connacht on 20 March 2026, or the DHL Stormers on 8 May 2026, plus a captain’s run experience and a signed player print)
🥈 Signed Jersey
🥉 Signed Ball
Tickets are available now below!
🕐 The draw will take place at half-time, with winners announced live in the stadium and shared on our website and social media channels.
Tickets
Grab your tickets for our final home match of 2025! 🎟
Officials
Referee: Ben Breakspear<br>
Assistant Referees: Adam Jones & Carwyn Sion
Team News
Ulster have named a formidable side for this fixture, with Ireland International Nick Timoney captaining the side, there are also returns to the starting XV for Rob Herring and Zac Ward, Australia international Angus Bell is also in line to make his debut from 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 Cover Star Zac Ward, a Q&A with Nathan Doak and a full preview of our opponents Racing 92.
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, 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 will open from 6.00pm, ready to welcome fans as the gates open.
- Enjoy the Cool FM Roadshow, bringing pre-match music, entertainment, and fan competitions to get everyone in the matchday spirit.
- There’ll be plenty of chances for festive meet & greets throughout the evening. Santa will be in the Ulster Rugby Foundation cabin to meet kids (and big kids!), while the Grinch and Buddy the Elf will be roaming the area and causing mischief.
- Copeland Distillery will be in both the A&L Goodbody Lounge and Heineken Bar providing FREE samples of our Copeland Distillery x Ulster Rugby Whiskey and Gin range, the full range will also be available for purchase on the night!
- The Castore Store will be open from gates open until 30 minutes after full-time, featuring the all 3 of Ulster's kits for the 2025/26 Season.
- Our team mascot Sparky will be making appearances around the stadium bowl to meet fans.
- Please note: the Food Village, Castore Shop, and all public bars operate on a contactless payment basis only.
Player Meet & Greet Opportunities:
6.45–7.30pm: Meet the players under the new 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:
Next Friday, 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, with 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 two mini rugby showcase matches:
- Enniskillen v Armagh at the AbbeyAutoline Family Stand End
- Banbridge v Ards at the Nevin Spence Memorial Stand End