Our Opposition
Edinburgh go into this Friday's fixture hoping to bounce back from an opening 31-28 Round 1 defeat against Zebre Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.
The Scottish side fought back from two 14 point deficits during the match however a late penalty from Martin Roger Farias sealed a tight victory for the Italians and leaving the visitors with two losing bonus-points.
This Friday sees Sean Everitt's side return home to Hive Stadium, for their opening home round of the new season.
Both sides are well acquainted with each other, with Ulster recently taking on the Scots in the recent Bank of Ireland pre-season fixture.
Ulster ran out 31-19 winners at Affidea Stadium in preparation for the new season, but know they will face a strong test at Hive Stadium.
Ulster's previous visit to the Scottish capital was on the final day of the 2024/25 regular season and resulted in a tough 47-17 loss for the province against an in-form Edinburgh who were securing their European position.
Match Details
🤝 Edinburgh v Ulster <br>
🗓 Friday 3rd October, 8.05pm<br>
🏟 Hive Stadium <br>
🏆 BKT United Rugby Championship – Round 2<br>
📺 Live on Premier Sports and URC.tv
Fixture Rewind
Ulster's previous visit to the Scottish capital was one to forget, with Edinburgh putting on a top performance as they secured their Champions Cup spot for this season with a 47-17 victory on the final match of the 2024/25 regular season.
Scottish international and British and Irish Lions tourist, Darcy Graham, notched a hat trick on the night to forget. A double from skipper Magnus Bradbury and scores from Ewan Ashman, Pierre Schoeman added to the scoreline.
A penalty try, and scores from Werner Kok and Jude Postlethwaite got Ulster points on the night, but the away side were unable to stop Edinburgh's momentum on the night.
Players to watch
Pierre Schoeman
A powerhouse in the front row and one of the best loosehead props in the world, Pierre Schoeman has become a cornerstone of Edinburgh Rugby and a vital asset for Scotland.
Born in South Africa, Schoeman brings explosive physicality, relentless energy, and a fierce competitive edge to every match.
Schoeman's consistency and performances saw him rewarded with a call up to the British and Irish Lions squad for the summer tour in Australia.
Ben Healy
A composed and clinical fly-half, Ben Healy joined Edinburgh Rugby in 2023 and has quickly established himself as a key playmaker in the Scottish capital. Known for his pinpoint goal-kicking, tactical control, and calmness under pressure.
Born in Ireland and previously capped at U20 level for his native country, Healy qualified for Scotland through his mother and made his senior debut during the 2023 Six Nations.
With an excellent kicking game and sharp game management, Healy is a vital cog in Edinburgh’s attack.
Duhan van der Merwe
One of the most dangerous finishers in world rugby, Duhan van der Merwe is a powerful, try-scoring machine with the pace and strength to turn games on their head. Born in South Africa, he qualified for Scotland on residency grounds and made an immediate impact with a try on debut in 2020.
Since then, he has become the all time record try scorer for Scotland, with 32 tries in 48 caps, showing a remarkable strike rate.
At 1.93m and over 100kg, he combines size, speed, and skill in a way few can match.
Van Der Merwe has been on two British and Irish Lions tours in 2021 and this summer, outlining his ability as one of the top wingers in world rugby.
