Match Details
🏉 Ulster 'A' v Ireland U20s
⏰ 1pm
🏟️ Kingspan Stadium
📅 Saturday 1 June
Ticketing Info
Tickets are now on general sale at ulster.rugby/buytickets , priced from £8 for Adults, £4 for Juniors or £20 for family tickets (2A & 2J).
Watch Live Streams
Can't make the game? The fixture will also be streamed exclusively live on Ulster Rugby Live, our new home of live and on-demand action.
Visit live.ulster.rugby to sign up and place your order for just £5. You can also browse an on-demand archive of club and schools fixtures from recent months.
Ulster 'A'
Former grand-slam winner with Ireland U20s, James McNabney, captains the 'A' side, starting at eight.
The front row sees Senior Men's prop, Callum Reid, start at loosehead, Development player, James McCormick at hooker and Tom McAllister at tighthead prop.
Jake McCay and former Ireland U20s grand-slam winner, Charlie Irvine, pair up as locks in the second row.
Joining McNabney in the back are Tom Brigg at openside flanker and Senior Men's flanker, Sean Reffell, who is building his fitness after a recent injury sustained against Hollywoodbets Sharks.
Development talent, Conor McKee, starts at scrum-half and is joined by Reece Malone at ten.
Academy players, Ethan Graham, starts on the left wing and Ben McFarlane starts on the right wing.
Jonny Scott and Ben Carson form the centre partnership at 12 and 13.
Rory Telfer completes the line-up at full-back.
The bench consists of Zac Solomon, Jack Boal, Flynn Longstaff, Jacob Boyd, Callum Johns, Reuben Crothers, Clarke Logan and James Girvan.
Coaching Staff: Gavin Hogg, Jonny Graham, Daryl Maxwell, Ricky Andrew.
Academy Manager, Gavin Hogg, on the fixture
"I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for both sides. Ireland U20s are going off to the Junior World Cup in South Africa in mid-June, so this match will be part of their warm-up games and preparation for the tournament.
Once again, it’s a chance for us to put together a side that will consistent of some senior fringe players and some academy guys being tested against good opposition.
Ireland Under 20s have had a couple of Grand Slams in the past few years, were unbeaten in this year’s tournament, so the level of opposition will be fantastic.
They always get a really good following in Cork, so hopefully we can get a few people through the turnstiles and get a really vocal home support, not only to send the Under 20s off in a confident mood but to get behind the Ulster guys and put on a good show."
James McNabney Q+A
We caught up with Saturday's Ulster 'A' captain, James McNabney, who is hoping to cap off a breakthrough season with a good performance against the U20s.
How much are you looking forward to the game this weekend?
It will be a good test, the Under 20s are a good side, they did very well in the Six Nations and will be focusing on pushing on at the World Cup. As an Ulster team, this will be our last game of the season for the Academy and Development, so we want to take it to them and keep pushing on.
You and a number of other young players got a run-out against the New England Independents recently, although the scoreline wasn't tight, was the match helpful?
We obviously won quite confidently and it was a good game for some young lads to play, like those coming out of school but it's good for building your confidence and playing some older players. For players who were coming back from injury like myself it was needed and I enjoyed it.
You have had success with Ireland U20s in the past, how good is the set-up?
It's a very competitive environment. I very much enjoyed and thrived during my two years being involved. It's helped me a lot as a player, it was tough to get in the team as a back-rower but it is great to be involved.
How nice is it to be able to play at Kingspan Stadium again?
It will be nice to run out at Kingspan, a fast- paced pitch and the weather is meant to be good, so hopefully we can play a good bit of ball in front of some home support.
Are you enjoying taking on the captaincy?
It was great to get asked, I feel it adds another string to my bow. I liked the opportunity and I just want to play my best.
It might be the final game for some of the academy and development players this season, it's been a great year for our academy - guys like yourself, Reuben Crothers and Scott Wilson have made their breakthroughs, can you sum up what this season has been like?
I have had great opportunities this year, I didn't expect to get the game-time that I did. Once I got a flavour for it, I wanted it more. Due to injury I may have got to play more on a few occasions but I think when any of the younger guys have had the chance, they have stood tall, been held accountable and they have done well.
I think the future looks good with the players who are coming through, we are all hoping to set a marker down.
Going into that senior bubble next year, I'll hopefully finish strong, take a break and then try and get a start on some senior players and start the pre-season strong. Hopefully I kick on from there. I'm looking forward to working more with Richie Murphy and Jimmy Duffy, who I know from the U20s set-up.
How excited are you for the future?
I'm very optimistic, I think young players know there are opportunities there to take. We hope to build our own legacy.