Preview | Ulster v Sharks

Match Details

🤝 Ulster Rugby v Cell C Sharks
🗓 Friday 20 May, 7.35pm
🏟 Kingspan Stadium
🏆 United Rugby Championship Round 18
📺 Live on BBC NI, Premier Sports, RTE & TG4

Tickets

Match tickets are still available via the link below. Note that all tickets must be pre-purchased online as none will be available at the turnstiles.

Officials

Referee: Ben Blain (SRU, 20th competition game)
AR: Peter Martin, Dermot Blake (both IRFU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Campaign so far

Both Ulster and the Sharks have guaranteed a top-eight finish and a place in the end-of-season URC play-offs. However, Friday's match will be crucial in deciding who will secure the all-important home advantage in the Quarter-Finals.

Going into the game, Ulster are in fifth spot on 55 points, while the Sharks occupy third place on 56 points.

» Read our full breakdown of the play-off permutations

The Sharks

The Cell C Sharks joined the new-look United Rugby Championship ahead of the 2021/22 season along with fellow South African franchises DHL Stormers, Vodacom Bulls and Emirates Lions.

They are currently the highest ranked of the four South African sides going into the final round of the URC.

The Sharks squad features a host of international talent, including 2019 South Africa World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi and his fellow Springbok stars Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi and Sbu Nkosi among others.

Watch them in action

In the Sharks last outing, they recorded a 41-21 victory over Connacht at Holywoodbets Kings Park.

Did you know?

• Ulster’s 16-10 victory at Edinburgh in Round 17 of the United Rugby Championship ended a three-game losing run in the Championship.
• The Ulstermen lost their most recent match in the Championship at Kingspan Stadium against Munster, their first home defeat this campaign in the United Rugby Championship.
• The Ulstermen have won all five previous home games they have played against South African opponents in the Championship.
• Cell C Sharks have won their last four United Rugby Championship matches since their 5-21 home defeat to Edinburgh at the end of March – the Sharks only defeat in the tournament since early February.
• Sharks have won their last two fixtures against Irish opponents although they were defeated in their only previous away game to an Irish province – in Munster last September.
• The two sides have not met before.