Preview this weekend's Guinness PRO14 opener against Scarlets...
What: Guinness PRO14 opener
Where: Kingspan Stadium, kick off 5.15pm
Watch: Live on Premier Sports 1, eir sport 2 & S4C
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR, 79th competition game)
The Guinness PRO14 returns to action this weekend, marking an exciting new broadcasting era for the Championship with Premier Sports, eir sport and DAZN joining SuperSport, S4C and TG4 in bringing fans to the heart of the action. The PRO14 delivers some of the most exciting rugby in the club game thanks to the Championship’s naturally fast play, incredible breakdown battles and the sharp wits of the coaches in charge.
The 2018/19 season may only be beginning, but all sides will have their sights set on reaching the PRO14 Final on 25th May 2019, which will take place at Celtic Park in Glasgow – the first time the showpiece decider will be played outside of a rugby venue.
At Kingspan Stadium on Saturday, Ulster face Scarlets with new Head Coach Dan McFarland in charge for the first time at home. Scarlets, who lost six times to Irish opposition last season, face an Ulster team who have only ever lost once in the opening round of the Championship, but with title aspirations on their minds, the Welsh region will be a formidable opposition.
PRO14 HEAD TO HEAD
Played 31: Ulster won 16, Scarlets won 13 with 2 games drawn.
DID YOU KNOW?
Tickets are still available for this game, get yours now at www.ulsterrugby.com/tickets.
What: Guinness PRO14 opener
Where: Kingspan Stadium, kick off 5.15pm
Watch: Live on Premier Sports 1, eir sport 2 & S4C
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR, 79th competition game)
The Guinness PRO14 returns to action this weekend, marking an exciting new broadcasting era for the Championship with Premier Sports, eir sport and DAZN joining SuperSport, S4C and TG4 in bringing fans to the heart of the action. The PRO14 delivers some of the most exciting rugby in the club game thanks to the Championship’s naturally fast play, incredible breakdown battles and the sharp wits of the coaches in charge.
The 2018/19 season may only be beginning, but all sides will have their sights set on reaching the PRO14 Final on 25th May 2019, which will take place at Celtic Park in Glasgow – the first time the showpiece decider will be played outside of a rugby venue.
At Kingspan Stadium on Saturday, Ulster face Scarlets with new Head Coach Dan McFarland in charge for the first time at home. Scarlets, who lost six times to Irish opposition last season, face an Ulster team who have only ever lost once in the opening round of the Championship, but with title aspirations on their minds, the Welsh region will be a formidable opposition.
PRO14 HEAD TO HEAD
Played 31: Ulster won 16, Scarlets won 13 with 2 games drawn.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Ulster Rugby has begun their Guinness PRO14 season with a defeat only once since 2009: 8-15 at Dragons in 2013, although for seven of the last nine years they have been at home in round 1.
- The Ulstermen were unbeaten in their last five matches last season whilst their only two defeats at Kingspan Stadium last season were to Leinster in round 7 and Edinburgh in round 15.
- Scarlets were last season’s Guinness PRO14 runners-up, their defeat to Leinster in the final ending a three-game winning run in the Championship.
- Scarlets won only two of their eight fixtures against Irish provinces in all competitions last season, both at home in the PRO14, to Connacht in round 5 and Ulster in round 16.
- Scarlets are the only Welsh Region to emerge victorious at Kingspan Stadium since February 2013, doing so with a single point victory in February 2016.
- The last four fixtures between the two sides have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Scarlets only victory in Belfast since 2008 came in 2016.
Tickets are still available for this game, get yours now at www.ulsterrugby.com/tickets.