Ulster

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy has made seven changes for Saturday's United Rugby Championship game against Munster, with returning Ireland internationals Stuart McCloskey and Nick Timoney included in the starting line-up.

McCloskey, who started all three of Ireland's Nations Championship matches in July, returns at inside centre for the Affidea Stadium contest (17:30 BST), forming a new midfield partnership with summer signing Jamie Benson.

It will be 34-year-old McCloskey's 218th Ulster appearance, moving him alongside former captain Rory Best in joint-third on the province's all-time cap list.

Timoney returns to the back row alongside Ireland team-mate Cormac Izuchukwu, who shifts back from the second row, and Juarno Augustus, while recent recruits Ben Donnell and Eli Snyman form a new second row.

The front row of Eric O'Sullivan, captain Tom Stewart and Keynan Knox is unchanged.

Nathan Doak makes his first start of the season at scrum-half, with Jack Murphy retained at 10 following a try-scoring display in last week's 33-33 draw with Glasgow.

Jacob Stockdale will make his 150th appearance on the left wing a week later than planned after being forced to withdraw from the Glasgow game through injury. Zac Ward, who started in the 11 jersey last week, is not involved.

Robert Baloucoune returns on the right wing after missing the trip to Scotstoun because of concussion, while Ethan McIlroy is retained at full-back.

Henry Walker, returning Ireland international Tom O'Toole, Tom McAllister, James McNabney and David McCann provide forward cover on the bench, while Matthew Devine, Jake Flannery and Chay Mullins are the backline replacements.

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Munster, who earned an impressive bonus-point win over the Bulls last weekend, are boosted by captain Tadhg Beirne's return from injury.

Having missed the end of last season through injury before featuring for Ireland over the summer, British and Irish Lions second row Beirne returns as one of nine changes made by head coach Clayton McMillan.

Props Jeremy Loughman and Kieran Brookes return to join Marnus van der Merwe in the front row, while Jack O'Donoghue, Alex Kendellen and Gavin Coombes form an entirely changed back row.

Ben O'Connor and Alex Nankivell return at full-back and outside centre respectively, while JJ Hanrahan is reinstalled at fly-half.

Charlie O'Shea, 20, is named among the replacements after starring on his first against the Bulls last week.

"JJ Hanrahan was excellent against Glasgow in round one and I was really impressed with how he managed the end game against Bulls last week," said McMillan.

"It has been a whirlwind for Charlie O'Shea, it's hard to believe that it's less than two months since he pitched up with us. He hasn't missed a beat and gets another opportunity this weekend as a replacement."

Munster ran out resounding 41-14 winners when the provinces last met at Thomond Park in April, while Ulster won 28-3 in the last meeting in Belfast on New Year's Day.

Ulster: McIlroy; Baloucoune, Benson, McCloskey, Stockdale; Murphy, Doak; O'Sullivan, Stewart (capt), Knox, Donnell, Snyman, Izuchukwu, Timoney, Augustus.

Replacements: Walker, O'Toole, McAllister, McNabney, McCann, Devine, Flannery, Mullins.

Munster: O'Connor; Daly, Nankivell, Kelly, O'Brien; Hanrahan, Casey; Loughman, Van der Merwe, Brookes; O'Connell, Beirne (capt); O'Donoghue, Kendellen, Coombes.

Replacements: Barron, Wycherley, Aungier, Ahern, Gleeson, O'Donovan, O'Shea, Hodnett.

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Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Inpho

Nick Timoney says Ulster "need to put 80 minutes together" against Munster on Saturday to try and secure their first victory of the United Rugby Championship season.

The Irish province suffered an opening weekend defeat to Edinburgh in Belfast and then drew with Glasgow in a dramatic encounter at Scotstoun.

The Ireland back row sat out both games but is raring to go for this weekend's interprovincial meeting at the Affidea Stadium.

"Lots of glimpses of amazing rugby we have been playing, and lots of impressive performances, we just haven't probably put it together for 80 minutes just yet," Timoney said of Ulster's first two games of the new campaign.

"The Glasgow game was closer to that but we probably left a couple of chances out there to try and win the game. It felt like an improvement from the week before.

"We're striving to get better in a lot of areas and bits of that are coming through.

"It's just about putting it together for 80 minutes on the pitch and if we can do that we will be in a good place."

The Ulster forward added that the squad are keen to make up for the disappointment of last season when they finished outside the top eight in the URC and went down heavily to Montpellier in the Challenge Cup final.

"Last season tailed off a bit and didn't end the way we wanted it to and we just want to rectify that really and I want do the best I can for the team.

"It starts with being the best individual rugby player I can be."

Timoney knows the visiting Munster team will pose a significant challenge.

"There's an intensity to them [interpros] that's a little bit different. We know them a bit better and they know us a bit better than the other teams.

"When this place gets rocking, there is no better atmosphere and there is no better team than Munster to play in that context."

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Ulster back row Bryn Ward has been ruled out of Saturday's United Rugby Championship game against Munster because of a knee injury.

Ward sustained the problem in last weekend's dramatic 33-33 draw with Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun.

Scrum-half Matthew Devine is a doubt for the interprovincial encounter at the Affidea Stadium, which has a 17:30 BST kick-off.

The former Connacht player is carrying a shoulder injury and his fitness for selection will be assessed later this week.

On a more positive note for Ulster head coach Richie Murphy, Jacob Stockdale has returned to full training after overcoming the hip injury which forced him to withdraw from the starting line-up for the meeting with Glasgow.

Similarly, Scott Wilson (ankle) and Robert Baloucoune (concussion) have are both fit for selection after injuries.

For Munster, Diarmuid Kilgallen (hamstring), Michael Milne (ankle) and Fineen Wycherley (shoulder) are all unavailable.

Kilgallen and Milne both left the field during the first half of the win over the Bulls, while Wycherley was a late withdrawal before the game.

Brian Gleeson and John Hodnett both passed HIAs on Saturday and are available for selection.

Diarmuid Barron, Jack O'Donoghue and Alex Nankivell are completing the return-to-play protocols.

Ulster are still aiming to secure their first URC win of the season after an opening weekend defeat by Edinburgh in Belfast was followed by a draw in Glasgow.

Munster beat the Bulls in Limerick on Saturday after losing to Glasgow Warriors at Thomond Park seven days earlier.

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Jacob Stockdale is in line to make his 150th apperance for Ulster in Saturday's United Rugby Championship match against Glasgow Warriors in Scotstoun (17:30 BST).

Stockdale is one of four Ireland internationals who return to the starting line-up from last week's defeat by Edinburgh in Belfast.

Tom Stewart, Cormac Izuchukwu and Bryn Ward are all named in the side, while new signings Keynan Knox, Matthew Devine and Chay Mullins are set to make their first starts.

Stewart and Knox come into the front row to join Eric O'Sullivan, while Izuchukwu comes into the second row where he will partner Eli Snyman.

In the back row, Bryn Ward comes in for his season bow at number eight with last week's player of the match David McCann switching to open-side flanker and academy player James McKillop at blind-side.

Jack Murphy retains his place at fly-half, but will be partnered by Devine, who starts for the first time having made his debut off the bench last week.

In midfield, Jamie Benson retains his place at inside centre but will be partnered this week by Ethan McIlroy at outside, while it is all change in the back three.

Michael Lowry and Robert Baloucoune suffered concussions against Edinburgh, with Stockdale in at full-back and former Connacht player Mullins in at right-wing, while Zac Ward comes in for his first start of the campaign on the left.

Nathan Doak and Juarno Augustus have been deemed fit for a place on the bench that has a 6-2 split.

Ulster: Stockdale; Mullins, McIlroy, Benson, Z Ward; Murphy, Devine; O'Sullivan, Stewart, Knox; Izuchukwu, Snyman; McKillop, McCann, B Ward.

Replacements: Walker, McAllister, Bello, Donnell, McNabney, Doak, Flannery, Augustus.

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Ulster will be without backs Michael Lowry, Aitzol Arenzana-King and Robert Baloucoune for Saturday's United Rugby Championship game against Glasgow at Scotstoun (17:30 BST).

Full-back Lowry and wing Baloucoune suffered concussions in the Irish province's 34-29 defeat by Edinburgh in their opening URC game of the 2026-27 campaign.

Winger Arenzana-King picked up a knee injury during the game in Belfast, from which Ulster emerged with two bonus points.

All three players started last weekend's fixture, with Lowry captaining the side and scoring the first of Ulster's four tries in a match which Richie Murphy's side's comeback fall short after they bounced back from a 34-5 deficit.

Glasgow began their season with an impressive 26-20 victory on the road at Munster.

"Everyone was really disappointed with how we played at the weekend but I think the glimpse of 20 minutes of really good rugby was what we were expecting to bring," Ulster head coach Richie Murphy told BBC Sport NI's Mark Sidebottom.

"Yesterday we started our review and the things that we got wrong. We know we are a lot better than that we produced at the weekend.

"This week we have a really tough assignment away to Glasgow but it's really important that we turn the page here and try and right some of the wrongs that were in that game.

"Starting with getting our breakdown right, getting our defensive line coming forward and making sure we're connected. You've got to be at your best to get anything over there."

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Ulster have handed starts to five of their summer signings for Friday's United Rugby Championship opener against Edinburgh at the Affidea Stadium (19:45 BST).

They form part of a total of eight players in the matchday squad who are set to make their competitive debuts for the Irish province.

New forward additions Eduardo Bello, Eli Snyman, Ben Donnell and Martin Moloney are named in the starting team, with another new recruit, Jamie Benson, chosen among the backs.

Ireland wing Robert Baloucoune is back in the starting line-up, while last season's top try-scorer Zac Ward is among the replacements, both players having been involved in Ireland camp over the summer.

Full-back Michael Lowry is named as captain.

After missing all of last season because of a knee injury, James McNabney makes his competitive return, starting at number eight.

Argentine debutant Bello joins Eric O'Sullivan and James McCormick in the front row, with Snyman and Donnell forming the second row.

In the back row, there is a debut for former Exeter Chiefs forward Moloney at open-side flanker, with McCann starting at blind-side.

Conor McKee and Jack Murphy make up the half-back combination, while ex-Harlequins back Benson and Ben Carson team up in midfield.

Baloucoune is selected on the right wing and Development back Aitzol Arenzana-King on the left.

Arenzana-King crossed for four tries in Ulster's pre-season games against Edinburgh and Ospreys.

Development hooker Henry Walker, prop Keynan Knox and scrum-half Matthew Devine are named in a youthful bench.

Forwards Walker, Tom McAllister, Knox, Harry Sheridan and James McKillop, and backs Devine, Jake Flannery and Zac Ward are chosen as replacements.

Ulster: Lowry (capt), Baloucoune, Carson, Benson, Arenzana-King, Murphy, McKee, O'Sullivan, McCormick, Bello, Snyman, Donnell, McCann, Moloney, McNabney.

Replacements: Walker, McAllister, Knox, Sheridan, McKillop, Devine, Flannery, Z Ward

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New Ulster signing Ben Donnell said a motivating factor in his move to the province was the chance to force his way into the Ireland set-up and play international rugby.

The 26-year-old is Irish-qualified through his Belfast-born father and as well as the chance to discover where his father grew up, he is aiming to catch Ireland head coach Andy Farrell's eye at his new club.

"My dad being from here, I wanted to see what Belfast was like and what it was like for him growing up here, but also I'm Irish-qualified and it gives me the chance to play international rugby," he told BBC Sport NI's Nicola McCarthy.

"At Cardiff I wasn't Welsh-qualified so no matter how well I played I couldn't play international rugby there, so that is what attracted me.

"The club as well, I played here before the 3G pitch was in and it was packed and the atmosphere was amazing so that was another exciting thing that drew me in."

Donnell represented England at U18 and U20 level and had spells at London Irish and Gloucester Rugby, before joining Cardiff in 2023.

He was a regular feature in the United Rugby Championship with the Welsh side, who finished sixth last year, three places ahead of Ulster.

Donnell added that Richie Murphy's side must aim to return to the top eight in the URC this season and try to atone for their Challenge Cup final defeat against Montpellier.

"Top eight is the target as it always is. You want to play finals rugby and when you get top eight you never know what can happen," he added.

"They narrowly missed out last year and it would be good to go one better in Challenge Cup too."

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist

Image source, Getty Images

More than 100 days on from a chastening Challenge Cup final defeat by Montpellier, Ulster return to action on Friday with a pre-season against Edinburgh in the Scottish capital (19:45 BST).

There has been much change at Ulster this summer and Richie Murphy's line-up for Friday's hit-out reflects as much.

There is a new pair of new faces in the half-backs. Irish-qualified Jamie Benson, who arrived from Harlequins over the summer, starts at fly-half alongside scrum-half Matthew Devine, who was recruited from Connacht.

Devine was Murphy's starting nine during Ireland's Six Nations Under-20 Grand Slam campaign in 2022.

There are fresh faces further back, too. Daniel Hawkshaw, another of Murphy's Under-20 class four years ago, starts at inside centre while Chay Mullins is handed a first run-out on the right wing after joining from Connacht.

Aitzol Arenzana-King, who marked his senior debut with a try in a loss to Munster in April, starts on the left wing while the experienced Mike Lowry captains the side from full-back.

A primary focus for Ulster in their off-season dealings centred on bolstering Murphy's options up front with props Eduardo Bello and Martin Moloney signed and hooker Henry Walker elevated from the academy.

All three are on the bench on Friday alongside academy prop Flynn Longstaff and new signings Eli Snyman and Ben Donnell, who will strengthen Murphy's hand further back in the scrum.

"We're looking to see that we go really hard after our set-piece," said Ulster general manager Rory Best.

"If you want to be competitive at this level you have to have a strong set-piece. We know from last season that our attacking game is strong so we want to make sure that we can provide as perfect a ball as we can to let that backline play.

"In defence, we want to bring in abrasive people who are going to make an impact, slow the ball down for the opposition and speed it up for us.

"There's going to be some new additions, mostly up front, and hopefully the fans will come out and see a continuation of the evolution we saw last year."

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Murphy is still without his Ireland squad members while Iain Henderson (hip), Bryn Ward (shoulder), Juarno Augustus (ankle), and Jude Postlethwaite (knee) are sidelined.

However, Ulster fans will be buoyed to see James McNabney in action on Friday after the 23-year-old back row missed the entire 2025-26 season with knee and ankle injuries.

Ulster return to Hive Stadium after beating Edinburgh 40-19 at the venue in March. The sides also meet in the United Rugby Championship opener in Belfast on 25 September after Ulster's second pre-season game at home to Ospreys on 13 September.

Ulster: Mike Lowry (capt); Chay Mullins, Ben Carson, Daniel Hawkshaw, Aitzol Arenzana-King; Jamie Benson, Matthew Devine; Eric O'Sullivan, James McCormick, Tom McAllister, Harry Sheridan, Joe Hopes, James McKillop, Tom Brigg, David McCann.

Replacements: Henry Walker, Flynn Longstaff, Eduardo Bello, Ben Donnell, Eli Snyman, Martin Moloney, James McNabney, Clark Logan, Jake Flannery, Jonny Scott, Jed Findlay, Jack Murphy.