Edinburgh Rugby vs Ulster: Everything you need to know

Match details

Kick-off: Friday 4 September, kick-off 7.45pm

Venue: Hive Stadium

The match is included as part of the 2026/27 season ticket membership, so members already have their place secured.

Tickets for non-members are on general sale now HERE.

It’s the first chance for supporters to see Edinburgh’s new-look squad and coaching staff at Hive Stadium ahead of the new campaign, and fans will also get their first sight of the club’s new 2026/27 Macron playing kit.

Last meetings

Edinburgh and Ulster have split the last two meetings at Hive Stadium heavily in each direction.

Ulster ran out convincing 40-19 winners in Edinburgh’s most recent home meeting with the province, back in March, as the URC campaign wound towards its business end.

It was a different story twelve months earlier. Edinburgh signed off their 2024/25 regular season in style, thumping Ulster 47-17 at Hive Stadium to book their place in the URC quarter-finals.

Darcy Graham ran in a hat-trick that night, with Magnus Bradbury also crossing twice in a Player of the Match display as Edinburgh scored seven tries in front of a sold-out crowd.

New faces

Edinburgh Rugby

Edinburgh have strengthened across several areas of the squad this summer. James Grayson arrives at stand-off with nearly 100 caps for Northampton Saints behind him, while Scotland international prop Alec Hepburn has made the move north from Scarlets.

Geordie Gwynn (Ealing Trailfinders) and Kienan Higgins (New England Free Jacks) bolster the backline, while Scottish-qualified pair Riley Higgins and Louie Chapman will follow later in the year, along once their New Zealand commitments are complete.

The changes extend to the coaching group too, with Defence Coach Brad Davis (Queensland Reds), Attack Coach Tim Sampson (Fijian Drua) and Skills and Contact Coach Michael Hodge (IRFU) all bringing Southern Hemisphere experience to Sean Everitt’s staff.

Ulster

Richie Murphy has also been busy in the market ahead of 2026/27. Lock Eli Snyman arrives from Benetton, scrum-half Matthew Devine joins from Connacht, and Ben Donnell has signed from Cardiff.

Jamie Benson comes in at fly-half from Harlequins, while the front row has been bolstered by the arrivals of Argentina international prop Eduardo Bello (Newcastle Red Bulls) and Keynan Knox (Nevers). Versatile back Chay Mullins has also joined from Connacht.

What they’re saying

Ahead of the new campaign, Head Coach Sean Everitt has spoken of the fresh energy at Hive Stadium this pre-season.

“It’s like coming to school for the first day again and meeting everyone,” Everitt said. “It’s actually so energising and exciting.”

Reflecting on a 2025/26 campaign he described as “frustrating” – one that saw the club forced to call on 48 different players through injury – Everitt says the summer has brought a deliberate reset.

“We want to go into a new generation Edinburgh Rugby team,” he said, pointing to the new arrivals as players who chose the club rather than settled for it.

“It’s because they want to be in Edinburgh –  and a lot of these players coming in want to represent Scotland, which is great for us.”

On the new coaching additions, Everitt says the experience Davis and Sampson bring will lift the whole group. “They’ve both been head coaches, they’ve coached at the highest level, so they bring a wealth of experience which will give the players confidence as well.”