It may only be September but Richie Murphy and his fellow provincial head coaches are already having to consider international call-ups.

The senior side won't be in action until November but the Emerging Ireland panel for a three-game trip to South Africa has already been named with a six-strong Ulster contingent included.

Cormac Izuchukwu, Scott Wilson, Jude Postlethwaite, Jack Murphy, Harry Sheridan and Zac Ward have all been named in the panel that will be led by Simon Easterby.

The latter has certainly garnered plenty of column inches this summer having impressed in the Olympic Sevens for Ireland and then been brought in by Ulster on trial.

"He's really exciting and one we are looking forward to working with," said Easterby.

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This time 12 months ago, Dan McFarland was the Ulster head coach, Jonny Petrie their CEO, and the northern province's fanbase were eagerly anticipating the arrival of Springbok superstar Steven Kitshoff on a three-year deal.

One year on and McFarland, the side's longest serving head coach of the professional era, has departed, so too Petrie and Kitshoff - all three leaving earlier than planned after a chaotic season in Belfast last time around.

The arrival of Ireland under-20s head coach Richie Murphy in March, initially on an interim basis, lifted the mood and sparked a run of results that at least ensured Champions Cup rugby this season, but there is still a sense of a team in transition.

As the 2024-25 campaign begins, perhaps the biggest change around Ravenhill - which itself will soon no longer be known as Kingspan Stadium - is the level of expectation.

The side have not won silverware since the 2006 Celtic League title and, although the URC has developed a tendency to produce surprise champions, are not among the favourites for either domestic or European honours the season.

Still, if Murphy can continue to rebuild confidence, and more young players emerge to complement the likes of David McCann, Scott Wilson and Cormac Izuchukwu, the campaign will likely be viewed as a step in the right direction.

Read more of our provincial preview here.

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy is entering his first full season in Belfast after replacing Dan McFarland only in March last time around.

The former Ireland Under-20s head coach will surely feel the benefit of a full pre-season with his side but knows opening assignments don't come much tougher than drawing the champions first up.

"The first game is always a big game and it’s a tough one but in the URC now there are very few easy games," he said.

"Glasgow at home definitely sharpens the mind. You know that if you’re off you could be caught but we’re not looking at it in that way, we’re looking at it as our start to the season."

At this time of year, optimism and a sense of the unknown can be found in equal measure.

"Like any first week you’re nervous," Murphy added.

"You’re not quite sure what you’re going to face because pre-season only tells you so much.

"Glasgow will probably be a very different team to what they were the last couple of weeks so we’ve been preparing to play the champions, who beat the Bulls [in the URC final] a couple of months ago and beat Munster away [in the semi-finals]."

Read more here.

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With three of the four provinces now having opened their season, Ulster are the last of their quartet to get their campaign up and running.

It's a tough way to start with URC champions Glasgow Warriors in Belfast this evening.

After missing out on Ireland's summer tour of South Africa, captain Iain Henderson is fully fit and starts in the second-row, while there's debuts for Kiwi fly-half Aidan Morgan and Ulster native Corrie Barrett who has signed a one-year deal after a successful trial period this summer.

Ulster: McIlroy; Lowry, Moore, Postlethwaite, Stockdale; Morgan, Doak; O’Sullivan, Andrew, Barrett; Henderson (capt), Treadwell; McNabney, McCann, Timoney.

Replacements: McCormick, Warwick, O’Toole, Sheridan, Izuchukwu, Shanahan, Humphreys, Kok.

Glasgow: McKay; Cancelliere, McDowall, Tuipulotu, Steyn (capt); Jordan, Dobie; Bhatti, Matthews, Talakai; Williamson, Gray; M Fagerson, Darge, Venter.

Replacements: Hiddleston, McBeth, Z Fagerson, Samuel, Brown, Ferrie, Afshar, Hastings.

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That will take some beating for match of the season - and we're only on week one!

A proper derby that one.

Keep an eye on the BBC Sport website for the report, but stay tuned right here for live updates and radio from Ulster's first game of the season against Glasgow Warriors.

Good luck following that one!

What. A. Match.

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ONE MINUTE TO GO!

Munster give away a penalty and Iaone goes for broke....but his kick to corner is kept in.

It's sent deep into the Connacht have, and the visitors will have to build again!

Connacht have the ball, just not where they need it. They are stuck on the halfway line.

Munster are being ferocious in their defence.

Three to go.

Unsurprisingly, there are a few bodies needing some attention.

We're into the final six minutes, and Connacht have a scrum just inside their own half...but Caolin Blade knocks it on.

Huge moment!

We're inside the final 10 minutes.

We don't want this to end.

Here come the men in red once again!

Mike Haley cuts through the Connacht defence and, in a flash, the hosts are in the 22.

Can they convert this pressure?

Right Munster, over to you.

Mack Hansen plays a stunning pass out the back and Piers O'Connor chips and chases down the line.

Alex Nankivell *just* gets there first and touches down, but Connacht have the scrum as the ball was brought back in.

Cracking game, this.

We've still 20 minutes to play.

Things have settled down again and we have a scrum on halfway.

This is a proper inter-pro!