Ulster

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Summer arrival Aidan Morgan will make his Ulster debut in Saturday's opening pre-season friendly against Benetton at Kingspan Stadium.

Fly-half Morgan, 23, will partner Nathan Doak in the half-backs with Ireland Sevens player Zac Ward named on the bench as he continues his trial with the Irish province.

Ulster's other major summer acquisition wing Werner Kok, who arrived from the Sharks, will not feature in Saturday's game.

James McNabney is named in the back row following his promotion from the Ulster Academy.

The bench includes James Humphreys and Scott Wilson, who also have moved up from the province's academy squad.

Mike Lowry will captain the side from full-back with Academy player Rory Telfer, who represented Ireland at this summer's Under-20 World Cup, and Aaron Sexton occupying the wing berths and Jude Postlethwaite and Stewart Moore selected at centre.

Ulster's front row includes another trialist Corrie Barrett who will pack down with Eric O'Sullivan and John Andrew.

Harry Sheridan will partner Kieran Treadwell in the second row with McNabney joined by Sean Reffell and David McCann in the back row.

Ulster: Lowry; Telfer, Moore, Postlethwaite, Sexton; Morgan, Doak; O'Sullivan, Andrew, Barrett; Sheridan, Treadwell; McNabney, Reffell, McCann.

Replacements: McCormick, Reid, Wilson, A O'Connor, Marcus Rea, McKee, Humphreys, Carson, Walker, Irvine, McKillop, Brigg, Shanahan, Ward, Murphy.

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Ulster will play their festive interprovincials against Munster and Connacht on 20 and 28 December respectively.

When the United Rugby Championship released their fixture list in May, the traditional Christmas derbies had been listed without dates or kick-off times.

Leinster will host Connacht at the Aviva Stadium on 21 December before Leo Cullen's men travel to Thomond Park to face Munster on 27 December.

In another change, Ulster's away game against the Lions in Johannesburg on 28 September will now kick off at 11:55 BST.

URC festive interprovincials

20 December: Ulster vs Munster, 19:35 BST

21 December: Leinster vs Connacht, 17:30 BST

27 December: Munster vs Leinster, 19:35 BST

28 December: Connacht vs Ulster, 19:35 BST

Image source, Getty Images

Ulster have confirmed that Ireland Sevens star Zac Ward will join the province's senior men's squad for an "extended trial" until the autumn international window.

Ballynahinch native Ward, 25, scored four tries for the Ireland Sevens side at this summer's Olympic Games in Paris, helping them finish sixth.

Ward's displays in the sevens code saw him named the men's sevens players' player of the year award at the Rugby Players Ireland awards in Dublin earlier this year.

“It’s great to be welcoming Zac into the squad, as we ramp up preparations for the new season," said Ulster head of rugby operations and recruitment Bryn Cunningham.

"Zac is coming off the back of a successful period playing with the national Sevens set-up, and we feel this is a good opportunity for him to bring his skills and qualities into the group in the weeks ahead.”

Ulster, who are preparing for their first full season under head coach Richie Murphy, have also signed former New Zealand Under-20 fly-half Aidan Morgan and South African wing Werner Kok during the off-season.

Ulster face Benetton and Exeter in pre-season friendlies before beginning their 2024-25 United Rugby Championship season at home to holders Glasgow on 21 September.

Ulster trailed 25-11 in the final ten minutes of their Women's Interprovincial Championship clash with Connacht at Kingspan Stadium but late tries from India Daley and Stacey Sloan, both converted by Vicky Irwin, rescued a draw.

Read more.

Image source, Inpho

Ulster Rugby fly-half Abby Moyles praised John Cooney for delivering a "very good kicking session" ahead of their second Women's Interprovincial fixture against Connacht on Saturday.

Both Moyles and Vicky Irwin took part in the session with scrum-half Cooney, who has won 11 caps for Ireland in preparation for the game which is live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website.

"We were doing a bit of kicking with him and he honed in on a few details around ball placement, and those little details make a big difference, so it was nice to have him there and it was a very good session," she told BBC Sport NI.

Moyles missed the opening game, a 29-22 defeat by Munster in Cork last weekend, but she insists that confidence is high in the group despite the loss.

"This year we have a drive as a team, we know we are good enough to take on anyone and win.

"I think the performance on Saturday shows that, there was one try in it, it was close," she explained.

"Last year we could see that we were building, and it was brilliant to get the win at the end [a 36-14 victory against Connacht in their last game] and from last year we realised it is in us to do it, so we don't go out there being afraid."

Ulster winger Megan Edwards was a latecomer to the game but soon found a home in "extremely inclusive" sport of rugby.

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Ulster wing Megan Edwards says the province might "surprise a few people" as they prepare for their opening Women's Interprovincial fixture against Munster in Cork on Saturday.

Murray Houston's side come into this season's championship off the back of ending an 11-year wait for an Interpro victory with an impressive 36-14 triumph over Connacht in last year's third/fourth-place play-off.

Now with a new confidence and the experience of winning, 33-year-old Edwards feels her side have the "talent" to be competitive in the series.

"We're under no illusions that it's going to be a tough game," Edwards told BBC Sport NI.

"It is Munster, they have won the championships before but I think we might throw in a few surprises.

"The talent within the Ulster squad is there and we've been building and building for a number of years now, it's about showcasing that talent on game day and our goal is to build on the win in Cork last season."

Women's Interpros - Fixtures and coverage details

10 August

• Munster v Ulster (14:30 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

• Leinster v Connacht (16:45 BST)

17 August

• Ulster v Connacht (14:30 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

• Munster v Leinster (16:45 BST)

24 August

• Connacht v Munster (14:30 BST)

• Ulster v Leinster (16:45 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

31 August

• Third/fourth play-off (14:30 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

• Final (16:45 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

Ulster Rugby is facing a deficit of between £2.5m and £3m, according to new chief executive Hugh McCaughey.

However, McCaughey expects Ulster to "break even within two to three seasons".

The former health trust chief executive explained that a plan is in place to deal with the province's financial issues.

Read more here.