New-look Ulster set for Edinburgh pre-season test

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."

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.