Irish Rugby

Image source, Getty Images

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."

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland captain Erin King said her side "showed what we're all about" after they bounced back to earn their first WXV Global Series win with a 31-24 victory over Japan.

Having surrendered a 19-point lead to lose to the USA last week, Ireland scored five tries to see off a spirited Japan at Galway's Dexcom Stadium.

Beibhinn Parsons crossed twice to become Ireland women's all-time record try scorer, with Brittany Hogan (2) and Aoife Dalton also touching down.

"[I'm] definitely very proud of the girls, they stuck in there until the end and showed what we're all about," King told TG4.

"Last week asked questions of us and I think we answered them today

"It was really important for us. We definitely had some frustrations. It was tough, we learned a lot, we had a really good training week and we showed out there in parts what we can do.

"But fair play to Japan, they really brought it to us and it was no easy feat."

While pleased that his side navigated their way through "adversity" in the second half as Japan clawed their way back into the game in breezy conditions, Ireland head coach Scott Bemand felt his players should have been further ahead than 19-5 at the break.

"I'm delighted for the girls because they had a bit of adversity in the second half," said Bemand.

"[They were] playing into a strong Galway breeze and they've had to work out how to unlock the edges with possessions through the middle, you couldn't just rely on the kicking game to gain territory.

"I think we've worked our way through a game there. I think we'll look back and say we left three out there in the first half and that scoreboard should have looked a little bit more favourable for us."

Ireland face Japan again next week in a non-WXV match in Cork before travelling to South Africa for two Global Series games against the Springboks.

Image source, Inpho

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