Rugby: Ulster to hold historic first match at GAA ground

Ulster Rugby will host a game at a GAA ground for the first time next month.

With work to install a 3G pitch at Kingspan Stadium for the new season ongoing, the Ulster men will taper off their pre-season campaign against Glasgow at Kingspan Breffni on Saturday October 7th (2pm).

The warm-up fixture, which is included in 2023/24 Season Ticket packages, is set to be the first Ulster Rugby game hosted at an Ulster GAA ground. However, whilst the game marks a historic first, it reflects how the Governing Bodies regularly come together to promote rugby and Gaelic games across the province at a grassroots and professional level.

It follows on from the Game For Anto fundraiser fixture that Ulster GAA hosted at Kingspan Stadium back in 2014, which was aimed at raising awareness of Motor Neurone Disease, and supporting former Antrim GAA Senior football captain Anto Finnegan's deterMND Trust.

On Saturday October 28th from 10am, Season Ticket holders will be granted exclusive access to an open training session where they can watch the Ulster squad finalise their preparations for the first home fixture of the season – and the first match on the new 3G pitch – against the Vodacom Bulls the following day.

After the session, Ulster Senior Men’s and Women’s players will be available for pictures and autographs.

Ulster Rugby CEO, Jonny Petrie, said: “With upgrades of Kingspan Stadium ahead of the 2023/24 season ongoing, including the new high-performance 3G pitch, our pre-season fixture this year offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with Ulster GAA on hosting a Senior Men’s game in another part of the province.

“Our thanks go to our friends at Ulster GAA and Cavan GAA for offering us the use of Kingspan Breffni, and their support in putting on the fixture. We hope that both our Season Ticket holders and supporters who regularly travel from the local area to attend games in Belfast, and those who may be new to the sport, will enjoy an entertaining afternoon.

“Season Ticket holders will then be able to have a first-look at the stadium development works, which are progressing well and set to deliver benefits for the club and supporters alike, at the upcoming open training session.

“Together with our supporters, we are looking forward to the squad being back in action ahead of the new season in the coming weeks.”