Match Day Guide | Ulster v Harlequins

Ulster welcome English Premiership side Harlequins to Kingspan Stadium on Friday night in Round 3 of the 2019/20 Heineken Champions Cup.

Following opening round wins over Bath away and Clermont at home, Ulster will be hoping to cement their place at the top of Pool 3 with another victory. For Harlequins, they will be fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive, as they have one win and one defeat to their name so far in the campaign.

Here is everything you need to know about the game…

 

Match Details

• Date: Saturday 7 December 2019
• Kick-Off: 3.15pm
• Venue: Kingspan Stadium
• Competition: Heineken Champions Cup
• Referee: Referee: Mike Adamson (SCO), Assistant Referees: Keith Allen (SCO), Dave Sutherland (SCO), TMO: Neil Patterson

 

Team News

Dan McFarland has made five changes to the starting XV that recorded a bonus point win over Scarlets in the PRO14 last weekend, as Jacob Stockdale, Luke Marshall, Billy Burns, Iain Henderson and Jordi Murphy all come back into the team.

Ulster team:

15. Jacob Stockdale, 14. Louis Ludik, 13. Luke Marshall, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Craig Gilroy, 10. Billy Burns, 9. John Cooney,
1. Eric O’Sullivan, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Marty Moore, 4. Alan O’Connor, 5. Iain Henderson (c), 6. Sean Reidy, 7. Jordi Murphy, 8. Marcell Coetzee.

Replacements: 16. Adam McBurney, 17. Andy Warwick, 18. Tom O’Toole, 19. Kieran Treadwell, 20. Matt Rea, 21. David Shanahan, 22. Bill Johnston, 23. Matt Faddes.

Harlequins team:

15. Ross Chisholm, 14. Travis Ismaiel, 13. Michele Campagnaro, 12. James Lang, 11. Gabriel Ibitoye, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Danny Care,
1. Joe Marler, 2. Elia Elia, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Stephan Lewies, 5. Tex Cavubati , 6. Semi Kunatani, 7. Chris Robshaw (c), 8. Alex Dombrandt.

Replacements: 16. Jack Musk, 17. Nick Auterac, 18. Simon Kerrod, 19. Dino Lamb, 20. Tom Lawday, 21. Martin Landajo, 22. Francis Saili, 23. Vereniki Goneva,

 

Ticketing

A limited number of tickets are still available, from £20 for adults and £14 for juniors. To purchase tickets, simply click here or contact the Ulster Rugby Ticket Office for more information – (028) 9049 3222 (option 2).

Tickets will be available on the gate from 1.15pm on Saturday, but it is recommended to book in advance for best available tickets and to avoid queues.

 

Team Talk

 

Travel & Security

Additional public transport arrangements are in place for this fixture. Details can be viewed here.

Useful links

• Stadium regulations
• Stadium FAQs
• Map and travel advice

 

Entertainment

Saturday’s game will be our annual Christmas fixture!

In addition to the exciting rugby action, there will be a host of Christmas themed activities happening throughout the day for supporters of all ages…

• In the Fan Zone make sure you visit our new festive drinks hunt and treat yourself to a mulled wine, mulled cider, hot chocolate or hot Bushmills whiskey to warm up your singing voice before joining in with the Belvoir Players Theatre Academy Choir on some Christmas carols.
• Want some more live music? The Cool FM crew will be blasting out Christmas hits in the Fan Zone, while Jamie Brown will be singing live in the Clubhouse Bar.
• Near the Memorial Arch, you will find Ulster Rugby’s Christmas Post Box, where anyone can post letters to Santa and his elves or they can deliver a Christmas Message to the Ulster team and their favourite players. Prior to the match, look out around the stadium for Santa and the elves handing out treats to fans.
• Don’t forget to pick up your match-day programme this week as there are Golden Ticket prizes to be won in some of our lucky programmes. Prizes include two 2020 Game Passes from Ulster Rugby, £100 James Street voucher from Bank of Ireland and a two night stay in any Clayton Hotel, plus much more…
• Beside the Family Stand, you can check out the Abbey Insurance Christmas Zone where you will find more festive drinks and Abbey the Bee with her Interactive Snow Globe – you can hop in and get your photo taken.
• Also in the Christmas Zone, Abbey Insurance are giving away hand warmers to help keep away the winter chill while you watch the exciting rugby action, and OUR Club is hosting their annual Christmas Party for Junior Season Ticket holders in the Players Lounge.
• Keep your eyes peeled on the pitch at half-time, when Santa and Sparky will be joined by Ulster players to give out gifts to lucky fans!

 

CHRISTMAS GIFTS APPEAL

In conjunction with our charity partner, Extern, Ulster Rugby will be accepting donations of gifts that will be distributed to young people in need this Christmas. Donations can be left at the admin building at Kingspan Stadium up until Friday 13 December.

Below are some suggestions for gifts for children of various ages:

0-3 years: Teddies, Musical Toys, My First Toys, Rattles, Books, Play Mats
3-5 years: Cars, Dolls, Jigsaws, Dress Up Items, Playdoh, Colouring Books & Pencils
5-7 years: Lego, Art & Craft Sets, Make your own Photo Frames, Snow Globe, Jewellery Set, Action Figures, Board Games
7-9 years: Footballs, Board Games, Remote Control Toys, Stationery Sets
9-12 years: Board Games, Make Up Sets, Nail Varnish
12-18 years: Toiletries, Eletrical items, Aftershave & Perfumes, Jewellery, Puzzles, Make-up, Books, Lunch boxes, Duvet Sets, Handbags & Backpacks

FOOD DONATIONS

Ulster Rugby will also be accepting charitable food donations at the admin building reception, which will be collected and donated to local food banks to provide emergency food for people in crisis.

The food banks are particularly low in stock on the following items:

Long life milk, UHT juice, rice, tinned fish, jam, coffee, toiletries, biscuits, tinned fruit and tinned tomatoes.

 

Commentary Sets for Visually Impaired

Did you know that Ulster Rugby currently has 30 commentary sets available on match nights for supporters who are visually impaired? To make use of this service, simply call into the admin building reception on match nights, or call Jen in the Ticket Office on (028) 9049 3222 to book yours for an upcoming game.

 

Match Programme

In this week’s bumper 68 page match programme, we have feature interviews with new Jacob Stockdale and Matty Rea, in addition to all the regular team news, squad profiles, kids activities, plus much more.

Pick up your programme at both main entrances for just £4 from the Newry RFC sellers.

 

Meet the Players

Prior to the game, non-playing squad members will be making appearances at various locations throughout the Fan Zone and and new Kukri Pop-Up Shop (located at the back of the Grandstand).

After the game, members of the playing squad will meet supporters, sign autographs and pose for photos at the back of the Grandstand approximately 15 minutes after full-time.

 

Looking Back

Ulster last hosted Harlequins in December 2017 and romped to a 52-24 win. John Cooney had a virtuoso performance, with a try and 22 points from the boot, as Ulster bagged their third Champions Cup victory from four. Stuart McCloskey, Craig Gilroy, Charles Piutau, Alan O’Connor and Andrew Trimble all also touched down for tries.

 

Match-Night Experience

Here’s what you can expect from a match-night at Kingspan Stadium…

 

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