Rugby

Ulster Rugby to play an historic first game at a GAA ground this season

Ulster's James Hume and Ethan McIlroy tackle Sione Tuipulotu of Glasgow Warriors. Ulster head coach Dan McFarland was bemused by the awarding of penalty try against Hume in their win over Glasgow on Friday night Picture: INPHO/James Crombie
Ulster's James Hume and Ethan McIlroy tackle Sione Tuipulotu of Glasgow Warriors. Ulster head coach Dan McFarland was bemused by the awarding of penalty try against Hume in their win over Glasgow on Friday night Picture: INPHO/James Crombie
By Liam Grimley

Ulster Rugby will host a game at a GAA ground for the first time in their history at Kingspan Breffni Park in Cavan next month.

The Ulstermen will take on the Glasgow Warriors in a preseason game at the ground on Octoer 7, while work to install a 3G pitch at Kingspan Stadium for the new season continues.

This game reflects how the Governing Bodies regularly come together to promote rugby and Gaelic games across the province at a grassroots and professional level.

Ulster Rugby hosted the GAA in 2014 when the Game for Anto (Finnegan) was played at Ravenhill
Ulster Rugby hosted the GAA in 2014 when the Game for Anto (Finnegan) was played at Ravenhill

This step forward 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.

Ulster Rugby CEO, Jony Petrie, said: "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."

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On Saturday 28 October 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.

Petrie said: “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.”

Ulster will take on Glasgow Warriors on Saturday, October 7, with the game kicking off at 2pm.