Ulster

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

Jim McGuinness is to remain Donegal senior football manager for the 2027 season.

It will be his fourth year at the helm during his second stint in charge of the Ulster county.

Meanwhile Mickey McCann will continue to manage the county’s senior hurlers for a further two years, having been in the role since 2018.

Donegal GAA confirmed the news on social media on Monday evening.

“Following a meeting of the County Committee, Donegal confirm the appointment of Michael McCann as Senior Hurling Manager for a two year term and Jim McGuinness as Senior Football manager for a one year term,” it read.

During his second term in charge, McGuinness has helped guide Donegal to back-to-back Ulster titles in 2024 and 2025 and an All-Ireland final appearance in 2025.

The 53-year-old led Donegal to a Football League Division One final success over Kerry in March this year but the county’s championship season was a disappointing one.

They were defeated by Down in the quarter-finals of the Ulster SFC and went down to Dublin after extra-time in Round 3 of the All-Ireland series.

McGuinness, who led Donegal to the All-Ireland in 2012 in his first spell as manager, initially returned on a three-year-deal with an option of a fourth.