Ulster opened their 2025/26 United Rugby Championship season in style, claiming a 42–21 bonus-point victory over the Dragons at the Affidea Stadium on Friday night.
Photo: Ulster Rugby on X
The scoreboard tells one story, but the game itself was a rollercoaster. The visitors stunned the home crowd by scoring after just 12 seconds, when Wales international Aaron Wainwright pounced on a loose kick-off and raced over. Further tries from Jared Rosser and Shane Lewis-Hughes gave the Dragons real hope of springing a surprise.
Ulster, however, eventually found their stride. A powerful surge from Cormac Izuchukwu got them moving, quickly followed by scores from Nick Timoney, David McCann and Zac Ward in a ruthless eight-minute spell that swung momentum firmly their way. Scrum-half Nathan Doak added another right after half-time, before replacement hooker Tom Stewart sealed it at the death.
New signing Juarno Augustus also made his debut, coming off the bench to a big roar from the Belfast crowd.
While Ulster walked away with maximum points and six tries, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. They went long periods without scoring, and the same inconsistency that dogged them last season crept back in at times. Still, Richie Murphy’s side showed enough quality and resilience to underline why they will be dangerous once they hit full stride.
For the Dragons, defeat will sting, but they can take positives. For large parts of the contest they matched Ulster physically and creatively, and with three home games in their next four fixtures, there’s a chance for them to build.
Next up for Ulster: a tricky away trip to Edinburgh on 3 October before a challenging run that includes two games in South Africa. The season may only be one round old, but the Affidea Stadium faithful will be hoping this bonus-point start is a sign of brighter things to come.
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