Ulster rugby face URC league game in Amsterdam for first time ever
They will use the 5,500 capacity NRCA Stadium in the Geuzenveld-Slotermeer district of the city
Ulster will travel to Amsterdam to play South African franchise Cheetahs in the Challenge Cup pool stage on Sunday, January 11th. The northern province finished 14th in the URC last season and missed out on European Champions Cup qualification for the first time in their history. Cheetahs are based in Bloemfontein and have previously competed in Super Rugby 2006-17 and PRO14 (now URC) 2017-20. The South African Currie Cup is their staple competition but gained their invite to participate in the ERC second-level competition provided they used a European base, This is, say ERC 'giving Dutch fans and the expatriate community the chance to enjoy top-level international club rugby'. It is the third consecutive season in which Cheetahs have linked up with Rugby Netherlands for their European base. They will use the 5,500 capacity NRCA Stadium in the Geuzenveld-Slotermeer district of the city. As it stands, Ritchie Murphy's Ulster have made three signings from abroad ahead of next season. They comprise Juarno Augustus a 27 year-old back-row from Northampton, Sam Crean a 25 year-old prop from Saracens and Angus Bell who is 24 year-old prop from Waratahs.
Augustus is Argentinian but has yet to be capped by the Pumas, Bell has 42 Australia caps, while Crean, who played two game on loan to Ulster previously, is a former England U20 international. At the same time Ulster have let nine players go including Andy Warwick, Kieran Treadwell, Matty Rae, John Cooney and Aidan Morgan. The Cheetahs will also face Stade Français on Saturday 13th December in Amsterdam. The Investec Challenge Cup is open to clubs from the URC, Gallagher Premiership and TOP 14 with further invites for a South African and a Georgian side in recent seasons. The EPCR Finals Weekend is in Bilbao, 22/23 May 2026.