| Home team | Ulster |
| Away team | Exeter Chiefs |
| Venue | Affidea Stadium |
| Competition | Challenge Cup |
| Kick off time | 5:30 pm (UK) |
| Watch Live in the UK | Premier Sports |
Ulster vs Exeter Chiefs Challenge Cup semi-final preview as the sides meet at the Affidea Stadium in Belfast.
Ulster have made their way to the semi-finals, winning two home knockout games. In the quarter-final, they beat a heavily rotated La Rochelle team. Exeter won their quarter-final against Benetton with a last-minute penalty from Henry Slade.
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Ulster vs Exeter Chiefs lineups
| Ulster | Exeter Chiefs | ||||
| Forwards | |||||
| Crean | 1 | Sio | |||
| Stewart | 2 | Norey | |||
| O’Toole | 3 | Tchumbadze | |||
| Henderson | 4 | Jenkins | |||
| Izuchukwu | 5 | Zambonin | |||
| McCann | 6 | Hooper | |||
| Timoney | 7 | Tshinuza | |||
| Augustus | 8 | Vintcent | |||
| Backs | |||||
| Doak | 9 | Varney | |||
| Murphy | 10 | Skinner | |||
| Stockdale | 11 | Feyi-Waboso | |||
| McCloskey | 12 | Ikitau | |||
| Postlethwaite | 13 | Slade | |||
| Z Ward | 14 | Ridl | |||
| Lowry | 15 | Hammersley | |||
| Replacements | |||||
| McCormick | 16 | Dweba | |||
| O’Sullivan | 17 | Burger | |||
| McAllister | 18 | Iosefa-Scott | |||
| Irvine | 19 | Tuima | |||
| B Ward | 20 | Worley-Brady | |||
| McKee | 21 | Cairns | |||
| Flannery | 22 | Hayden-Wood | |||
| McIlroy | 23 | Lilley | |||
Recent Form:
Ulster (Home team):
| Result | Date | Competition | Opponent | Score |
| Loss | 25th April 2026 | URC | Munster | 41-14 |
| Lost | 18th April 2026 | URC | Leinster | 21-29 |
| Won | 10th April 2026 | Challenge Cup | La Rochelle | 41-24 |
| Won | 4th April 2026 | Challenge Cup | Ospreys | 28-24 |
| Won | 28th March 2026 | URC | Zebre | 12-28 |
Ulster have lost their two URC games since the Challenge Cup knockout matches, both of which have been interpros. They had won three games in a row before this. In the last round against Munster, Ulster travelled to Thomand Park with a heavily rotated side, filled with youngsters. Ulster took the lead, but fell 14-7 behind at halftime. They then conceded five more tries in the second half to lose 41-14.
Exeter Chiefs (Away team):
| Result | Date | Competition | Opponent | Score |
| Loss | 26th April 2026 | Prem | Gloucester | 34-31 |
| Loss | 18th April 2026 | Prem | Northampton Saints | 28-35 |
| Won | 12th April 2026 | Challenge Cup | Benetton | 41-44 |
| Won | 4th April 2026 | Challenge Cup | Munster | 31-21 |
| Won | 27th March 2026 | Prem | Newcastle Red Bulls | 14-38 |
Exeter returned to Prem action after the Challenge Cup break this month and have lost two matches in a row. Both have been by seven points or less. In the last round, they lost 34-31 to Gloucester. They were 26-12 behind at halftime, scoring three times in the second, but couldn’t get the scoreline close enough.
Ulster vs Exeter Chiefs head-to-head record (last three matches):
| Date | Competition | Winner | Score |
| 17th January 2025 | Champions Cup | Ulster | 52-24 |
| 15th January 2017 | Champions Cup | Exeter Chiefs | 31-19 |
| 22nd October 2016 | Champions Cup | Ulster | 19-18 |
In the three meetings between these teams, the winner has always been the home side. Last year, the sides met in the Champions Cup, and Ulster won comprehensively 52-24. The previous meetings came in the 2016-17 season, when the scorelines were much closer.
