Ulster line-up Glasgow

Ulster's James Topping against Glasgow last season

Ulster will play Glasgow in a pre-season friendly in Belfast on Friday, 23 August (1930 BST).

It has also been confirmed that it will be the usual diet of Friday night rugby at Ravenhill during the home games in the Celtic League and Heineken Cup.

The Glasgow game fills the void left by the proposed fixture against French side Castres which is now a non-runner.

Ulster drew 25-25 with Glasgow last August in a Celtic League encounter.

Ulster's build-up to the new season begins with a conditioned game against the new Scottish Borders side on 9 August.

Rehabilitation

That game comes at the end of a week-long training spin at the Peebles Hydro in Scotland.

Ulster continue with a game against Bedford at Ravenhill on 16 August when former scrum-half Stephen Bell will be in action.

The former Ireland A and Dungannon scrum-half left the province at the beginning of last season after failing to get his contract renewed.

Bell now captains the English National One League side who finished sixth in the race for promotion to the Zurich Premiership last season.

The following day, an Ulster A side will play the Dutch national side who are coached by Ulsterman Robbie Allen.

There will also be action on 24 August when Kelly Wilson's President's XV take on a Belfast Harlequins side at Deramore.

Meanwhile, Friday night is again rugby night in Belfast with Biarritz, and Northampton and Cardiff all confirming Heineken Cup fixtures at Ravenhill.

Stephen Bell in action for Dungannon

Ulster's first competitive fixture is against Ebbw Vale at Eugene Cross Park on Friday, 30 August.

So far only centre Shane Stewart has not been involved in active pre-season work.

The Ballymena utility back injured his knee during Ulster's trip to Stade Francais last season, and has required further surgery.

He is at present undergoing rehabilitation.

International trio David Humphreys, Gary Longwell and Tyrone Howe, are not expected to link up with their Ulster colleagues until next week.

Ulster's Irish under-21 contingent have been allowed three weeks off following their return from the IRB World Cup in South Africa recently.