What time and TV channel is Zebre vs Ulster in the Challenge Cup? Stream info, betting odds and more

Ulster are such hot favourites to beat Italian side Zebre that some bookies haven't even quoted odds on the match.

So it is either a simple task of turning up and not dropping the ball or the kind game that complacency is a bigger threat then the home side's collective!

Ulster boss Richie Murphy was fuming after last week's game with Munster in which they gave away a huge lead initially and had to fight tooth and nail to get back to gain a draw,

Perhaps looking for a harsher or clearer onfield voice Murphy has opted to give David McCann the captaincy, his first time to lead the province.

The 26 year-old, who made his Ulster debut in October 2020, has 93 Ulster appearances to date and was capped by Ireland A in 2025.

Jacob Stockdale has been switched to full-back which may have come about following a nudge from Andy Farrell as it is not yet clear who Hugo Keenan's nailed on 'reserve' is at the moment..

What: European Champions Cup 1st round

Where: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

When: Saturday, October 17th

Richie Murphy Ulster coach: We're still very much in the early part of the season. We've got three or four players coming back in for their first games this weekend. The flow of the team hasn't completely settled in. At the moment, we're playing matches like they're training sessions. We're overplaying with the ball in the middle of the park, we need to start applying more pressure to the opposition. That's going to be a key part that we need to learn from this week."

Tom O'Toole, Ulster prop: "They upset us here a couple of years ago so we realise how dangerous they can be. Especially at home they'll be a side that is very physical and probably pride themselves a little bit more at home. I think the last few games they've played, the score has been quite tight at half-time, the first 40 minutes of those have been quite tight games, even though they've lost their three games, so we know the challenges going to Italy this week."

Betting: Zebre 14/1 Ulster 1/16

Referee: Ben Connor (Wal)

TV : epcrugby.tv / beIN SPORTS / FloRugby

15. Giovanni Montemauri, 14. Giulio Bertaccini, 13. Marco Zanon, 12. Damiano Mazza, 11. Tobias Wade, 10. Giacomo da Re, 9. Alessandro Fusco (c), 1. Sergio Pelliccioli, 2. Tommaso di Bartolomeo, 3. Juan Barbotti, 4. Francesco Ruffolo, 5. Alessandro Ortombina, 6. Giacomo Ferrari, 7. Bautista Stavile Bravin, 8. Giovanni Licata

16. Giampietro Ribaldi, 17. Federico Pisani, 18. Francisco Minervino, 19. Leonard Krumov, 20. Jacopo Botturi, 21. Patricio Baronio, 22. Riccardo Casarin, 23. Mirko Belloni

15. Jacob Stockdale, 14. Rob Baloucoune, 13. Daniel Hawkshaw, 12. Jake Flannery, 11. Zac Ward, 10. Jamie Benson, 9. Nathan Doak, 1. Tom O'Toole, 2. Henry Walker, 3. Keynan Knox, 4. Harry Sheridan, 5. Cormac Izuchukwu, 6. James McKillop, 7. Dave McCann (c), 8. Juarno Augustus

16. Tom Stewart, 17. Eric O'Sullivan, 18. Scott Wilson, 19. Joe Hopes, 20. Martin Moloney, 21. Matthew Devine, 22. Jack Murphy, 23. Michael Lowry