'It feels like a new city', says Ulster new boy with Belfast links

Having visited Belfast often during his childhood, the city which is the home of Ulster Rugby holds a certain familiarity for the Irish province's new utility back Jamie Benson.

The 24-year-old is Irish-qualified through Belfast relatives and made the move to Ulster from Harlequins on a two-year deal in the summer.

Benson is one of a number of additions to Richie Murphy's squad for the new season and started at centre in Ulster's United Rugby Championship opening weekend defeat by Edinburgh.

"My mum grew up in Belfast, along with a lot of her family, so a lot of them still live in Belfast and are big Ulster fans," said Benson, who has represented England at U18 and U20 level, as well as being selected in a wider England A squad earlier this season.

"I spent a decent amount of time here growing up but it's definitely different living here myself, as opposed to coming here to visit family.

"It feels like a new city that I probably haven't been to before just because of the situation of me living here permanently, living on my own, working, playing rugby. So definitely different but I'm enjoying it," he told BBC Sport NI's Mark Sidebottom.

Benson graduated from Harlequins' academy system and, on his senior debut for Quins in 2021, kicked a last-gasp conversion in the Premiership Cup against Northampton Saints.

He made his Premiership debut in 2024 and last season scored his first Champions Cup try in a victory over Bayonne.

Ulster's new recruit can play at fly-half, full-back or centre.

"My preferred position is definitely playing at 10. That's where I think I'm able to affect the game most, influence it and influence the boys around me, and have the most positive impact upon games," he explained.

"But having that versatility and ability to move around is a skill that I value.

"I think it will be helpful for me personally and for the teams that I'm playing for moving forward."

Eligible for both Ireland and England, Benson added that he would hope to play senior international rugby in the future.

"It would be the dream of most professional rugby players to be playing international rugby, so that is definitely an ambition of mine one day, if or when that opportunity will arise.

"For the meantime I'm just trying taking things week by week and try to play to my best each weekend and see where that lands me."

Benson says the Ulster squad are taking the positives from last Friday's defeat by Edinburgh as they prepare to face Glasgow at Scotstoun on Saturday.

"There were encouraging things, there were also frustrating things, about Friday night, maybe some teething problems in the first game of the season with a lot of new faces out there.

"That's potentially a reason why things didn't click straight away.

"But there was a lot to give us hope for the season. In those last 20 minutes we were really able to turn the game round, we just weren't able to finish the job off."

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy praised the impact Benson had made so far.

"Most of Jamie's rugby has been played at centre or full-back over the past couple of years but he has obviously played 10 there [at Harlequins] before," observed Murphy.

"So he's a utility type of player, physical for not being a massive man, and he has brought a nice blend of skill and competitiveness to our squad.

"He, like many of the other lads who have come in, have made an impression over the past couple of weeks."