Ulster to play Bayonne, Leicester and Newcastle in friendlies

Leicester pair Thomas Waldron and Geordan Murphy tackle Ulster's Chris Henry

Ulster will play friendlies against Bayonne, Leicester and Newcastle ahead of the 2012/13 season.

The Heineken Cup finalists travel to take on French Top 14 side Bayonne on 9 August, as part of a five-day pre-season training camp.

Ulster host Leicester Tigers on 18 August, seven months after beating the English team 41-7 in the Heineken Cup.

Newcastle Falcons are the visitors to Ravenhill on 24 August, a week before the start of the league campaign.

The first RoboDirect Pro12 games are scheduled for the weekend August 31-September 2.

Pre-season fixtures:

Thursday, 9 August (20:00 BST)

Bayonne v Ulster

Saturday, 18 August (14:30)

Ulster v Leicester Tigers

Friday, 24 September (19:30)

Ulster v Newcastle Falcons