 Andre Bester's Earth Titans lost 42-15 at Ravenhill last season |
Ulster will play two warm-up matches next month before starting the defence of the Celtic League crown. Mark McCall's squad head to Scotland for a six-day camp culminating with a game against the Borders at St Andrew's University on Friday, 18 August.
Ulster will then face Andre Bester's Earth Titans the following Friday at Ravenhill for the inaugural Grafton Challenge.
An Ulster A side take on a Titans second string on the Saturday.
The points scored by each team in the two games will be added and the club with the highest aggregate score will win the challenge.
Grafton chairman James Kilbaine said: "We're delighted to be associated with this new competition.
"Working with Ulster we are confident that it can become a landmark in the rugby year and a valuable contribution to the province's pre-season preparations."
Bester's Rotherham outfit, who are set to make a big push to gain promotion to the Guinness Premiership, will be making a second successive trip to Belfast.
They lost 42-15 last season with one of their new signings Henry Head, scoring for Ulster last season.
Other new signings from Ireland include former Ireland A wing Brendan Burke, Shannon's points machine Brian Tuohy, Dungannon fly-half Gareth Steenson and Ballymena flanker Michael McComish.
Ulster begin their Magners League campaign with a home game against the Scarlets on the first weekend of September.
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