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2025–26 United Rugby Championship

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2025–26 United Rugby Championship
Countries Ireland
Italy
Scotland
South Africa
Wales
Date26 September 2025 – 14 June 2026
Matches played46
Attendance384,592
(average 8,361 per match)
Highest attendance51,859 (Leinster v Munster, Round 4)
Lowest attendance1,711 (Lions v Scarlets, Round 4)
Tries scored278
(average 6 per match)
Top point scorer52 : Jurie Matthee (Stormers)
Top try scorer6 : Louis Lynagh (Benetton)
Official website
unitedrugby.com
2026–27 →

The 2025–26 United Rugby Championship is the ongoing 25th season of the professional rugby union competition currently known as the United Rugby Championship, the highest level domestic club rugby competition in South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy. This season is also the fifth season under that name, and the fifth with the current collection of teams. It began on 26 September 2025 and will end in June 2026.[1]

Leinster entered the competition as the reigning champions, and holders of the URC Irish Shield and kicked off the competition with the first match away to Stormers. Glasgow Warriors, Sharks and Cardiff are defending the Scottish-Italian, South African and Welsh Shields respectively.

Format

[edit]

The 2025–26 season once again consists of 21 rounds: 18 rounds of regular season play, followed by three rounds of play-offs. The competition runs from September 2025 to June 2026, with the regular season ending in mid May. The season also contains breaks for the 2025 end-of year internationals, the 2026 Men's Six Nations (though some matches are played during 'fallow' weekends) and the various matchdays of the 2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. The season does not overlap with the 2026 Nations Championship. Some South African teams will play derby matches throughout the Men's Six Nations window, as this is a competition in which the South Africa national team are not involved.

There are four regional pools: The Irish Shield pool (featuring the four Irish teams), the Welsh Shield pool (featuring the four Welsh teams), the South African Shield pool (featuring the four South African teams) and the shared Italian-Scottish Shield pool (featuring the two Italian and two Scottish sides). The pools serve two functions; they guarantee a full slate of home-and-away derby matches for each team (which are often the best attended and most remunerative fixtures for the clubs involved), and they award a minor Regional Shield trophy to the top team in each pool, which thereby functions as a de facto national professional championship in three of the four pools, and a cross-border regional championship in the Scottish–Italian pool. The winner of each Shield will be determined solely from the games played amongst the teams within their regional pool, mirroring the format of the old Interprovincial Championship in Ireland.

In Scotland, the two pool games involving both Scottish sides, played back to back over the Christmas and New Year period, also decide the 1872 Cup, effectively a Scottish national professional championship. The two Italian sides have no individual trophy to play for.[2]

Teams therefore play six matches against their regional pool rivals, in a home and away double round-robin. The remaining 12 matches are made up by a single round robin of the remaining teams, consisting of an even number of six home and six away matches against all the sides from the other pools, with home advantage alternating each year. Generally each team will play two of the teams in each of the other pools at home, and two away, with the matches away to South African teams usually held back to back as a 'mini-tour' to reduce travel. The South African teams in turn have six European matches, which again are often arranged as a series of 'mini-tours' of two or three matches to reduce air travel.[3]

For the United Rugby Championship itself, there is one main league table. The top eight sides in that table at the end of the regular season will qualify for the play-off quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and a grand final. The playoffs are seeded, with the top four seeds having home advantage at the quarter-final stage. In the semi-finals and final, the better ranked club in each tie has home advantage, so the number one team in the ladder will retain home advantage for as long as it progresses in the competition, including the final (unlike the Prem Rugby competition in England where the final is held in the neutral Twickenham Stadium).

The Regional Shield pools have no direct link to the play-offs and by extension the Championship itself, or European qualification, and it is technically possible to win a Regional Shield but not contest the play-offs.[3]

Teams

[edit]
Team Country Coach /
Director of Rugby
Captain Stadium Capacity Position last season
Benetton
current season
Italy Italy Scotland Calum MacRae Italy Michele Lamaro
Italy Sebastian Negri
Stadio Comunale di Monigo 5,000 10th
Bulls
current season
South Africa South Africa South Africa Johan Ackermann South Africa Ruan Nortjé Loftus Versfeld Stadium 51,762 Runner-up
Cardiff
current season
Wales Wales Vacant[a] Wales Liam Belcher Cardiff Arms Park 12,125 9th
Connacht
current season
Ireland Ireland England Stuart Lancaster Ireland Cian Prendergast The Sportsground 8,129
13th
Dragons
current season
Wales Wales New Zealand Filo Tiatia Wales Ben Carter
Wales Angus O'Brien
Rodney Parade 8,700 16th
Edinburgh
current season
Scotland Scotland South Africa Sean Everitt Scotland Magnus Bradbury Edinburgh Rugby Stadium
Murrayfield Stadium
7,800
67,144
Quarter-finalist
Glasgow Warriors
current season
Scotland Scotland South Africa Franco Smith Scotland Kyle Steyn Scotstoun Stadium
Hampden Park
7,351
51,866
Semi-finalist
Leinster
current season
Ireland Ireland Ireland Leo Cullen Ireland Caelan Doris RDS Arena
Aviva Stadium
18,500
51,700
Champion (9th title)
Lions
current season
South Africa South Africa South Africa Ivan van Rooyen South Africa Francke Horn Ellis Park Stadium 62,567 11th
Munster
current season
Ireland Ireland New Zealand Clayton McMillan Ireland Tadhg Beirne Thomond Park
Musgrave Park
25,600
8,008
Quarter-finalist
Ospreys
current season
Wales Wales Wales Mark Jones Wales Jac Morgan Brewery Field 8,000 12th
Scarlets
current season
Wales Wales Wales Dwayne Peel Wales Josh Macleod Parc y Scarlets 14,870 Quarter-finalist
Sharks
current season
South Africa South Africa New Zealand John Plumtree South Africa Siya Kolisi Kings Park Stadium 52,000 Semi-finalist
Stormers
current season
South Africa South Africa South Africa John Dobson South Africa Salmaan Moerat Cape Town Stadium
Danie Craven Stadium[5]
55,000
16,000
Quarter-finalist
Ulster
current season
Ireland Ireland Ireland Richie Murphy Ireland Iain Henderson Ravenhill Stadium 18,196 14th
Zebre Parma
current season
Italy Italy Italy Massimo Brunello Italy Giovanni Licata Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi 5,000 15th
Location of Irish, Scottish and Welsh teams:
2025–26 United Rugby Championship (the United Kingdom and Ireland)
Location of Italian teams:
2025–26 United Rugby Championship (Northern Italy)

Location of South African teams:

2025–26 United Rugby Championship (South Africa)

URC league standings

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Stormers 6 6 0 0 184 60 +124 23 7 3 0 27 Qualifies for home URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
2 Cardiff 6 5 0 1 140 101 +39 22 13 4 1 25
3 Munster 6 5 0 1 146 116 +30 21 18 3 1 24
4 Ulster 5 4 0 1 182 116 +66 26 16 5 0 21
5 Glasgow Warriors 6 4 0 2 161 87 +74 22 10 3 1 20 Qualifies for URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
6 Leinster 6 3 0 3 150 146 +4 23 20 3 1 16
7 Lions 6 3 0 3 176 178 −2 24 26 3 1 16
8 Bulls 6 3 0 3 172 190 −18 26 27 3 0 15
9 Connacht 5 2 0 3 120 91 +29 17 13 3 2 13 Qualification for the 2026–27 Challenge Cup
10 Edinburgh 5 2 0 3 128 88 +40 20 14 2 3 13
11 Zebre Parma 6 2 0 4 106 182 −76 14 27 2 0 10
12 Benetton 6 2 0 4 101 176 −75 11 26 1 0 9
13 Ospreys 6 1 1 4 127 159 −32 19 24 1 1 8
14 Sharks 6 1 1 4 113 180 −67 17 24 2 0 8
15 Dragons 6 0 2 4 84 175 −91 11 26 0 1 5
16 Scarlets 5 1 0 4 81 126 −45 9 17 0 0 4
Updated to match(es) played on 29 November 2025. Source: UnitedRugby.com
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won 2) The difference between points for and points against 3) The number of tries scored 4) The most points scored 5) The difference between tries for and tries against 6) The fewest red cards received 7) The fewest yellow cards received.[6]


Regional shields

[edit]

Regional shield standings will be based entirely on performances against other teams within the same conference.[2] Therefore, only six games for each team will count towards the regional shields. Leinster, Glasgow Warriors, Sharks and Cardiff enter their respective Regional shields as reigning champions.


2025–26 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield tables view · watch · edit · discuss
Ireland Irish Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1 Ireland Munster 2 2 0 0 48 29 +19 7 5 1 0 9
2 Ireland Connacht 1 0 0 1 15 17 -2 3 3 0 1 1
3 Ireland Ulster
4 Ireland Leinster 1 0 0 1 14 31 -17 2 4 0 0 0
Italy Scotland Italian x Scottish Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1 Scotland Edinburgh 2 1 0 1 71 31 +40 11 4 2 1 7 10th
2 Italy Zebre Parma 1 1 0 0 31 28 +3 4 4 1 0 5 4th
3 Italy Benetton 2 1 0 1 16 57 -41 1 9 0 0 4 9th
4 Scotland Glasgow Warriors 1 0 0 1 14 16 -2 2 1 0 1 1 6th
South Africa South African Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1 South Africa Lions 1 1 0 0 43 33 +10 6 5 1 0 5
2 South Africa Bulls 1 0 0 1 33 43 -10 5 6 1 0 1
3 South Africa Sharks
4 South Africa Stormers
Wales Welsh Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1 Wales Cardiff 1 1 0 0 24 17 +7 4 2 1 0 5
2 Wales Dragons 2 0 1 1 36 43 -7 5 7 0 1 3
3 Wales Ospreys 1 0 1 0 19 19 0 3 3 0 0 2
4 Wales Scarlets
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[7]
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields.

(S) : URC Shield champion

European qualification

[edit]

Priority order for 2026–27 European Rugby Champions Cup qualification is as follows:

  • 2025–26 United Rugby Championship champions
  • the 2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup champions (if a URC team but not already qualified as above)
  • the 2025–26 EPCR Challenge Cup champions (if a URC team but not already qualified as above)
  • the next highest-ranked teams during regular season play not already qualified as above, until eight overall qualifiers have been selected.

As a result of the priority order, the top five teams in the regular season standings are guaranteed qualification to the Champions Cup, with the remaining three places dependant on cup results this season.

The eight remaining teams qualify for the 2026–27 EPRC Challenge Cup.

Match grid

[edit]

The following are the fixtures and results for the 2025–26 United Rugby Championship regular season:[8][9]

Home \ Away BEN BUL CAR CON DRA EDI GLA LEI LIO MUN OSP SCA SHA STO ULS ZEB
Benetton RD 9 16–14 RD 16 41–15 RD 15 RD 13 RD 11 16-31 RD 7
Bulls RD 18 RD 13 39–31 33–43 RD 14 53–40 RD 12 RD 8 RD 17
Cardiff RD 10 14–8 RD 8 20-19 RD 12 33–20 RD 16 RD 7 RD 18
Connacht 26–15 27–28 RD 12 RD 10 RD 17 RD 14 RD 2 44–17 RD 8
Dragons RD 12 RD 15 17–24 RD 7 RD 17 10–24 19-19 RD 9 17–17
Edinburgh 43–0 RD 10 RD 18 RD 8[b] 19–17 RD 12 RD 16 RD 2 RD 15
Glasgow Warriors RD 14 21-12 RD 17 49–0 RD 7[b] RD 13 RD 11 35–19 RD 9
Leinster RD 9 RD 11 RD 17 14–31[a] RD 18 RD 14 31–5 RD 7[c] 50-26
Lions RD 11 RD 16 RD 14 RD 13 RD 15 29–18 RD 8 RD 12 49-31
Munster 23–20 17-15 RD 10 20–19 RD 8[a] RD 18 21–27 RD 16 RD 12
Ospreys RD 9 RD 11 17–42 RD 10 RD 7 RD 17 RD 15 RD 12 24–0
Scarlets RD 16 RD 15 RD 18 23–0 21–34 RD 8 0–34 RD 10 RD 13
Sharks RD 17 RD 7 RD 14 RD 9 RD 13 29-19 RD 11 26–34 RD 18
Stormers RD 9 RD 15 RD 13 RD 14 RD 16 35–0 RD 7 26–10 RD 10
Ulster 47–13 28–7 RD 11 RD 13 42–21 RD 18 RD 15[c] RD 9 RD 16
Zebre Parma RD 8 14–29 RD 11 RD 16 31–28 RD 10 22–20 13–31 RD 14

URC Shield fixtures in bold; Colours: Green: home team win; Yellow: draw; Red: away team win; Blue: upcoming matches

Regular season

[edit]

The matches for the regular season were announced on 21 May 2025, the earliest fixture reveal in the competition's history.[citation needed] The first match was the visit of Leinster to South Africa to take on Stormers at Cape Town Stadium on Friday, 26 September 2025.[8][9] (Stormers beat Leinster 35–0.)

Round 1

[edit]
26 September 2025 (1 BP) Stormers South Africa 35 – 0 Ireland Leinster Cape Town Stadium  
18:00 Try: Ungerer 45' c
Roos (2) 63' c 68' c
Matthee 70' m
Con: Matthee (3/4) 45' 64' 69'
Pen: Matthee (3/5) 7' 33' 42'
Report[10]
Highlights
Cards: Deegan Yellow card 63'
T. O'Brien Yellow card 67'
Attendance: 13,529
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi
26 September 2025 (1 BP) Ulster Ireland 42 – 21 Wales Dragons Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
20:05 Try: Izuchukwu 12' c
Timoney 28' c
McCann 34' c
Z. Ward 36' c
Doak 42' c
Stewart 80+3' c
Con: Doak (5/5) 13' 29' 34' 38' 43'
Flannery (1/1) 80+4'
Report[11]
Highlights
Try: Wainwright 0'
Rosser 16'
Lewis-Hughes 49'
Con: De Beer (3/3) 2' 17' 50'
Attendance: 9,563[12]
Referee: Colby Griffin
26 September 2025 (1 BP) Glasgow Warriors Scotland 35 – 19 South Africa Sharks Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow  
20:05 Try: Rowe 14' c
McDowall 32' c
Darge 49' c
Dobie 70' c
Penalty Try 78' c
Con: Horne (4/4) 15', 33', 51', 71'
Report, 2
Highlights
Try: E v.d.Merwe 9' m
Tshituka 40' c
Am 66' c
Con: Hendrikse (2/3) 41', 67'
Cards: Mavesere yellow card 77' to F.T.'
Mazibujo yellow card 79' to F.T.'
Attendance: 6,775
Referee: Keith David
27 September 2025 (1 BP) Bulls South Africa 53 – 40 Wales Ospreys (1 BP) Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria  
13:00 Try: Coetzee 8' c, 21' m
Grobbelaar 39' c, 45' m, 58' c
Jooste 51' m, 72' m
Serfontein 61' m
Else 68' c
Con: Johannes (4/9) 9', 40', 59', 69'
Report
Highlights
Try: Giles 2' m, 80' c
Keiran Williams 6' c, 35' c
Walsh 30' c
Morse 66' c
Con: Edwards (5/6) 6', 31', 36', 66', 81'
Attendance: 2,992
Referee: Peter Martin
27 September 2025 (1 BP) Zebre Parma Italy 31 – 28 Scotland Edinburgh (2 BP) Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
15:05 Try: D Bartolomeo 3' c
Pitinari 12' c
Gesi 34' c
Fusco 44' c
Con: Da Re (4/4) 4', 13', 35', 45'
Pen: Roger (1/1) 79'
Cards: Licata Red card 15'
Pitinari Yellow card 74'
Report
Highlights
Try: McConnell 17' c
Bradbury 23' c
Velacott 50' c
Harrison 75' c
Con: Healy (4/4) 18', 24', 51', 76'
Attendance: 2,276[13]
Referee: Ben Whitehouse
27 September 2025 Scarlets Wales 21 – 34 Ireland Munster (1 BP) Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli  
17:30 Try: Murray 48' c
Mee 64' c
Plumtree 75' c
Con: Costelow (2/2) 49', 65'
Hawkins (1/1) 76'
Report
Highlights
Try: Casey 10' c
Haley 42' c
D. Kelly 59' c
Ahern 69' c
Con: Hanrahan (1/1) 12'
Crowley (3/3) 43', 60', 70'
Pen: Hanrahan (2/2) 23', 29'
Attendance: 9,078
Referee: Sam Grove-White
27 September 2025 (1 BP) Cardiff Wales 33 – 20 South Africa Lions Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45 Try: Thomas 9' c
Winnet 23' c
Mann 52' c
Lloyd 60' c, 76' m
Con: Sheedy (4/5) 10', 24', 53', 61
Cards: Thomas Red card 30'
Report
Highlights
Try: Venter 27'c,
Steenkamp 48'c
Con: Dobela (2/2) 28', 49'
Pen: Dobela (2/2) 17', 37'
Attendance: 5,711
Referee: Filippo Russo
27 September 2025 (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 26 – 15 Italy Benetton The Sportsground, Galway  
19:45 Try: Ioane 8' c
Naughton 19' m
Tierney-Martin 46' c
Jansen 73' c
Con: Forde (3/4) 9', 47', 74'
Cards: Mullins yellow card 26' to 36'
Report
Highlights
Try: Louis Lynagh 41' m
Garbisi 81' c
Con: Umaga (1/2) 80+2'
Pen: Umaga (1/1) 16'
Cards: Fekitoa yellow card 8' to 18'
Lamaro yellow card 44' to 54'
Attendance: 3,928
Referee: Christopher Allison

Round 2

[edit]
3 October 2025 Stormers South Africa 26 – 10 Wales Ospreys Cape Town Stadium  
18:00 Try: Roos (10' m)
Simelane (58' c)
de Villiers (70' m)
Con: Matthee (59')
Pen: Matthee (41', 44', 57')
Report
Highlights
Try: Hardy (3' m, 29' m)
Attendance: 13,668
Referee: Peter Martin
3 October 2025 Dragons Wales 17 – 17 South Africa Sharks Rodney Parade, Newport  
20:05 Try: Wainwright (15'c)
O'Brien (26' c)
Con: de Beer (16', 27')
Pen: de Beer (66' )
Cards: Coleman Yellow card 73'
Report[14]
Highlights
Try: Orie (8' c)
Tshituka (38' c)
Con: Smith (9', 39')
Pen: Smith (19')
Attendance: 4,889 [15]
Referee: Filippo Russo
4 October 2025 Benetton Italy 16 – 14 Scotland Glasgow Warriors (1 BP) Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
17:30 Try: Menoncello (51' c)
Con: Umaga (53')
Pen: Umaga (26', 71')
Drop: R. Smith (81')
Cards: Cannone yellow card 67' to 77'
Report
Highlights
Try: Oguntibeju (19' c)
McKay (29' c)
Con: A. Hastings (20', 30')
Attendance: 4,806
Referee: Ben Connor
4 October 2025 (1 BP) Bulls South Africa 39 – 31 Ireland Leinster (1 BP) Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria  
17:30 Try: de Klerk (4' c)
Kriel (16' m, 78' c)
Gumede (41' c)
le Roux (58' m)
Jacobs (68' m)
Con: Johannes (5', 42')
Kriel (79')
Pen: Johannes (35')
Report
Highlights
Try: Clarkson (30' c)
Cooney (44' c)
T. O'Brien (46' c)
Penny (66' c)
Con: Prendergast (31', 45', 47', 66')
Pen: Prendergast (20')
Cards: Connors yellow card 21' to 31'
Attendance: 6,937
Referee: Adam Jones
4 October 2025 Munster Ireland 23 – 20 Wales Cardiff (2 BP) Thomond Park, Limerick  
19:45 Try: Quinn (29' m)
Coombes (52' c)
Barron (61' m)
Con: Crowley (53')
Pen: Crowley (67')
Drop: Crowley (77')
Report
Highlights
Try: J. Adams (15' m)
Bowen (44' m, 57' m, 82' m)
Attendance: 12,066[16]
Referee: Griffin Colby South Africa
5 October 2025 Zebre Parma Italy 22 – 20 South Africa Lions (1 BP) Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
14:00 Try: Stavile (12' n)
Di Bartolomeo (35' c)
Nocera (79' c)
Con: da Re (36')
Roger (80')
Pen: Roger (64')
Report
Highlights
Try: Kotze (52' m)
Keyter (56' m)
Brandon (74' c)
Con: Dobela (75')
Pen: CW Smith (17')
Attendance: 2,175
Referee: Craig Evans Wales
13 March 2026 Connacht Ireland v Wales Scarlets The Sportsground, Galway  
19:45
13 March 2026 Edinburgh Scotland v Ireland Ulster Edinburgh Rugby Stadium  
19:45

Round 3

[edit]
10 October 2025 (1 BP) Munster Ireland 20–19 Scotland Edinburgh (1 BP) Musgrave Park, Cork  
19:45 Try: A. Smith (2')
Milne (33', 58')
F. Wycherley (72')
Report Try: Ashman (7')
Vellacott (15')
Graham (48')
Con: Healy (16', 49')
Cards:
Young Yellow card 28'
Rae Yellow card 30'
Douglas Yellow card 53'
Graham Yellow card 68'
Attendance: 8,800[17]
Referee: Ben Whitehouse Wales
10 October 2025 Scarlets Wales 0 – 34 South Africa Stormers (1 BP) Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli  
19:45 Cards: Plumtree Yellow card 33'
Page Yellow card 72'
Report
Scoreboard, 2
Try: Roos (11')
de Villiers (40')
v. Heerden (57')
Feinberg-Mngomezulu (65')
Khan (74')
Con: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (12', 41')
Willemse (58')
Pen: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (17')
Cards: Dixon Yellow card 28'
Feinberg-Mngomezulu Yellow card 53'
Attendance: 6,114
Referee: Federico Vedovelli Italy
11 October 2025 (1 BP) Benetton Italy 41 – 15 South Africa Lions Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
15:00 Try: R Smith(8')
Lynagh (14', 30', 71', 83')
Ferrari (20')
Con: Umaga (21', 31', 72')
R Smith(84')
Pen: Umaga (42')
Cards: Gallo Yellow card 53'
Avaca Yellow card 80'
Report Try: Ntlabakanye (27')
v. Vuuren (78')
Con: CW Smith(28')
Pen: CW Smith (2')
Cards: Jonker Yellow card 69'
Horn Yellow card 80'+2
Attendance: 4,850
11 October 2025 Ospreys Wales 24 – 0 Italy Zebre Parma Brewery Field, Bridgend  
15:00 Try: Cokanasiga (15')
Morse (18')
Ratti (74')
Con: D. Edwards (16', 18', 75')
Pen: D. Edwards (59')
Report Attendance: 4,519
11 October 2025 (1 BP) Glasgow Warriors Scotland 49 – 0 Wales Dragons Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow  
17:30 Try: Steyn (10')
Horne (25', 62')
Brown (43')
Hiddleston (47')
Matthews (67')
Con: Hastings (11', 26', 43', 48')
Horne (62')
Lancaster(68')
Report Cards: Dyer Yellow card 80'+1 Attendance: 5,800
11 October 2025 (1 BP) Leinster Ireland 31 – 5 South Africa Sharks Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:30 Try: Jamie Osborne (12')
Jimmy O'Brien (23')
v.d. Flier (27')
Deegan (49')
Gus McCarthy (71')
Con: Harry Byrne(13', 23', 28')
Cards: Boyle Yellow card 74'
Report Try: Hooker(30')
Attendance: 17,549[18]
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)
11 October 2025 (1 BP) Ulster Ireland 28 – 7 South Africa Bulls Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
19:45 Try: McCloskey (22')
Augustus (49')
Herring (54')
Izuchukwu(57')
Con: Doak (22', 50', 55', 58')
Cards: Herring Yellow card 27'
Report Try: Louw (27')
Con: Pollard (28')
Cards: Rudolph Yellow card 47'
Attendance: 10,629

Mike Adamson Scotland

11 October 2025 Cardiff Wales 14 – 8 Ireland Connacht (1 BP) Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45 Try: Bowen (14', 75')
Con: Sheedy (15')
Lloyd (76')
Report Try: O'Connor (80'+2)
Pen: Forde (11')
Attendance: 7,092[19]
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi Italy

Round 4

[edit]
17 October 2025 (1 BP) Edinburgh 43 – 0 Benetton Edinburgh Rugby Stadium  
19:45 Try: van der Merwe (5')
Richardson (11', 57')
Graham (39', 78')
O'Conor (65')
Bradbury (73')
Con: Scott (6', 11', 40')
Thompson (66')
Report Cards: Fekitoa Yellow card 44'
Garbisi Yellow card 57'
Attendance: 6,763[20]
Referee: Ben Breakspear
17 October 2025 (1 BP) Connacht 27 – 28 Bulls The Sportsground, Galway  
19:45 Try: Ioane(10')
Blade(45')
Naughton (68')
Hansen (79')
Con: Ioane (11', 46')
Pen: Naughton (74')
Cards: Murphy Red card 19'
report Try: de Wet (13', 54')
le Roux (20')
Con: Johannes (21', 55')
Pen: Johannes (63', 72')
Drop: Johannes (43')
Attendance: 3,928[21]
Referee: Mike Adamson
17 October 2025 (1 BP) Dragons 17 – 24 Cardiff (1 BP) Rodney Parade, Newport  
19:45 Try: Coghlan (7')
Carter (72')
Con: de Beer (8', 73')
Pen: O'Brien (80')
Report
Scoreboard
Try: Mann (2')
Faletau (14')
Dan Thomas(20')
Southworth (61')
Con: Sheedy (14')
Ben Thomas (62')
Attendance: 7,483[22]
Referee: Federico Vedovelli
18 October 2025 (1 BP) Lions 29 – 18 Scarlets Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
12:45 Try: Horn (25')
Marais (58')
Brandon (70', 74')
Pen: CW Smith (47')
Lombard (53', 81')
Cards: Landsberg Yellow card 38'
Report
Scoreboard
Try: Penalty try (68')
Roberts (77')
Pen: Costelow (12', 50')
Attendance: 1,771[23]
Referee: Eoghan Cross
18 October 2025 (1 BP) Sharks 26 – 34 Ulster (1 BP) Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
15:00 Try: Kolisi (33')
Mapimpi(49')
Esterhuizen (71')
penalty try
Con: Masuku (50')
Hendrikse (72')
Cards: Mapimpi Red card
Koch Yellow card 51'
Report Try: Lowry (6')
Werner Kok (21')
Stewart (56')
Reid (66')
Con: Doak (7', 21', 57', 68')
Pen: Doak (16', 37')
Cards: O'Toole Yellow card 61'
Attendance: 11,280
Referee: Ben Whitehouse
18 October 2025 Leinster 14 – 31 Munster (1 BP) Croke Park, Dublin  
17:15 Try: Kelleher (7')
Penny (79')
Con: Prendergast (8', 80'+1)
Cards: Frawley Yellow card 77'
Report
MOTM: Jack Crowley
Try: Gleeson (17')
Tom Farrell (23')
Coughlan (37')
penalty try (76')
Con: Crowley (18', 24', 38')
Pen: Crowley (49')
Cards: Coombes, Yellow card 79'
Attendance: 51,859
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi Italy
18 October 2025 Zebre Parma 13 – 31 Stormers (1 BP) Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
19:45 Try: Belloni, (20')
Con: da Re (21')
Pen: da Re (63', 67')
Cards: Nocero Yellow card 59'
Report Try: de Villiers (6')
Feinberg-Mngomezulu, (37', 46')
Gelant, (58')
Nel (80')
Con: Feinberg-Mngomezulu, (38', 58', 80'+1)
Attendance: 2,176
Referee: Andrew Brace Ireland
18 October 2025 Ospreys 17 – 42 Glasgow Warriors (1 BP) Brewery Field, Bridgend  
19:45 Try: Morgan-williams (13')
Morgan (45')
Con: Edwards (14', 46')
Pen: Edwards (24')
Cards: Lake Yellow card 29'
Report Try: Dobie (9', 50')
Steyn (16')
Matthews (40'+1)
Ferrie (62')
Duncan (76)
Con: A Hastings (9', 17' 40'+2, 51', 63')
Lancaster (77')
Attendance: 4,861
Referee: Andrea Piardi Italy

Round 5

[edit]
24 October 2025 Glasgow Warriors Scotland 21 – 12 South Africa Bulls Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow  
19:45 Try: Tuipulotu (5'c)
penalty try (65')
McBeth (70'c)
Con: Hastings (6', 71')
Cards: McBeth, Yellow card 53'
Report
Scoreboard
Highlights
Try: Jacobs (11'm)
le Roux (49'c)
Con: Johannes (49')
Cards: Klopper Yellow card 65'
Attendance: 6,848[24]
Referee: Craig Evans Wales
25 October 2025 (1 PT) Lions South Africa 49 – 31 Ireland Ulster (1 PT) Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
12:45 Try: SJ Kotze (2'c)
Keyter (8'c)
Venter (46'c)
du Plessis (61'c)
van Wyk (71'm)
van Vuuren (76'm)
Brandon (81'm)
Con: CW Smith (3', 9', 47', 62')
Pen: CW Smith (33', 50')
Cards: Ntlabakanye Yellow card 27'
Report
Highlights
Try: Baloucoune (5'c, 40'm, 52'm)
Hume (24'c)
McCann (67'c)
Con: Doak (6', 24')
Flannery (67')
Attendance: 4,061
Referee: Ben Connor Wales
25 October 2025 (1 PT) Sharks South Africa 29 – 19 Wales Scarlets Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
15:00 Try: V Tshituka (5'm)
E Tshituka (19'c)
Mazibuko (28'c)
Kolisi (49'c)
Con: Jean Smith (20', 29', 50')
Pen: Jean Smith (64')
Report
Highlights
Try: v.d. Merwe (16'c)
Murray (21'c)
Rogers (45')
Con: Costelow (17', 22')
Cards: Plumtree Yellow card 72'
Attendance: 9,528[25]
Referee: Sam Grove-White Scotland
25 October 2025 (1 BP) Leinster Ireland 50 – 26 Italy Zebre Parma (1 BP) Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:30 Try: Kenny (2' c, 27' c)
Soroka (7' m, 12' c)
Cahir (48' c)
Byrne (55' m)
Snyman (68' c)
Connors (78' m)
Con: (2', 13', 27', 49', 69')
Cards: A Osborne Red card 30'
Report
Scoreboard
Highlights
Try: Belloni (10' c)
Dominguez (20' c)
Quattrini (32' c)
Marco Zanon (73' m)
Con: da Re (11', 21', 33')
Cards: Dominguez Red card 37'
Attendance: 14,128[26]
Referee: Ian Kenny Scotland
25 October 2025 Benetton Italy 16 – 31 South Africa Stormers Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
17:30 Try: Lynagh (30' c)
Con: Umaga (31')
Pen: Umaga (15', 18', 35')
Report
Highlights
Try: Sandi (6' m)
Matthee (48' c)
Porthen (80' c)
Con: Matthee (49', 81')
Pen: Matthee (20', 45', 53', 72')
Attendance: 4,903
Referee: Hollie Davidson Scotland
25 October 2025 Dragons Wales 19 – 19 Wales Ospreys Rodney Parade, Newport  
17:30 Try: R Williams (38' c)
Coghlan (60' c)
Burrows (76' m)
Con: de Beer (40', 61')
Report
Highlights
Try: Deaves (15' m)
Cokanasiga (20' c)
Hopkins (46' c)
Con: Edwards (20', 47')
Cards: Kasende Yellow card 80'
Attendance: 5,511[27]
Referee: Ben Breakspear
25 October 2025 Munster Ireland 17 – 15 Ireland Connacht (1 BP) Thomond Park, Limerick  
19:45 Try: O'Donoghue (15' m, 67' m)
Kilgallen (33' c)
Con: JJ Hanrahan (33')
Report
Highlights
Try: Ralston (20' m, 28' m)
Boyle (42' m)
Attendance: 16,512[28]
Referee: Andrea Piardi Italy
25 October 2025 Cardiff Wales 20 – 19 Scotland Edinburgh (1 BP) Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45 Try: Mulder (7' m)
Adams (15' c)
Sebastian (43' m)
Con: Lloyd (16')
Pen: Lloyd (74')
Report
Highlights
Try: Wells (3' m)
Shiel (9' c)
Ashman (19' c)
Con: Scott (9')
Lang (20')
Attendance: 7,189[29]

Round 6

[edit]
28 November 2025 (1 BP) Ulster Ireland 47 – 13 Italy Benetton Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
19:45 Try: Baloucoune, (10' m, 77' c)
Kok, (21' c, 58' c)
Hume (52' c)
Sheridan(68' c)
penalty try (63')
Con: Doak (22', 53', 59')
Flannery (68', 78')
Report
Scoreboard
Try: Bernasconi (28' c)
Con: Umaga (29')
Pen: Umaga (15', 43')
Cards: Ratave yellow card 63' to 73'
Attendance: 11,517[30]
Referee: Sam Grove-White Scotland
28 November 2025 Dragons Wales 10 – 24 Ireland Leinster (1 BP) Rodney Parade, Newport  
19:45 Try: Screech (31' c)
Con: de Beer(32')
Pen: O'Brien(47')
Report Try: Soroka (4' m)
Kenny (44' c, 59' m)
Snyman (78' c)
Con: Byrne (45', 79')
Cards: Mangan yellow card 29' to 39'
Penny yellow card 38' to 48'
McGrath yellow card 80' to f.t.'
Attendance: 4,244[31]
Referee: Morne Ferreira South Africa
29 November 2025 (1 BP) Bulls South Africa 33 – 43 South Africa Lions (1 BP) Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria  
12:00 Try: Papier (30' c, 33' c)
A. van der Merwe (40' m)
Johannes (76' c)
de Klerk(77' c)
Con: Johannes (4/5) (31', 34', 76', 78')
Report Try: Mpeku (19'c) Steyn (23' c, 74' c)
Cairns (36' m)
E. Oosthuizen (52' c)
Keyter (72' c)
Con: CW Smith (5/6) (19', 24', 53', 73', 74')
Pen: CW Smith (11')
Attendance: 14,122
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron South Africa
29 November 2025 Zebre Parma Italy 14 – 29 Wales Cardiff (1 BP) Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
13:00 Try: Licata (30' c)
Zanon (74' c)
Con: Roger (2/2) (31', 74')
Cards: Licata yellow card 16' to 26'
Ruggeri yellow card 49' to 59'
Zanon yellow card 82' to f.t.'
Report Try: Hughes (13' c, 18' m, 40' c)
Basham (80+3' c)
Con: Lloyd (2/3) (19', 41')
Wilde (1/1) (80+4')
Pen: Lloyd (48')
Cards: Basham yellow card 69' to 79'
Attendance: 2,392
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen South Africa
29 November 2025 (1 BP) Munster Ireland 21 – 27 South Africa Stormers Thomond Park, Limerick  
17:30 Try: Beirne (8' c)
Hodnett (20' c)
Crowley (27' c)
Con: Crowley (3/3) (8', 20', 28')
Cards: Coombes yellow card 58' to 68'
Report Try: A. Smith (58')
Maart (68')
Nel (72')
Con: Matthee (3/3) (59' c, 69' c, 72' c)
Pen: Matthee (6', 12')
Cards: Evans yellow card 3' to 13'
Theunissen yellow card 20' to 30'
Attendance: 14,421
Referee: Andrea Piardi Italy
29 November 2025 Edinburgh Scotland 19 – 17 Wales Ospreys (1 BP) Edinburgh Rugby Stadium  
17:30 Try: Currie (33' m)
Morris (54' c)
Paterson (71' c)
Con: Thompson (1/2) (55')
Scott (1/1) (71')
Report Try: Davies (25' m)
Cokanasiga (45' m)
Boshoff (75' c)
Con: Walsh (76')
Attendance: 6,502
Referee: Peter Martin Ireland
29 November 2025 (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 44 – 17 South Africa Sharks The Sportsground, Galway  
19:45 Try: Boyle (17' c)
Mullins (31' c)
Gavin (58' c)
Devine (72' c)
Illo (79' c)
Con: Naughton (19', 32', 58', 73', 80')
Pen: Naughton (8', 27', 42')
Report Try: Mbatha (15' m)
Mapimpi (66' m)
van Heerden (75' c)
Con: Jordan Hendrikse (75')
Cards: Jenkins yellow card 28' to 38'
Attendance: 3,928
Referee: Ben Whitehouse Wales
29 November 2025 Scarlets Wales 23 – 0 Scotland Glasgow Warriors Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli  
19:45 Try: MacLeod (16' c)
Page (49' c)
Con: Costelow (2/2) (17', 50')
Pen: Costelow (25', 31', 67')
Cards: Cuckson yellow card 71' to f.t.'
Report Attendance: 5,444
Referee: Christopher Allison South Africa

Round 7

[edit]
19 December 2025 Cardiff Wales v Wales Scarlets Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45
19 December 2025 Leinster Ireland v Ireland Ulster Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
19:45
20 December 2025 Stormers South Africa v South Africa Lions Cape Town Stadium  
13:30
20 December 2025 Benetton Italy v Italy Zebre Parma Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
14:00
20 December 2025 Glasgow Warriors Scotland v Scotland Edinburgh Hampden Park, Glasgow  
15:00
20 December 2025 Sharks South Africa v South Africa Bulls Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
16:00
20 December 2025 Ospreys Wales v Ireland Munster Brewery Field, Bridgend  
17:30
20 December 2025 Dragons Wales v Ireland Connacht Rodney Parade, Newport  
19:45

Round 8

[edit]
26 December 2025 Cardiff Wales v Wales Dragons Cardiff Arms Park  
15:00
26 December 2025 Scarlets Wales v Wales Ospreys Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli  
17:30
27 December 2025 Zebre Parma Italy v Italy Benetton Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
14:30
27 December 2025 Edinburgh Scotland v Scotland Glasgow Warriors Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh  
15:00
27 December 2025 Connacht Ireland v Ireland Ulster The Sportsground, Galway  
17:30
27 December 2025 Munster Ireland v Ireland Leinster Thomond Park, Limerick  
19:45
21 February 2026 Lions South Africa v South Africa Sharks Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
12:00
14 March 2026 Bulls South Africa v South Africa Stormers Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria  
12:00

Round 9

[edit]
1 January 2026 Dragons Wales v Wales Scarlets Rodney Parade, Newport  
15:00
1 January 2026 Ospreys Wales v Wales Cardiff Brewery Field, Bridgend  
17:30
2 January 2026 Ulster Ireland v Ireland Munster Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
19:45
3 January 2026 Sharks South Africa v South Africa Lions Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
13:30
3 January 2026 Stormers South Africa v South Africa Bulls Cape Town Stadium  
16:00
3 January 2026 Benetton Italy v Scotland Edinburgh Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
17:30
3 January 2026 Leinster Ireland v Ireland Connacht Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:30
3 January 2026 Glasgow Warriors Scotland v Italy Zebre Parma Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow  
19:45

Round 10

[edit]
23 January 2026 Ospreys Wales v South Africa Lions Brewery Field, Bridgend  
19:45
23 January 2026 Edinburgh Scotland v South Africa Bulls Edinburgh Rugby Stadium  
19:45
23 January 2026 Munster Ireland v Wales Dragons Musgrave Park, Cork  
19:45
24 January 2026 Scarlets Wales v Ireland Ulster Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli  
15:00
24 January 2026 Connacht Ireland v Ireland Leinster The Sportsground, Galway  
17:30
24 January 2026 Stormers South Africa v South Africa Sharks Cape Town Stadium  
17:30
24 January 2026 Zebre Parma Italy v Scotland Glasgow Warriors Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
19:45
24 January 2026 Cardiff Wales v Italy Benetton Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45

Round 11

[edit]
30 January 2026 Benetton Italy v Wales Scarlets Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
19:45
30 January 2026 Glasgow Warriors Scotland v Ireland Munster Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow  
19:45
31 January 2026 Lions South Africa v South Africa Bulls Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
12:30
31 January 2026 Sharks South Africa v South Africa Stormers Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
15:00
31 January 2026 Zebre Parma Italy v Ireland Connacht Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
15:00
31 January 2026 Leinster Ireland v Scotland Edinburgh Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:30
31 January 2026 Ospreys Wales v Wales Dragons Brewery Field, Bridgend  
19:45
31 January 2026 Ulster Ireland v Wales Cardiff Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
19:45

Round 12

[edit]
27 February 2026 Edinburgh Scotland v Wales Scarlets Edinburgh Rugby Stadium  
19:45
27 February 2026 Cardiff Wales v Ireland Leinster Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45
28 February 2026 Lions South Africa v South Africa Stormers Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
12:30
28 February 2026 Bulls South Africa v South Africa Sharks Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria  
15:00
28 February 2026 Connacht Ireland v Scotland Glasgow Warriors The Sportsground, Galway  
15:00
28 February 2026 Munster Ireland v Italy Zebre Parma Thomond Park, Limerick  
17:30
28 February 2026 Dragons Wales v Italy Benetton Rodney Parade, Newport  
17:30
28 February 2026 Ospreys Wales v Ireland Ulster Brewery Field, Bridgend  
19:45

Round 13

[edit]
20 March 2026 Bulls South Africa v Wales Cardiff Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria  
17:00
20 March 2026 Scarlets Wales v Italy Zebre Parma Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli  
19:45
20 March 2026 Ulster Ireland v Ireland Connacht Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
19:45
21 March 2026 Lions South Africa v Scotland Edinburgh Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
12:45
21 March 2026 Sharks South Africa v Ireland Munster Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
15:00
21 March 2026 Benetton Italy v Wales Ospreys Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
15:00
21 March 2026 Glasgow Warriors Scotland v Ireland Leinster Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow  
17:30
21 March 2026 Stormers South Africa v Wales Dragons TBC  
17:30

Round 14

[edit]
27 March 2026 Sharks South Africa v Wales Cardiff Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
17:00
27 March 2026 Glasgow Warriors Scotland v Italy Benetton Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow  
19:45
28 March 2026 Bulls South Africa v Ireland Munster Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria  
12:00
28 March 2026 Connacht Ireland v Wales Ospreys The Sportsground, Galway  
14:15
28 March 2026 Lions South Africa v Wales Dragons Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
14:30
28 March 2026 Stormers South Africa v Scotland Edinburgh Cape Town Stadium  
17:00
28 March 2026 Leinster Ireland v Wales Scarlets Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:30
28 March 2026 Zebre Parma Italy v Ireland Ulster Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
19:45

Round 15

[edit]
17 April 2026 Edinburgh Scotland v Italy Zebre Parma Edinburgh Rugby Stadium  
19:45
17 April 2026 Ulster Ireland v Ireland Leinster Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
19:45
17 April 2026 Dragons Wales v South Africa Bulls Rodney Parade, Newport  
19:45
18 April 2026 Lions South Africa v Scotland Glasgow Warriors Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
14:45
18 April 2026 Stormers South Africa v Ireland Connacht Cape Town Stadium  
17:15
18 April 2026 Scarlets Wales v Wales Cardiff Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli  
17:30
18 April 2026 Benetton Italy v Ireland Munster Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
19:45
18 April 2026 Ospreys Wales v South Africa Sharks Brewery Field, Bridgend  
19:45

Round 16

[edit]
24 April 2026 Edinburgh Scotland v South Africa Sharks Edinburgh Rugby Stadium  
19:45
24 April 2026 Zebre Parma Italy v Wales Dragons Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
19:45
24 April 2026 Cardiff Wales v Wales Ospreys Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45
25 April 2026 Lions South Africa v Ireland Connacht Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
15:00
25 April 2026 Stormers South Africa v Scotland Glasgow Warriors Cape Town Stadium  
17:30
25 April 2026 Munster Ireland v Ireland Ulster Thomond Park, Limerick  
17:30
25 April 2026 Scarlets Wales v South Africa Bulls Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli  
19:45
25 April 2026 Benetton Italy v Ireland Leinster Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
19:45

Round 17

[edit]
8 May 2026 Glasgow Warriors Scotland v Wales Cardiff Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow  
19:45
8 May 2026 Ulster Ireland v South Africa Stormers Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
19:45
9 May 2026 Bulls South Africa v Italy Zebre Parma Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria  
12:45
9 May 2026 Sharks South Africa v Italy Benetton Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
15:00
9 May 2026 Ospreys Wales v Wales Scarlets Brewery Field, Bridgend  
17:30
9 May 2026 Leinster Ireland v South Africa Lions Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:30
9 May 2026 Dragons Wales v Scotland Edinburgh Rodney Parade, Newport  
19:45
9 May 2026 Connacht Ireland v Ireland Munster The Sportsground, Galway  
19:45

Round 18

[edit]
15 May 2026 Cardiff Wales v South Africa Stormers Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45
15 May 2026 Ulster Ireland v Scotland Glasgow Warriors Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
19:45
15 May 2026 Edinburgh Scotland v Ireland Connacht Edinburgh Rugby Stadium  
19:45
16 May 2026 Sharks South Africa v Italy Zebre Parma Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
12:45
16 May 2026 Bulls South Africa v Italy Benetton Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria  
15:00
16 May 2026 Leinster Ireland v Wales Ospreys Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:15
16 May 2026 Scarlets Wales v Wales Dragons Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli  
17:15
16 May 2026 Munster Ireland v South Africa Lions Thomond Park, Limerick  
19:45

Knockout stage

[edit]

Bracket

[edit]

The top eight teams in the regular season standings advance to the knockout stage, a single-elimination tournament culminating in a Grand Final to crown the overall champion.

Teams are seeded based on the regular season standings, with teams ranked 1–4 receiving home field advantage in the quarter-final, with 1 playing 8, 2 playing 7 etc. The top two teams in the standings are seeded so as not to meet until the Grand Final.

Home-field advantage for the semi-finals and Grand Final will be awarded to the highest-ranked team in each tie; the top two teams are therefore guaranteed home advantage until the final for as long as they remain in the tournament, and the top ranked team in the standings will be awarded home advantage should they reach the Grand Final.

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
         
1  
8  
 
 
4  
5  
 
 
3  
6  
 
 
2  
7  

Leading scorers

[edit]

Note: Flags to the left of player names indicate national team as has been defined under World Rugby eligibility rules, or primary nationality for players who have not yet earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities. Includes post season points scored.

As of 30 November 2025[32]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ While not officially confirmed by Cardiff, Corniel van Zyl has been placed as de facto head coach since Round 1.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Full 2024/2025 URC Fixture List". United Rugby Championship. 30 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Meritocracy Qualification Will Make URC Stronger". United Rugby Championship. 17 October 2023. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b "United Rugby Championship Format Explained". Pro14. 15 June 2021. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Van Zyl keen to succeed Sherratt at Cardiff". BBC Sport. 23 September 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  5. ^ "DHL Stormers to face Edinburgh at DHL Stadium". The Stormers. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Competition rules – United Rugby Championship". United Rugby Championship. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  7. ^ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Full Written Fixture List 2025/26". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  9. ^ a b "United Rugby Championship fixtures: Irish provinces learn URC schedules for 2025-26 campaign". BBC Sport. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  10. ^ John O'Sullivan, "Leinster blown away by the Stormers on chastening night for champions in Cape Town", The Irish Times, 26 September 2025
  11. ^ Peter Lockhart, "Ulster fight back to score six tries on opening night after disastrous start against Dragons", Belfast Telegraph, 26 September 2025
  12. ^ "Match Report | Ulster 42-21 Dragons", Ulster Rugby, 26 September 2025
  13. ^ "United Rugby Championship: Edinburgh lost to last-gasp Zebre penalty". BBC Sport. 27 September 2025. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  14. ^ James, Ben. "Dragons 17-17 Sharks report". Wales Online. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Dragons draw after dramatic finale". Dragons RFC. 3 October 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  16. ^ "A First URC Home Win For Munster At Thomond Park". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  17. ^ "Late Wycherley Try Clinches Bonus Point Win". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  18. ^ "Leinster up and running with victory over toothless Sharks". RTE. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  19. ^ "Cardiff Rugby 14 Connacht Rugby 8". Cardiff Rugby. 11 October 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  20. ^ Plass, Finbar (17 October 2025). "Scott steers Edinburgh to big win amid concern over Van Der Merwe injury". The Edinburgh Reporter. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  21. ^ Fallon, John (23 September 2025). "Connacht will have fewer than 4,000 fans for home games for half the season". The 42. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  22. ^ "Dragons 17 Cardiff 24". South Wales Argus. 17 October 2025. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  23. ^ "Late surge secures win for Lions in Johannesburg". Scarlets Rugby. 18 October 2025. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  24. ^ Palmer, Mark (24 October 2025). "Glasgow Warriors show fight to edge Bulls in heavyweight battle". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  25. ^ "Battling Scarlets defeated in Durban". Scarlets Rugby. 25 October 2025. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  26. ^ Glennon, Michael (25 October 2025). "Leinster shake off lively Zebre challenge for bonus win".
  27. ^ "Dragon News : Burrows late try seals comeback draw". dragonsrfc.wales. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  28. ^ Kennedy, Ciarán (25 October 2025). "Munster come out on top of tight tussle with Connacht". The 42. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  29. ^ "Cardiff Rugby 20 Edinburgh Rugby 19". Cardiff Rugby. 25 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  30. ^ "Match Report | Ulster 47-13 Benetton". Ulster Rugby. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  31. ^ Websites - 3bit.co.uk, We Build. "Dragon News : Brave Dragons denied late on by Leinster". dragonsrfc.wales. Retrieved 29 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ "Stats". United Rugby Championship. Archived from the original on 23 August 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
[edit]