The new United Rugby Championship season is almost here, with all four South African teams set to begin their campaigns against opposition from Ireland, Wales and Italy.
The Stormers will kick off the action for the South African contingent when they travel to Galway to face Connacht on Friday night.
Saturday brings a triple-header involving the remaining South African sides, with the Lions hosting defending champions Leinster at Ellis Park before the Sharks welcome the Ospreys to Durban.
The Bulls will then round off the opening weekend for the country’s teams when they take on Zebre Parma in Italy.
URC ROUND ONE: SOUTH AFRICAN TEAM FIXTURES
Connacht v Stormers
Date: Friday, 25 September 2026
Venue: Dexcom Stadium, Galway
Kick-off: 20:45 SA time
Referee: Sam Grove-White
TV: SuperSport
The Stormers will have the honour of opening the URC campaign for South Africa when they face Connacht in Galway.
A trip to Ireland presents an immediate challenge for the Cape side as they look to make a positive start to the new season.
Lions v Leinster
Date: Saturday, 26 September 2026
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 13:30 SA time
Referee: Ben Breakspear
TV: SuperSport
The Lions face one of the biggest tests of the opening round when two-time defending champions Leinster arrive in Johannesburg.
The Ellis Park encounter could provide an early indication of how the Lions measure up against one of the competition’s leading sides.
Sharks v Ospreys
Date: Saturday, 26 September 2026
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 16:00 SA time
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi
TV: SuperSport
The Sharks will begin their campaign at home against Welsh outfit Ospreys.
With home advantage on their side, the Durban franchise will be targeting a winning start as they look to establish momentum early in the season.
Zebre Parma v Bulls
Date: Saturday, 26 September 2026
Venue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
Kick-off: 18:30 SA time
Referee: Andrew Brace
TV: SuperSport
The Bulls will be the final South African side in action during the opening round.
They face an away trip to Italy against Zebre Parma, with the Pretoria-based franchise aiming to return home with valuable points from their first fixture.
A NEW URC SEASON BEGINS
The 2026/27 campaign marks another chapter in the growth of the United Rugby Championship, which was launched in 2021 as a competition built around a different approach to professional rugby.
URC CEO Martin Anayi believes the competition has continued to build momentum over its first five seasons, with audiences growing across television, stadiums and digital platforms.
Anayi highlighted the league’s competitive nature, pointing to four different champions in its first five seasons and the fact that 14 of the 16 clubs have reached the playoffs during that period.
Leinster’s title success last season also ended a run in which no team had previously managed to successfully defend the URC crown.
According to Anayi, the next challenge is to turn that growing interest into even greater success for the league’s 16 clubs.
The URC will now enter another season with South Africa’s four franchises once again aiming to challenge for honours.
FULL SA URC SCHEDULE THIS WEEKEND
| Match | Date | SA Kick-off |
|---|---|---|
| Connacht v Stormers | Friday, 25 September | 20:45 |
| Lions v Leinster | Saturday, 26 September | 13:30 |
| Sharks v Ospreys | Saturday, 26 September | 16:00 |
| Zebre Parma v Bulls | Saturday, 26 September | 18:30 |
All four fixtures are scheduled to be broadcast live on SuperSport.
