The United Rugby Championship returns on 23–24 October, with South Africa’s four franchises preparing for another crucial round of action.
After a weekend focused on European competition, attention now shifts back to the United Rugby Championship (URC), where the Bulls, Stormers, Sharks and Lions will be looking to strengthen their positions on the league table.
The Sharks and Lions face challenging away fixtures on Friday, while the Bulls and Stormers will have home advantage when they take to the field on Saturday.
The upcoming round follows a weekend of mixed fortunes for South African teams in Europe. The Bulls, Stormers and Sharks enjoyed encouraging starts to their respective European campaigns, while the Lions suffered a difficult evening against Stade Rochelais.
The Lions played their match in France following the tragic death of lock Hyron Andrews, honouring their teammate despite the emotional circumstances. They ultimately lost 31-14.
The Cheetahs also endured a narrow defeat, going down 29-27 against Aviron Bayonnais.
With the URC now back on the schedule, South African rugby supporters can look forward to another weekend of high-intensity action.
Friday: Sharks and Lions Face Away Challenges
Friday’s fixtures feature two South African sides travelling to Europe.
The Sharks will take on Cardiff, while the Lions face Edinburgh in what promises to be a demanding test against one of the competition’s leading teams.
Both teams will be eager to collect valuable points as the league campaign continues.
Friday, 23 October 2026
| Match | Kick-off |
|---|---|
| Cardiff vs Sharks | 20:45 |
| Connacht vs Zebre Parma | 20:45 |
| Edinburgh vs Lions | 20:45 |
Kick-off times are reproduced from the supplied fixture list. Confirm the applicable time zone before publication.
Saturday: Bulls and Stormers Play at Home
Saturday brings two important fixtures for South African rugby fans.
The Bulls will host Ulster Rugby, looking to build on their position near the top of the standings. The Stormers, meanwhile, welcome the Scarlets to Cape Town as they aim to maintain their early-season momentum.
Both franchises have made promising starts to the campaign and will be keen to turn home advantage into another positive result.
Saturday, 24 October 2026
| Match | Kick-off |
|---|---|
| Bulls vs Ulster Rugby | 13:45 |
| Stormers vs Scarlets | 16:00 |
| Benetton vs Glasgow Warriors | 16:00 |
| Leinster vs Munster | 19:00 |
| Ospreys vs Dragons RFC | 20:00 |
Latest URC Standings
Edinburgh lead the competition after the opening three rounds, with Glasgow Warriors occupying second place.
The Bulls sit third, level on 11 points with the fourth-placed Stormers. The Sharks are fifth, while the Lions occupy seventh position.
With the competition still in its early stages, another strong weekend could help the South African franchises improve their positions and close the gap on the leading teams.
URC log after three rounds
| Pos. | Team | Points | Played | W | D | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edinburgh | 14 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Glasgow Warriors | 13 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | Bulls | 11 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Stormers | 11 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | Sharks | 10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Cardiff | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | Lions | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Dragons RFC | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 9 | Munster | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 10 | Leinster | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | Ulster | 8 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 12 | Scarlets | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 13 | Ospreys | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 14 | Connacht | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 15 | Benetton | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 16 | Zebre Parma | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Which South African Team Will Deliver This Weekend?
The Bulls and Stormers will be looking to capitalise on home advantage, while the Sharks and Lions face difficult assignments on the road.
With the competition table already taking shape, every point could prove important as the race for a place in the URC playoffs develops.
Which South African team are you backing this weekend: the Bulls, Stormers, Sharks or Lions?
Share your predictions in the comments.
