URC 2025-26 fixtures revealed: Leinster to kick off season against Stormers

URC 2025-26 fixtures revealed: Leinster to kick off season against Stormers

Season launch and headline clash

Fans across the globe will be glued to their screens on Friday, September 26, when the URC 2025-26 gets under way. Defending champions Leinster are set to travel to the iconic DHL Stadium in Cape Town for an opening‑day showdown with the DHL Stormers. It isn’t just any match – it pits the Irish powerhouse that lifted the title last season against the South African side that claimed the 2022 championship, promising fireworks right out of the gate.

Leinster’s squad has been buzzing all off‑season, keen to prove that their dominance wasn’t a one‑off. Meanwhile, the Stormers, fresh from a solid domestic campaign, will be eager to turn home advantage into a statement win. The result could shape early momentum for both camps as they eye the coveted ‘Race to the Eight’ that begins in earnest after the festive rounds.

Opening night isn’t a stand‑alone event. The same weekend sees Ulster host the Dragons at Kingspan Stadium, while the following day brings Zebre Parma to Edinburgh and Connacht to Benetton. This packed start ensures supporters have plenty of action, and broadcasters will have a full programme to fill the airtime.

Format, playoffs and broadcast details

The competition retains the structure that has worked for the past few years: sixteen teams spread across two conferences, each team playing 18 regular‑season games. After the rounds conclude, the top eight move into a single‑elimination knockout series. Quarter‑finals kick off on May 29, 2026, with the highest‑seeded side enjoying home‑field advantage. Winners progress to the semi‑finals on June 6, and the final showdown – the Grand Final – is slated for Saturday, June 20, at a venue that will be announced later in the year.

Playoff seeding follows the usual ladder: 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, and 4 vs 5. The higher seed hosts each match, and if an upset occurs, the next highest remaining team gets the home advantage for the semi‑finals. The Grand Final venue will be awarded to the highest‑ranked finalist, reinforcing the importance of every regular‑season point.

Special rounds add spice to the calendar. Rounds 7, 8 and 9 are earmarked as festive derby weeks, ensuring classic rivalries – think Munster vs Leinster or Glasgow vs Edinburgh – light up the holiday period. From Round 13 onward, the ‘Race to the Eight’ intensifies as teams scramble not only for playoff spots but also for the coveted European Rugby Champions Cup places.

• Kids Round – aimed at engaging younger fans with family‑friendly activities.
• Origin Round – celebrates the diverse cultural roots of the participating clubs.
• Unity Round – promotes inclusion and community projects tied to the league.

While the specifics of each themed round will be fleshed out by the URC committee later, the league has already confirmed that these initiatives will sit alongside the core competition, offering extra marketing angles and community outreach opportunities.

Broadcasting for the season is as robust as ever. Premier Sports will air all 151 matches live, marking a milestone as they approach their 1,000th URC broadcast. That streak underscores their three‑year deal as the UK’s primary URC partner. In Wales, S4C has locked in rights through 2027, guaranteeing free‑to‑air coverage for 20 live Welsh‑region games and deferred broadcasts for another 18. The broadcaster’s commitment is historic – it has shown the league in every season since the original Celtic League launch, cementing its role as a cultural staple.

European qualification rules for the 2026‑27 season have been clarified. The URC champion automatically secures a Champions Cup slot, followed by the winners of the Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup if those teams are from the URC. The top five finishers in the regular season also lock in Champions Cup places. The remaining three spots are conditional on cup results, while the bottom eight teams will compete in the EPCR Challenge Cup.

Alongside the main table, each conference runs a Regional Shield competition. Only matches against same‑conference opponents count toward Shield standings. Each team plays six Shield‑relevant games, and the current Shield holders – Leinster (Irish), Glasgow Warriors (Scottish), Sharks (South African) and Cardiff (Welsh) – will look to defend their crowns while eyeing additional silverware.

Looking beyond the opener, the second round of fixtures sees the Stormers welcome the Ospreys at home on October 3, Edinburgh travel to Ulster, and the Dragons host the Sharks. These early clashes set the tone for what promises to be a tightly contested season, where every point could be the difference between a playoff berth and a Shield finish.

With a blend of traditional rivalries, themed weeks, and a clear pathway to European competition, the URC 2025‑26 season is shaping up to be a compelling chapter in the league’s 25‑year history. Supporters, players, and broadcasters alike will be watching closely as the drama unfolds from the first whistle in Cape Town to the final roar of the Grand Final in June.