URC CEO Martin Anayi, right. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
The United Rugby Championship (URC) organisers have heeded the complaints of the South African clubs and given them lighter overseas travel loads for the new season, which kicks off on Friday, September 26 this year.
The complete fixture list for the 2026/27 season was released on Tuesday, 128 days before the first match, which is the Stormers away to Connacht. That first weekend sees the Lions hosting Leinster at Ellis Park, the Sharks beginning in Durban against the Ospreys, while the Bulls’ first clash is away against Zebre in Italy.
According to the URC press release, the fixture list has been designed to provide greater balance across the regular season, with a more even spread of home and away fixtures and “an optimised touring model for South African teams, who will each complete three two-game URC tours during the (eight-month) campaign.”
The competition will begin with fixtures across Ireland, Italy, South Africa, and Wales on the opening weekend, with all five competing territories in action across the first round. The pick of the opening round sees the 2023 URC champions, Munster, host the 2024 champions, Glasgow Warriors, at Thomond Park on 26 September.
Festive derby rounds will again form a major part of the season, with Rounds 7, 8, and 9 staged across December and early January, while the Race to the Eight will build from Round 13 as the battle for knock-out rugby intensifies.
The format of the competition remains unchanged, with the Top 8 teams progressing to the play-offs. The quarter-finals will begin on Friday, 28 May, with the semi-finals taking place from Saturday, 5 June, before the Grand Final on Saturday, 19 June.
Martin Anayi, URC CEO, said: “After the closest-ever Race to the Eight in 2025/26, we are preparing for another incredibly dramatic URC season.
"The level of competitiveness across the league continues to grow, and we know every round will have a major impact on the battle for Play-Off places, European qualification and, ultimately, the title.”