- by Masivuye Mzimkhulu
- on 27 Sep, 2025
Season kick‑off and opening fixture
Friday, 26 September 2025, marked the start of the 25th edition of the United Rugby Championship. The opening match pitted last‑year champions Leinster against South Africa’s Stormers at Cape Town’s iconic stadium. Both sides arrived with big ambitions – Leinster looking to defend their title and the Stormers hoping to make a statement on home soil. The crowd was electric, with chants echoing across the venue and a flood of flags representing the tournament’s multinational flavour.
Leinster, fresh off a successful campaign, fielded a blend of seasoned veterans and emerging talent. The Stormers, meanwhile, relied on their powerful forward pack and a flashy backline that thrives in fast‑tempo play. Early exchanges were fierce, with both teams trading penalties before the first try arrived in the second half. By the final whistle, the match had already set the tone for a season full of high‑octane rugby.
Format, schedule and broadcast
The championship returns to its familiar structure: sixteen clubs split into four regional pools – Irish Shield, Welsh Shield, South African Shield, and a combined Scottish‑Italian Shield. Each team meets the other three clubs in its pool twice (home and away) and the remaining opponents once, totalling eighteen regular‑season games. This design guarantees six derby clashes for Irish, South African and Welsh sides, while Italian and Scottish teams enjoy two‑leg ties against their national rivals.
Points follow the bonus‑point system: four for a win, two for a draw, plus one for scoring four or more tries or losing by seven points or fewer. The schedule features festive derby rounds in Rounds 7‑9, when rivalries intensify under holiday lights. From Round 13, the "Race to the Eight" kicks into high gear as clubs vie for playoff spots and a berth in the European Champions Cup.
The season also includes themed weeks – Kids Round, Origin Round, Unity Round – each aimed at celebrating different facets of the sport and its community. The top eight teams will advance to the knockout stage starting 29 May 2026. Semi‑finals follow on 6 June, and the Grand Final crowns the champion on Saturday, 20 June 2026.
Broadcasting remains comprehensive. Premier Sports will air all 151 fixtures live, marking its third straight year as the UK host broadcaster and celebrating its 1,000th URC match this season. In Wales, S4C continues its historic partnership through 2027, delivering free‑to‑air coverage in the Welsh language – a unique legacy dating back to the league’s Celtic origins.
Fans can look forward to a season that blends tradition with innovation, offering plenty of drama on the field and solid coverage off it. Whether you’re tuning in from a local pub, streaming at home, or cheering from the stands, the 2025‑26 URC promises rugby that’s both fierce and unforgettable.