2025–26 United Rugby Championship

The 2025–26 United Rugby Championship will be the 25th season of the professional rugby union competition currently known as the United Rugby Championship, the highest level domestic club rugby competition in South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy. This season is also the fifth season under that name, and the fifth with the current collection of teams. It will begin on 26 September 2025 and will end in June 2026.^[1]

2025–26 United Rugby Championship
Countries	Ireland Italy Scotland South Africa Wales
Date	26 September 2025 – 14 June 2026
Official website
unitedrugby.com
← 2024–25 2026–27 →

Leinster enter the competition as the reigning champions, and holders of the URC Irish Shield and will kick off the competition with the first match away to Stormers. Glasgow Warriors, Sharks and Cardiff will defend the Scottish-Italian, South African and Welsh Shields respectively.

Format

The 2025–26 season once again consists of 21 rounds: 18 rounds of regular season play, followed by three rounds of play-offs. The competition runs from September 2025 to June 2026, with the regular season ending in mid May. The season also contains breaks for the 2025 end-of year internationals, the 2026 Men's Six Nations (though some matches are played during 'fallow' weekends) and the various matchdays of the 2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. The season does not overlap with the 2026 summer internationals. Some South African teams will play derby matches throughout the Men's Six Nations window, as this is a competition in which the South Africa national team are not involved.

There are four regional pools: The Irish Shield pool (featuring the four Irish teams), the Welsh Shield pool (featuring the four Welsh teams), the South African Shield pool (featuring the four South African teams) and the shared Italian-Scottish Shield pool (featuring the two Italian and two Scottish sides). The pools serve two functions; they guarantee a full slate of home-and-away derby matches for each team (which are often the best attended and most remunerative fixtures for the clubs involved), and they award a minor Regional Shield trophy to the top team in each pool, which thereby functions as a de facto national professional championship in three of the four pools, and a cross-border regional championship in the Scottish–Italian pool. The winner of each Shield will be determined solely from the games played amongst the teams within their regional pool, mirroring the format of the old Interprovincial Championship in Ireland.

In Scotland, the two pool games involving both Scottish sides, played back to back over the Christmas and New Year period, also decide the 1872 Cup, effectively a Scottish national professional championship. The two Italian sides have no individual trophy to play for.^[2]

Teams therefore play six matches against their regional pool rivals, in a home and away double round-robin. The remaining 12 matches are made up by a single round robin of the remaining teams, consisting of an even number of six home and six away matches against all the sides from the other pools, with home advantage alternating each year. Generally each team will play two of the teams in each of the other pools at home, and two away, with the matches away to South African teams usually held back to back as a 'mini-tour' to reduce travel. The South African teams in turn have six European matches, which again are often arranged as a series of 'mini-tours' of two or three matches to reduce air travel.^[3]

For the United Rugby Championship itself, there is one main league table. The top eight sides in that table at the end of the regular season will qualify for the play-off quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and a grand final. The playoffs are seeded, with the top four seeds having home advantage at the quarter-final stage. In the semi-finals and final, the better ranked club in each tie has home advantage, so the number one team in the ladder will retain home advantage for as long as it progresses in the competition, including the final (unlike the Prem Rugby competition in England where the final is held in the neutral Twickenham Stadium).

The Regional Shield pools have no direct link to the play-offs and by extension the Championship itself, or European qualification, and it is technically possible to win a Regional Shield but not contest the play-offs.^[3]

Teams

Team	Country	Coach / Director of Rugby	Captain	Stadium	Capacity	Position last season
Benetton current season	Italy	Calum MacRae		Stadio Comunale di Monigo	5,000	10th
Bulls current season	South Africa			Loftus Versfeld Stadium	51,762	Runner-up
Cardiff current season	Wales			Cardiff Arms Park	12,125	9th
Connacht current season	Ireland	Stuart Lancaster		The Sportsground	8,129	13th
Dragons current season	Wales			Rodney Parade	8,700	16th
Edinburgh current season	Scotland	Sean Everitt		Edinburgh Rugby Stadium Murrayfield Stadium	7,800 67,144	Quarter-finalist
Glasgow Warriors current season	Scotland			Scotstoun Stadium Hampden Park	7,351 51,866	Semi-finalist
Leinster current season	Ireland	Leo Cullen		RDS Arena Aviva Stadium	18,500 51,700	Champion (9th title)
Lions current season	South Africa			Ellis Park Stadium	62,567	11th
Munster current season	Ireland	Clayton McMillan		Thomond Park Musgrave Park	25,600 8,008	Quarter-finalist
Ospreys current season	Wales			Swansea.com Stadium Brewery Field	20,827 8,000	12th
Scarlets current season	Wales			Parc y Scarlets	14,870	Quarter-finalist
Sharks current season	South Africa			Kings Park Stadium	52,000	Semi-finalist
Stormers current season	South Africa			Cape Town Stadium Danie Craven Stadium[4]	55,000 16,000	Quarter-finalist
Ulster current season	Ireland	Richie Murphy		Ravenhill Stadium	18,196	14th
Zebre Parma current season	Italy	Massimo Brunello		Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi	5,000	15th

Location of Irish, Scottish and Welsh teams: Ulster Connacht Leinster Munster Glasgow Warriors Edinburgh Scarlets Ospreys Dragons Cardiff 2025–26 United Rugby Championship (the United Kingdom and Ireland)

Location of Italian teams: Benetton Zebre Parma 2025–26 United Rugby Championship (Northern Italy) Location of South African teams: Bulls Lions Sharks Stormers 2025–26 United Rugby Championship (South Africa)

URC league standings

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Benetton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Qualifies for home URC quarter-final; Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
2	Bulls	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Cardiff	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Connacht	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Dragons	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Qualifies for URC quarter-final; Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
6	Edinburgh	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
7	Glasgow Warriors	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
8	Leinster	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
9	Lions	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Qualification for the 2026–27 Challenge Cup
10	Munster	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
11	Ospreys	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
12	Scarlets	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
13	Sharks	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
14	Stormers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
15	Ulster	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
16	Zebre Parma	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: UnitedRugby.com
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won 2) The difference between points for and points against 3) The number of tries scored 4) The most points scored 5) The difference between tries for and tries against 6) The fewest red cards received 7) The fewest yellow cards received.^[5]

Regional Shields

Regional shield standings will be based entirely on performances against other teams within the same conference.^[2] Therefore, only six games for each team will count towards the regional shields. Leinster, Glasgow Warriors, Sharks and Cardiff enter their respective Regional shields as reigning champions.

2025–26 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield tables view · watch · edit · discuss
Irish Shield
	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TBP	LBP	Pts	Pos overall
1	Connacht	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2	Leinster	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
3	Munster	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
4	Ulster	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Italian x Scottish Shield
	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TBP	LBP	Pts	Pos overall
1	Benetton	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2	Edinburgh	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
3	Glasgow Warriors	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
4	Zebre Parma	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
South African Shield
	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TBP	LBP	Pts	Pos overall
1	Bulls	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2	Lions	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
3	Sharks	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
4	Stormers	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Welsh Shield
	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TBP	LBP	Pts	Pos overall
1	Cardiff	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2	Dragons	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
3	Ospreys	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
4	Scarlets	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[6] number of matches won the difference between points for and points against the number of tries scored the most points scored the difference between tries for and tries against the fewest red cards received the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields. (S) : URC Shield champion

European qualification

Priority order for 2026–27 European Rugby Champions Cup qualification is as follows:

• 2025–26 United Rugby Championship champions
• the 2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup champions (if a URC team but not already qualified as above)
• the 2025–26 EPCR Challenge Cup champions (if a URC team but not already qualified as above)
• the next highest-ranked teams during regular season play not already qualified as above, until eight overall qualifiers have been selected.

As a result of the priority order, the top five teams in the regular season standings are guaranteed qualification to the Champions Cup, with the remaining three places dependant on cup results this season.

The eight remaining teams qualify for the 2026–27 EPRC Challenge Cup.

Match grid

The following are the fixtures and results for the 2025–26 United Rugby Championship regular season:^[7][8]

Home \ Away	BEN	BUL	CAR	CON	DRA	EDI	GLA	LEI	LIO	MUN	OSP	SCA	SHA	STO	ULS	ZEB
Benetton		—	—	—	—	RD 9	RD 2	RD 16	RD 3	RD 15	RD 13	RD 11	—	RD 5	—	RD 7
Bulls	RD 18		RD 13	—	—	—	—	RD 2	RD 6	RD 14	RD 1	—	RD 12	RD 8	—	RD 17
Cardiff	RD 10	—		RD 3	RD 8	RD 5	—	RD 12	RD 1	—	RD 16	RD 7	—	RD 18	—	—
Connacht	RD 1	RD 4	—		—	—	RD 12	RD 10	—	RD 17	RD 14	RD 2	RD 6	—	RD 8	—
Dragons	RD 12	RD 15	RD 4	RD 7		RD 17	—	RD 6	—	—	RD 5	RD 9	RD 2	—	—	—
Edinburgh	RD 4	RD 10	—	RD 18	—		RD 8	—	—	—	RD 6	RD 12	RD 16	—	RD 2	RD 15
Glasgow Warriors	RD 14	RD 5	RD 17	—	RD 3	RD 7		RD 13	—	RD 11	—	—	RD 1	—	—	RD 9
Leinster	—	—	—	RD 9	—	RD 11	—		RD 17	RD 4	RD 18	RD 14	RD 3	—	RD 7	RD 5
Lions	—	RD 11	—	RD 16	RD 14	RD 13	RD 15	—		—	—	RD 5	RD 8	RD 12	RD 6	—
Munster	—	—	RD 2	RD 5	RD 10	RD 3	—	RD 8	RD 18		—	—	—	RD 6	RD 16	RD 12
Ospreys	—	—	RD 9	—	RD 11	—	RD 4	—	RD 10	RD 7		RD 17	RD 15	—	RD 12	RD 3
Scarlets	—	RD 16	RD 15	—	RD 18	—	RD 6	—	—	RD 1	RD 8		—	RD 3	RD 10	RD 13
Sharks	RD 17	RD 7	RD 14	—	—	—	—	—	RD 9	RD 13		RD 5		RD 11	RD 4	RD 18
Stormers	—	RD 9	—	RD 15	RD 13	RD 14	RD 16	RD 1	RD 7	—	RD 2	—	RD 10		—	—
Ulster	RD 6	RD 3	RD 11	RD 13	RD 1	—	RD 18	RD 15	—	RD 9	—	—	—	RD 16		—
Zebre Parma	RD 8	—	RD 6	RD 11	RD 16	RD 1	RD 10	—	RD 2	—	—	—	—	RD 4	RD 14

URC Shield fixtures in bold; Colours: Green: home team win; Yellow: draw; Red: away team win; Blue: upcoming matches

Regular season

The matches for the regular season were announced on 21 May 2025, the earliest fixture reveal in the competition's history.^{[citation needed]} The first match will be the visit of Leinster to South Africa to take on Stormers at Cape Town Stadium on Friday, 26 September 2025.^[7][8]

Round 1

26 September 2025	Stormers	v	Leinster	Cape Town Stadium
18:00

26 September 2025	Ulster	v	Dragons	Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast
20:05

26 September 2025	Glasgow Warriors	v	Sharks	Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
20:05

27 September 2025	Bulls	v	Ospreys	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
13:00

27 September 2025	Zebre Parma	v	Edinburgh	Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
15:05

27 September 2025	Scarlets	v	Munster	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
17:30

27 September 2025	Cardiff	v	Lions	Cardiff Arms Park
19:45

27 September 2025	Connacht	v	Benetton	The Sportsground, Galway
19:45

Round 2

3 October 2025	Stormers	v	Ospreys	Cape Town Stadium
18:00

3 October 2025	Connacht	v	Scarlets	The Sportsground, Galway
20:05

3 October 2025	Edinburgh	v	Ulster	Edinburgh Rugby Stadium
20:05

3 October 2025	Dragons	v	Sharks	Rodney Parade, Newport
20:05

4 October 2025	Benetton	v	Glasgow Warriors	Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
17:30

4 October 2025	Bulls	v	Leinster	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
17:30

4 October 2025	Munster	v	Cardiff	Thomond Park, Limerick
19:45

5 October 2025	Zebre Parma	v	Lions	Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
14:00

Round 3

10 October 2025	Munster	v	Edinburgh	Musgrave Park, Cork
19:45

10 October 2025	Scarlets	v	Stormers	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
19:45

11 October 2025	Benetton	v	Lions	Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
15:00

11 October 2025	Ospreys	v	Zebre Parma	TBC
15:00

11 October 2025	Glasgow Warriors	v	Dragons	Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
17:30

11 October 2025	Leinster	v	Sharks	Aviva Stadium, Dublin
17:30

11 October 2025	Ulster	v	Bulls	Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast
19:45

11 October 2025	Cardiff	v	Connacht	Cardiff Arms Park
19:45

Round 4

17 October 2025	Edinburgh	v	Benetton	Edinburgh Rugby Stadium
19:45

17 October 2025	Connacht	v	Bulls	The Sportsground, Galway
19:45

17 October 2025	Dragons	v	Cardiff	Rodney Parade, Newport
19:45

18 October 2025	Lions	v	Scarlets	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
12:45

18 October 2025	Sharks	v	Ulster	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
15:00

18 October 2025	Leinster	v	Munster	Croke Park, Dublin
17:15

18 October 2025	Zebre Parma	v	Stormers	Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
19:45

18 October 2025	Ospreys	v	Glasgow Warriors	TBC
19:45

Round 5

24 October 2025	Glasgow Warriors	v	Bulls	Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
19:45

25 October 2025	Lions	v	Ulster	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
12:45

25 October 2025	Sharks	v	Scarlets	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
15:00

25 October 2025	Leinster	v	Zebre Parma	Aviva Stadium, Dublin
17:30

25 October 2025	Benetton	v	Stormers	Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
17:30

25 October 2025	Dragons	v	Ospreys	Rodney Parade, Newport
17:30

25 October 2025	Munster	v	Connacht	Thomond Park, Limerick
19:45

25 October 2025	Cardiff	v	Edinburgh	Cardiff Arms Park
19:45

Round 6

28 November 2025	Ulster	v	Benetton	Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast
19:45

28 November 2025	Dragons	v	Leinster	Rodney Parade, Newport
19:45

29 November 2025	Bulls	v	Lions	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
12:00

29 November 2025	Zebre Parma	v	Cardiff	Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
13:00

29 November 2025	Munster	v	Stormers	Thomond Park, Limerick
17:30

29 November 2025	Edinburgh	v	Ospreys	Edinburgh Rugby Stadium
17:30

29 November 2025	Connacht	v	Sharks	The Sportsground, Galway
19:45

29 November 2025	Scarlets	v	Glasgow Warriors	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
19:45

Round 7

19 December 2025	Cardiff	v	Scarlets	Cardiff Arms Park
19:45

19 December 2025	Leinster	v	Ulster	Aviva Stadium, Dublin
19:45

20 December 2025	Stormers	v	Lions	Cape Town Stadium
13:30

20 December 2025	Benetton	v	Zebre Parma	Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
14:00

20 December 2025	Glasgow Warriors	v	Edinburgh	Hampden Park, Glasgow
15:00

20 December 2025	Sharks	v	Bulls	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
16:00

20 December 2025	Ospreys	v	Munster	TBC
17:30

20 December 2025	Dragons	v	Connacht	Rodney Parade, Newport
19:45

Round 8

26 December 2025	Cardiff	v	Dragons	Cardiff Arms Park
15:00

26 December 2025	Scarlets	v	Ospreys	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
17:30

27 December 2025	Zebre Parma	v	Benetton	Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
14:30

27 December 2025	Edinburgh	v	Glasgow Warriors	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
15:00

27 December 2025	Connacht	v	Ulster	The Sportsground, Galway
17:30

27 December 2025	Munster	v	Leinster	Thomond Park, Limerick
19:45

TBC	Bulls	v	Stormers	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
TBC

TBC	Lions	v	Sharks	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
TBC

Round 9

1 January 2026	Dragons	v	Scarlets	Rodney Parade, Newport
15:00

1 January 2026	Ospreys	v	Cardiff	TBC
17:30

2 January 2026	Ulster	v	Munster	Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast
19:45

3 January 2026	Sharks	v	Lions	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
13:30

3 January 2026	Stormers	v	Bulls	Cape Town Stadium
16:00

3 January 2026	Benetton	v	Edinburgh	Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
17:30

3 January 2026	Leinster	v	Connacht	Aviva Stadium, Dublin
17:30

3 January 2026	Glasgow Warriors	v	Zebre Parma	Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
19:45

Round 10

23 January 2026	Ospreys	v	Lions	TBC
19:45

23 January 2026	Edinburgh	v	Bulls	Edinburgh Rugby Stadium
19:45

23 January 2026	Munster	v	Dragons	Musgrave Park, Cork
19:45

24 January 2026	Scarlets	v	Ulster	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
15:00

24 January 2026	Connacht	v	Leinster	The Sportsground, Galway
17:30

24 January 2026	Stormers	v	Sharks	Cape Town Stadium
17:30

24 January 2026	Zebre Parma	v	Glasgow Warriors	Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
19:45

24 January 2026	Cardiff	v	Benetton	Cardiff Arms Park
19:45

Round 11

30 January 2026	Benetton	v	Scarlets	Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
19:45

30 January 2026	Glasgow Warriors	v	Munster	Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
19:45

31 January 2026	Lions	v	Bulls	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
12:30

31 January 2026	Sharks	v	Stormers	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
15:00

31 January 2026	Zebre Parma	v	Connacht	Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
15:00

31 January 2026	Leinster	v	Edinburgh	Aviva Stadium, Dublin
17:30

31 January 2026	Ospreys	v	Dragons	TBC
19:45

31 January 2026	Ulster	v	Cardiff	Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast
19:45

Round 12

27 February 2026	Edinburgh	v	Scarlets	Edinburgh Rugby Stadium
19:45

27 February 2026	Cardiff	v	Leinster	Cardiff Arms Park
19:45

28 February 2026	Lions	v	Stormers	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
12:30

28 February 2026	Bulls	v	Sharks	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
15:00

28 February 2026	Connacht	v	Glasgow Warriors	The Sportsground, Galway
15:00

28 February 2026	Munster	v	Zebre Parma	Thomond Park, Limerick
17:30

28 February 2026	Dragons	v	Benetton	Rodney Parade, Newport
17:30

28 February 2026	Ospreys	v	Ulster	TBC
19:45

Round 13

20 March 2026	Bulls	v	Cardiff	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
17:00

20 March 2026	Scarlets	v	Zebre Parma	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
19:45

20 March 2026	Ulster	v	Connacht	Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast
19:45

21 March 2026	Lions	v	Edinburgh	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
12:45

21 March 2026	Sharks	v	Munster	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
15:00

21 March 2026	Benetton	v	Ospreys	Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
15:00

21 March 2026	Glasgow Warriors	v	Leinster	Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
17:30

21 March 2026	Stormers	v	Dragons	TBC
17:30

Round 14

27 March 2026	Sharks	v	Cardiff	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
17:00

27 March 2026	Glasgow Warriors	v	Benetton	Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
19:45

28 March 2026	Bulls	v	Munster	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
12:00

28 March 2026	Connacht	v	Ospreys	The Sportsground, Galway
14:15

28 March 2026	Lions	v	Dragons	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
14:30

28 March 2026	Stormers	v	Edinburgh	Cape Town Stadium
17:00

28 March 2026	Leinster	v	Scarlets	Aviva Stadium, Dublin
17:30

28 March 2026	Zebre Parma	v	Ulster	Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
19:45

Round 15

17 April 2026	Edinburgh	v	Zebre Parma	Edinburgh Rugby Stadium
19:45

17 April 2026	Ulster	v	Leinster	Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast
19:45

17 April 2026	Dragons	v	Bulls	Rodney Parade, Newport
19:45

18 April 2026	Lions	v	Glasgow Warriors	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
14:45

18 April 2026	Stormers	v	Connacht	Cape Town Stadium
17:15

18 April 2026	Scarlets	v	Cardiff	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
17:30

18 April 2026	Benetton	v	Munster	Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
19:45

18 April 2026	Ospreys	v	Sharks	TBC
19:45

Round 16

24 April 2026	Edinburgh	v	Sharks	Edinburgh Rugby Stadium
19:45

24 April 2026	Zebre Parma	v	Dragons	Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
19:45

24 April 2026	Cardiff	v	Ospreys	Cardiff Arms Park
19:45

25 April 2026	Lions	v	Connacht	Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
15:00

25 April 2026	Stormers	v	Glasgow Warriors	Cape Town Stadium
17:30

25 April 2026	Munster	v	Ulster	Thomond Park, Limerick
17:30

25 April 2026	Scarlets	v	Bulls	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
19:45

25 April 2026	Benetton	v	Leinster	Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
19:45

Round 17

8 May 2026	Glasgow Warriors	v	Cardiff	Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
19:45

8 May 2026	Ulster	v	Stormers	Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast
19:45

9 May 2026	Bulls	v	Zebre Parma	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
12:45

9 May 2026	Sharks	v	Benetton	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
15:00

9 May 2026	Ospreys	v	Scarlets	TBC
17:30

9 May 2026	Leinster	v	Lions	Aviva Stadium, Dublin
17:30

9 May 2026	Dragons	v	Edinburgh	Rodney Parade, Newport
19:45

9 May 2026	Connacht	v	Munster	The Sportsground, Galway
19:45

Round 18

15 May 2026	Cardiff	v	Stormers	Cardiff Arms Park
19:45

15 May 2026	Ulster	v	Glasgow Warriors	Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast
19:45

15 May 2026	Edinburgh	v	Connacht	Edinburgh Rugby Stadium
19:45

16 May 2026	Sharks	v	Zebre Parma	Kings Park Stadium, Durban
12:45

16 May 2026	Bulls	v	Benetton	Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
15:00

16 May 2026	Leinster	v	Ospreys	Aviva Stadium, Dublin
17:15

16 May 2026	Scarlets	v	Dragons	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
17:15

16 May 2026	Munster	v	Lions	Thomond Park, Limerick
19:45

Knockout stage

Bracket

The top eight teams in the regular season standings advance to the knockout stage, a single-elimination tournament culminating in a Grand Final to crown the overall champion.

Teams are seeded based on the regular season standings, with teams ranked 1–4 receiving home field advantage in the quarter-final, with 1 playing 8, 2 playing 7 etc. The top two teams in the standings are seeded so as not to meet until the Grand Final.

Home-field advantage for the semi-finals and Grand Final will be awarded to the highest-ranked team in each tie; the top two teams are therefore guaranteed home advantage until the final for as long as they remain in the tournament, and the top ranked team in the standings will be awarded home advantage should they reach the Grand Final.

	Quarter-finals					Semi-finals					Final
	1
	8
	4
	5
	3
	6
	2
	7