URC: All the kick off times, SA squads for the opening round

The upcoming United Rugby Championship (URC) season kicks off on Friday, 25 September, with the Stormers and Bulls starting their campaigns on the road, while the Lions and Sharks will be aiming for statement wins at home.

It was confirmed earlier this week that the URC will introduce a season-long trial for 2026/27 that will see all team line-ups announced at 15:00 SA time on Thursdays of a match week.

Rather than Friday and Saturday teams being announced on separate days, all 16 teams will now work to a coordinated Thursday announcement time.

Leinster made history last season, becoming the first team to win back-to-back URC titles. Now, the question is: can they make it three in a row?

After four runner-up finishes, can the Bulls finally get their hands on the trophy? Or will another challenger emerge and give us a new URC champion?

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW AS THE NEW URC SEASON KICKS OFF

Round 1

Friday 25th September 2026

Benetton v Dragons RFC

20:45 SAST | Stadio Monigo, Treviso

Connacht v Stormers

20:45 SAST | Dexcom Stadium, Galway

Ulster v Edinburgh

20:45 SAST | Affidea Stadium, Belfast

Saturday 26th September 2026

Lions v Leinster

13:30 SAST | 10bet Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Sharks v Ospreys

16:00 SAST | Hollywoodbets Kings Park

Munster v Glasgow Warriors

18:30 SAST | Thomond Park, Limerick

Zebre Parma v Bulls

18:30 SAST | Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma

Scarlets v Cardiff Rugby

20:45 SAST | Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli

Player movements

Lions

Transfers IN ⬅️

Boan Venter (Prop, 29, from Edinburgh)

Dan Kasende (Winger, 31, from Ospreys)

Boeta Chamberlain (Flyhalf, 27, from Newcastle Red Bulls)

Asad Moos (Scrumhalf, 22, from Stormers)

Transfers OUT ➡️

Ruben Schoeman (Lock, 30, to Narbonne)

Gianni Lombard (Flyhalf, 28, to Sharks)

Darrien Landsberg (Lock, 27, to Sharks)

Franco Marais (Hooker, 33, to RETIREMENT)

Stormers

Transfers IN ⬅️

Wilco Louw (Prop, 31, from Bulls)

Siya Kolisi (Back row, 35, from Sharks)

Cheslin Kolbe (Winger, 32, from Tokyo Sungoliath)

Transfers OUT ➡️

Salmaan Moerat (Lock, 28, to La Rochelle)

Dan du Plessis (Centre, 31, to Bordeaux)

Dylan Maart (Winger, 29, to Bulls)

Corne Weilbach (Prop, 24, to Saracens)

Ruben van Heerden (Lock, 28, to Montpellier)

Siyabonga Ntubeni (Hooker, 35, to RETIREMENT)

Asad Mood (Scrum-half, 22, to Lions)

 Sharks

Transfers IN ⬅️

Ivan van Zyl (Scrum-half, 31, from Saracens)

Thomas du Toit (Prop, 31, from Bath)

Gianni Lombard (Fly-half, 28, from Lions)

Darrien Landsberg (Lock, 27, to Sharks)

Stephan Lewies (Lock, 34, from Harlequins)

Transfers OUT ➡️

Grant Williams (Scrum-half, 29, to Kobelco Steelers)

Aphelele Fassi (Fullback, 28, to Brave Lupus)

Siya Kolisi (Back row, 35, to Stormers)

Jean Smith (Fly-half, 23, to Benetton)

Francois Venter (Centre, 35, to RETIREMENT)

Le Roux Malan (Centre, 27, to Cardiff Rugby)

Luan Giliomee (Fullback, 20, from Sharks)

Bulls

Transfers IN ⬅️

Thaakir Abrahams (Winger, 27, from Munster)

Luan Giliomee (Fullback, 20, from Sharks)

Dylan Maart (Winger, 29, from Stormers)

Hanro Leibenberg (Back row, 30, from Leicester Tigers)

Curwin Bosch (Fullback, 29, from Brive)

Transfers OUT ➡️

Wilco Louw (Prop, 31, to Stormers)

Ruan Nortje (Lock, 27, to Kubota Spears)

Johan Goosen (Flyhalf, 33, to RETIREMENT)

David Kriel (Centre, 27, to La Rochelle)

Kurt-Lee Arendse (Winger, 30, to Sagamihara)

Round 1 brings us three Friday night fixtures, all taking place in the Northern hemisphere, featuring a highly anticipated clash between Connacht and Stormers in Galway. This is followed by a stacked Saturday which is headlined by defending Champions Leinster taking on the Lions in the lunchtime kick off.

Bulls URC squad
Thaakir Abrahams, Riyaad Bam, Curwin Bosch, Zak Burger, Nizaam Carr, Marcell Coetzee, Paul de Wet, Jean Erasmus, Demetri Erasmus, Juann Else, Stedman Gans, Luan Giliomee, Jaco Grobbelaar, Johan Grobbelaar, Mpilo Gumede, Cameron Hanekom, JF van Heerden, Stravino Jacobs, Nicolaas Jansen van Rensburg, Keagan Johannes, Cheswill Jooste, Francois Klopper, Hakeem Kunene, Neil le Roux, Willie le Roux, Katlego Letebele, Hanro Liebenberg, Elrigh Louw, Reinhardt Ludwig, Dylan Maart, Mawande Mdanda, Khuta Mchunu, Canan Moodie, Embrose Papier, Sergeal Petersen, Handré Pollard, Jeandré Rudolph, Dylan Smith, Mornay Smith, Sti Sithole, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Heinrich Theron, JJ Theron, Alulutho Tshakweni, Janco Uys, JF van Heerden, Akker van der Merwe, Ruan Vermaak, Harold Vorster, Cobus Wiese, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Devon Williams, Sango Xamlashe, Nama Xaba.

Sharks squad
Albie Bester, André Esterhuizen, Bongi Mbonambi, Bradley Davids, Cameron Dawson, Ceano Everson, Coetzee le Roux, Corné Rahl, Darrien Landsberg, Deon Slabbert, Dian Heunis, Donavan Don, Eben Etzebeth, Eduan Swart, Edwill van der Merwe, Emile van Heerden, Manu Tshituka, Esethu Mnebelele, Ethan Bester, Ethan Hooker, Fez Mbatha, Gianni Lombard, Hanro Jacobs, Hendré Stassen, Ivan van Zyl, Jaco Williams, Jaden Hendrikse, Janco Purchase, Jannes Potgieter, Jason Jenkins, Johan Momsen, Jordan Hendrikse, Juan Loots, Jurenzo Julius, Khuthi Rasivhaga, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, Liam van Wyk, Lili Bester, Luan Giliomee, Lyle Matthews, Ma’a Nonu, Makazole Mapimpi, Matt Romao, Matthew Fortuin, Murray Koster, Nemo Roelofse, Nick Hatton, Phatu Ganyane, Phepsi Buthelezi, PK Sobahle, Rambo Kubheka, Ox Nché, Ross Braude, Simphiwe Matanzima, Simphiwe Ngobese, Siya Masuku, Stephan Lewies, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Thomas du Toit, Thomas Dyer, Tino Mavesere, Trevor Nyakane, Vincent Koch, Vincent Tshituka, Vusi Moyo, Yaw Penxe, Zekhethelo Siyaya.

Stormers squad
Neethling Fouché, Oli Kebble, Sazi Sandi, Wilco Louw, Vernon Matongo, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Zachary Porthen, Hencus van Wyk, Herman Lubbe, Olly Reid, André-Hugo Venter, JJ Kotzé, Lukhanyo Vokozela, Vernon Paulo, Luca Bakkes, JD Schickerling, Adré Smith, Connor Evans, Gary Porter, Riley Norton, Deon Fourie, Siya Kolisi, Marcel Theunissen, Evan Roos, Ben-Jason Dixon, Hacjivah Dayimani, Paul de Villiers, Keke Morabe, Louw Nel, Ruan Ackermann, Wandile Mlaba, Divan Fuller, Stefan Ungerer, Imad Khan, Cobus Reinach, Ezekiel Ngobeni, Jayden Brits, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Jurie Matthee, Yaqeen Ahmed, Kyle Smith, Ruhan Nel, Wandisile Simelane, Jonathan Roche, Markus Muller, Josh Boulle, Leolin Zas, Seabelo Senatla, Cheslin Kolbe, JC Mars, Mfundo Ndhlovu, Joel Leotlela, Gino Cupido, Damian Willemse, Warrick Gelant.