URC, Round One: Predictions, teams, kick-off times, how to watch and referee appointments

The 2026/27 United Rugby Championship (URC) season kicks off this weekend with three games taking place on Friday before five fixtures are played over Saturday.

Check on all the URC team news, our predictions, the match officials and more below.

URC, round one

Friday

Benetton v Dragons

Prediction: Benetton by 12

Benetton: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 François Mey, 12 Paolo Odogwu, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Sebastian Blacks (c), 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Giulio Marini, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Mattia Midena, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 1 Matias Medrano
Replacements: 16 Nicholas Gasperini, 17 Ivan Nemer, 18 Marcos Gallorini, 19 Piero Gritti, 20 Antony Miranda, 21 Siua Maile, 22 Louis Werchon, 23 Jean Smith

Dragons: 15 Huw Anderson, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Fine Inisi, 12 Aneurin Owen (cc), 11 Anzelo Tuitavuki, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Evan Minto, 7 Thomas Young (cc), 6 Ryan Woodman, 5 Seb Davies, 4 Barny Langton-Cryer, 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Oli Burrows, 1 Rodrigo Martinez
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 20 Harry Beddall, 21 Che Hope, 22 Jac Lloyd, 23 Fetuli Paea

Venue: Stadio Monigo, Treviso
Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA
Referee: Christopher Allison (SARU, 11th league game)
Assistant Referees: Alex Frasson (FIR), Dario Merli (FIR)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
Live on: Sky Italia, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby, URC.tv

Connacht v Stormers

Prediction: Connacht by 3

Connacht: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 John Devine, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Finn Treacy, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Ben Murphy, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Sean O’Brien, 5 Josh Murphy, 4 Niall Murray, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Eoin de Buitléar, 1 Francois van Wyk
Replacements: 16 Matthew Victory, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Fiachna Barrett, 19 David O’Connor, 20 Max Flynn, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Sean Naughton, 23 Shayne Bolton

Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Evan Roos, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Riley Norton, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Olly Reid, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Adré Smith, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 23 Yaqeen Ahmed

Venue: Dexcom Stadium, Galway
Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 63rd league game)
Assistant Referees: Eoghan Cross (IRFU), Tomas O’Sullivan (IRFU)
TMO: David Sutherland (SRU)
Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby, URC.tv

Ulster v Edinburgh

Prediction: Ulster by 8

Ulster: 15 Michael Lowry (c), 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Ben Carson, 12 Jamie Benson, 11 Aitzol Arenzana-King, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Conor McKee, 8 James McNabney, 7 Martin Moloney, 6 David McCann, 5 Ben Donnell, 4 Eli Snyman, 3 Eduardo Bello, 2 James McCormick, 1 Eric O’Sullivan
Replacements: 16 Henry Walker 17 Tom McAllister, 18 Keynan Knox, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 James McKillop, 21 Matthew Devine, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Zac Ward

Edinburgh: 15 Piers O’Conor, 14 Malelili Satala, 13 Matt Currie (cc), 12 Kienan Higgins, 11 Geordie Gwynn, 10 James Grayson, 9 Hector Patterson, 8 Magnus Bradbury (cc), 7 Freddy Douglas, 6 Liam McConnell, 5 Glen Young, 4 Callum Hunter-Hill, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Harri Morris, 1 Alec Hepburn
Replacements: 16 Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, 17 James Whitcombe, 18 D’arcy Rae, 19 Euan McVie, 20 Tom Currie, 21 Conor McAlpine, 22 Cammy Scott, 23 Rory McHaffie

Venue: Affidea Stadium, Belfast
Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR, 22nd league game)
Assistant Referees: Max Weston (IRFU), Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: Vincenzo Schipani (FIR)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby, URC.tv

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Saturday

Lions v Leinster

Prediction: Lions by 3

Lions: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Erich Cronje, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Sebastian Lombard, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Boan Venter
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 JC Pretorius, 21 Siba Qoma, 22 Zian Cilliers, 23 Ethan Adams

Leinster: 15 Todd Lawlor, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Hugh Cooney, 12 Charlie Tector, 11 Andrew Osborne, 10 Caspar Gabriel, 9 Fintan Gunne, 8 Josh Ericson, 7 Scott Penny, 6 Max Deegan (c), 5 Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 4 Ryan Baird, 3 Andrew Porter, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Alex Usanov
Replacements: 16 Stephen Smyth, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Niall Smyth, 19 Brian Deeney, 20 Dylan McNeice, 21 Oliver Coffey, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Ciarán Mangan

Venue: 10bet Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 12.30 IRE & UK / 13.30 ITA & SA
Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, 21st league game)
Assistant Referees: Hanru van Rooyen (SARU), Jonathan Lottering (SARU)
TMO: Craig Evans (WRU)
Live on: SuperSport, TG4, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby, URC.tv

Sharks v Ospreys

Prediction: Sharks by 10

Sharks: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Murray Koster, 11 Litelihle Bester, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton (c), 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Phatu Ganyane
Replacements: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Nemo Roelofse, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Zekhethelo Siyaya

Ospreys: 15 Iestyn Hopkins, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Owen Watkin (cc) 12 Lalakai Foketi, 11 Luke Morgan, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Luke Davies, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Ross Moriarty, 6 Liam Wright, 5 Rhys Davies, 4 James Ratti, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Sam Parry (cc), 1 Steffan Thomas
Replacements: 16 Efan Daniel, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Rhys Henry, 19 Ryan Smith, 20 Harri Deaves, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Harri Wilde, 23 Evardi Boshoff

Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA & SA
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 49th league game)
Assistant Referees: Griffin Colby (SARU), Dylen November (SARU)
TMO: Fillipo Russo (FIR)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby, URC.tv

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Munster v Glasgow Warriors

Prediction: Glasgow by 3

Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Diarmuid Kilgallen, 13 Alex Nankivell, 12 Seán O’Brien, 11 Ben O’Connor, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Ben O’Donovan, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Alex Kendellen, 6 Jack O’Donoghue, 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Evan O’Connell, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Diarmuid Barron (c), 1 Michael Milne
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 Michael Ala’alatoa, 19 Brian Gleeson, 20 John Hodnett, 21 Jake O’Riordan, 22 Charlie O’Shea, 23 Dan Kelly

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Rowe, 13 Ollie Smith, 12 Stafford McDowall (c), 11 Jamie Dobie, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 George Horne, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Ally Miller, 5 Max Williamson, 4 Gregor Brown, 3 Murphy Walker, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Patrick Schickerling
Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Angus Fraser, 21 Macenzzie Duncan, 22 Callum Reidy, 23 Bayley Kuenzle

Venue: Thomond Park, Limerick
Kick-off: 17.30 IRE & UK / 18.30 ITA & SA
Referee: Morné Ferreira (SARU, 24th league game)
Assistant Referees: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU), Padraic Reidy (IRFU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby, URC.tv

Zebre Parma v Bulls

Prediction: Bulls by 11

Zebre Parma: 15 Tommaso Allan, 14 Mirko Belloni, 13 Giulio Bertaccini, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giacomo Da Re, 9 Alessandro Fusco (c), 8 Giovanni Licata, 7 Samuele Locatelli, 6 Giacomo Ferrari, 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Juan Ignacio Castellano, 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 1 Federico Pisani
Replacements: 16 Francisco Minervino, 17 Sergio Pelliccioli, 18 Filippo Alongi, 19 Franco Carrera, 20 Davide Ruggeri, 21 Thomas Dominguez, 22 Marco Zanon, 23 Giovanni Montemauri

Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Juann Else, 1 Alu Tshakweni
Replacements: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 JF van Heerden, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Cheswill Jooste, 23 Hakeem Kunene

Venue: Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma
Kick-off: 17.30 IRE & UK / 18.30 ITA & SA
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 115th league game)
Assistant Referees: Franco Rosella (FIR), Alberto Favaro (FIR)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Live on: Sky Italia, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby, URC.tv

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Scarlets v Cardiff Rugby

Prediction: Scarlets by 5

Scarlets: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Eddie James, 11 Macs Page, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Dane Blacker, 8 Osian Williams, 7 Josh Macleod (c), 6 Sam Lousi, 5 Will Evans, 4 Harvey Cuckson, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Sam O’Connor
Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 Josh Morse, 18 Gabe Hawley, 19 Alex Groves, 20 Tristan Davies, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Joe Hawkins, 23 Ioan Jones

Cardiff: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Jacob Beetham, 13 Le Roux Malan, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Mason Grady, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Taine Basham, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Teddy Williams, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Liam Belcher (c), 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Rhys Barratt, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 James Botham, 21 Ellis Bevan, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Harri Millard

Venue: Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU, 51st league game)
Assistant Referees: Carwyn Sion (WRU), Lloyd Edwards (WRU)
TMO: Keith David (WRU)
Live on: S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby, URC.tv

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