URC team news: How to watch Round One, kick-off times and match officials

The 2025/26 United Rugby Championship season kicks off on Friday with three games before a further five take place on Saturday. Here’s the team news and how to watch.

Leinster, of course, are the defending champions and begin their title defence against the Stormers. Elsewhere, Glasgow Warriors host the Sharks while Scarlets tackle Munster.

Here’s the URC team news and much more.

Friday

Stormers v Leinster

Stormers: 15 Wandisile Simelane, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Olly Reid, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Clinton Swart

Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Ciarán Frawley, 11 Jordan Larmour, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Luke McGrath (c), 8 James Culhane, 7 Scott Penny, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Brian Deeny, 4 Diarmuid Mangan, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Jack Boyle
Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 Paddy McCarthy, 18 Andrew Sparrow, 19 Max Deegan, 20 Will Connors, 21 Fintan Gunne, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Hugh Cooney

Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 18.00 IRE & UK / 19.00 ITA & SA
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 42nd league game)
Assistant Referees: Sean Muller (SARU), Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU)
TMO: Adam Jones (WRU)
Live on: SuperSport, TG4, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Ulster v Dragons

Ulster: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Zac Ward, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 David McCann, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 5 Harry Sheridan, 4 Iain Henderson (c), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Callum Reid
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Sam Crean, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Matthew Dalton, 20 Juarno Augustus, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Ben Carson

Dragons: 15 Angus O’Brien (cc), 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Joe Westwood, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Jared Rosser, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Harrison Keddie, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 Ben Carter (cc), 4 Matthew Screech, 3 Rob Hunt, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Wyn Jones
Replacements: 16 Brodie Coghlan, 17 Rodrigo Martinez, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Levi Douglas, 20 Mackenzie Martin, 21 Che Hope, 22 Fine Inisi, 23 Huw Anderson

Venue: Affidea Stadium, Belfast
Kick-off: 20.05 IRE & UK / 21.05 ITA & SA
Referee: Griffin Colby (SARU, 7th league game)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Cole (IRFU), Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: Chris Allison (SARU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Glasgow Warriors v Sharks

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Rowe, 13 Stafford McDowall (c), 12 Kerr Yule, 11 Ollie Smith, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Alex Samuel, 4 Jare Oguntibeju, 3 Fin Richardson, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Jamie Bhatti
Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 Euan Ferrie, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Adam Hastings

Sharks: 15 Yaw Penxe, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Christie Grobbelaar, 10 Jaden Hendrikse, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Vincent Tshituka (c), 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Deon Slabbert, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima
Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Bathobele Hlekani, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Jean Smith, 22 Jurenzo Julius, 23 Hakeem Kunene

Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Kick-off: 20.05 IRE & UK / 21.05 ITA & SA
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 68th league game)
Assistant Referees: Ru Campbell (SRU), Rob McDowell (SRU)
TMO: Keith David (WRU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Saturday

Bulls v Ospreys

Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 David Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Juann Else, 17 Alu Tshakweni, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Nicolas Janse van Rensburg, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Willie le Roux

Ospreys: 15 Jack Walsh, 14 Dan Kasende, 13 Phil Cokanasiga, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 8 Morgan Morse, 7 Harri Deaves, 6 Ross Moriarty, 5 James Fender, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 1 Garyn Phillips
Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Steffan Thomas, 18 Rhys Henry, 19 Huw Sutton, 20 James Ratti, 21 Luke Davies, 22 Tom Florence, 23 Harri Houston

Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Kick-off: 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA & SA
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR, 15th league game)
Assistant Referees: JD Jadezweni (SARU), Dylen November (SARU)
TMO: Peter Martin (IRFU)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Jacques Nienaber makes surprising admission following Leinster contract extension

Why the URC has adopted a controversial World Rugby law trial ahead of the new season

Zebre Parma v Edinburgh

Zebre Parma: 15 Lorenzo Pani, 14 Mirko Belloni, 13 Giulio Bertaccini, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giacomo Da Re, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Giovanni Licata, 7 Bautista Stavile, 6 Davide Ruggeri, 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Juan Pitinari, 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 1 Muhamed Hasa
Replacements: 16 Giampietro Ribaldi, 17 Paolo Buonfiglio, 18 Ion Neculai, 19 Alessandro Ortombina, 20 Guido Volpi, 21 Samuele Locatelli, 22 Thomas Dominguez, 23 Martin Roger Farias

Edinburgh: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Harry Paterson, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 James Lang, 11 Jack Brown, 10 Ben Healy, 9 Ben Vellacott, 8 Magnus Bradbury (c), 7 Luke Crosbie, 6 Liam McConnell, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 James Whitcombe
Replacements: 16 Paddy Harrison, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 D’arcy Rae, 19 Sam Skinner 20 Hamish Watson, 21 Charlie Shiel, 22 Findlay Thomson, 23 Duhan van der Merwe

Venue: Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma
Kick-off: 15.05 IRE & UK / 16.05 ITA & SA
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 109th league game)
Assistant Referees: Alberto Favero (FIR), Lorenzo Pedezzi (FIR)
TMO: Aled Griffths (WRU)
Live on: Sky Italia, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Scarlets v Munster

Scarlets: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Ellis Mee, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taine Plumtree, 7 Josh Macleod (c), 6 Tristan Davies, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Harry Thomas, 1 Kemsley Mathias
Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Max Douglas, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Johnny Williams, 23 Macs Page

Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Shane Daly, 13 Dan Kelly, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Craig Casey (c), 8 Brian Gleeson, 7 Alex Kendellen, 6 Jack O’Donoghue, 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Oli Jager, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Jeremy Loughman
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 Conor Bartley, 19 Tom Ahern, 20 Gavin Coombes, 21 Paddy Patterson, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Seán O’Brien

Venue: Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Kick-off: 17.30 IRE & UK / 18.30 ITA & SA
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 54th league game)
Assistant Referees: Craig Evans (WRU), Marcus Caudle (WRU)
TMO: Colin Brett (SRU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Cardiff v Lions

Cardiff: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Harri Millard, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Tom Bowen, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Alun Lawrence, 7 Taine Basham, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Teddy Williams, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Liam Belcher (c), 1 Rhys Barratt
Replacements: 16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Ben Donnell, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Jacob Beetham

Lions: 15 Quan Horn (c), 14 Tapiwa Mafura, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Franco Marais, 1 SJ Kotze
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Haashim Pead, 22 Sam Francis, 23 Rynhardt Jonker

Venue: Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA
Referee: Fillipo Russo (FIR, 5th league game)
Assistant Referees: Ben Breakspear (WRU), Lucas Yendle (WRU)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)
Live on: S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Connacht v Benetton

Connacht: 15 Sean Naughton, 14 Chay Mullins, 13 Byron Ralston, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Shayne Bolton, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Paul Boyle (c), 5 Josh Murphy, 4 Niall Murray, 3 Sam Illo, 2 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 1 Peter Dooley
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Fiachna Barrett, 19 David O’Connor, 20 Joe Joyce, 21 Ben Murphy, 22 Jack Carty, 23 Cian Prendergast

Benetton: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Louis Werchon, 8 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Ivan Nemer
Replacements: 16 Richie Asiata, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 Lorenzo Cannone, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Giuliano Avaca, 23 Paolo Odogwu

Venue: Dexcom Stadium, Galway
Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA
Referee: Chris Allison (SARU, 4th league game)
Assistant Referees: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU), Tómas O’Sullivan (IRFU)
TMO: Griffin Colby (SARU)
Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

READ MORE: PREM team news: How to watch Round One, kick-off times and match officials