URC teams: Key Springboks back returns from injury while Ireland legend set to break appearance record
Leinster front-row Cian Healy and Stormers full-back Damian Willemse.
The 2024/25 United Rugby Championship season continues this weekend with a full round of action which sees two games being played on Friday and six on Saturday.
There are several exciting encounters set to take place with defending champions Glasgow Warriors keen to get their campaign on track at home against Benetton on Friday, after suffering a narrow loss against Ulster in their tournament opener last week.
The big team news concerns the return to action of Springboks Rugby World Cup winner Damian Willemse, who will start at full-back for the Stormers against the Ospreys at Dunraven Brewery Field in Bridgend on Saturday.
Willemse has been sidelined for several months with a finger injury but has been ruled fit for the men from the Cape’s URC opener.
Meanwhile, legendary Ireland front-row Cian Healy has been named in Leinster’s starting line-up for their clash with the Dragons on Friday and if he takes to the field he will make his 281st appearance for the province.
That means he will break Leinster’s appearance record which he currently shares with Devin Toner.
Friday
Glasgow Warriors v Benetton
The teams
Glasgow: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Steyn (c), 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 12 Tom Jordan, 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Jamie Dobie, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Euan Ferrie, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Max Williamson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Nathan McBeth
Replacements: 16 Johnny Matthews, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Alex Samuel, 20 Scott Cummings, 21 Gregor Brown, 22 George Horne, 23 Duncan Weir
Benetton: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Marco Zanon, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Sebastian Negri, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Eli Snyman (c), 4 Scott Scrafton, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Mirco Spagnolo
Replacements: 16 Marco Manfredi, 17 Destiny Aminu, 18 Riccardo Genovese, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 Toa Halafihi, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Leonardo Marin, 23 Paolo Odogwu
Venue: Scotstoun
Kick-off: 19:35 BST (18:35 GMT)
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
Assistant referees: Ru Campbell (SRU), Michael Todd (SRU)
TMO: Christopher Allison (SARU)
Leinster v Dragons
The teams
Leinster: 15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Liam Turner, 12 Charlie Tector, 11 Jimmy O’Brien, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan (c), 7 Will Connors, 6 Max Deegan, 5 James Ryan, 4 Brian Deeny, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Cian Healy
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Fintan Gunne, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Aitzol King
Dragons: 15 Angus O’Brien, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Harry Wilson, 12 Steff Hughes, 11 Jared Rosser, 10 Lloyd Evans, 9Dane Blacker, 8 Shane Lewis-Hughes 7 Harri Keddie, 6 Ryan Woodman, 5 George Nott, 4 Ben Carter (c), 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Brodie Coghlan, 1 Rodrigo Martinez
Replacements: 16 Oli Burrows, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Luke Yendle, 19 Matthew Screech, 20 George Young, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Joe Westwood, 23 Ewan Rosser
Venue: Aviva Stadium
Kick-off: 19:35 BST (18:35 GMT)
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
Assistant referees: Eoghan Cross (IRFU), Tomas O’Sullivan (IRFU)
TMO: Dave Sutherland (SRU)
Saturday
Your Ulster side to take on Emirates Lions tomorrow in Johannesburg 🦁 pic.twitter.com/dADIjie29x
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) September 27, 2024
Lions v Ulster
The teams
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Tapiwa Mafura, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Reinard Nothnagel, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Morgan Naude
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ruben Schoeman, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 Renzo du Plessis, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Henco van Wyk
Ulster: 15 Ethan McIlroy, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Stewart Moore, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 John Cooney,8 Nick Timoney,7 Sean Reffell, 6 Matty Rea, 5 Alan O’Connor (c), 4 Kieran Treadwell, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 John Andrew, 1 Andrew Warwick
Replacements: 16 James McCormick, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Corrie Barrett, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 James McNabney, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Mike Lowry, 23 David McCann
Venue: Emirates Airline Park
Kick-off: 12:55 local (11:55 BST, 10:55 GMT)
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs (SARU), Hanru van Rooyen (SARU)
TMO: Keith David (WRU)
Bulls v Edinburgh
The teams
Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Cobus Wiese, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker Van Der Merwe (c), 1 Alulutho Tshakweni
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Jf Van Heerden, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Aphiwe Dyanti
Edinburgh: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ali Price, 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist (c), 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Boan Venter, 18 D’arcy Rae, 19 Jamie Hodgson, 20 Tom Dodd, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Ross McCann
Venue: Loftus Versfeld
Kick-off: 15:00 local (14:00 BST, 13:00 GMT)
Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU)
Assistant referees: Griffon Colby (SARU), Dylen November (SARU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
Zebre Parma v Munster
The teams:
Zebre: 15 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 14 Jacopo Trulla, 13 Giulio Bertaccini, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giovanni Montemauri, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Giovanni Licata, 7 Samuele Locatelli, 6 Davide Ruggeri, 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Matteo Nocera, 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 1 Danilo Fischetti (c)
Replacements: 16 Giampietro Ribaldi, 17 Luca Rizzoli, 18 Juan Pitinari, 19 Andrea Zambonin, 20 Giacomo Ferrari, 21 Patricio Baronio Gauna, 22 Scott Gregory, 23 Giacomo Da Re
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Shane Daly, 12 Tom Farrell, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Tony Butler, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Ruadhán Quinn, 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Oli Jagerm 2 Diarmuid Barron (c), 1 Josh Wycherley
Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 John Ryan, 19 Jack Daly, 20 Jack O’Donoghue, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Bryan Fitzgerald, 23 Shay McCarthy
Venue: Stadio Lanfranchi
Kick-off: 16:00 local (15:00 BST, 14:00 GMT)
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (FIR), Alex Frasson (FIR)
TMO: Neil Hennessy (WRU)
Scarlets v Cardiff
The teams
Scarlets: 15 Ioan Lloyd, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Macs Page, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Blair Murray, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taine Plumtree, 7 Josh Macleod (c), 6 Jarrod Taylor, 5 Max Douglas, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Kemsley Mathias
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Jac Price, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Efan Jones, 22 Eddie James, 23 Ellis Mee
Cardiff: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Mason Grady, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Iwan Stephens, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Alun Lawrence, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Ben Donnell, 5 Teddy Williams, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Liam Belcher (c), 1 Corey Domachowski
Replacements: 16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Ed Byrne, 18 Rhys Litterick, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Mackenzie Martin, 21 Ellis Bevan, 22 Tinus de Beer, 23 Harri Millard
Venue: Parc y Scarlets
Kick-off: 17:15 BST (18:15 GMT)
Referee: Christopher Allison (SARU)
Assistant referees: Mike English (WRU), Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
Hon Connacht! 💚#CONvSHA | #BKTURC
🔗 https://t.co/82YHmdyTHb pic.twitter.com/mxio9fRyP2
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) September 27, 2024
Connacht v Sharks
The teams
Connacht: 15 Santiago Cordero, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Shane Jennings, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Ben Murphy, 8 Cian Prendergast (C), 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Josh Murphy, 5 David O’Connor, 4 Niall Murray, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Sam Illo, 19 Oisín Dowling, 20 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 David Hawkshaw, 23 Paul Boyle
Sharks: 15 Jordan Hendrikse, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Manu Tshituka, 7 Vincent Tshituka (C), 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Corne’ Rahl, 20 Reniel Hugo, 21 Tino Mavesere, 22 Tian Meyer, 23 Gurswin Wehr
Venue: Dexcom Stadium
Kick-off: 17:15 BST (18:15 GMT)
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR)
Assistant referees: Eoghan Cross (IRFU), Chris Lough (IRFU)
TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)
Ospreys v Stormers
The teams
Ospreys: 15 Jack Walsh, 14 Luke Morgan, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Ryan Conbeer, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Jac Morgan (c), 5 Adam Beard, 4 James Ratti, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Gareth Thomas
Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Garyn Phillips, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Huw Sutton, 20 Harri Deaves, 21 Luke Davies, 22 Phil Cokanasiga, 23 Max Nagy
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis (c), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 David Ewers, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Sti Sithole
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Angelo Davids
Venue: Dunraven Brewery Field
Kick-off: 19:35 BST (18:35 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant referees: Rhys Jones (WRU), Ben Connor (WRU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
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