The 2026/27 United Rugby Championship (URC) season continues this weekend with three games on Friday before five fixtures are played over Saturday.
Check on all the URC team news, our predictions, the match officials and more below.
Friday
Cardiff v Sharks
Prediction: Cardiff by 8
Cardiff: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Le Roux Malan, 12 Steff Emanuel, 11 Harri Millard, 10 Jarrod Evans, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Taine Basham, 7 James Botham, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Teddy Williams, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Liam Belcher (c), 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Tom Manz, 20 Semisi Paea, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Callum Sheedy, 23 Tom Bowen
Sharks: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (c), 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton, 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Matt Romao, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Phatu Ganyane
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Jaco Williams
Venue: Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 61st league game)
Assistant Referees: Ben Whitehouse (WRU), Carwyn Sion (WRU)
TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)
Live on: S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Connacht v Zebre Parma
Prediction: Connacht by 25
Connacht: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Finn Treacy, 13 Harry West, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Mack Hansen, 10 Ciarán Frawley, 9 Colm Reilly, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Paul Boyle, 6 Cian Prendergast (c), 5 Darragh Murray, 4 Niall Murray, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Eoin de Buitléar, 1 Jerry Cahir
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Sam Illo, 19 David O’Connor, 20 Will Connors, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Sean Naughton, 23 Daniel Ryan
Zebre Parma: 15 Mirko Belloni, 14 Tobias Wade, 13 Marco Zanon, 12 Riccardo Casarin, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giovanni Montemauri, 9 Alessandro Fusco (c), 8 Davide Ruggeri, 7 Jacopo Botturi, 6 Giacomo Ferrari, 5 Alessandro Ortombina, 4 Francesco Ruffolo, 3 Muhamed Hasa, 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 1 Sergio Pelliccioli
Replacements: 16 Giampietro Ribaldi, 17 Federico Pisani, 18 Juan Ignacio Castellano, 19 Matteo Canali, 20 Bautista Stavile, 21 Thomas Dominguez, 22 Giacomo Da Re, 23 Leonardo Sodo
Venue: Dexcom Stadium, Galway
Kick-off:19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA
Referee: Hanru van Rooyen (SARU, 3rd league game)
Assistant Referees: Jack MacNeice (IRFU), Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: Egon Seconds (SARU)
Live on: TG4, Sky Italia, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Edinburgh v Lions
Prediction: Edinburgh by 5
Edinburgh: 15 Piers O’Conor, 14 Geordie Gwynn, 13 Matt Currie (cc), 12 Mosese Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 James Grayson, 9 Hector Patterson, 8 Magnus Bradbury (cc), 7 Tom Currie, 6 Liam McConnell, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Glen Young, 3 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Harri Morris, 17 Jamie Stewart, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Marshall Sykes, 20 Tom Dodd, 21 Conor McAlpine, 22 Cammy Scott, 23 Harry Paterson
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Erich Cronje, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Francke Horne, 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Morne Brandon, 1 Boan Venter
Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 Siba Mahashe, 21 Zian Cilliers, 22 Richard Kriel, 23 Boeta Chamberlain
Venue: Hive Stadium, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA
Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU, 17th league game)
Assistant Referees: Mike Adamson (SRU), Rob McDowell (SRU)
TMO: Mark Patton (IRFU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
John Dobson confirms Cheslin Kolbe’s return date: ‘I’m sure the Springboks are going to miss him’
Saturday
Bulls v Ulster
Prediction: Bulls by 14
Bulls: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Cheswill Jooste, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Alu Tshakweni, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Curwin Bosch, 23 Dylan Maart
Ulster: 15 Jacob Stockdale, 14 Chay Mullins, 13 Jamie Benson, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Michael Lowry, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 David McCann, 5 Cormac Izuchukwu, 4 Ben Donnell, 3 Keynan Knox, 2 Tom Stewart (c), 1 Tom O’Toole
Replacements: 16 Henry Walker, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Eli Snyman, 20 James McNabney, 21 Matthew Devine, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 James McKillop
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 12.45 IRE & UK / 13.45 ITA & SA
Referee: Ru Campbell (SRU, 5th league game)
Assistant Referees: Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU), Sean Muller (SARU)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Stormers v Scarlets
Prediction: Stormers by 20
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Markus Muller, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Evan Roos, 6 Paul de Villiers (c), 5 Connor Evans, 4 Riley Norton, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu
Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Olly Reid, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Adré Smith, 20 JD Schickerling, 21 Deon Fourie, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Yaqeen Ahmed
Scarlets: 15 Ioan Nicholas, 14 Ioan Jones, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Macs Page, 10 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, 9 Dane Blacker, 8 Fletcher Anderson, 7 Josh Macleod (c), 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Alex Groves, 3 Harri O’Connor, 2 John McKee, 1 Kemsley Mathias
Replacements: 16 George Roberts, 17 Sam O’Connor, 18 Gabe Hawley, 19 Harvey Cuckson, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Isaac Murray-Macgregor
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA & SA
Referee: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU, 4th league game)
Assistant Referees: Christopher Allison (SARU), Juan de Bod (SARU)
TMO: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Benetton v Glasgow Warriors
Prediction: Glasgow by 5
Benetton: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Federico Zanandrea, 12 Leonardo Marin, 11 Matt Gallagher, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 5 Mattia Midena, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 1 Matias Medrano
Replacements: 16 Siua Maile, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Marcos Gallorini, 19 Piero Gritti, 20 Antony Miranda, 21 Manuel Zuliani, 22 Louis Werchon, 23 Paolo Odogwu
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Kyle Steyn (c), 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Ollie Smith, 10 Matthew Urwin, 9 Jamie Dobie, 8 Euan Ferrie, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Max Williamson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Seb Stephen, 1 Rory Sutherland
Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Murphy Walker, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Jare Oguntibeju, 21 Gregor Brown, 22 Callum Reidy, 23 Bayley Kuenzle
Venue: Stadio Monigo, Treviso
Kick-off: 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA & SA
Referee: Griffin Colby (SARU, 13th league game)
Assistant Referees: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR), Lorenzo Negro (FIR)
TMO: Egon Seconds (SARU)
Live on: Sky Italia, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Leinster v Munster
Prediction: Leinster by 15
Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Jamie Osborne, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Jimmy O’Brien, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Dan Sheehan (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Alex Usanov, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 20 Scott Penny, 21 Fintan Gunne, 22 Caspar Gabriel, 23 Charlie Tector
Munster: 15 Ben O’Connor, 14 Shay McCarthy, 13 Seán O’Brien, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Shane Daly, 10 Charlie O’Shea, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Alex Kendellen, 6 Jack O’Donoghue, 5 Tadhg Beirne (c), 4 Fineen Wycherley, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Josh Wycherley
Replacements: 16 Max Clein, 17 Mark Donnelly, 18 Michael Ala’alatoa, 19 Seán Edogbo, 20 Brian Gleeson, 21 Ben O’Donovan, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Gordon Wood
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 18.00 IRE & UK / 19.00 ITA & SA
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 116th league game)
Assistant Referees: Keane Davison (IRFU), Dan Carson (IRFU)
TMO: Colin Stanley (IRFU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Ospreys v Dragons
Prediction: Ospreys by 4
Ospreys: 15 Tom Rogers, 14 Iestyn Hopkins, 13 Owen Watkin (cc), 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Harri Deaves, 6 Liam Wright, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Sam Parry (cc), 1 Gareth Thomas
Replacements: 16 Efan Daniel, 17 Steffan Thomas, 18 Rhys Henry, 19 James Ratti, 20 Ross Moriarty, 21 Luke Davies, 22 Lawson Creighton, 23 Lalakai Foketi
Dragons: 15 Rio Dyer, 14 Jared Rosser, 13 Fetuli Paea, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Anzelo Tuitavuki, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 7 Harry Beddall, 6 Barny Langton-Cryer, 5 Ben Carter (c), 4 Seb Davies, 3 Dillon Lewis, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Rodrigo Martinez
Replacements: 16 Oli Burrows, 17 Jordan Morris, 18 Chris Coleman, 19 Matthew Screech, 20 Evan Minto, 21 Che Hope, 22 Jac Lloyd, 23 Fine Inisi
Venue: St. Helen’s, Swansea
Kick-off: 19.00 IRE & UK / 20.00 ITA & SA
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 115th league game)
Assistant Referees: Craig Evans (WRU), Ben Breakspear (WRU)
TMO: Adam Jones (WRU)
Live on: S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv