URC Season 5. 2025/26

Podge_irl · 13-01-2026 08:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124144691#Comment_124144691

Gotta say it is frustrating that the non-Irish teams seem incapable of keeping some of their better players. Not great for the league

big-al · 13-01-2026 08:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124144754#Comment_124144754

not the first time he has left Glasgow.

Jacovs · 14-01-2026 09:05AM

Probably mentioned in the Munster thread already, Jean Kleyn going to Gloucester.

https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/gloucester-sign-springbok-world-cup-winner-kleyn-20260114-0428

PMC83 · 14-01-2026 09:52AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124144754#Comment_124144754

Yeah it seems like there's been a few players jumping ship from URC teams of recent. In the case of the Scottish clubs I guess there's always the nugget of still being able to play for the national side. I often wonder if we didn't have the rule in place would all our bigger players stay.

sydthebeat · 14-01-2026 10:28AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124145907#Comment_124145907

I think the Scottish example is proof of the opposite. Most players would leave, and higher profile ones at that.

From the current 45 man Scottish squad, 33% of them will be playing their rugby outside of Scotland next season.

43% of the Italian squad play outside of Italy... And menoncello is off to Toulouse at the end of the season

We've seen high profile movements involving Welsh players now that they have gotten rid of gatlands law.

Dewi lake, jac Morgan and Aaron Wainwright are all leaving Welsh club rugby.

Our system works very well for us.

pickarooney · 17-01-2026 10:59AM

They've only 2 teams each. They can't and don't expect to fuel a national team from such a small pool of players.

Paddy_Mag · 22-01-2026 09:41PM

The Cardiff sale has been completed by Y11 group

Paddy_Mag · 04-02-2026 12:36AM

Ospreys look to be joining the SRC in Wales (the Welsh version of the AIL) next season

icdg · 20-02-2026 12:06PM

Not worth a full thread probably, but one make-up game in the URC this weekend.

Saturday 12 noon

Lions v Sharks TG4 Prem 1 URC.TV

A nice curtain raiser for the days Six Nations action!

Ben Bailey · 20-02-2026 03:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124250946#Comment_124250946

Curtain will be raised by Highlanders v Chiefs at 6am followed by Force v Blues at 0830.

Then a well earned nap before Twickers

phog · 01-03-2026 10:19PM

Wayne Pivac to Benetton until 2028. With an option of two more years.

Screenshot_2026-03-01-21-16-40-28_0b2fce7a16bf2b728d6ffa28c8d60efb.jpg

Paddy_Mag · 12-03-2026 11:51AM

Jared Payne leaving scarlets at end of the season

Brief_Lives · 13-03-2026 10:37PM

I just checked the ulster game, 2 red cards??

Paddy_Mag · 17-03-2026 05:58PM

Jamie Bhatti the latest player to leave the club as he goes to Bath

Bhatti, Jones, Dempsey, Jordan, Venter, Hastings, Weir, Mann, Cancelliere, Cordero and du Preez all out the door in quick succession

‐---------------------------------------------

Seen the above on twitter. Glasgow are the new Benetton. Getting fleeced

crisco10 · 18-03-2026 01:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124319960#Comment_124319960

frustrations with Leinster hording players aside, it does go to show that the IRFU (with the help of tax breaks) has done a remarkable job to this point at keeping most of our best players playing for Irish teams.

bingobango12 · 19-03-2026 12:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124321468#Comment_124321468

Really don't think it's fair to say Leinster hoard players when they are the ones producing them (Ulster aside who are good at producing their own players).

Agree though, IRFU have done very well to keep hold of pretty much everyone that they want to.

FtD v2 · 19-03-2026 12:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124324051#Comment_124324051

Leinster also use more of their squad than the other provinces over the last few years (driven by the number of internationals unavailable for chunks of the season).

There are very few guys in the wider Leinster squad over the past 5 years or so who don't play decent minutes.

Brief_Lives · 20-03-2026 09:06PM

bundee is melting people out there…

bingobango12 · 20-03-2026 10:53PM

Big win for Connacht that. 5 points next week and they are in the playoff picture before going to South Africa.

That round 17 Munster Connacht fixture is already looking huge for both teams.

CatFromHue · 29-03-2026 12:56AM

1. Glasgow 55pts Lions (a), Stormers (a), Cardiff (h), Ulster (a)

2. Stormers 51pts Connacht (h), Glasgow (h), Ulster (a), Cardiff (a)

3. Ulster 47pts Leinster (h), Munster (a), Stormers (h), Glasgow (h)

4. Leinster 46pts Ulster(a), Treviso (a), Lions (h), Ospreys (a)

5. Lions 43pts Glasgow (h), Connacht (a), Leinster (a), Munster (a)

6. Cardiff 41pts Scarlets (a), Ospreys (h), Glasgow (a), Stormers (h)

7. Munster 41pts Treviso (a), Ulster (h), Connacht (a), Lions (h)

8. Bulls 40pts Dragons(a), Scarlets (a), Zebre (h), Treviso (h)

9. Connacht 39pts Stormers (a), Lions (a), Munster (h), Edinburgh (a)

10. Skarks 33pts Ospreys (a), Edinburgh (a), Treviso (h), Zebre (h)

11. Ospreys 30pts Sharks (h), Cardiff (a), Scarlets (h), Leinster (a)

The run in for the top 8 looks exciting. I think the Ospreys have too much work to do, the Sharks could get 15 pts from their games, Connacht look up against it, the Bulls could win all their games, Munster should win at least 2 of their games and then whatever happens in the interpro games. Cardiff's games could be tricky but I can see the Lions dropping out of the top 8 as they mightn't win any of their remaining games.

The top 4 will prob stay the same but don't know what order. Leinster have Europe to consider but are well capable of winning 3 of their last 4. Ulster play all the other teams in the top 4 but they're at home for all of them

bingobango12 · 08-04-2026 11:39AM

Thought this was an interesting chart with the general consensus online that nobody goes to the South African club games. Stormers, Sharks, Bulls all in the top 5 best average attendances along with Leinster and Munster from the URC teams.

Ulster in 6th so arguably the bigger 3 clubs in both Ireland and South Africa leading the way for best average attendances this season.

FtD v2 · 08-04-2026 12:13PM

It is interesting, but worth flagging just how cheap the tickets are in South Africa. They basically give them away.

If you look at the Stormers - for their two upcoming games against Connacht and Glasgow, the most expensive seat in the house is R385 (€20.06), but there are a multitude of tickets available for R85 (€4.43).

For the Bulls - you can buy a season ticket, which grants you access to all of their URC home games, all of their European home games and all of their Currie Cup games (incl play offs) for R1,150 (€59.95).

sydthebeat · 08-04-2026 12:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124372185#Comment_124372185

fair point, but R1,150 would be about 25% the average monthly income in South Africa… so the equivalent of about €900 in ireland. Mid range season tickets for leinster (gold) are €585.

cheap seats of R85 is 3 times the minimum hourly wage rate… so again over here that would be €42.45 here… so not really so cheap in relative terms.

so while cheap in our eyes, relative to SA they're not actually cheap at all.

Jacovs · 08-04-2026 01:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124372248#Comment_124372248

Had similar discussion with friends in UK recently regarding fuel prices here in SA and the UK and Ireland, also came back to the wages and relativity. But yeah, thats why its so cheap for europeans to come on holiday to SA and a lot of the tourist attractions isnt affordable for the average SA person. Pity, locals cant enjoy their own country as much as tourists can.

But on the topic of rugby, I think it was also mentioned before, the reason it seems like SA crowds are so bad is because of the stadiums they play in being so big, so a half empty stadium is still a decent amount of people, but looks well, half empty.

Ive only been to 1 or 2 Stormers games since they moved to Cape Town. Its a bit of a cold experience. Not physically cold. Just no soul in it. Stadium has no parking, so you go park at the Waterfront in a parkade or somewhere. Walk to the stadium, watch the game and thats it. Public transport isnt really an option.

When they played in Newlands though, it was an experience. You made a day of it. You parked on either Groote Schuur High School or Primary school's fields, took a braai, vleis and wors, drinks, had a good time before the game, then pack up and go watch the game. Kids play on the fields, people have a good time.

CatFromHue · 18-04-2026 10:56PM

1. Glasgow 55pts Stormers (a), Cardiff (h), Ulster (a)

2. Stormers 51pts Glasgow (h), Ulster (a), Cardiff (a)

3. Leinster 51pts Treviso (a), Lions (h), Ospreys (h)

4. Lions 48pts Connacht (h), Leinster (a), Munster (a)

5. Ulster 47pts Munster (a), Stormers (h), Glasgow (h)

6. Munster 46pts Ulster (h), Connacht (a), Lions (h)

7. Cardiff 46pts Ospreys (h), Glasgow (a), Stormers (h)

8. Bulls 45pts Scarlets (a), Zebre (h), Treviso (h)

9. Connacht 44pts Lions (a), Munster (h), Edinburgh (a)

10. Ospreys 34pts Cardiff (a), Scarlets (h), Leinster (a)

11. Sharks 34pts Edinburgh (a), Treviso (h), Zebre (h)

Wouldn't be surprised to see Leinster sneaking into first place for the end of the season. Connacht could do everyone a favour next week by beating the Lions as I could see them missing out on a top 8 finish if they do.

Paddy_Mag · 19-04-2026 12:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124405920#Comment_124405920

This was posted by someone on Leinster forum about half an hour ago. I think Leinster could well finish top as Stormers v Glasgow, Ulster v Stormers & Glasgow. Hard to know with Ulster as they have a European SF in the mix and the squad isnt as deep as Leinsters.