Seeing as we're in preseason it's time to open a thread for the new season.
The season kicks off with Leinster away to Stormers on Friday 26th September and will run until the Grand Final on Saturday 20th June 2026.
Fixtures are available here https://stats.unitedrugby.com/match-centre/2025-26/1
Thats true but it won't material affect where the final is played
I think the arse has completely fallen out of Ulsters season....Connacht are on the up and up.....
I think Ulster or Cardiff will be the ones to miss out on top 8...
In theory it could if the bulls finish 3rd and beat the 2nd placed team in an SF and the table toppers lose QF/SF. Its possible that one of Cape Town, Pretoria or Joburg will host the final.
The Lions Will also have a big say on this. I can see them picking up a win and/or some TBP/LBP as they are playing with the same core group all the time and are on a fairly decent run atm.
Leinster will be a week after the Euro SF so hard to know what team they put out and they are playing pretty inconsistently.
Munster seemingly have lost Kleyn (elbow), Farrell (wrist) and possibly Nash (ankle) for the season. The 2nd half yesterday flattered them somewhat given the team Ulster put out.
With Jager I think consideration needs to be given to him standing down for the remainder of the season given its another concussion.
Ulster could win both home games, but equally they could lose both.
In my opinion, looking at the games to come, I think it’s between Ulster and Connacht to finish 9th, and Connacht could be the ones to lose out.
As Ulster have a home match against an equally injury-ravaged Glasgow team, Connacht may need two wins to make up the difference.
Connacht have Munster and Munster have a good few injuries now, so that is a complete 50/50,
And Connacht then have to go to Edinburgh and win, and Edinburgh have nothing to play for now but pride, but have proven in the past to be a bit of a bogey team for Connacht, denied Connacht a win in round 17 last season for example. Edinburgh aren’t as good this season so Connacht could do it.
I’d expect Cardiff to pick up a win against Glasgow in the next round to keep them safe in the top 8.
I think Munster will win at home to the Lions in the final round to make the top 8.
Stormers are chasing top spot and a home run including the final so they could beat Cardiff and Ulster. It's so hard to tell
I would expect Stormers to win those two matches.
That doesn’t change anything about what I stated in my post though.
The matches between Ulster and Glasgow, and Cardiff and Glasgow, and Connacht’s remaining matches are the critical ones.
Connacht have 5pts in the bag vs Edinburgh....i also think they will pick up 5 vs Munster.…so I think they will get into top 8...
Points conceded in the URC
For Leinster, through 16 URC games at the same point last year we had only conceded 246 points. That's a fairly incredible 103 points in the difference.
Leinster's attack in the URC is statistically worse too - but there the difference is only 37 points worse (453 points scored at this point last year in the URC versus 416 this year).
Overall, for Leinster, YoY, the evidence is stark of a more poorly performing team.
Across all 22 games played Leinster have scored 57 fewer points (680 points last season through 22 games versus 623 this year) and have conceded an incredible 173 points more (300 last year versus 473 this season).
Leinster had 14 games (out of 22) at this point last year where we held the opposition to 14 or fewer points (8 games with 9 or fewer points).
This year, we've held the opposition to 14 or fewer points on just 6 occasions (and to 9 or fewer on just 3 occasions).
An interesting image from the official URC Facebook page
Still too close to call as we head into the last 2 rounds
On paper Ulster probably with the toughest run of fixtures followed by Connacht, Munster and Leinster then with the handiest
On paper means very little though as we know
Stormers had 235,380 fans attending their 9 home URC games.
Next seasons fixtures released tomorrow at midday
Well that turned out to be a good shout 👏
This was asked across a number of threads since last weekend. The URC have clarified the qualification for the Champions Cup
The Top 8 but...
https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news/urc-qualification-for-investec-champions-cup-clarified/
Link to URC announcement.
Reports coming out saying Kolbe is joining Stormers next year
https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/urc/stormers-bound-kolbe-pens-emotional-farewell-message-to-japanese-club-20260525-0379
Its a done deal.
Makes sense. He is from here, started his career here, all his family is here, all his business interests.
Of the 16 QFs in the URC so far only 2 have been won by the away teams. Connacht and Munster both in 22/23.
Munster played away to the Bulls in the regular season and only lost 34-31 and Connacht beat a weakened Glasgow in Galway on the weekend break of the 6N. They're the games on the weekend imo.
I wouldn't be surprised to see all 3 provinces win their respective QF but neither would I be surprised to only seeing one get through to a SF
Yeah I agree.
Interesting if Munster and Connacht do win then Munster get the home SF, which would be a very welcome financially.
Thoughts on the Qfs?
Think Glasgow will edge connacht.
Bulls and Stormers will be comfortable against Munster and Cardiff. Munster without Crowley and Beirne are going to struggle IMO
NO idea what to make of Leinster v Lions. Think Leinster will win but expect it to be nervy.
I think Glasgow vs Connacht might be closer than expected. Since losing to Leinster in January they have been on a very good run.
Beat Zebre away, Glasgow at home, Scarlets at home, Ulster away, Ospreys home, Stormers away, then lost 1 match to Lions away, beat Munster at home and Edinburgh away.
Munster only lost to Bulls by 3 points 2 months ago, in Pretoria. They beat the Lions in the last round. Did they travel back to Ireland then or stay in SA? Staying in SA at altitude for 2 weeks to train may have been a better option.
Stormers vs Cardiff also not a forgone conclusion. They played each other in the last round less than 2 weeks ago and Cardiff won that match, even if they had home advantage. Stormers also lost to Connacht at home not long ago. Too much behind the scenes bickering going on at the Stormers at the moment, players focusing more on that than what they are getting paid for.
Leinster vs Lions. Depends which Lions show up. Lost to Munster last round, and to Leinster the round before that., but beat Connacht and Glasgow the weeks before. Suppose it also depends which Leinster shows up. Leinster who just lost a European final and have their tail between their legs? Or Leinster who are the defending URC champions and just finished as the second best club in all of Europe, with the URC silverware still up for grabs to "salvage" their season?
I wouldn't be surprised to see none get through either. Connacht are in great form but away to the 1st team of the regular season. Munster have a tough ask away in South Africa without Beirne and Crowley. Leinster I don't know. It's pretty grim at the moment from the supporter base that I have chatted to. I can't imagine the players are feeling too much better.
I think Stormers beating Cardiff are probably the only safe bet this weekend.
I can see every game having at least 10 points between the sides at the final whistle.
Glasgow might possibly have dobie, cummings and Matt fagerson back which would be quite significant.
Also, Glasgow haven't given up hope of having the final in Murrayfield should they reach it. There hoping the six day turnaround after the concert would be enough to get the pitch back playable
Connacht could do a Munster on it from a few years ago....beat Glasgow away, beat Bulls away and maybe Stormers/Leinster away!
They could and they might also be finished after the QFs
Stormers game must not be even close to sold out, they never send emails actively looking for people to buy tickets. But i got an email today about buying tickets.
Starts at R145 (7,61 euro), R205 (10,77 euro), R305 (16 euro) and then R425 (22,32 euro) on the halfway line.
Unlucky, im leaving for Namibia tomorrow for a week.
Anybody know why there is a break in the fixtures between round 3 and 4 next season?
https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news/2026-27-fixtures-in-full/
First Champions Cup pool game.
I thought the 2 sets of group games were in December and January? Or is the format changing this year?
