Celebration of URC rugby continues

Rugby fans will continue the festive celebrations with full weekend of United Rugby Championship derby fixtures.

Round 9 will kick off on Friday night with Munster welcoming Leinster to a sold-out Thomond Park. While on Saturday, DHL Stormers host Hollywoodbets Sharks, Zebre Parma face Benetton, Glasgow Warriors make the trip to Edinburgh and Connacht return to the Dexcom Stadium to face Ulster.

Welsh derby action will conclude Round 9 on New Years Day as Cardiff welcome Ospreys and Dragons travel to Scarlets.

Andrew Brace will take up the whistle for the 100th time as Connacht take on Ulster this Saturday. Brace made his PRO12 debut in 2015 and is in line to be the fifth match official to reach 100 games alongside Nigel Owens, George Clancy, Marius Mitrea and Ben Whitehouse.

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FRIDAY

Munster v Leinster

Thomond Park, Limerick – KO 7.35pm IRE & UK/8.35pm ITA/9.35pm SA

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 49th league game)

AR 1: Keane Davison (IRFU) AR 2: Chris Lough (IRFU)

TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

SATURDAY

DHL Stormers v Hollywoodbets Sharks

DHL Stadium, Cape Town – KO 3pm IRE & UK/4pm ITA/5pm SA

Referee: Aimee Barret-Theron (SARU, 8th league game)

AR 1: AJ Jacobs (SARU) AR 2: Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU)

TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Zebre Parma v Benetton

Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma – KO 3pm IRE & UK/4pm ITA/5pm SA

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 34th league game)

AR 1: Fillipo Russo (FIR) AR 2: Franco Rosella (FIR

TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)

Live on: Sky Italia, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Edinburgh Rugby v Glasgow Warriors

Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh – KO 3pm IRE & UK/4pm ITA/5pm SA

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 24th league game)

AR 1: Hollie Davidson (SRU) AR 2: Jonny Perriam (SRU)

TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)

Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Connacht v Ulster

Dexcom Stadium, Galway – KO 7.35pm IRE & UK/8.35pm ITA/9.35pm SA

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 100th league game)

AR 1: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU) AR 2: Tomas O’Sullivan (IRFU)

TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

Live on: RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1

Cardiff Rugby v Ospreys

Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff – KO 3pm IRE & UK/4pm ITA/5pm SA

Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, 6th league game)

AR 1: Ben Connor (WRU) AR 2: Adam Jones (WRU)

TMO: Tom Spurrier (WRU)

Live on: BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Scarlets v Dragons RFC

Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli – KO 5.15pm IRE & UK/6.15pm ITA/7.15pm SA

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 105th league game)

AR 1: Craig Evans (WRU) AR 2: Mike English (WRU)

TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)

Live on: S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv