Expect fireworks as URC starts 2026 with a bang
- URC Media
- 8h
- 4 min read
Rugby fans will ring in the New Year with full round United Rugby Championship fixtures.
Welsh derby action will kick off on New Years Day, as Dragons RFC host Scarlets and Cardiff travel to Ospreys.
Friday night lights will see Munster make the trip to Ulster. While on Saturday, South African derbies return as Hollywoodbets Sharks welcome the Lions and Vodacom Bulls face undefeated league leaders DHL Stormers. Defending BKT URC champions Leinster host Connacht, Edinburgh will play Benetton with Zebre Parma travelling to Glasgow.
Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia said: “We’re looking to the challenge, another Welsh derby and representing the jersey and the people of Gwent on New Year’s Day.
“It’s set to be a huge crowd at Rodney Parade, so we need to embrace the atmosphere and look to build on the performances and what we have achieved on home soil in recent games.”
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel added: “The result on Boxing Day was disappointing for us all. We have had to lick our wounds and it’s been important to recover well and turn our focus to the Dragons. The games are coming thick and fast and this is another important game and another tough game for us. They are going well at the moment and we have to make sure we go to Rodney Parade with a spark and full of energy.”
Cardiff coach Corniel van Zyl commented: “We were obviously pleased to get the win against Dragons on Boxing Day but it was a frustrating performance. We left some opportunities out there in the second half and let them back into the game.
“But that’s given us plenty to work on and a sharpened focus this week and we are all very aware that we will need to be much better on Thursday.
“The Ospreys are a quality team and enjoyed an impressive win over the Scarlets. We will have to match their physicality, set-piece and manage the middle third of the pitch well. It’s a challenge we are looking forward to.
“We talk a lot about growth and going away to the Brewery Field gives us the chance to test our game in a different environment in what will be tough game.”
Ulster head coach Richie Murphy said: "It's going to be a massive test for us. We know that whatever Munster team turns up, it's going to be a very difficult task.”
Click below to view Match Previews
Fixtures
THURSDAY
Dragons RFC v Scarlets
Rodney Parade, Newport – KO 3pm IRE & UK/4pm ITA/5pm SA
Referee: Ben Connor (WRU, 6th league game)
AR 1: Carwyn Sion (WRU) AR 2: Gareth Newman (WRU)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
Live on: S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Ospreys v Cardiff Rugby
Dunraven Brewery Field, Bridgend – KO 5.30pm IRE & UK/6.30pm ITA/7.30pm SA
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU, 48th league game)
AR 1: Ben Breakspear (WRU) AR 2: Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU)
TMO: Craig Evans (WRU)
Live on: BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
FRIDAY
Ulster Rugby v Munster Rugby
Affidea Stadium, Belfast – KO 7.45pm IRE & UK/8.45pm ITA/9.45pm SA
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 94th league game)
AR 1: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU) AR 2: Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: Dave Sutherland (SRU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
SATURDAY
Hollywoodbets Sharks v Lions
Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban – KO 1.30pm IRE & UK/2.30pm ITA/3.30pm SA
Referee: Chris Allison (SARU, 6th league game)
AR 1: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) AR 2: Hanru van Rooyen (SARU)
TMO: Egon Seconds (SARU)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, TG4, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls
DHL Stadium, Cape Town – KO 4pm IRE & UK/5pm ITA/6pm SA
Referee: Griffin Colby (SARU, 10th league game)
AR 1: Morne Ferreira (SARU) AR 2: Sean Muller (SARU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Benetton v Edinburgh Rugby
Stadio Monigo, Treviso – KO 5.30pm IRE & UK/6.30pm ITA/7.30pm SA
Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU, 11th league game)
AR 1: Alberto Facaro (FIR) AR 2: Riccardo Bonato (FIR)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Live on: Sky Italia, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Leinster Rugby v Connacht Rugby
Aviva Stadium, Dublin – KO 5.30pm IRE & UK/6.30pm ITA/7.30pm SA
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 112th league game)
AR 1: Keane Davison (IRFU) AR 2: Chris Lough (IRFU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Glasgow Warriors v Zebre Parma
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – KO 7.45pm IRE & UK/8.45pm ITA/9.45pm SA
Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, 16th league game)
AR 1: Sam Grove-White (SRU) AR 2: Sam O’Neil (SRU)
TMO: Keith David (WRU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
After an exciting weekend of the United Rugby Championship, URC StatMaster has identified the top players from R8 along with the overall top team and player performances from the league so far.
Click below to view URC Player Stats
Click below to view URC Team Stats
Top Players From R8
Carries: 25 Fletcher Anderson (Scarlets)
Defenders Beaten: 7 Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors)
Line-outs Won: 8 Tom Ahern (Munster Rugby)
Metres: 131 Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby)
Passes: 95 Aled Davies (Cardiff Rugby)
Tackles: 28 Harri Deaves (Ospreys)
Overall Top Players After R8
Carries: 123 Alun Lawrence (Cardiff Rugby)
Defenders Beaten: 33 Jacob Stockdale/Sebastian de Klerk (Vodacom Bulls)
Kicks in Play: 67 Gareth Davies (Scarlets)
Line-out Steals: 7 Alex Soroka (Leinster Rugby)
Line-outs Won: 42 Marvin Orie (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
Metres: 490 Sebastian de Klerk (Vodacom Bulls)
Passes: 550 George Horne (Glasgow Warriors)
Tackles: 113 Harri Deaves (Ospreys)
Tries: 6 Louis Lynagh (Benetton)/Werner Kok (Ulster Rugby)
Turnover Won: 11 Samuele Locatelli (Zebre Parma)
Overall Top Team Season Totals
Carries: 1 255 Glasgow Warriors
Defenders Beaten: 208 Glasgow Warriors
Kicks in Play: 248 Cardiff Rugby
Metres: 3 683 Glasgow Warriors
Points: 231 Ulster Rugby
Tackles: 1 307 Dragons RFC
Tries: 33 Ulster Rugby
Turnover Won: 57 Munster Rugby
Visits To 22: 108 Glasgow Warriors