Round 7 of the 2025/26 URC featured a mix of inter-provincial derbies and cross-conference clashes, played on December 19-20, 2025. The Stormers maintained their perfect record, remaining the only unbeaten team, while several close contests highlighted the competition's intensity.
On the log, the Stormers lead comfortably, with Munster and surprise package Cardiff in pursuit. Glasgow's win keeps them in the top four. The race for playoff spots (top 8) remains wide open heading into the festive derbies in Rounds 8-9. Overall, Round 7 reinforced the URC's competitiveness, with derbies living up to the hype and the South African sides showing strong form at home. The league pauses briefly before more holiday fixtures, expect more drama!
Try machine Gareth Davies continued his love affair with the Arms Park as he played a pivotal role in the Scarlets turning the URC table on its head. The west Wales region went into their opening festive derby in bottom spot, while Cardiff were flying high in second place and unbeaten at their home ground since January. But it was the visitors who came out on top 21-17 with Player of the Match Davies scoring two tries for the third season in a row at the Arms Park.
In Friday night’s Irish derby, Leinster Rugby made it five wins in a row in all competitions as they came from 17-7 down at half-time to beat Ulster Rugby 24-20 in Belfast. It was replacement hooker Dan Sheehan who claimed the match-winning try six minutes from time, a score that also secured a bonus point for the reigning league champions.
The Stormers claimed a 34-27 bonus point victory over the Lions in Cape Town to make it seven out of seven in the URC and nine out of nine in all competitions. They were made to work for their latest success, trailing 17-10 at the break, but in the end they got the job done, running in four tries with the league’s top points scorer Jurie Matthee slotting six kicks at goal and flanker Paul de Villiers picking up yet another Player of the Match award.
As for the big Scottish derby, that ended with Glasgow Warriors securing a 24-12 bonus point victory over Edinburgh Rugby at Hampden Park in the first leg of the 1872 Cup. The Player of the Match award went to Glasgow’s try-scoring flanker Rory Darge who said: “I loved it. I missed playing at Hampden last year, so to experience it for the first time was awesome.
Over in Durban, a capacity crowd of 44,517 saw the Hollywoodbets Sharks beat the Vodacom Bulls 21-12, with Kings Park sold out for a domestic clash for the first time since 2012. It was a tight affair which was settled in the closing stages by Springboks Siya Kolisi and Edwill van der Merwe crossing for the hosts.
Meanwhile, Munster Rugby marked their first visit to Bridgend’s Brewery Field in 24 years by claiming a 26-10 bonus point victory over the Ospreys to move up to second in the URC table.
There were emotional scenes at Rodney Parade as Dragons RFC beat Connacht Rugby 48-28 to record their first win in the BKT URC since the opening day of last season. They scored six tries in all, with a brace from young scrum-half Che Hope and a real Christmas cracker from Player of the Match Rio Dyer.
Results Round 7
Cardiff 17 - 21 Scarlets (Welsh derby)
Leinster 24 - 20 Ulster (Irish inter-pro)
DHL Stormers 34 - 27 Lions (South African derby)
Benetton 21 - 15 Zebre (Italian derby)
Glasgow Warriors 24 - 12 Edinburgh (1872 Cup, Scottish derby)
Hollywoodbets Sharks 21 - 12 Vodacom Bulls (South African derby)
Ospreys 10 - 26 Munster
Dragons RFC 48-28 Connacht
URC Log 22/12/2025
