The United Rugby Championship will introduce a season-long trial for 2026/27 that will see all team line-ups announced at 14:00 UK/Ire & 15:00 SA/Ita time on Thursdays of a match week.
Rather than Friday and Saturday teams being announced on separate days, all 16 teams will now work to a coordinated Thursday announcement time. For Friday fixtures, the timing remains largely unchanged, while teams playing on Saturdays and Sundays will generally be announced around 48 hours before kick-off rather than 24 hours.
The change follows feedback from media and broadcast partners seeking earlier access to team news, alongside a willingness from BKT URC teams to help create a longer and more consistent build-up to fixtures.
The trial is designed to give media and broadcasters more time for analysis, interviews and player-focused storytelling, while allowing clubs to use one of the strongest organic news moments of the week to support fixture promotion and ticket sales.
The new approach will apply throughout the 2026/27 BKT URC season.
