The full Vodacom United Rugby Championship fixture list for the 2026/27 season has been officially released, setting a new benchmark for the earliest-ever publication of league fixtures in competition history.
With the new campaign set to kick off on Friday, September 25, the release comes 129 days ahead of Round 1, beating last season’s previous record of 128 days and giving supporters, clubs, broadcasters and venues more time than ever before to plan around the league’s biggest weekends.
The 2026/27 fixture list has been designed to provide greater balance across the regular season, with a more even spread of home and away fixtures and an optimised touring model for South African teams, who will each complete three two-game URC tours during the campaign.
Round 1 will begin with fixtures across Ireland, Italy, South Africa and Wales on the opening weekend, with all five competing territories in action across the first round. The pick of the opening round sees the 2023 Vodacom URC champions Munster host 2024 champions Glasgow Warriors at Thomond Park on Saturday, September 26.
Other Round 1 highlights include Connacht welcoming DHL Stormers to Dexcom Stadium, Lions hosting Leinster at Ellis Park, Ulster facing Edinburgh at Affidea Stadium, and Scarlets meeting Cardiff in a Welsh derby at Parc y Scarlets.
The 2026/27 season promises another thrilling campaign following a record-breaking 2025/26 regular season, which produced the closest-ever Race to the Eight as teams competed for Play-Off places and Investec Champions Cup qualification.
Festive derby rounds will again form a major part of the season, with Rounds 7, 8 and 9 staged across December and early January, while the Race to the Eight will build from Round 13 as the battle for knock-out rugby intensifies. Themed rounds will also return during the 2026/27 campaign, with further details to be confirmed by the Vodacom URC in the near future.
The format of the competition remains unchanged, with the top eight teams progressing to the Play-Offs. The Quarter-Finals will begin on Friday, May 28, with the Semi-Finals taking place from Saturday, June 5, before the Grand Final on Saturday, June 19, to crown the 2026/27 champions.
Martin Anayi, United Rugby Championship CEO, said: “Publishing our fixtures earlier than ever before is a major achievement and an important step for our clubs, supporters, broadcasters and venues. “Fan certainty is hugely important to us. The more notice we can provide around fixtures and kick-off times, the easier it becomes for supporters to plan their weekends, travel to games and follow their teams throughout the season.
“This has been a very collaborative process with our clubs and broadcasters, and we are grateful for the way they have worked with us to deliver a more balanced fixture list. The touring model has helped us create a better cadence of home and away games across the season, while also supporting improved kick-off scheduling.
“After the closest-ever Race to the Eight in 2025/26, we are preparing for another incredibly dramatic Vodacom URC season. The level of competitiveness across the league continues to grow, and we know every round will have a major impact on the battle for Play-Off places, European qualification and, ultimately, the title.”
The Vodacom URC fixture process continues to benefit from its work with Ligalytics, a German sports data and scheduling firm trusted across rugby, football, cricket, basketball and hockey. For the 2026/27 season, Ligalytics again supported the league in developing fixture models that helped deliver essential travel requirements, a balanced home-and-away cadence, stadium availability, local restrictions and broadcaster needs.
Fixtures
25 September 2026
United Rugby Championship - Round 1
20:45 Benetton v Dragons @ Stadio Monigo, Treviso.
20:45 Connacht v DHL Stormers @ Dexcom Stadium, Galway.
20:45 Ulster v Edinburgh @ Affidea Stadium, Belfast.
26 September 2026
United Rugby Championship - Round 1
13:30 Lions v Leinster @ Ellis Park, Johannesburg.
15:00 Hollywoodbets Sharks v Ospreys @ Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban.
18:30 Munster v Glasgow Warriors @ Thomond Park, Limerick.
18:30 Zebre Parma v Vodacom Bulls @ Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma.
20:45 Scarlets v Cardiff @ Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli.
02 October 2026
United Rugby Championship - Round 2
19:45 Cardiff v Zebre Parma @ Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff.
20:45 Edinburgh v DHL Stormers @ Hive Stadium, Edinburgh.
20:45 Benetton v Connacht @ Stadio Monigo, Treviso.
03 October 2026
United Rugby Championship - Round 2
13:45 Lions v Ospreys @ Ellis Park, Johannesburg.
16:00 Dragons v Scarlets @ Rodney Parade, Newport
17:30 Hollywoodbets Sharks v Leinster @ Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban,.
20:45 Munster v Vodacom Bulls @ Thomond Park, Limerick
20:45 Glasgow Warriors v Ulster @ Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow.
09 October 2026
United Rugby Championship - Round 3
19:45 Glasgow Warriors v Connacht @ Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow.
20:45 Dragons v Ospreys @ Rodney Parade, Newport.
10 October 2026
United Rugby Championship - Round 3
13:30 Vodacom Bulls v Lions @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
15:00 DHL Stormers v Hollywoodbets Sharks @ DHL Stadium, Cape Town.
16:00 Zebre Parma v Edinburgh @ Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma.
18:30 Scarlets v Benetton @ Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli.
18:30 Ulster v Munster @ Affidea Stadium, Belfast.
20:45 Leinster v Cardiff @ Laya Arena, Dublin.
23 October 2026
United Rugby Championship - Round 4
20:45 Cardiff v Hollywoodbets Sharks @ Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff.
20:45 Connacht v Zebre Parma @ Dexcom Stadium, Galway.
20:45 Edinburgh v Lions @ Hive Stadium, Edinburgh.
24 October 2026
United Rugby Championship - Round 4
13:45 Vodacom Bulls v Ulster @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
16:00 DHL Stormers v Scarlets @ DHL Stadium, Cape Town.
16:00 Benetton v Glasgow Warriors @ Stadio Monigo, Treviso.
19:00 Leinster v Munster @ TBC, Dublin.
20:45 Ospreys v Dragons @ St. Helen’s, Swansea .
30 October 2026
United Rugby Championship - Round 5
20:45 Connacht v Leinster @ Dexcom Stadium, Galway.
20:45 Glasgow Warriors v Lions @ Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow.
31 October 2026
United Rugby Championship - Round 5
13:45 DHL Stormers v Ulster @ DHL Stadium, Cape Town.
16:00 Vodacom Bulls v Scarlets @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
16:00 Benetton v Edinburgh @ Stadio Monigo, Treviso.
18:30 Munster v Hollywoodbets Sharks @ Thomond Park, Limerick.
18:30 Dragons v Zebre Parma @ Rodney Parade, Newport.
20:45 Ospreys v Cardiff @ St. Helen’s, Swansea.
04 December 2026
United Rugby Championship - Round 6
20:45 Ospreys v Leinster @ St. Helen’s, Swansea.
20:45 Edinburgh v Dragons @ Hive Stadium, Edinburgh.
05 December 2026
United Rugby Championship - Round 6
13:30 Lions v Vodacom Bulls @ Ellis Park, Johannesburg.
15:00 Hollywoodbets Sharks v DHL Stormers @ Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban.
16:00 Cardiff v Ulster @ Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff.
18:15 Scarlets v Connacht @ Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli.
20:45 Glasgow Warriors v Benetton @ Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow.
20:45 Zebre Parma v Munster @ Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma.
18 December 2026
United Rugby Championship - Round 7
20:45 Ulster v Ospreys @ Affidea Stadium, Belfast.
20:45 Munster v Scarlets @ Virgin Media Park, Cork.
19 December 2026
United Rugby Championship - Round 7
14:30 Zebre Parma v Benetton @ Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma.
15:00 DHL Stormers v Lions @ DHL Stadium, Cape Town.
16:00 Cardiff v Dragons @ Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff.
17:30 Hollywoodbets Sharks v Vodacom Bulls @ Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban.
18:30 Leinster v Glasgow Warriors @ Laya Arena, Dublin.
20:45 Connacht v Edinburgh @ Dexcom Stadium, Galway.
26 December 2026
United Rugby Championship - Round 8
16:00 Dragons v Cardiff @ Rodney Parade, Newport.
18:30 Ospreys v Scarlets @ St. Helen’s, Swansea.
27 December 2026
United Rugby Championship - Round 8
14:30 Benetton v Zebre Parma @ Stadio Monigo, Treviso.
16:00 Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors @ Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh.
18:30 Ulster v Connacht @ Affidea Stadium, Belfast.
20:45 Munster v Leinster @ Thomond Park, Limerick.
02 January 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 9
16:00 Hollywoodbets Sharks v Lions @ Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban.
16:00 Zebre Parma v Glasgow Warriors @ Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma.
16:00 Scarlets v Dragons @ Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli.
17:15 Connacht v Munster @ Dexcom Stadium, Galway.
18:30 Edinburgh v Benetton @ Hive Stadium, Edinburgh.
18:30 Cardiff v Ospreys @ Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff.
20:45 Leinster v Ulster @ Laya Arena, Dublin.
03 January 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 9
15:00 DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls @ DHL Stadium, Cape Town.
22 January 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 10
20:45 Glasgow Warriors v Scarlets @ Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow.
20:45 Ulster v Hollywoodbets Sharks @ Affidea Stadium, Belfast.
23 January 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 10
13:45 Lions v Zebre Parma @ Ellis Park, Johannesburg.
16:00 DHL Stormers v Cardiff @ DHL Stadium, Cape Town.
16:00 Ospreys v Edinburgh @ St. Helen’s, Swansea.
18:30 Benetton v Vodacom Bulls @ Stadio Monigo, Treviso.
18:30 Leinster v Dragons @ Laya Arena, Dublin.
20:45 Munster v Connacht @ Thomond Park, Limerick.
29 January 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 11
20:45 Dragons v Munster @ Rodney Parade, Newport.
20:45 Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys @ Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow.
30 January 2026
United Rugby Championship - Round 11
13:45 Lions v Cardiff @ Ellis Park, Johannesburg.
16:00 DHL Stormers v Zebre Parma @ DHL Stadium, Cape Town.
16:00 Scarlets v Edinburgh @ Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli.
18:30 Leinster v Vodacom Bulls @ Laya Arena, Dublin.
20:45 Benetton v Hollywoodbets Sharks @ Stadio Monigo, Treviso.
20:45 Connacht v Ulster @ Dexcom Stadium, Galway.
20 February 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 8
13:00 Lions v Hollywoodbets Sharks @ Ellis Park, Johannesburg.
21 February 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 8
14:00 Vodacom Bulls v DHL Stormers @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
26 February 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 12
20:45 Munster v Benetton @ Virgin Media Park, Cork.
20:45 Dragons v Ulster @ Rodney Parade, Newport.
27 February 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 12
13:30 Lions v DHL Stormers @ Ellis Park, Johannesburg.
15:00 Vodacom Bulls v Hollywoodbets Sharks @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
16:00 Cardiff v Glasgow Warriors @ Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff.
18:30 Zebre Parma v Scarlets @ Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma.
18:30 Ospreys v Connacht @ St. Helen’s, Swansea.
19:45 Edinburgh v Leinster @ Hive Stadium, Edinburgh.
19 March 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 13
18:00 Hollywoodbets Sharks v Edinburgh @ Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban.
20:45 Glasgow Warriors v DHL Stormers @ Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow.
20:45 Connacht v Cardiff @ Dexcom Stadium, Galway.
20 March 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 13
16:00 Ulster v Zebre Parma @ Affidea Stadium, Belfast.
16:00 Vodacom Bulls v Dragons @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
18:30 Munster v Ospreys @ Thomond Park, Limerick.
18:30 Scarlets v Lions @ Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli.
20:45 Leinster v Benetton @ Laya Arena, Dublin.
26 March 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 14
20:45 Glasgow Warriors v Zebre Parma @ Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow.
20:45 Scarlets v Leinster @ Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli.
27 March 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 14
13:00 Vodacom Bulls v Edinburgh @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
15:15 Connacht v Lions @ Dexcom Stadium, Galway.
17:30 Hollywoodbets Sharks v Dragons @ Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban.
18:30 Cardiff v Munster @ Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff.
20:45 Benetton v Ulster @ Stadio Monigo, Treviso.
20:45 Ospreys v DHL Stormers @ St. Helen’s, Swansea.
16 April 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 15
20:45 Dragons v Glasgow Warriors @ Rodney Parade, Newport.
20:45 Edinburgh v Cardiff @ Hive Stadium, Edinburgh.
17 April 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 15
13:45Lions v Munster @ Ellis Park, Johannesburg.
16:00 DHL Stormers v Benetton @ DHL Stadium, Cape Town.
18:30 Ospreys v Vodacom Bulls @ St. Helen’s, Swansea.
18:45 Leinster v Connacht @ Laya Arena, Dublin.
20:45 Ulster v Scarlets @ Affidea Stadium, Belfast.
20:45 Zebre Parma v Hollywoodbets Sharks @ Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma.
23 April 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 16
19:00 Zebre Parma v Ospreys @ Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma.
20:45 Ulster v Leinster @ Affidea Stadium, Belfast.
21:05 Cardiff v Vodacom Bulls @ Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff.
24 April 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 16
13:45 Lions v Benetton @ Ellis Park, Johannesburg.
16:00 Scarlets v Hollywoodbets Sharks @ Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli.
18:05 DHL Stormers v Munster @ DHL Stadium, Cape Town.
18:45 Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh @ Hampden Park, Glasgow.
20:45 Connacht v Dragons @ Dexcom Stadium, Galway.
07 May 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 17
20:45 Dragons v Lions @ Rodney Parade, Newport.
20:45 Edinburgh v Zebre Parma @ Hive Stadium, Edinburgh.
08 May 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 17
13:30 Hollywoodbets Sharks v Connacht @ Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban.
16:00 Vodacom Bulls v Glasgow Warriors @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
18:15 Munster v Ulster @ Thomond Park, Limerick.
18:30 Scarlets v Ospreys @ Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli.
20:45 Leinster v DHL Stormers @ Laya Arena, Dublin.
20:45 Benetton v Cardiff @ Stadio Monigo, Treviso.
14 May 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 18
20:45 Ospreys v Benetton @ St. Helen’s, Swansea.
20:45 Ulster v Lions @ Affidea Stadium, Belfast.
20:45 Edinburgh v Munster @ Hive Stadium, Edinburgh.
15 May 2027
United Rugby Championship - Round 18
13:30 Vodacom Bulls v Connacht @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
16:00 Cardiff v Scarlets @ Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff.
16:00 Hollywoodbets Sharks v Glasgow Warriors @ Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban.
18:30 Dragons v DHL Stormers @ Rodney Parade, Newport.
18:30 Zebre Parma v Leinster @ Stadio Lanfranchi, Parma.
Play-Off Schedule
28/29 May 2027
United Rugby Championship Quarter-Finals
05 June 2026
United Rugby Championship Semi-Finals
19 June 2026
United Rugby Championship Final