The 2026–27 season is Leinster Rugby's sixth season in the United Rugby Championship, and 26th in all formats of the competition. Along with competing in the URC and its Irish Shield competition, the club will also participate in the 2026–27 European Rugby Champions Cup.

Leinster will enter the season as reigning, back-to-back and ten-time United Rugby Championship champions, seeking a third consecutive league championship title and eleventh overall; as five-time URC Irish Shield Champions, and as European Rugby Champions Cup runners-up seeking a fifth European Champions Cup title.

The 2026–27 season also sees Leinster return to the upgraded RDS Arena, renamed the Laya Arena for sponsorship purposes, from their residency at the Aviva Stadium, although selected matches may still be played at the Aviva or Croke Park.

Squad and management

Leo Cullen continues in post as had coach for the 2026–27 season, in what is the final year on his current contract.

Transfers

The departure of James Lowe to Japan after 11 years with the province, simultaneously ending his career with Leinster and Ireland, and the departure home of All Black loanee Rieko Ioane headline the movements out of the club; Irish internationals Ciarán Frawley, Jerry Cahir and Will Connors also leave for Connacht Rugby, but Joey Carbery is expected to return from France.

Main article: Leinster Rugby

United Rugby Championship

Matches

Leinster Rugby will begin their sixth URC campaign away to South African side Lions. The first fixture at their traditional home, the RDS Arena, occurs in Round 3 against Cardiff. The venue for the now traditional 'blockbuster' home match against Irish rivals Munster has yet to be confirmed, but will be held in either the Aviva Stadium or Croke Park.

26 September 2026 Lions South Africa v Ireland Leinster Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
3 October 2026 Sharks South Africa v Ireland Leinster Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
10 October 2026 Leinster Ireland v Wales Cardiff RDS Arena, Dublin  
24 October 2026 Leinster Ireland v Ireland Munster TBC  
30 October 2026 Connacht Ireland v Ireland Leinster The Sportsground, Galway  
4 December 2026 OspreysWales v Ireland Leinster St Helen's, Swansea  
19 December 2026 Leinster Ireland v Scotland Glasgow Warriors RDS Arena, Dublin  
27 December 2026 Munster Ireland v Ireland Leinster Thomond Park, Limerick  
2 January 2027 Leinster Ireland v Ireland Ulster RDS Arena, Dublin  
23 January 2027 Leinster Ireland v Wales Dragons RDS Arena, Dublin  
30 January 2027 Leinster Ireland v South Africa Bulls RDS Arena, Dublin  
27 February 2027 Edinburgh Scotland v Ireland Leinster Edinburgh Rugby Stadium  
20 March 2027 Leinster Ireland v Italy Benetton RDS Arena, Dublin  
26 March 2027 Scarlets Wales v Ireland Leinster Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli  
17 April 2027 Leinster Ireland v Ireland Connacht RDS Arena, Dublin  
23 April 2027 Ulster Ireland v Ireland Leinster Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
8 May 2027 Leinster Ireland v South Africa Stormers RDS Arena, Dublin  
15 May 2027 Zebre Parma Italy v Ireland Leinster Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi  

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Benetton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the Champions Cup and knockout stage
2 Bulls 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Cardiff 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Connacht 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Dragons 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Edinburgh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Glasgow Warriors 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 Leinster 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Lions 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the Challenge Cup
10 Munster 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 Ospreys 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Scarlets 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 Sharks 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 Stormers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 Ulster 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 Zebre 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: UnitedRugby.com
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won 2) The difference between points for and points against 3) The number of tries scored 4) The most points scored 5) The difference between tries for and tries against 6) The fewest red cards received 7) The fewest yellow cards received.[14]

URC Irish Shield

Leinster have won every edition to date of the Irish Shield, and enter the competition as five-time champions.

2026–27 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield tables view · watch · · discuss
Ireland Irish Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
—Ireland Connacht 0000000000000
—Ireland Leinster 0000000000000
—Ireland Munster 0000000000000
—Ireland Ulster 0000000000000
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[15]
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields.

(S) : URC Shield champion

European Rugby Champions Cup

The beaten finalists from the previous season, Leinster qualified for the 2026–27 European Rugby Champions Cup having finished second in the 2025–26 United Rugby Championship. The pool stage draw will take place on 1 July 2026.[16]

Victory in the 2026 United Rugby Championship Grand Final earned Leinster one of the four top seedings, along with the 2026 Champions Cup winner's, and the winners of the English Premiership and French Top 14 competitions. In 1 July, Leinster were drawn with URC colleagues Glasgow Warrirors, who by the rules of the competition they will not face, and English sides Sale Sharks and Leicester Tigers, and French teams Pau and Clermont[17].

References

  1. ↑ "Smyth signs first senior contract with Leinster - Rugby - Carlow Nationalist". carlow-nationalist.ie. 17 April 2026. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  2. ↑ Duffy, Emma (21 April 2026). "Leinster out-half Harry Byrne signs new contract". The 42. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  3. ↑ "Joshua Kenny signs first pro contract at Leinster after breakout season from winger". www.independent.ie. 23 April 2026. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  4. ↑ Farrell, Sinead (2 July 2026). "Leinster confirm return of Joey Carbery ahead of next season". The 42. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Peter Dooley returns to Leinster after four year stint with Connacht". www.irishtimes.ie. 3 July 2026. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Rieko Ioane to join Leinster in bombshell move". Rugby Pass. 16 April 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  7. ↑ "Connacht confirm Frawley signing on two-year deal". RTI.ie. 29 December 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  8. ↑ "Connors the latest to swap Leinster for Connacht". 27 January 2026. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "Leinster & Ireland star agrees deal to join French club". Rugby Lad.ie. 2 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  10. ↑ "Rabah Slimani pens deal with French giants as Leinster exit signed off". Rugby Pass. 9 April 2026. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  11. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Jerry Cahir was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ↑ Cite error: The named reference John McKee was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ↑ "Lowe's departure confirmed with winger set for Japan move". RTE.ie. 9 June 2026. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  14. ↑ "Competition rules – United Rugby Championship". United Rugby Championship. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  15. ↑ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  16. ↑ "EPCR confirms Lyon 2027 Finals and 2026/27 season dates, with EPCR Challenge Cup returning to October start". epcrugby.com. 27 February 2026. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "OFFICIAL: Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge pools confirmed for 2026/27 season | Investec Champions Cup". www.epcrugby.com. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026–27_Leinster_Rugby_season