CS Knowledge Base

The 2026–27 United Rugby Championship is the upcoming 26th season of the professional rugby union competition currently known as the United Rugby Championship, the highest level domestic club rugby competition in South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy. This season will also be the sixth season under that name, and the sixth with the current collection of teams. It begins on 19 September 2026 and will end on 19 June 2027.^[1]

Leinster, Glasgow Warriors, Lions and Ospreys are defending the Irish, Scottish-Italian, South African and Welsh Shields respectively.

The 2026–27 season once again consists of 21 rounds: 18 rounds of regular season play, followed by three rounds of play-offs.^[2] The competition runs from September 2026 to June 2027, with the regular season ending in mid May. The season also contains breaks for the 2026 Nations Championship, the 2027 Six Nations (though some matches are played during 'fallow' weekends) and the various matchdays of the 2026–27 European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. The season does not overlap with the mid year series in the 2026 Nations Championship. Some South African teams will play derby matches throughout the Men's Six Nations window, as this is a competition in which the South Africa national team are not involved.

There are four regional pools: The Irish Shield pool (featuring the four Irish teams), the Welsh Shield pool (featuring the four Welsh teams), the South African Shield pool (featuring the four South African teams) and the shared Italian-Scottish Shield pool (featuring the two Italian and two Scottish sides). The pools serve two functions; they guarantee a full slate of home-and-away derby matches for each team (which are often the best attended and most remunerative fixtures for the clubs involved), and they award a minor Regional Shield trophy to the top team in each pool, which thereby functions as a de facto national professional championship in three of the four pools, and a cross-border regional championship in the Scottish–Italian pool. The winner of each Shield will be determined solely from the games played amongst the teams within their regional pool, mirroring the format of the old Interprovincial Championship in Ireland.

In Scotland, the two pool games involving both Scottish sides also decide the 1872 Cup, effectively a Scottish national professional championship. The two Italian sides have no individual trophy to play for.^[3]

Teams therefore play six matches against their regional pool rivals, in a home and away double round-robin. The remaining 12 matches are made up by a single round robin of the remaining teams, consisting of an even number of six home and six away matches against all the sides from the other pools, with home advantage alternating each year. Generally each team will play two of the teams in each of the other pools at home, and two away, with the matches away to South African teams usually held back to back as a 'mini-tour' to reduce travel. The South African teams in turn have six European matches, which are arranged as a series of three 'mini-tours' of two matches to reduce air travel.^[4]

For the United Rugby Championship itself, there is one main league table. The top eight sides in that table at the end of the regular season will qualify for the play-off quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and a grand final. The playoffs are seeded, with the top four seeds having home advantage at the quarter-final stage. In the semi-finals and final, the better ranked club in each tie has home advantage, so the number one team in the ladder will retain home advantage for as long as it progresses in the competition, including the final (unlike the Prem Rugby competition in England where the final is held in the neutral Twickenham Stadium).

The Regional Shield pools have no direct link to the play-offs and by extension the Championship itself, or European qualification, and it is technically possible to win a Regional Shield but not contest the play-offs.^[4]

Regional shield standings are based entirely on performances against other teams within the same conference.^[3] Therefore, only six games for each team count towards the regional shields. Leinster, Glasgow Warriors, Lions and Ospreys entered their respective Regional Shield competitions as reigning champions.

2026–27 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield tables view · watch · · discuss
Irish Shield
	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TBP	LBP	Pts	Pos overall
—	Connacht	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
—	Leinster	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
—	Munster	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
—	Ulster	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Italian x Scottish Shield
	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TBP	LBP	Pts	Pos overall
—	Benetton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
—	Edinburgh	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
—	Glasgow Warriors	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
—	Zebre Parma	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
South African Shield
	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TBP	LBP	Pts	Pos overall
—	Bulls	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
—	Lions	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
—	Sharks	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
—	Stormers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Welsh Shield
	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TBP	LBP	Pts	Pos overall
—	Cardiff	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
—	Dragons	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
—	Ospreys	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
—	Scarlets	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[8] number of matches won the difference between points for and points against the number of tries scored the most points scored the difference between tries for and tries against the fewest red cards received 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

Priority order for 2027–28 European Rugby Champions Cup qualification is as follows:

• 2026–27 United Rugby Championship champions
• the 2026–27 European Rugby Champions Cup champions (if a URC team but not already qualified as above)
• the 2026–27 EPCR Challenge Cup champions (if a URC team but not already qualified as above)
• the next highest-ranked teams during regular season play not already qualified as above, until eight overall qualifiers have been selected.

As a result of the priority order, the top five teams in the regular season standings are guaranteed qualification to the Champions Cup, with the remaining three places dependant on cup results this season.

The eight remaining teams qualify for the 2026–27 EPCR Challenge Cup.

The matches for the regular season were announced on 19 May 2026.^[9] This season begins with a triple-header on Friday 25 September 2026, as Dragons visit Benetton, Connacht host Stormers and Ulster entertain Edinburgh, all matches beginning at 19:45. The remaining ten teams will begin their season the following day.^[10]

Round 1

25 September	Benetton	v	Dragons	Stadio Monigo, Treviso

25 September	Connacht	v	Stormers	The Sportsground, Galway

25 September	Ulster	v	Edinburgh	Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast

26 September	Lions	v	Leinster	Ellis Park Stadium, Jo'burg

26 September	Sharks	v	Ospreys	Kings Park Stadium, Durban

26 September	Munster	v	Glasgow Warriors	Thomond Park, Limerick

26 September	Zebre	v	Bulls	Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

26 September	Scarlets	v	Cardiff	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli

Round 2

2 October	Cardiff	v	Zebre	Cardiff Arms Park

2 October	Edinburgh	v	Stormers	Edinburgh Rugby Stadium

2 October	Benetton	v	Connacht	Stadio Monigo, Treviso

3 October	Lions	v	Ospreys	Ellis Park Stadium, Jo'burg

3 October	Dragons	v	Scarlets	Rodney Parade, Newport

3 October	Sharks	v	Leinster	Kings Park Stadium, Durban

3 October	Munster	v	Bulls	Thomond Park, Limerick

3 October	Glasgow Warriors	v	Ulster	Scotstoun Stadium

Round 3

9 October	Glasgow Warriors	v	Connacht	Scotstoun Stadium

9 October	Dragons	v	Ospreys	Rodney Parade, Newport

10 October	Bulls	v	Lions	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

10 October	Stormers	v	Sharks	Cape Town Stadium

10 October	Zebre	v	Edinburgh	Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

10 October	Scarlets	v	Benetton	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli

10 October	Ulster	v	Munster	Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast

10 October	Leinster	v	Cardiff	RDS Arena, Dublin

Round 4

23 October	Cardiff	v	Sharks	Cardiff Arms Park

23 October	Connacht	v	Zebre	The Sportsground, Galway

23 October	Edinburgh	v	Lions	Edinburgh Rugby Stadium

24 October	Bulls	v	Ulster	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

24 October	Stormers	v	Scarlets	Cape Town Stadium

24 October	Benetton	v	Glasgow Warriors	Stadio Monigo, Treviso

24 October	Leinster	v	Munster	TBC

24 October	Ospreys	v	Dragons	St Helen's, Swansea

Round 5

30 October	Connacht	v	Leinster	The Sportsground, Galway

30 October	Glasgow Warriors	v	Lions	Scotstoun Stadium

31 October	Stormers	v	Ulster	Cape Town Stadium

31 October	Bulls	v	Scarlets	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

31 October	Benetton	v	Edinburgh	Stadio Monigo, Treviso

31 October	Munster	v	Sharks	Thomond Park, Limerick

31 October	Dragons	v	Zebre	Rodney Parade, Newport

31 October	Ospreys	v	Cardiff	St Helen's, Swansea

Round 6

4 December	Ospreys	v	Leinster	St Helen's, Swansea

4 December	Edinburgh	v	Dragons	Edinburgh Rugby Stadium

5 December	Lions	v	Bulls	Ellis Park Stadium, Jo'burg

5 December	Sharks	v	Stormers	Kings Park Stadium, Durban

5 December	Cardiff	v	Ulster	Cardiff Arms Park

5 December	Scarlets	v	Connacht	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli

5 December	Glasgow Warriors	v	Benetton	Scotstoun Stadium

5 December	Zebre	v	Munster	Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

Round 7

18 December	Ulster	v	Ospreys	Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast

18 December	Munster	v	Scarlets	Musgrave Park, Cork

19 December	Zebre	v	Benetton	Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

19 December	Stormers	v	Lions	Cape Town Stadium

19 December	Cardiff	v	Dragons	Cardiff Arms Park

19 December	Sharks	v	Bulls	Kings Park Stadium, Durban

19 December	Leinster	v	Glasgow Warriors	RDS Arena, Dublin

19 December	Connacht	v	Edinburgh	The Sportsground, Galway

Round 8

26 December	Dragons	v	Cardiff	Rodney Parade, Newport

26 December	Ospreys	v	Scarlets	St Helen's, Swansea

27 December	Benetton	v	Zebre	Stadio Monigo, Treviso

27 December	Edinburgh	v	Glasgow Warriors	Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

27 December	Ulster	v	Connacht	Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast

27 December	Munster	v	Leinster	Thomond Park, Limerick

20 February	Lions	v	Sharks	Ellis Park Stadium, Jo'burg

21 February	Bulls	v	Stormers	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Round 9

2 January	Sharks	v	Lions	Kings Park Stadium, Durban

2 January	Zebre	v	Glasgow Warriors	Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

2 January	Scarlets	v	Dragons	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli

2 January	Connacht	v	Munster	The Sportsground, Galway

2 January	Edinburgh	v	Benetton	Edinburgh Rugby Stadium

2 January	Cardiff	v	Ospreys	Cardiff Arms Park

2 January	Leinster	v	Ulster	RDS Arena, Dublin

3 January	Stormers	v	Bulls	Cape Town Stadium

Round 10

22 January	Glasgow Warriors	v	Scarlets	Scotstoun Stadium

22 January	Ulster	v	Sharks	Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast

23 January	Lions	v	Zebre	Ellis Park Stadium, Jo'burg

23 January	Stormers	v	Cardiff	Cape Town Stadium

23 January	Ospreys	v	Edinburgh	St Helen's, Swansea

23 January	Benetton	v	Bulls	Stadio Monigo, Treviso

23 January	Leinster	v	Dragons	RDS Arena, Dublin

23 January	Munster	v	Connacht	Thomond Park, Limerick

Round 11

29 January	Dragons	v	Munster	Rodney Parade, Newport

29 January	Glasgow Warriors	v	Ospreys	Scotstoun Stadium

30 January	Lions	v	Cardiff	Ellis Park Stadium, Jo'burg

30 January	Stormers	v	Zebre	Cape Town Stadium

30 January	Scarlets	v	Edinburgh	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli

30 January	Leinster	v	Bulls	RDS Arena, Dublin

30 January	Benetton	v	Sharks	Stadio Monigo, Treviso

30 January	Connacht	v	Ulster	The Sportsground, Galway

Round 12

26 February	Munster	v	Benetton	Musgrave Park, Cork

26 February	Dragons	v	Ulster	Rodney Parade, Newport

27 February	Lions	v	Stormers	Ellis Park Stadium, Jo'burg

27 February	Bulls	v	Sharks	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

27 February	Cardiff	v	Glasgow Warriors	Cardiff Arms Park

27 February	Zebre	v	Scarlets	Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

27 February	Ospreys	v	Connacht	St Helen's, Swansea

27 February	Edinburgh	v	Leinster	Edinburgh Rugby Stadium

Round 13

19 March	Sharks	v	Edinburgh	Kings Park Stadium, Durban

19 March	Glasgow Warriors	v	Stormers	Scotstoun Stadium

19 March	Connacht	v	Cardiff	The Sportsground, Galway

20 March	Ulster	v	Zebre	Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast

20 March	Bulls	v	Dragons	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

20 March	Munster	v	Ospreys	Thomond Park, Limerick

20 March	Scarlets	v	Lions	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli

20 March	Leinster	v	Benetton	RDS Arena, Dublin

Round 14

26 March	Glasgow Warriors	v	Zebre	Scotstoun Stadium

26 March	Scarlets	v	Leinster	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli

27 March	Bulls	v	Edinburgh	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

27 March	Connacht	v	Lions	The Sportsground, Galway

27 March	Sharks	v	Dragons	Kings Park Stadium, Durban

27 March	Cardiff	v	Munster	Cardiff Arms Park

27 March	Benetton	v	Ulster	Stadio Monigo, Treviso

27 March	Ospreys	v	Stormers	St Helen's, Swansea

Round 15

16 April	Dragons	v	Glasgow Warriors	Rodney Parade, Newport

16 April	Edinburgh	v	Cardiff	Edinburgh Rugby Stadium

17 April	Lions	v	Munster	Ellis Park Stadium, Jo'burg

17 April	Stormers	v	Benetton	Cape Town Stadium

17 April	Ospreys	v	Bulls	St Helen's, Swansea

17 April	Leinster	v	Connacht	RDS Arena, Dublin

17 April	Ulster	v	Scarlets	Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast

17 April	Zebre	v	Sharks	Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

Round 16

23 April	Zebre	v	Ospreys	Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

23 April	Ulster	v	Leinster	Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast

23 April	Cardiff	v	Bulls	Cardiff Arms Park

24 April	Lions	v	Benetton	Ellis Park Stadium, Jo'burg

24 April	Scarlets	v	Sharks	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli

24 April	Stormers	v	Munster	Cape Town Stadium

24 April	Glasgow Warriors	v	Edinburgh	Hampden Park

24 April	Connacht	v	Dragons	The Sportsground, Galway

Round 17

7 May	Dragons	v	Lions	Rodney Parade, Newport

7 May	Edinburgh	v	Zebre	Edinburgh Rugby Stadium

8 May	Sharks	v	Connacht	Kings Park Stadium, Durban

8 May	Bulls	v	Glasgow Warriors	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

8 May	Munster	v	Ulster	Thomond Park, Limerick

8 May	Scarlets	v	Ospreys	Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli

8 May	Leinster	v	Stormers	RDS Arena, Dublin

8 May	Benetton	v	Cardiff	Stadio Monigo, Treviso

Round 18

14 May	Ospreys	v	Benetton	St Helen's, Swansea

14 May	Ulster	v	Lions	Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast

14 May	Edinburgh	v	Munster	Edinburgh Rugby Stadium

15 May	Bulls	v	Connacht	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

15 May	Cardiff	v	Scarlets	Cardiff Arms Park

15 May	Sharks	v	Glasgow Warriors	Kings Park Stadium, Durban

15 May	Dragons	v	Stormers	Rodney Parade, Newport

15 May	Zebre	v	Leinster	Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

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