New Era As First URC Fixtures Unveiled

Building upon rivalry created during the British & Irish Lions Series, the Cell C Sharks, DHL Stormers, Emirates Lions and Vodacom Bulls now take the pitch in iconic locations against the best of Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales across 18 rounds of action.

With every game live on TV, this new era will kick-off to the widest possible audience in the league’s history with major free-to-air audiences opened up in Ireland (RTÉ and TG4), Italy (to be confirmed shortly), and the UK (BBCNI, BBCW and S4C) as part of the URC’s new line-up of broadcast partners.

They will line up alongside our long-term pay TV partners in Premier Sports and Supersport in order to deliver unprecedented access for fans and major exposure for players and teams.

The unique appeal of the URC will be on show in the round 1 where title holders and eight-times champions Leinster will play host to the three-time Super Rugby champions, Vodacom Bulls.

Munster, another multiple-time league winner, will welcome the Cell C Sharks to Ireland, while the DHL Stormers face Rainbow Cup winners Benetton in Treviso and the Emirates Lions travel to Parma to take on Zebre.

Edinburgh will host the Scarlets in their new stadium in the Scottish capital, the first Welsh derby of the season takes place between the Dragons and the Ospreys, Cardiff entertain Connacht, while a battle of former champions will take place between Ulster and Glasgow Warriors.

Martin Anayi, United Rugby Championship CEO, said: “We believe these fixtures will ensure that the URC could deliver on its promise of a new era for our league where the very best from South Africa go head-to-head with our Celtic and Italian teams.

“As we carefully manoeuvre out of the pandemic, the URC will take its place as one of the leading leagues in global rugby and this fixture list should ignite our competition and take it to the next level.

“This schedule is the most complex we have ever produced and the efforts of every one of our stakeholders to help us piece it together in the current climate have been monumental.

“We now have a format that will heighten competition, showcase our teams, elevate our players and bring great excitement to fans and TV audiences right across our territories and beyond.”

To accommodate the very latest travel conditions across the URC’s competing territories the provisional fixtures had to be readjusted.

The South African teams will now complete four-week tours of Europe to begin the season, giving fans in Ireland, Italy, Wales and Scotland an early opportunity to see these new sides in person.

In the URC’s commitment to avoid clashing with international weekends, the original date of round 6 has been moved to the final week in November which ensures every round of the tournament is played on a standalone weekend.

Across the world, rugby fans will be able catch all the action on URC TV, the league’s own OTT player which will be launched in partnership with RTÉ very shortly.

Jeopardy and drama will be littered across the campaign with every team eligible to qualify for EPCR tournaments and the reduction in rounds from 21 to 18 means every match matters.

In the new format, all 16 teams will be ranked across a single table which will reward the top eight teams with their places in an expanded final series that includes a full quarter-final stage, followed by semi-finals before the best two teams meet in the URC grand final in June.

Kick-off times and TV selections have been made up to round 10 and the details for the remaining rounds will be finalised in the near future.

The quarter-finals, semi-finals and URC grand final will take place on consecutive weekends on June 4, June 11 and June 18 respectively.

Please visit www.unitedrugby.com/match-centre to view all fixtures.

UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES – 2021/22 SEASON:

ROUND 1 –

Friday, September 24

Zebre v Emirates Lions | 17:35 IRE/UK / 18:35 ITA/SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Ulster v Glasgow Warriors | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA/SA | Premier Sports

Cardiff v Connacht | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA/SA | BBC Wales, TG4, Premier Sports

Saturday, September 25

Benetton v DHL Stormers | 13:00 IRE/UK / 14:00 ITA/SA | Italian TV, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Leinster v Vodacom Bulls | 17:15 IRE/UK / 18:15 ITA/SA | TG4, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Edinburgh v Scarlets | 17:15 IRE/UK / 18:15 ITA/SA | Premier Sports, S4C

Munster v Sharks | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA/SA | RTE, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Sunday, September 26

Dragons v Ospreys | 14:00 IRE/UK / 15:00 ITA/SA | Premier Sports

 

ROUND 2 –

Friday, October 1

Connacht v Vodacom Bulls | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA/SA | TG4, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Scarlets v Emirates Lions | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA/SA | BBC Wales, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Saturday, October 2

Benetton v Edinburgh | 13:00 IRE/UK / 14:00 ITA/SA | Italian TV, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Glasgow Warriors v Cell C Sharks | 15:00 IRE/UK / 16:00 ITA/SA | Premier Sports, Super Sport

Zebre v Ulster | 17:15 IRE/UK / 18:15 ITA/SA | Premier Sports

Dragons v Leinster | TBC | S4C, RTÉ, Premier Sports

Ospreys v Cardiff | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA/SA | Premier Sports

Munster v DHL Stormers | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA/SA | RTE, Super Sport, Premier Sports

 

ROUND 3 –

Friday, October 8

Ulster v Benetton | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA/SA | BBC NI, Premier Sports, TG4

Ospreys v Cell C Sharks | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA/SA | BBC Wales, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Saturday, October 9

Leinster v Zebre | 13:00 IRE/UK / 14:00 ITA/SA | RTE, Italian TV, Premier Sports

Glasgow Warriors v Emirates Lions | 15:00 IRE/UK / 16:00 ITA/SA | Premier Sports, Super Sport

Connacht v Dragons | 17:15 IRE/UK / 18:15 ITA/SA | TG4, S4C, Premier Sports

Edinburgh v DHL Stormers | 17:15 IRE/UK / 18:15 ITA/SA | Premier Sports, Super Sport

Cardiff v Vodacom Bulls | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA/SA | S4C, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Sunday, October 10

Scarlets v Munster | 14:00 IRE/UK / 15:00 ITA/SA | S4C, RTE, Premier Sports

 

ROUND 4 –

Friday, October 15

Ulster v Lions | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA/SA | BBC NI, Super Sport, Premier Sports, RTE

Dragons v DHL Stormers | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA/SA | BBC Wales, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Saturday, October 16

Zebre v Glasgow Warriors | 13:00 IRE/UK / 14:00 ITA/SA | Italian TV, Premier Sports

Benetton v Ospreys | 15:00 IRE/UK / 16:00 ITA/SA | S4C,  Premier Sports

Leinster v Scarlets | 17:15 IRE/UK / 18:15 ITA/SA | TG4, S4C, Premier Sports

Edinburgh v Vodacom Bulls | 17:15 IRE/UK / 18:15 ITA/SA | Premier Sports, Super Sport

Munster v Connacht | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA/SA | RTÉ, Premier Sports

Cardiff v Cell C Sharks | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA/SA | S4C, Super Sport, Premier Sports

 

ROUND 5 –

Friday, October 22

Scarlets v Benetton | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA/SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Saturday, October 23

Zebre v Edinburgh | 13:00 IRE/UK / 14:00 ITA/SA | Italian TV, Premier Sports

Glasgow Warriors v Leinster | 15:00 IRE/UK / 16:00 ITA/SA | Premier Sports, TG4

Connacht v Ulster | 17:15 IRE/UK / 18:15 ITA/SA | TG4, Premier Sports

Cardiff v Dragons | 17:15 IRE/UK / 18:15 ITA/SA | Premier Sports

Ospreys v Munster | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA/SA | S4C, RTÉ,  Premier Sports

 

ROUND 6 –

Friday, November 26

Connacht v Ospreys | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA/ 21:35 SA | RTE, BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Saturday, November 27

DHL Stormers v Zebre | 13:00 IRE/UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Benetton v Glasgow Warriors | 13:00 IRE/UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Italian TV, Premier Sports

Cell C Sharks v Scarlets | 15:30 IRE/UK / 16:30 ITA / 17:30 SA | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports

Dragons v Edinburgh | 17:15 IRE/UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | Premier Sports

Vodacom Bulls v Munster | 17:45 IRE/UK / 18:45 ITA / 19:45 SA | Super Sport, TG4, Premier Sports

Leinster v Ulster | 20:00 IRE/UK / 21:00 ITA / 22:00 SA | RTE, Premier Sports

Sunday, November 28

Emirates Lions v Cardiff | 14:00 IRE/UK / 15:00 ITA / 16:00 SA | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports

 

ROUND 7 –

Friday, December 3

Vodacom Bulls v Scarlets | 17:35 IRE/UK / 18:35 ITA / 19:35 SA | Super Sport, BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Edinburgh v Benetton | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA / 21:35 SA | Premier Sports

Leinster v Connacht | 19:45 IRE/UK / 20:45 ITA / 21:45 SA | TG4, Premier Sports

Saturday, December 4

Cell C Sharks v Zebre | 13:00 IRE/UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Super Sport, Italian TV, Premier Sports

Ospreys v Ulster | 15:00 IRE/UK / 16:00 ITA / 17:00 SA | Premier Sports

Emirates Lions v Munster | 15:30 IRE/UK / 16:30 ITA / 17:30 SA | Super Sport, RTE, Premier Sports

Glasgow Warriors v Dragons | 17:15 IRE/UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | Premier Sports

DHL Stormers v Cardiff | 17:45 IRE/UK / 18:45 ITA / 19:45 SA | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports

 

ROUND 8 –

Friday, December 24

Zebre v Benetton | 13:00 IRE/UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Italian TV, Premier Sports

Sunday, December 26

Cardiff v Scarlets | 15:00 IRE/UK / 16:00 ITA / 17:00 SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Ulster v Connacht | 17:15 IRE/UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | BBC NI, TG4, Premier Sports

Ospreys v Dragons | 17:15 IRE/UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | S4C, Premier Sports

Munster v Leinster | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA / 21:35 SA | RTE, Premier Sports

Monday, December 27

Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh | 19:00 IRE/UK / 20:00 ITA / 21:00 SA | Premier Sports

 

ROUND 9 –

Saturday, January 1

Dragons v Cardiff | 15:00 IRE/UK / 16:00 ITA / 17:00 SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Connacht v Munster | 17:15 IRE/UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | TG4, Premier Sports

Scarlets v Ospreys | 17:15 IRE/UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | S4C, Premier Sports

Ulster v Leinster | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA / 21:35 SA | Premier Sports, TG4

Sunday, January 2

Benetton v Zebre | 13:00 IRE/UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Italian TV, Premier Sports

Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors | 14:00 IRE/UK / 15:00 ITA / 16:00 SA | Premier Sports

 

ROUND 10 –

Friday, January 7

Leinster v Emirates Lions | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA / 21 :35 SA | TG4, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Saturday, January 8

Benetton v Cell C Sharks | 13:00 IRE/UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Italian TV, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Zebre v Vodacom Bulls | 15:00 IRE/UK / 16:00 ITA / 17:00 SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Edinburgh v Cardiff | 15:00 IRE/UK / 16:00 ITA / 17:00 SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Connacht v DHL Stormers | 17:00 IRE/UK / 18:00 ITA / 19:00 SA | RTE, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys | 17:15 IRE/UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | Premier Sports, S4C

Munster v Ulster | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA / 21 :35 SA | RTE, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Scarlets v Dragons | 19:35 IRE/UK / 20:35 ITA / 21 :35 SA | Premier Sports

 

ROUND 11 –

Weekend of Jan 28/29/30

Connacht v Glasgow Warriors

Ulster v Scarlets

Cardiff v Leinster

Dragons v Benetton

Ospreys v Edinburgh

Vodacom Bulls v Emirates Lions

DHL Stormers v Cell C Sharks

Zebre v Munster

 

ROUND 5 (SA Derbies) –

Weekend of Feb 4/5/6

Emirates Lions v Cell C Sharks | TBC | Super Sport, Premier Sports

DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls | TBC | Super Sport, Premier Sports

 

ROUND 8 (SA Derbies) –

Weekend of Feb 11/12/13

Vodacom Bulls v Cell C Sharks | TBC | Super Sport, Premier Sports

DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions | TBC | Super Sport, Premier Sports

 

ROUND 12 –

Weekend of Feb 18/19/20

Leinster v Ospreys

Munster v Edinburgh

Cardiff v Zebre

Dragons v Ulster

Scarlets v Connacht

Emirates Lions v DHL Stormers

Cell C Sharks v Vodacom Bulls

Glasgow Warriors v Benetton

 

ROUND 13 – 

Weekend of Mar 4/5/6

Munster v Dragons

Ulster v Cardiff

Scarlets v Glasgow Warriors

Ospreys v Zebre

Vodacom Bulls v DHL Stormers

Cell C Sharks v Emirates Lions

Edinburgh v Connacht

Benetton v Leinster

 

ROUND 9 (SA Derbies) –

Weekend of March 18/19/20

Emirates Lions v Vodacom Bulls | TBC | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Cell C Sharks v DHL Stormers | TBC | Super Sport, Premier Sports

 

ROUND 14 –

Weekend of March 25/26/27

Connacht v Leinster

Munster v Benetton

Cardiff v Glasgow Warriors

Vodacom Bulls v Dragons

Emirates Lions v Ospreys

Cell C Sharks v Edinburgh

DHL Stormers v Ulster

Zebre v Scarlets

 

ROUND 15 –

Weekend of April 1/2/3

Leinster v Munster

Scarlets v Cardiff

Vodacom Bulls v Ulster

Emirates Lions v Edinburgh

Cell C Sharks v dragons

DHL Stormers v Ospreys

Glasgow Warriors v Zebre

Benetton v Connacht

 

ROUND 16 –

Weekend of April 22/23/24

Ulster v Munster

Cardiff v Ospreys

Dragons v Scarlets

Vodacom Bulls v Benetton

Emirates Lions v Connacht

Cell C Sharks v Leinster

DHL Stormers v Glasgow Warriors

Edinburgh v Zebre

 

ROUND 17 –

Weekend of April 29/30 and May 1

Munster v Cardiff

Ospreys v Scarlets

Vodacom Bulls v Glasgow Warriors

Emirates Lions v Benetton

Cell C Sharks v Connacht

DHL Stormers v Leinster

Edinburgh v Ulster

Zebre v Dragons

 

ROUND 18 –

Weekend of May 20/21/22

Connacht v Zebre

Leinster v Edinburgh

Ulster v Cell C Sharks

Dragons v Emirates Lions

Scarlets v DHL Stormers

Ospreys v Vodacom Bulls

Glasgow Warriors v Munster

Benetton v Cardiff