United Rugby Championship unveil 2026-27 fixturesImage source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyImage caption, The United Rugby Championship includes teams from Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Italy and South Africa Published28 minutes agoThe United Rugby Championship (URC) fixtures for the 2026-27 season have been released more than a month before the current season finishes.It is the earliest occasion the calendar has been issued and is 129 days before the tournament begins on Friday, 25 September.The fixture list has been designed to provide greater balance across the regular season with more of a spread of home and away fixtures.The South African teams will each complete three two-game URC tours during the campaign.The format remains unchanged with the top eight still qualifying for the play-offs at the end of May and the 2026-2027 Grand Final scheduled for Saturday, 19 June.”Publishing our fixtures earlier than ever before is a major achievement and an important step for our clubs, supporters, broadcasters and venues,” stated URC chief executive Martin Anayi.”Fan certainty is 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.”Ospreys host Dragons in first St Helen’s league gameOspreys will play their first home league game at the new redeveloped St Helen’s stadium in Swansea against Dragons on Saturday, 24 October.Ospreys are away in the first three games, with a two-match trip to South Africa against Sharks and Lions and a Welsh derby at Rodney Parade against Dragons.Ospreys are moving to the ground next season after playing at the Brewery Field in Bridgend in the 2024-25 season.Whether the derby against the Dragons is the first game at St Helen’s remains to be seen, because the opening round of European matches are scheduled the weekend before with those fixtures yet to be released. The opening round will see fixtures across Ireland, Italy, South Africa and Wales, while Scottish duo Glasgow and Edinburgh are away at Munster and Ulster respectively.There is also a Welsh derby to kick-off the season between Scarlets and Cardiff in Llanelli on Saturday, 26 September.United Rugby Championship 2026-27 fixturesRound one (all times in BST or GMT)Friday, 25 SeptemberBenetton v Dragons (19:45) Stadio Monigo, TrevisoConnacht v Stormers (19:45) Dexcom Stadium, GalwayUlster v Edinburgh (19:45) Affidea Stadium, BelfastSeptember, 26 SeptemberLions v Leinster (12:30) Ellis Park, JohannesburgSharks v Ospreys (15:00) Kings Park, DurbanMunster v Glasgow Warriors (17:30) Thomond Park, LimerickZebre v Bulls (17:30) Stadio Lanfranchi, ParmaScarlets v Cardiff (19:45) Parc y Scarlets, LlanelliRound twoFriday, 2 OctoberCardiff v Zebre (19:45) Cardiff Arms Park, CardiffEdinburgh v Stormers (19:45) Hive Stadium, EdinburghBenetton v Connacht (19:45) Stadio Monigo, TrevisoSaturday, 3 October Lions v Ospreys (12:45) Ellis Park, JohannesburgDragons v Scarlets (15:00) Rodney Parade, NewportSharks v Leinster (17:30) Kings Park, DurbanMunster v Bulls (19:45) Thomond Park, LimerickGlasgow Warriors v Ulster (19:45) Scotstoun Stadium, GlasgowRound threeFriday, 9 OctoberGlasgow Warriors v Connacht (19:45) Scotstoun Stadium, GlasgowDragons v Ospreys (19:45) Rodney Parade, NewportSaturday, 10 October Bulls v Lions (12:30) Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaStormers v Sharks (15:00) DHL Stadium, Cape Town Zebre v Edinburgh (15:00) Stadio Lanfranchi, ParmaScarlets v Benetton (17:30) Parc y Scarlets, LlanelliUlster v Munster (17:30) Affidea Stadium, BelfastLeinster v Cardiff (19:45) Laya Arena, DublinRound fourFriday, 23 OctoberCardiff v Sharks (19:45) Cardiff Arms Park, CardiffConnacht v Zebre (19:45) Dexcom Stadium, GalwayEdinburgh v Lions (19:45) Hive Stadium, EdinburghSaturday, 24 OctoberBulls v Ulster (12:45) Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Stormers v Scarlets (15:00) DHL Stadium, Cape TownBenetton v Glasgow Warriors (15:00) Stadio Monigo, TrevisoLeinster v Munster (18:00) TBC, DublinOspreys v Dragons (19:45) St Helen’s, SwanseaRound fiveFriday, 30 OctoberConnacht v Leinster (19:45) Dexcom Stadium, GalwayGlasgow Warriors v Lions (19:45) Scotstoun Stadium, GlasgowSaturday, 31 OctoberStormers v Ulster (12:45) DHL Stadium, Cape Town Bulls v Scarlets (15:00) Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaBenetton v Edinburgh (15:00) Stadio Monigo, TrevisoMunster v Sharks (17:30) Thomond Park, LimerickDragons v Zebre (17:30) Rodney Parade, NewportOspreys v Cardiff (19:45) St Helen’s, SwanseaRound sixFriday, 4 DecemberOspreys v Leinster (19:45) St Helen’s, SwanseaEdinburgh v Dragons (19:45) Hive Stadium, EdinburghSaturday, 5 DecemberLions v Bulls (12:30) Ellis Park, JohannesburgSharks v Stormers (15:00) Kings Park, DurbanCardiff v Ulster (15:00) Cardiff Arms Park, CardiffScarlets v Connacht (17:15) Parc y Scarlets, LlanelliGlasgow Warriors v Benetton (19:45) Scotstoun Stadium, GlasgowZebre v Munster (19:45) Stadio Lanfranchi, ParmaRound sevenFriday, 18 DecemberUlster v Ospreys (19:45) Affidea Stadium, BelfastMunster v Scarlets (19:45) Virgin Media Park, CorkSaturday, 19 DecemberZebre v Benetton (13:30) Stadio Lanfranchi, ParmaStormers v Lions (14:00) DHL Stadium, Cape TownCardiff v Dragons (15:00) Cardiff Arms Park, CardiffSharks v Bulls (16:30) Kings Park, DurbanLeinster v Glasgow Warriors (17:30) Laya Arena, DublinConnacht v Edinburgh (19:45) Dexcom Stadium, GalwayRound eightSaturday, 26 DecemberDragons v Cardiff (15:00) Rodney Parade, NewportOspreys v Scarlets (17:30) St Helen’s, SwanseaSunday, 27 DecemberBenetton v Zebre (13:30) Stadio Monigo, TrevisoEdinburgh v Glasgow Warriors (15:00) Scottish Gas Murrayfield, EdinburghUlster v Connacht (17:30) Affidea Stadium, BelfastMunster v Leinster (19:45) Thomond Park, LimerickSaturday, 20 FebruaryLions v Sharks (12:00) Ellis Park, JohannesburgBulls v Stormers (13:00) Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaRound nineSaturday, 2 JanuarySharks v Lions (15:00) Kings Park, DurbanZebre v Glasgow Warriors (15:00) Stadio Lanfranchi, ParmaScarlets v Dragons (15:00) Parc y Scarlets, LlanelliConnacht v Munster (17:15) Dexcom Stadium, GalwayEdinburgh v Benetton (17:30) Hive Stadium, EdinburghCardiff v Ospreys (17:30) Cardiff Arms Park, CardiffLeinster v Ulster (19:45) Laya Arena, DublinSunday, 3 JanuaryStormers v Bulls (14:00) DHL Stadium, Cape TownRound 10Friday, 22 JanuaryGlasgow Warriors v Scarlets (19:45) Scotstoun Stadium, GlasgowUlster v Sharks (19:45) Affidea Stadium, BelfastSaturday, 23 JanuaryLions v Zebre (12:45) Ellis Park, JohannesburgStormers v Cardiff (15:00) DHL Stadium, Cape TownOspreys v Edinburgh (15:00) St Helen’s, SwanseaBenetton v Bulls (17:30) Stadio Monigo, TrevisoLeinster v Dragons (17:30) Laya Arena, DublinMunster v Connacht (19:45) Thomond Park, LimerickRound 11Friday, 29 JanuaryDragons v Munster (19:45) Rodney Parade, NewportGlasgow Warriors v Ospreys (19:45) Scotstoun Stadium, GlasgowSaturday, 30 JanuaryLions v Cardiff (12:45), Ellis Park, JohannesburgStormers v Zebre (15:00) DHL Stadium, Cape TownScarlets v Edinburgh (15:00) Parc y Scarlets, LlanelliLeinster v Bulls (17:30) Laya Arena, DublinBenetton v Sharks (19:45) Stadio Monigo, TrevisoConnacht v Ulster (19:45) Dexcom Stadium, GalwayRound 12Friday, 26 FebruaryMunster v Benetton (19:45) Virgin Media Park, CorkDragons v Ulster (19:45) Rodney Parade, NewportSaturday, 27 February Lions v Stormers (12:30), Ellis Park, JohannesburgBulls v Sharks (15:00) Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaCardiff v Glasgow Warriors (15:00) Cardiff Arms Park, CardiffZebre v Scarlets (17:30) Stadio Lanfranchi, ParmaOspreys v Connacht (17:30), St Helen’s, SwanseaEdinburgh v Leinster (19:45) Hive Stadium, EdinburghRound 13Friday, 19 MarchSharks v Edinburgh (17:00) Kings Park, DurbanGlasgow Warriors v Stormers (19:45) Scotstoun Stadium, GlasgowConnacht v Cardiff (19:45) Dexcom Stadium, GalwaySaturday, 20 MarchUlster v Zebre (15:00) Affidea Stadium, BelfastBulls v Dragons (15:00) Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaMunster v Ospreys (17:30) Thomond Park, LimerickScarlets v Lions (17:30) Parc y Scarlets, LlanelliLeinster v Benetton (19:45) Laya Arena, DublinRound 14Friday, 26 MarchGlasgow Warriors v Zebre (19:45) Scotstoun Stadium, GlasgowScarlets v Leinster (19:45) Parc y Scarlets, LlanelliSaturday, 27 MarchBulls v Edinburgh (12:00) Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaConnacht v Lions (14:15) Dexcom Stadium, GalwaySharks v Dragons (16:30) Kings Park, DurbanCardiff v Munster (17:30) Cardiff Arms Park, CardiffBenetton v Ulster (19:45) Stadio Monigo, TrevisoOspreys v Stormers (19:45) St Helen’s, SwanseaRound 15Friday, 16 AprilDragons v Glasgow Warriors (19:45) Rodney Parade, NewportEdinburgh v Cardiff (19:45) Hive Stadium, EdinburghSaturday, 17 AprilLions v Munster (12:45) Ellis Park, JohannesburgStormers v Benetton (15:00) DHL Stadium, Cape TownOspreys v Bulls (17:30) St Helen’s, SwanseaLeinster v Connacht (17:45) Laya Arena, DublinUlster v Scarlets (19:45) Affidea Stadium, BelfastZebre v Sharks (19:45) Stadio Lanfranchi, ParmaRound 16Friday, 23 AprilZebre v Ospreys (18:00) Stadio Lanfranchi, ParmaUlster v Leinster (19:45) Affidea Stadium, BelfastCardiff v Bulls (20:05) Cardiff Arms Park, CardiffSaturday, 24 AprilLions v Benetton (12:45) Ellis Park, JohannesburgScarlets v Sharks (15:00) Parc y Scarlets, LlanelliStormers v Munster (17:05) DHL Stadium, Cape TownGlasgow Warriors v Edinburgh (17:45) Hampden Park, GlasgowConnacht v Dragons (19:45) Dexcom Stadium, GalwayRound 17Friday, 7 MayDragons v Lions (19:45) Rodney Parade, NewportEdinburgh v Zebre (19:45) Hive Stadium, EdinburghSaturday, 8 MaySharks v Connacht (12:30) Kings Park, DurbanBulls v Glasgow Warriors (15:00) Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaMunster v Ulster (17:15) Thomond Park, LimerickScarlets v Ospreys (17:30) Parc y Scarlets, LlanelliLeinster v Stormers (19:45) Laya Arena, DublinBenetton v Cardiff (19.45) Stadio Monigo, TrevisoRound 18Friday, 14 MayOspreys v Benetton (19:45) St Helen’s, SwanseaUlster v Lions (19:45) Affidea Stadium, BelfastEdinburgh v Munster (19:45) Hive Stadium, EdinburghSaturday, 15 MayBulls v Connacht (12:30) Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaCardiff v Scarlets (15:00) Cardiff Arms Park, CardiffSharks v Glasgow Warriors (15:00) Kings Park, DurbanDragons v Stormers (17:30) Rodney Parade, NewportZebre v Leinster (17:30) Stadio Lanfranchi, ParmaPlay-off scheduleQuarter-finals: May 28/29Semi-finals: Saturday, 5 JuneGrand Final: Saturday, 19 JuneRelated topicsEdinburgh
