After great anticipation the URC can reveal all 144 regular season match-ups as South Africa’s top clubs take to the field against the Celtic and Italian nations in a global first for rugby.
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 athletes and clubs.
The unique appeal of the URC will be on show in the Round 1 where defending title holders and eight-times champions, Leinster, will play host to the three-time Super Rugby champions Vodacom Bulls. Munster, another multiple-time champion 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 Scarlets in their new stadium in the Scottish capital, the first Welsh derby of the season takes place between Dragons and Ospreys, Cardiff Rugby 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 clubs, elevate our athletes 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.
Notes related to fixtures:
- 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 South African derbies scheduled for R5, R8 and R9 will take place on the weekends of February 5, February 12 and March 19 respectively
- The Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and URC Grand Final will take place on consecutive weekends on June 4, June 11 and June 18.
UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES 2021/22 SEASON
R1 – Friday, September 24
- Zebre v Emirates Lions | 17:35 UK / 18:35 ITA & SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports
- Ulster v Glasgow Warriors | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports
- Cardiff v Connacht | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, TG4, Premier Sports
Saturday, September 25
- Benetton v DHL Stormers | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA & SA | Italian TV, Super Sport, Premier Sports
- Leinster v Vodacom Bulls | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | TG4, Super Sport, Premier Sports
- Edinburgh v Scarlets | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, S4C
- Munster v Sharks | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | RTE, Super Sport, Premier Sports
Sunday, September 26
- Dragons v Ospreys | 14:00 UK / 15:00 ITA & SA | Premier Sports
R2 – Friday, October 1
- Connacht v Vodacom Bulls | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | TG4, Super Sport, Premier Sports
- Scarlets v Emirates Lions | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, Super Sport, Premier Sports
Saturday, October 2
- Benetton v Edinburgh | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA & SA | Italian TV, Super Sport, Premier Sports
- Glasgow Warriors v Cell C Sharks | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, Super Sport
- Zebre v Ulster | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | Premier Sports
- Dragons v Leinster | TBC | S4C, RTÉ, Premier Sports
- Ospreys v Cardiff | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports
- Munster v DHL Stormers | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | RTE, Super Sport, Premier Sports
R3 – Friday, October 8
- Ulster v Benetton | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | BBC NI, Premier Sports, TG4
- Ospreys v Cell C Sharks | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, Super Sport, Premier Sports
Saturday, October 9
- Leinster v Zebre | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA & SA | RTE, Italian TV, Premier Sports
- Glasgow Warriors v Emirates Lions | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, Super Sport
- Connacht v Dragons | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | TG4, S4C, Premier Sports
- Edinburgh v DHL Stormers | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, Super Sport
- Cardiff v Vodacom Bulls | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | S4C, Super Sport, Premier Sports
Sunday, October 10
- Scarlets v Munster | 14:00 UK / 15:00 ITA & SA | S4C, RTE, Premier Sports
R4 – Friday, October 15
- Ulster v Lions | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | BBC NI, Super Sport, Premier Sports, RTE
- Dragons v DHL Stormers | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, Super Sport, Premier Sports
Saturday, October 16
- Zebre v Glasgow Warriors | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA & SA | Italian TV, Premier Sports
- Benetton v Ospreys | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA & SA | S4C, Premier Sports
- Leinster v Scarlets | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | TG4, S4C, Premier Sports
- Edinburgh v Vodacom Bulls | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, Super Sport
- Munster v Connacht | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | RTÉ, Premier Sports
- Cardiff v Cell C Sharks | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | S4C, Super Sport, Premier Sports
R5 – Friday, October 22
- Scarlets v Benetton | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports
Saturday, October 23
- Zebre v Edinburgh | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA & SA | Italian TV, Premier Sports
- Glasgow Warriors v Leinster | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, TG4
- Connacht v Ulster | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | TG4, Premier Sports
- Cardiff v Dragons | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | Premier Sports
- Ospreys v Munster | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | S4C, RTÉ, Premier Sports
R6 – Friday, November 26
- Connacht v Ospreys | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA/ 21:35 SA | RTE, BBC Wales, Premier Sports
Saturday, November 27
- DHL Stormers v Zebre | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports
- Benetton v Glasgow Warriors | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Italian TV, Premier Sports
- Cell C Sharks v Scarlets | 15:30 UK / 16:30 ITA / 17:30 SA | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports
- Dragons v Edinburgh | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | Premier Sports
- Vodacom Bulls v Munster | 17:45 UK / 18:45 ITA / 19:45 SA | Super Sport, TG4, Premier Sports
- Leinster v Ulster | 20:00 UK / 21:00 ITA / 22:00 SA | RTE, Premier Sports
Sunday, November 28
- Emirates Lions v Cardiff | 14:00 UK / 15:00 ITA / 16:00 SA | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports
R7 – Friday, December 3
- Vodacom Bulls v Scarlets | 17:35 UK / 18:35 ITA / 19:35 SA | Super Sport, BBC Wales, Premier Sports
- Edinburgh v Benetton | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA / 21:35 SA | Premier Sports
- Leinster v Connacht | 19:45 UK / 20:45 ITA / 21:45 SA | TG4, Premier Sports
Saturday, December 4
- Cell C Sharks v Zebre | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Super Sport, Italian TV, Premier Sports
- Ospreys v Ulster | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA / 17:00 SA | Premier Sports
- Emirates Lions v Munster | 15:30 UK / 16:30 ITA / 17:30 SA | Super Sport, RTE, Premier Sports
- Glasgow Warriors v Dragons | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | Premier Sports
- DHL Stormers v Cardiff | 17:45 UK / 18:45 ITA / 19:45 SA | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports
R8 – Friday, December 24
- Zebre v Benetton | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Italian TV, Premier Sports
Sunday, December 26
- Cardiff v Scarlets | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA / 17:00 SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports
- Ulster v Connacht | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | BBC NI, TG4, Premier Sports
- Ospreys v Dragons | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | S4C, Premier Sports
- Munster v Leinster | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA / 21:35 SA | RTE, Premier Sports
Monday, December 27
- Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh | 19:00 UK / 20:00 ITA / 21:00 SA | Premier Sports
R9 – Saturday, January 1
- Dragons v Cardiff | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA / 17:00 SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports
- Connacht v Munster | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | TG4, Premier Sports
- Scarlets v Ospreys | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | S4C, Premier Sports
- Ulster v Leinster | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA / 21:35 SA | Premier Sports, TG4
Sunday, January 2
- Benetton v Zebre | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Italian TV, Premier Sports
- Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors | 14:00 UK / 15:00 ITA / 16:00 SA | Premier Sports
R10 – Friday, January 7
- Leinster v Emirates Lions | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA / 21 :35 SA | TG4, Super Sport, Premier Sports
Saturday, January 8
- Benetton v Cell C Sharks | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Italian TV, Super Sport, Premier Sports
- Zebre v Vodacom Bulls | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA / 17:00 SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports
- Edinburgh v Cardiff | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA / 17:00 SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports
- Connacht v DHL Stormers | 17:00 UK / 18:00 ITA / 19:00 SA | RTE, Super Sport, Premier Sports
- Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | Premier Sports, S4C
- Munster v Ulster | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA / 21 :35 SA | RTE, Super Sport, Premier Sports
- Scarlets v Dragons | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA / 21 :35 SA | Premier Sports
R11 – 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
R5 (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
R8 (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
R12 – 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
R13 – 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
R9 (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
R14 – 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
R15 – 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
R16 – 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
R17 – 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
R18 – 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
Gqeberha’s Latest News and Events can be accessed on MyGqeberha.com.
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Alan Straton
Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth.
Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."
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Alan Straton
Latest posts by Alan Straton (see all)
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