Vodacom URC Launches with Thrilling Action This Weekend
The Vodacom United Rugby Championship kicks off its fifth season this weekend. Even though several Springboks are sidelined from the four South African teams, they are poised to start strong in this intercontinental tournament.
The DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls will begin their campaigns at home in Cape Town and Pretoria, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks journey to Scotland, and the Lions launch their season in Wales.
The DHL Stormers will utilize their home advantage as they face the reigning champions Leinster from Ireland this Friday evening.
Since April 2024, the Cape Town team has suffered just one defeat at DHL Stadium across all competitions, narrowly losing to the Vodacom Bulls in the Vodacom URC earlier this year.
Irish teams have historically found it tough in Cape Town, with the DHL Stormers only experiencing two home defeats to Irish opponents—both courtesy of Munster, in April 2023 and during the final in May 2023.
The two teams have previously faced each other four times, with the Irish side grabbing their only win, 36-12, in Dublin last January.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks are set to head to Scotland, aiming for a rare victory against the 2024 champions, the Glasgow Warriors, this Friday evening.
The Warriors, semi-finalists last season, have lost just two of their last 20 matches at Scotstoun Stadium. Franco Smith’s squad has generally excelled against South African teams, losing only twice in their last seven matchups, with their sole defeat to a visiting South African side in the Vodacom URC coming from the Vodacom Bulls last April.
Like their competitors, the KwaZulu-Natal side was a semi-finalist last season and has earned four victories in their last six away games in the Vodacom URC. Their only loss to a Scottish opponent since March 2022 was against the Warriors in their most recent visit to Glasgow in April 2024.
Historically, the teams have met four times, resulting in two wins for each, with the home team triumphing each time.
In Saturday’s opening match featuring South African teams, the Vodacom Bulls will be optimistic as they host the Ospreys at Loftus Versfeld.
Last year’s runners-up from Pretoria, now led by Johan Ackermann, are unbeaten against their Welsh adversaries. They have also secured victories in their last six Vodacom URC matches at Loftus since losing to the DHL Stormers on March 1.
The only loss the Vodacom Bulls faced against a Welsh team last season was a narrow one-point defeat to the Scarlets in Llanelli. In contrast, the Ospreys struggled last season, managing just one away win against Glasgow in Round 12.
Since 2019, the Ospreys have only recorded one Vodacom URC win in South Africa, which occurred against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town in April 2024.
The Lions will launch their season in Wales against Cardiff, a team that has lost just once in their last six Vodacom URC matches at the Arms Park—suffered by a scoreline of 42-22 against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in January.
Cardiff will enter this match with confidence, as their sole victory over a South African team in the Vodacom URC last season was at home against the Lions in March—marking Johannesburg’s first defeat against Cardiff in four encounters.
Transfer news:
DHL Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson has welcomed several new additions to Cape Town, including Springboks Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf) and Ntuthuko Mchunu (prop), along with front-rowers Oli Kebble and Hencus van Dyk, lock Alex Groves, loose forward Ruan Ackermann, and former Blitzbok player Sako Makata.
The squad also features Junior Springboks Riley Norton (lock), Oliver Reid (prop), Divan Fuller (loose forward), Kyle Smith (flyhalf), and Clinton Swart (flyhalf) on loan from the Airlink Pumas.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks have integrated several players from the 2025 Junior Boks into their squad, including Bathobele Hlekani (loose forward), Matt Romao (loose forward), Vusi Moyo (flyhalf), Albie Bester (centre), Jaco Williams (wing/fullback), and Ceano Everson (scrumhalf).
Additionally, Springboks Marvin Orie (lock) and Edwill van der Merwe (wing) have joined the team, along with Simphiwe Matanzima (prop) and Airlink Pumas players Eduan Swart (prop) and Ross Braude (scrumhalf). The KwaZulu-Natalians also have players on loan, including Cebo Dlamini (prop), who recently captained the Suzuki Griquas to a Carling Currie Cup victory.
This season, the Vodacom Bulls have re-signed three former players. Although Bok flyhalf Handre Pollard is currently unavailable, Ackermann can rely on Jan Serfontein (centre) and Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (lock), both of whom have prior experience in the green and gold.
Moreover, former DHL Stormers players Sti Sithole (prop) and Paul de Wet (scrumhalf), alongside the fierce competitor Jeandre Rudolph from the former Toyota Cheetahs, have joined the roster. Their extended squad includes 2025 Junior Boks Esethu Mnebelele (hooker), JJ Theron (utility forward), Jean Erasmus (prop), and Cheswill Jooste (wing).
The Lions have added speedy players Angelo Davids, a former Blitzbok, and Eduan Keyter during the off-season, alongside experienced flyhalf Chris Smith, who is currently injured. Junior Springbok scrumhalf Haashim Pead is also part of their squad and may make his Vodacom URC debut this season.
Competition news:
The Vodacom URC will introduce the global World Rugby trial for the 20-minute red card rule for the 2025/26 season, with the aim of enhancing player safety, improving decision accuracy, and ensuring fairness for players, teams, and fans.
An independent TMO process will be established in the Vodacom URC to increase decision accuracy and game pace, utilizing Hawk-Eye technology to provide Television Match Officials (TMO) with instant access to all broadcast camera feeds.
Recent updates have revealed that the Vodacom URC has achieved an 11% increase in total viewership globally across its domestic and international broadcast partners, culminating in a cumulative audience of 53 million during the 2024/25 season. This is the fourth consecutive season in which the league has achieved a record television audience.
Furthermore, an impressive 1.8 million fans attended matches this season, reflecting a 9% increase from the previous year. The average attendance of 12,100 per game is also unprecedented.
Commercially, the Vodacom URC has announced that OUTsurance has extended its sponsorship of match officials into the Northern Hemisphere, strengthening a partnership that has been established for nearly a decade in South Africa.
The Vodacom URC has also partnered with Castle Lager, a long-standing supporter of SA Rugby, to serve as the official beer sponsor for the Championship in South Africa.
Match Information:
DHL Stormers vs. Leinster
Date: Friday, 26 September
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
SA Time: 19h00
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi
TV: SuperSport
Glasgow Warriors vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks
Date: Friday, 26 September
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
SA Time: 21h05
Referee: Craig Evans
TV: SuperSport
Vodacom Bulls vs. Ospreys
Date: Saturday, 27 September
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
SA Time: 14h00
Referee: Federico Vedovelli
TV: SuperSport
Cardiff vs. Lions
Date: Saturday, 27 September
Venue: Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
SA Time: 20h45
Referee: Fillipo Russo
TV: SuperSport
