The full BKT United Rugby Championship fixture list for the 2025/26 season has been officially released — marking the earliest-ever publication of league fixtures in competition history.
With the campaign set to kick off on September 26, this release arrives 128 days ahead of Round 1, beating the previous benchmark of 114 days. The record-setting publication offers fans and clubs more time than ever before to plan their schedules around the league’s biggest moments.
Round 1 will kick off in Cape Town where the 2022 BKT URC champions, DHL Stormers, will take on the eight-time league winners, Leinster, at DHL Stadium on Friday, September 26. Games will take place across the weekend in all five competing territories with highlights including Glasgow Warriors hosting Hollywoodbets Sharks, Scarlets facing Munster, Connacht taking on Benetton and Ospreys visiting the Vodacom Bulls.
As is now the norm, BKT URC supporters across the globe can download fixtures directly to their devices via the Ecal URC 25/26 calendar, ensuring they never miss a kick-off — no matter their time zone. (Note: updates may take up to an hour to sync.)
The 2025/26 season promises a packed calendar of action, including festive derby rounds which are once again locked in for Rounds 7, 8 and 9, while the Race to the Eight steps up from Round 13 as teams compete for Play-Off places and Investec Champions Cup qualification.
In addition, a range of themed rounds such as Kids Round, Origin Round, and Unity Round will be confirmed in the coming weeks, enhancing the match-day experience for fans and clubs alike.
The format of the competition remains unchanged, with the top eight teams progressing to the Play-Offs beginning May 29. The Semi-Finals will be played on June 6, followed by the Grand Final on June 20 to crown the 2025/26 champions.
Broadcast coverage for fixtures will continue to evolve, with additional partners to be announced as talks with a Free-to-air partner in the UK and in international territories continue.
Martin Anayi, United Rugby Championship CEO, said: “Advance planning is critical to the success of the United Rugby Championship and it is fantastic that we have continued to raise the bar in publishing our fixtures as early as possible.
“For clubs and fans, planning their weekends and knowing where their teams are playing so far ahead of time makes a big difference. The drama and excitement of the BKT URC is matched by the complexity of putting all of the pieces of the fixture list together but it is made much easier thanks to the support of our teams and broadcasters to assist us in this process.
“For the moment, we look forward to the Play-Offs that kick off next week after another regular season full of surprises. The Race to the Eight provided huge jeopardy and now we move into the ultimate win or go home stage of the competition which will lift the intensity up to another level.”
Welsh rugby’s Professional Rugby Board (PRB) has confirmed Judgement Day will not take place in the coming 2025/26 season as the event takes a hiatus.
As BKT URC fixtures are confirmed for next season PRB members, the Welsh Rugby Union and the four professional clubs, have paused the annual double-derby celebration of Welsh rugby at Principality Stadium so that it can be re-imagined.
The current season’s event saw the Ospreys take on Cardiff Rugby and Dragons RFC face the Scarlets and attracted a 28,000-strong crowd, but PRB members believe a version of the event could attract much more in the right circumstances, as it has done previously.
“We will rethink the product we are offering and bring back an event to showcase Welsh professional rugby in the future,” said a PRB spokesperson.
“The concept has huge potential and its early incarnations were a proven success, but we think it is time to re-imagine it.
“Instead, this season will see Welsh rugby concentrate on attracting maximum crowds for the respective derby days and other showcase fixtures at our home venues.”
Round 1 Fixtures
Friday, Sep 26
DHL Stormers vs Leinster (DHL Stadium)
KO: 18:00 UK / 19:00 ITA / 19:00 SA
Live On: SuperSport, TG4, Premier Sports
Ulster vs Dragons RFC (Ulster Rugby Stadium)
KO: 20:05 UK / 21:05 ITA / 21:05 SA
Live On: Premier Sports, SuperSport
Glasgow Warriors vs Hollywoodbets Sharks (Scotstoun Stadium)
KO: 20:05 UK / 21:05 ITA / 21:05 SA
Live On: Premier Sports, SuperSport
Saturday, Sep 27
Vodacom Bulls vs Ospreys (Loftus Versfeld Stadium)
KO: 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 14:00 SA
Live On: SuperSport, Premier Sports
Zebre Parma vs Edinburgh (Stadio Lanfranchi)
KO: 15:05 UK / 16:05 ITA / 16:05 SA
Live On: Premier Sports, SuperSport
Scarlets vs Munster (Parc Y Scarlets)
KO: 17:30 UK / 18:30 ITA / 18:30 SA
Live On: Premier Sports, SuperSport
Cardiff vs Emirates Lions (Cardiff Arms Park)
KO: 19:45 UK / 20:45 ITA / 20:45 SA
Live On: Premier Sports, SuperSport
Connacht vs Benetton (Dexcom Stadium)
KO: 19:45 UK / 20:45 ITA / 20:45 SA
Live On: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport