URC Returns for Another Pulse Pounding Season

Edinburgh will kick off the 2024-25 Vodacom United Rugby Championship season against eight-time champions Leinster, while Glasgow Warriors begin their title defence with a challenging away trip to Ulster.

The season starts on Friday night, with two exciting clashes: Sean Everitt’s Edinburgh take on Jacques Nienaber's Leinster, and Cardiff host Zebre Parma.



Although the South African teams won’t feature in the opening round due to their local derbies being postponed, there’s still plenty of action to anticipate.

Saturday sees two derby fixtures: Dragons will welcome Ospreys, while Connacht face Munster in Limerick.

Defending URC champions Glasgow Warriors aim to start strong with a win at Ulster. Franco Smith’s side is riding a four-game winning streak since losing to the Lions in Johannesburg in Round 17 last season. Glasgow hasn’t won consecutive matches in Ireland since 2015 and have only triumphed at Ulster’s Kingspan Stadium twice, with their last win there coming in 2013.

Ulster, on the other hand, have lost their last two URC matches, both away, against Munster and Leinster in the quarter-finals. However, they have started each of the past nine seasons with a win, dating back to a 32-32 draw with Scarlets in Llanelli in 2014.

URC Round One Fixtures:

Friday, 20 September:

Cardiff Rugby v Zebre Parma
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff (20:35)

Edinburgh Rugby v Leinster
Hive Stadium, Edinburgh (20:35)

Saturday, 21 September:

Dragons RFC v Ospreys
Rodney Parade, Newport (16:00)

Munster v Connacht
Thomond Park, Limerick (18:30)

Benetton v Scarlets
Stadio Monigo, Treviso (20:35)

Ulster v Glasgow Warriors
Kingspan Stadium, Belfast (20:45)

*All times in GMT