How does the 2026/27 URC season work?
Rule- South Africa
- United Rugby Championship
- URC
- Bulls, Lions, Sharks, Stormers
- World Rugby laws
- All ages
- 2026/27
- Fans
The BKT United Rugby Championship has 16 clubs from five countries: Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales.
- The four South African clubs are the DHL Stormers, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Vodacom Bulls and 10bet Lions. They make up the South African pool, one of four regional pools.
- There are 18 league rounds, from 25/26 September 2026 to 14/15 May 2027.
- All 16 clubs are ranked on one combined log.
- The top eight go into the play-offs: quarter-finals 28/29 May 2027, semi-finals 5 June 2027 and the Grand Final on 19 June 2027.
- Matches are played under World Rugby's Laws of the Game, plus the URC's own competition rules.
Added 21 Oct 2026