Munster to start 25/26 season with Welsh double
It's a Welsh double for Munster to begin next season's BKT United Rugby Championship campaign. A trip to Scarlets on Saturday, September 27 is followed by the province's first home game of the new season the weekend after, when they host Cardiff on October 4.
Leinster, favourites to go all the way this season, will kick off the 2025/26 season with a double-header in South Africa. They first play Stormers in Cape Town in the opening game of the competition on Friday, September 26, before meeting the Bulls in Pretoria the following week.
Leinster's first home game will also be against South Africa opposition, when the Sharks visit Dublin on October 11.
Connacht kick off with Benetton at the Dexcom Stadium, while Ulster are also at home, with the Dragons coming to Belfast.
Fans of Leinster and Munster will circle October 18 as the first interpro derby of the campaign. Leinster are hosts, with the venue to be confirmed. Leinster will visit Thomond Park for the return on Saturday, December 27.
The format of the competition remains the same with the Grand Final scheduled for June 20, 2026.
To add novelty to the competition for fans, the new campaign will have a series of themed rounds such Kids Round, Origin Round, and Unity Round
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.'
INTERPROS
Sat, Oct 18: Leinster v Munster (TBC), 5.15pm
Sat, Oct 25: Munster v Connacht (Thomond Park), 7.45pm
Fri, Dec 19: Leinster v Ulster (TBC), 7.45pm
Sat Dec 27: Connacht v Ulster (Dexcom Stadium), 5.30pm; Munster v Leinster (Thomond Park), 7.45pm
Sat Jan 3: Leinster v Connacht (TBC), 5.30pm
Sat Jan 24: Connacht v Leinster (Dexcom Stadium), 5.30pm
Fri, Mar 20: Ulster v Connacht (Kingspan Stadium), 7.45pm
Fri, Apr 17: Ulster v Leinster (Kingspan Stadium), 7.45pm
Sat, Apr 25: Munster v Ulster (Thomond Park), 5.30pm
Sat, May 9: Connacht v Munster (Dexcom Stadium), 7.45pm
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Irish Daily Mirror
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Rugby fans slam antics of Sharks player during shootout victory over Munster
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The 42
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Munster: Thaakir Abrahams [Mike Haley, '65], Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell [Rory Scannbell, '65], Alex Nankivell , Duirmuid Kilgallen; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey [Conor Murray, '65]; Michael Milne, Niall Scannell [Diarmuid Barron, '50] , Stephen Archer [Josh Wycherley, '48], Jean Kleyn, Tadheg Beirne (captain), Peter O'Mahony, John Hodnett [Alex Kendellen, '65], Gavin Coombes. Sharks: Aphelele Fassi, Ethan Hooker, Lukhanyo Am [Francois Venter, '75], Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse; Ox Nche [Ntuthuko Mchunu, '68], Bongi Mbonambi [Fez Mbatha, '62], Vincent Koch, Jason Jenkins [Emile van Heerden, '13], Eben Etzebeth, James Venter, Vincent Tshituka, Siya Kolisi [Phepsi Buthelezi, '55]. Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland).
