By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
The Vodacom United Rugby Championship kicks off its fifth season this weekend, with South Africa’s four franchises eager to lay down early markers despite being without a number of Springbok stars still tied up with Rugby Championship duty.
The DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls begin their campaigns at home, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Lions face tough opening challenges in Scotland and Wales respectively.
Stormers Eye Fortress Cape Town Advantage
Cape Town will host the curtain-raiser on Friday night, where the Stormers take on reigning champions Leinster. John Dobson’s men will bank on their formidable record at DHL Stadium, where they have lost just once in any competition since April 2024. Irish visitors rarely prosper in the Mother City, with Munster the only side to emerge victorious in recent years.
Although Leinster’s travelling squad is likely to be under-strength, the Stormers too are missing several Springboks including Cobus Reinach and Damian Willemse. History points to a tight contest: the two teams have met four times, with the Irish giants securing only one victory, a 36-12 result in Dublin earlier this year.
Sharks Face Stern Test in Glasgow
The Sharks arguably face the most difficult opening assignment of the South African contingent. They travel to Scotstoun on Friday to meet Glasgow Warriors, the 2024 champions, in a fixture that has rarely been kind to visitors. Franco Smith’s side have lost just twice in their last 20 matches at home.
The KwaZulu-Natalians, however, will draw confidence from their recent away form, having won four of their last six on the road. They also boast new recruits in Marvin Orie, Edwill van der Merwe and Simphiwe Matanzima, while a crop of Junior Springboks adds youthful depth. Their first three games are all away from home, with a daunting trip to Dublin to face Leinster looming in round three.
Bulls Back in Loftus Fortress
The Bulls open their season on Saturday against the Ospreys at Loftus Versfeld. New head coach Johan Ackermann inherits a side that reached last year’s final and has turned Loftus into a stronghold, with six successive URC wins at home.
The Pretoria outfit has been bolstered by the return of experienced Springboks Handré Pollard, Jan Serfontein and Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, though Pollard is not yet available for selection. Their opponents, meanwhile, struggled badly on the road last season, with just a single away win.
Lions Ready for Cardiff Test
The Lions round out the South African schedule with a Saturday evening clash against Cardiff. The Welsh side are traditionally tough at the Arms Park, where they have lost only once in their last six URC outings. Cardiff also beat the Lions in March, their first victory in four meetings between the teams.
Ivan van Rooyen’s side enter the new season battle-hardened after their run to the Currie Cup final, but the quick turnaround combined with travel may prove costly. New signings Angelo Davids and Eduan Keyter could add much-needed spark to their attack.
Transfers and New Faces
South African franchises have recruited heavily in the off-season. The Stormers have welcomed Cobus Reinach, Ntuthuko Mchunu and Ruan Ackermann, while the Bulls have regained Serfontein and Janse van Rensburg, and added former Stormers Paul de Wet and Sti Sithole. The Sharks, under John Plumtree, have invested in youth but also added proven international quality.
South African Weekend’s Fixtures (Round One)
Stormers v Leinster (Cape Town, Friday 7pm)
Glasgow Warriors v Sharks (Glasgow, Friday 9.05pm)
Bulls v Ospreys (Pretoria, Saturday 2pm)
Cardiff Rugby v Lions (Cardiff, Saturday 9.05pm).