The United Rugby Championship is back. All four Irish provinces are in action in Round 1, with Connacht and Ulster at home on Friday night, Munster hosting Glasgow at Thomond Park on Saturday, and Leinster opening their title defence in Johannesburg. Here is the preview and best bets.
The Pick of the Round — Munster vs Glasgow Warriors (Sat 26 Sep, 17:30)
Two former champions open the season at Thomond Park. Munster won the 2023 title in Cape Town, their first league crown since 2011, and Glasgow followed a year later by beating the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
Recent form favours the visitors. Glasgow topped the 2025/26 regular season, the first non-Irish side to take the number one seed since 2019, before losing their semi-final to the Bulls. Munster finished fifth and went out in the quarter-finals in Pretoria, although they did beat Leinster 31-14 at Croke Park along the way.
Team news tilts the argument. Munster have an out-half problem, with Jack Crowley expected to be ruled out until the new year and JJ Hanrahan needing clearance to resume contact before Saturday, so the number 10 shirt is being shared across a rotation of less experienced options. Thomond Park remains one of the hardest grounds in Europe for visiting sides, but Glasgow arrive with a settled spine against a Munster team still solving their most important position.
Travel, not quality, is their weakness: Glasgow conceded 102 points across two matches in South Africa last April, and a short trip to Limerick asks far less.
Connacht vs DHL Stormers (Fri 25 Sep, 19:45)
Champions in 2022, the Stormers finished third last season with 12 wins and reached the semi-finals before losing to Leinster in Dublin. They arrive in Galway weakened, however, with several Springboks rested or involved in a one-off Test against the Wallabies in Perth on Sunday, and on the back of a pre-season defeat to the Bulls in Paarl.
History backs the hosts. Connacht beat the Stormers in Cape Town last season and finished eighth under Stuart Lancaster to reach the quarter-finals. The Dexcom Stadium drew 12,482 for the visit of Leinster last season, and a full ground against a depleted touring side is the province’s best chance to bank early points.
Ulster vs Edinburgh (Fri 25 Sep, 19:45)
Ulster finished ninth last season, one place outside the play-offs, although they reached the Challenge Cup final before losing to Montpellier in Bilbao. Richie Murphy’s side scored freely through wing Zac Ward, who led the province with 11 league tries, while Nathan Doak kicked 102 points.
Edinburgh are familiar opponents, and the Affidea Stadium gives Ulster a platform to start faster than they finished last season.
Leinster Away at Lions — Ellis Park (Sat 26 Sep, 12:30)
Leinster begin as back-to-back champions, having followed their 32-7 final win over the Bulls in 2025 with a 36-7 win at Croke Park in June, the first team to win the URC twice. That final was also James Lowe’s last game for the province.
South African openers have hurt them before. Last season began with a 35-0 defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town, the first time in 17 years Leinster had failed to score in a league game. Ellis Park adds altitude, and the Lions scored 129 points across their last three home games against overseas opposition last season. The Lions are also without their Springboks this weekend, which narrows the gap.
Best Bets for URC Round 1
- Connacht to beat the Stormers: A depleted touring side, a pre-season defeat, and a result Connacht have already achieved in Cape Town point towards the home side.
- Glasgow on the handicap at Thomond Park: Munster’s out-half uncertainty against last season’s top seeds makes a start for the visitors worth considering over a straight Munster win.
Both are editorial views rather than certainties. Round 1 results are notoriously hard to call, and last season’s 35-0 opener is a reminder that pre-season form does not always carry into the first weekend. Check the current prices on TonyBet before placing any bet.
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