The Stormers are first up when they travel to Galway to face Connacht on Friday evening, before the Lions host defending champions Leinster in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The Sharks will then welcome the Ospreys to Durban, while the Bulls round off the South African action against Zebre Parma in Italy.

Although it is only the opening round, all 16 teams will already have their sights set on the Grand Final on 19 June 2027.

The Stormers and Connacht both featured in last season’s playoffs and will be eager to get their campaigns off to a winning start. The Cape side have won four of their past five meetings with the Irish outfit, although Connacht claimed victory in their most recent encounter in Cape Town.

Connacht have also established a strong home record, winning their last five matches in Galway. The Stormers can draw confidence from their most recent visit, when they secured a 16-12 victory in May 2024.

Janco Uys of the Griquas will be on debut for the Bulls. Photo: Morgan Piek

The Lions face a formidable challenge against a Leinster side that has lifted the trophy in each of the past two seasons. Leinster also knocked the Lions out in the 2025 quarter-finals.

However, the Irish giants have struggled on South African soil, winning only one of their last eight matches in the country. The Lions will also remember their emphatic 44-12 victory over Leinster in the corresponding fixture in April 2024.

In Durban, the Sharks will look to build on a strong finish to last season. They won their final two matches but ultimately missed out on the playoffs. Home advantage could prove valuable, with the Sharks losing just once in their last eight URC matches in Durban.

The Ospreys, meanwhile, have lost their last five games in South Africa.

The Bulls begin their campaign in Parma against Zebre, with the Pretoria side having never lost to their Italian opponents. The Bulls have also won their opening URC fixture in each of the past four seasons.

Zebre, though, started last season with two consecutive victories, meaning the Bulls will be wary of another difficult opening challenge.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg