URC: Defending champs launch with Ulster challenge

Yesterday at 04:50 AM

Edinburgh kick off the 2024-25 Vodacom United Rugby Championship season against eight-time champions Leinster while Glasgow Warriors launch their title defence with a confrontational road trip to Ulster.

The 2024-25 season commences on Friday night, with two cracking clashes as Sean Everitt’s Edinburgh face the Jacques Nienaber-coached Leinster, while Cardiff host Zebre Parma.

While the SA teams will not be involved in the opening round, as the two local derbies have been postponed to later in the season, there is still more than enough action to look forward to.

Two derby fixtures are scheduled for Saturday: Dragons welcome Ospreys and Connacht face Munster in Limerick.

Defending URC champions, Glasgow look to start with a win at Ulster.

Franco Smith’s Warriors are riding a four-game hot streak, since the Lions beat them in Johannesburg in Round 17 last season. Glasgow have not won successive fixtures in Ireland since 2015 and have only beaten Ulster at the Kingspan twice, with their previous win coming in 2013.

Ulster, meanwhile, have lost their last two URC fixtures, both on the road, against Munster and against Leinster in the quarter-final.

However, the Ulstermen have opened with a W in each of the last nine campaigns, since drawing 32-32 with Scarlets in Llanelli in 2014.

URC round one fixtures:
Friday, 20 September:
Cardiff Rugby v Zebre Parma
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff  (kick-off 8.35pm SA time)
Edinburgh Rugby v Leinster
Hive Stadium, Edinburgh (8.35pm)
Saturday, 21 September:
Dragons RFC v Ospreys
Rodney Parade, Newport (4pm)
Munster v Connacht
Thomond Park, Limerick (6.30pm)
Benetton v Scarlets
Stadio Monigo, Treviso (8.35pm)
Ulster v Glasgow Warriors
Kingspan Stadium, Belfast (8.45pm)

Photo: @GlasgowWarriors/Twitter

The post URC: Defending champs launch with Ulster challenge appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.