The 2026/27 United Rugby Championship (URC) returns on Friday, 23 October, with eight matches scheduled across the weekend. South African supporters can look forward to three key fixtures involving the Hollywoodbets Sharks, DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls, while the 10bet Lions travel to Scotland.
Round Four features a mixture of interprovincial challenges and encounters between teams from different territories, with valuable league points at stake as the competition progresses.
Sharks and Lions face away challenges
The Hollywoodbets Sharks begin the weekend’s South African action when they visit Cardiff Rugby at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:45 South African time.
The Durban side will need to adapt to playing away from home against a Cardiff team eager to make the most of its home advantage.
The 10bet Lions also travel north, taking on Edinburgh at Hive Stadium on Friday at 20:45. The Johannesburg side will be looking to produce a strong performance in Scotland against a team accustomed to difficult conditions at home.
The third Friday fixture sees Connacht host Zebre Parma at Dexcom Stadium in Galway, also at 20:45.
Bulls and Stormers lead Saturday’s action
The Vodacom Bulls host Ulster at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, 24 October. The match kicks off at 13:45 and offers the Bulls an opportunity to collect points in front of their home supporters.
The DHL Stormers then welcome Welsh side Scarlets to DHL Stadium in Cape Town at 16:00.
The Stormers will be looking to make home advantage count against a Scarlets outfit that will travel to the Cape hoping to disrupt the hosts’ plans. The fixture is one of the weekend’s main attractions for South African rugby fans.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Italian club Benetton meet Glasgow Warriors at Stadio Monigo in Treviso at 16:00.
An Irish derby between Leinster and Munster is scheduled for 19:00 at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, while Ospreys host Dragons RFC at St Helen’s in Swansea at 20:00.
Complete Round Four fixtures
Friday, 23 October
- Cardiff Rugby vs Hollywoodbets Sharks – 20:45
- Connacht vs Zebre Parma – 20:45
- Edinburgh vs 10bet Lions – 20:45
Saturday, 24 October
- Vodacom Bulls vs Ulster – 13:45
- DHL Stormers vs Scarlets – 16:00
- Benetton vs Glasgow Warriors – 16:00
- Leinster vs Munster – 19:00
- Ospreys vs Dragons RFC – 20:00
All kick-off times are South African Standard Time.
Where to watch
South African viewers can follow the competition through SuperSport, which lists the Round Four fixtures on its URC schedule. Supporters should check the broadcaster’s programme guide for confirmed channel allocations and coverage details.
With three South African teams playing away or at home on Friday and Saturday, Round Four promises another important weekend in the race for URC points.
