Round 4 of the 2026/27 Vodacom United Rugby Championship gets under way this weekend, with South Africa’s four franchises returning to league action after the opening round of European competition.
Friday, 23 October
Three matches kick off at 20:45 SAST.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks travel to Cardiff Arms Park to face Cardiff Rugby. The Sharks will look to bounce back from their first defeat of the season against the Stormers and collect valuable away points.
The 10bet Lions face a tough assignment against league leaders Edinburgh at Hive Stadium in Scotland. Edinburgh remain unbeaten after three rounds and currently top the table.
In the third Friday fixture, Connacht host Zebre Parma.
Saturday, 24 October
Home advantage comes into play for two South African sides.
The Vodacom Bulls host Ulster at Loftus Versfeld (kick-off 13:45 SAST). The Bulls are in strong form after their emphatic 57-15 victory over the Lions and will aim to maintain their position near the top of the table.
Later in the afternoon, the DHL Stormers welcome Scarlets to DHL Stadium (16:00 SAST). The Stormers produced a commanding 39-22 win over the Sharks in the coastal derby and will look to build on that result in front of their home supporters.
Other Saturday fixtures
- Benetton v Glasgow Warriors (16:00 SAST)
- Leinster v Munster (19:00 SAST)
- Ospreys v Dragons (20:45 SAST)
After three rounds, Edinburgh lead the standings on 14 points, followed by Glasgow on 13. The Bulls and Stormers both sit on 11 points in third and fourth respectively, with the Sharks on 10 and the Lions on nine.
All matches involving the South African teams will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
With the season still in its early stages, these fixtures offer the Bulls and Stormers a chance to strengthen their positions in the top four, while the Sharks and Lions look to return to winning ways on the road.
