URC round five preview: one last push before the break
The heater is on, the snacks are rationed and somebody has already claimed the good couch. Four of our teams play between late on Friday in Glasgow and Saturday night in Limerick, and then the URC goes quiet for the November break. This URC round five preview has every South African team sheet, the kick-offs in SAST, the referees and what the coaches said this week. Two of our franchises are holding top-four places. Two are trying to finish long trips north on their feet.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Friday 30 October | Glasgow Warriors v Lions, Scotstoun Stadium, 21:45 SAST |
| Saturday 31 October | Stormers v Ulster, DHL Stadium, 14:45; Bulls v Scarlets, Loftus Versfeld, 17:00; Munster v Sharks, Thomond Park, 19:30 (all SAST) |
| SA captains | Francke Horn (Lions), Ruhan Nel (Stormers), Hanro Liebenberg (Bulls), Nick Hatton (Sharks) |
| TV in South Africa | SuperSport, all four games |
Where our four stand, and a word about the clocks
The Bulls are third on 16 points and the Stormers fourth on 16, separated only by points difference. The Sharks are fifth on 15 after their bonus-point win in Cardiff, and the Lions 11th on nine. Edinburgh (19) and Glasgow (18) are the only unbeaten sides.
Set your alarm carefully. The UK and Ireland went back to GMT on 25 October and are now two hours behind us, so their 15:00 is our 17:00. The Bulls’ website still shows 16:00 for the Scarlets game, but the URC’s official listing, which sets the kick-offs, says 17:00 in South Africa. We are going with the URC. For the rest of the weekend, the Soweto Derby included, see our weekend fixture guide.
Glasgow Warriors v Lions: the hardest last stop
Kick-off 21:45 SAST (19:45 local), Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow. Referee: Andrea Piardi.
Glasgow’s club notes that the Lions have lost on all three previous visits to Scotstoun. The URC adds that Glasgow have not lost a league game there since the Bulls won in April 2025, and that the Lions have not won outside South Africa since beating Zebre Parma in October 2024. The thread of hope: every previous URC meeting has gone to the home side, and the last one, a Lions home game in April, finished Lions 54, Glasgow 12.
Ivan van Rooyen has made six changes, SA Rugby Mag counts. Springbok scrumhalf Morne van den Berg returns with Nico Steyn on the bench, and SJ Kotze, Tiaan Lange and RF Schoeman form a new front row. Etienne Oosthuizen is back in the second row after leaving the field in Edinburgh, and Francke Horn captains from No 8, confirmed on the URC’s official team list.
Glasgow, captained by Stafford McDowall, have 11 players away on international duty. Head coach Franco Smith told the club’s website the Lions play “a unique brand of rugby that makes them a challenge for any team in the URC”. Lions assistant coach Wessel Roux returned the compliment in the URC’s team announcement: “Most of them are international players, really well coached by Franco [Smith], and they have a real attacking mindset with amazing skills in the wet.”
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Erich Cronje, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 Tiaan Lange, 1 SJ Kotze. Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Richard Kriel, 23 Boeta Chamberlain.
Stormers v Ulster: ten changes and a familiar face
Kick-off 14:45 SAST (12:45 UK), DHL Stadium, Cape Town. Gates open at 12:45. Referee: Sam Grove-White.
The biggest name in the Stormers team is on the bench. Bongi Mbonambi, whose Sharks contract ended by mutual agreement this week, is back at the Stormers on a one-year deal. The timing is no accident: the club lists five injured hookers and JJ Kotzé suspended, so Vernon Paulo starts at hooker.
John Dobson has made ten changes and one positional switch. Ruhan Nel returns to lead from outside centre beside Jonathan Roche, who the club says has recovered from concussion. Warrick Gelant, Hacjivah Dayimani and Lukhanyo Vokozela have been ruled out under concussion protocols, so Damian Willemse plays fullback and Evan Roos moves to No 8. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is rested, so Yaqeen Ahmed starts at flyhalf.
“There are many changes, but every player coming in bar the vastly experienced Bongi Mbonambi has already played an important role for us this season,” Dobson said in the club’s team release.
Ulster, 13th, are still without a URC win after two draws and two defeats. They welcome back Cape Town-born hooker Rob Herring, and No 8 Juarno Augustus faces his former side. The record favours the hosts: the Stormers have welcomed Ulster to the DHL Stadium three times and won all three, the 2022 semi-final included, though the last meeting, in May, ended 38-38.
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Riley Norton, 20 Connor Evans, 21 Wandile Mlaba, 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
Bulls v Scarlets: a new captain for the last home game of the year
Kick-off 17:00 SAST (15:00 UK), Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria. Referee: Eoghan Cross.
Johan Ackermann has made 13 changes to his matchday 23, eight in the starting XV, for the Bulls’ final home URC game of 2026. Hanro Liebenberg takes the captaincy. Marcell Coetzee is on the bench after the URC’s disciplinary panel did not uphold his citing from the Ulster game.
In the club’s words, Handre Pollard “has undergone a scan on a hamstring complaint”, while Cheswill Jooste has had an operation for a broken cheekbone and faces a mandatory two-week stand-down.
The URC’s numbers favour Pretoria: the Bulls have won their last seven league games at Loftus, and the Scarlets have won one of their last nine. But the Welsh side came back from 33-14 down to draw level at 40-40 in Cape Town last weekend, and Ackermann is wary. “Scarlets are a quality side who we managed to only narrowly beat last year, by a point or two,” he said. “Our work is cut out for us, no doubt.”
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Hanro Liebenberg (captain), 6 Jeandre Rudolph, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Alu Tshakweni. Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Sebastian de Klerk, 23 Hakeem Kunene.
Munster v Sharks: a new midfield in Limerick
Kick-off 19:30 SAST (17:30 local), Thomond Park, Limerick. Referee: Ben Connor.
The win in Cardiff came at a price. In the club’s own words: “Andre Esterhuizen sustained a right ankle injury, Phatu Ganyane an injury to his right elbow, and Jurenzo Julius a right hamstring injury.” The Sharks said all three would have scans and see specialists at home “to determine the severity of their injuries”, and have given no timeframe.
So the Sharks’ coach JP Pietersen has a new centre pairing. Ethan Hooker moves to inside centre for his 50th Sharks appearance, with Suleiman Hartzenberg, one of three players flown in as cover, outside him. Nick Hatton captains from No 8. Hooker sounds unbothered: “The team is in a really good place and we’re playing some really good rugby, there’s a plan in place and everyone is just buying into it,” he said from the team’s base in Limerick.
Munster, ninth, let a half-time lead slip in a 24-18 loss to Leinster last week. Head coach Clayton McMillan has been paying attention: “The Sharks have made an excellent start to the season and enjoyed two big wins on the road over the past two weekends.”
The URC counts six league meetings: two wins each and two draws, including a 45-0 Sharks win in March. Limerick is another matter. Munster won both of the Sharks’ previous visits to Thomond Park.
Sharks: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Matt Romao, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Ethan Bester, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Litelihle Bester.
What a good weekend looks like
Two home wins on Saturday, ideally with bonus points, would send the Bulls and Stormers into the break still breathing down Scottish necks. The away games are the bonus round: a Sharks win would be their first at Thomond Park, and a Lions win their first outside South Africa in two years.
Frequently asked questions
What time is Glasgow v Lions in South Africa?
It kicks off at 21:45 SAST on Friday 30 October, 19:45 in Glasgow, at Scotstoun Stadium. SuperSport has it in South Africa.
What time do the Stormers play Ulster?
The Stormers host Ulster at 14:45 SAST on Saturday 31 October at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town. The gates open at 12:45.
Is Bulls v Scarlets at 16:00 or 17:00?
It is at 17:00 SAST on Saturday, according to the URC’s official listing, which gives 15:00 UK time. The Bulls’ website still shows 16:00, but the URC sets the kick-offs.
Why is Andre Esterhuizen not playing for the Sharks against Munster?
The Sharks say he sustained a right ankle injury in Cardiff and has returned home for scans and specialist consultations. Ethan Hooker moves to inside centre.
Where can I watch the URC in South Africa this weekend?
All four games involving South African teams are on SuperSport, according to the URC’s broadcast listing.