URC Season 2024/2025 Official Thread

[fishfoodie]

No one else has kicked one off, so it falls to us Paddies to do so

Getting excited now, the URC must be the most competitive of all the leagues, with literally any team capable of beating any other on the day.

I'll update the fixture list once I get a decent graphic

[Edit] Till do to be going along with .....

R1 – Friday, September 20

Cardiff Rugby v Zebre Parma | 19:35 IRE & UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports, Sky Italia, SuperSport

Edinburgh Rugby v Leinster | 19:35 IRE & UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, TG4, SuperSport

Saturday, September 21

Hollywoodbets Sharks v Emirates Lions | 14:45 IRE & UK / 15:45 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Dragons RFC v Ospreys | 15:00 IRE & UK / 16:00 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls | 17:15 IRE & UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Munster v Connacht | 17:30 IRE & UK / 18:30 ITA & SA | RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Benetton v Scarlets | 19:35 IRE & UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | Sky Italia, S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Ulster v Glasgow Warriors | 19:45 IRE & UK / 20:45 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

R2 – Friday, September 27

Glasgow Warriors v Benetton | 19:35 IRE & UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, Sky Italia, SuperSport

Leinster v Dragons RFC | 19:35 IRE & UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | TG4, BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Saturday, September 28

Emirates Lions v Ulster | 12:45 IRE & UK / 13:45 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Vodacom Bulls v Edinburgh Rugby | 15:00 IRE & UK / 16:00 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Zebre Parma v Munster | 15:00 IRE & UK / 16:00 ITA & SA | Sky Italia, RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Scarlets v Cardiff Rugby | 17:15 IRE & UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Connacht v Hollywoodbets Sharks | 19:35 IRE & UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Ospreys v DHL Stormers | 19:35 IRE & UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport

R3 – Friday, October 4

Scarlets v Connacht | 19:35 IRE & UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Cardiff v Glasgow Warriors | 19:35 IRE & UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, SuperSport

Saturday, October 5

Emirates Lions v Edinburgh Rugby | 12:45 IRE & UK / 13:45 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Vodacom Bulls v Ulster | 15:00 IRE & UK / 16:00 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Benetton v Leinster | 17:15 IRE & UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | Sky Italia, RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Dragons RFC v Hollywoodbets Sharks | 17:15 IRE & UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Munster v Ospreys | 19:35 IRE & UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | RTÉ, S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport

Zebre Parma v DHL Stormers | 19:35 IRE & UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | Sky Italia, Premier Sports, SuperSport

[Sandstorm]

Sorry mate, we’re a bit preoccupied with the All Blacks.

[fishfoodie]

Sorry mate, we’re a bit preoccupied with the All Blacks.

Well at least you didn't claim to be preoccupied with the Ozzies

[OomStruisbaai]

Vis Voet the Saffer teams won't play in round 1 due to the CC final.

[Sards]

Vis Voet the Saffer teams won't play in round 1 due to the CC final.

Looking forward to this

[fishfoodie]

Vis Voet the Saffer teams won't play in round 1 due to the CC final.

Sending 2nds out on the 1st round ... for shame .....

[OomStruisbaai]

Vis Voet the Saffer teams won't play in round 1 due to the CC final.

Sending 2nds out on the 1st round ... for shame .....

No the URC moved it to Jan/Feb

[OomStruisbaai]

Stormers & Sharks on tour.

[topofthemoon]

Comparison of the 2024/25 season structure across the URC, Prem and Top 14:

[OomStruisbaai]

Thanks for that one. Looking at that schedule the best time for the Springboks playing for URC franchises to take an 8 weeks break will probably from 1 Feb.

[fishfoodie]

It's Deja vu all over again ......

A proposal for a merger between the Premiership and the United Rugby Championship – which features teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy and South Africa – is being explored, Telegraph Sport can reveal.

The Premiership board is currently undertaking a strategic review to explore ways of increasing the value of future broadcasting deals ahead of going to market early next year for a new broadcasting deal for the start of the 2026 season, having signed a two-year deal with TNT earlier this year.

It is understood that the preference of the Premiership clubs, after a board meeting in London on Thursday morning, is to further explore the possibility of the creation of a British and Irish league, without the South African and Italian clubs part of the merger.

A number of options were presented for consideration.

A proposal for an Anglo-Welsh league was also considered as part of a strategic review to seek ways of increasing the value, as was the impact of reducing the Premiership to eight clubs, or increasing it from 10 clubs to 12, 14 or 16 teams.

The British and Irish league option is said to have attracted the most interest however, given that it has the potential to drive the greatest commercial value – but it would also be the most complicated to achieve.

....

Press the Escape key before the full article loads to defeat the Torygraph paywall

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... sh-league/

[OomStruisbaai]

It's Deja vu all over again ......

A proposal for a merger between the Premiership and the United Rugby Championship – which features teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy and South Africa – is being explored, Telegraph Sport can reveal.

The Premiership board is currently undertaking a strategic review to explore ways of increasing the value of future broadcasting deals ahead of going to market early next year for a new broadcasting deal for the start of the 2026 season, having signed a two-year deal with TNT earlier this year.

It is understood that the preference of the Premiership clubs, after a board meeting in London on Thursday morning, is to further explore the possibility of the creation of a British and Irish league, without the South African and Italian clubs part of the merger.

A number of options were presented for consideration.

A proposal for an Anglo-Welsh league was also considered as part of a strategic review to seek ways of increasing the value, as was the impact of reducing the Premiership to eight clubs, or increasing it from 10 clubs to 12, 14 or 16 teams.

The British and Irish league option is said to have attracted the most interest however, given that it has the potential to drive the greatest commercial value – but it would also be the most complicated to achieve.

....

Press the Escape key before the full article loads to defeat the Torygraph paywall

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... sh-league/

Bit surprise, thought the Welsch lot want to play GPS.

[GrahamWa]

Now denied by the URC.

https://x.com/URCOfficial/status/1834608835233009906

Wouldn't be like the PRL to go on a fishing expedition to sort the mess they find themselves in.

[Slick]

Now denied by the URC.

https://x.com/URCOfficial/status/1834608835233009906

Wouldn't be like the PRL to go on a fishing expedition to sort the mess they find themselves in.

Good.

Bit depressing that social media growth comes above competitiveness, but here we are

[fishfoodie]

Now denied by the URC.

https://x.com/URCOfficial/status/1834608835233009906

Wouldn't be like the PRL to go on a fishing expedition to sort the mess they find themselves in.

On the one hand the clubs are unhappy with the state of the Premiership, but they want someone else to blame for it, & not accept that it was them paying unsustainable salaries, & them issuing, or not, the risable punishment doled out to those who thumbed their noses at any attempt of financial accounatbility.

Now with less clubs they've a dimished product as far as TV companies are concerned, & it doesn't command the audience that will get the clubs the big money they now need.

[Slick]

I wouldn’t say I’m totally against some kind of combined league, maybe over 2 leagues with promotion and relegation. But definitely not at the expense of the Italians, that really pisses me off

[fishfoodie]

I wouldn’t say I’m totally against some kind of combined league, maybe over 2 leagues with promotion and relegation. But definitely not at the expense of the Italians, that really pisses me off

Yes !

I'd have a hard time keeping 4x Welsh teams, & dropping the Italians completely; the Italians are at least on an upward trajectory.

[OomStruisbaai]

I wouldn’t say I’m totally against some kind of combined league, maybe over 2 leagues with promotion and relegation. But definitely not at the expense of the Italians, that really pisses me off

Yes !

I'd have a hard time keeping 4x Welsh teams, & dropping the Italians completely; the Italians are at least on an upward trajectory.

Disappointed in both of you, letting us go for the Spivs.

[Margin__Walker]

Now denied by the URC.

https://x.com/URCOfficial/status/1834608835233009906

Wouldn't be like the PRL to go on a fishing expedition to sort the mess they find themselves in.

Worth noting that the URC statement bears very little relation to the content of the article which doesn't mention any discussions between the PRL and URC

[fishfoodie]

I wouldn’t say I’m totally against some kind of combined league, maybe over 2 leagues with promotion and relegation. But definitely not at the expense of the Italians, that really pisses me off

Yes !

I'd have a hard time keeping 4x Welsh teams, & dropping the Italians completely; the Italians are at least on an upward trajectory.

Disappointed in both of you, letting us go for the Spivs.

We do love you, we're just warning you that long-distance relationships rarely survive

and don't think we haven't noticed your Ex making cow eyes at you !

[OomStruisbaai]

Yes !

I'd have a hard time keeping 4x Welsh teams, & dropping the Italians completely; the Italians are at least on an upward trajectory.

Disappointed in both of you, letting us go for the Spivs.

We do love you, we're just warning you that long-distance relationships rarely survive

and don't think we haven't noticed your Ex making cow eyes at you !

Slick is a flip flipper. Can't rely on him.

[SaintK]

Now denied by the URC.

https://x.com/URCOfficial/status/1834608835233009906

Wouldn't be like the PRL to go on a fishing expedition to sort the mess they find themselves in.

Now confirmed that the IRFU are interested. Can't realistically see it taking off

A British and Irish league would be more complicated to achieve but it is an idea which has piqued the interest of the IRFU.
“We, as administrators, are always looking at ways to make our tournaments more valuable,” chief executive Kevin Potts said last November.
“You are asking about the potential of a British and Irish scenario, yeah, that’s something we are open to looking at.
“We are looking at these things at the moment because the game needs to generate more money. Us as unions and CEOs, I guess it is driving us to be more collaborative and more innovative which we need to be to get more money into the game.

[clydecloggie]

Ulster away for the reigning champs in R1. Strong test to see where they stand already.

[robmatic]

I wouldn’t say I’m totally against some kind of combined league, maybe over 2 leagues with promotion and relegation. But definitely not at the expense of the Italians, that really pisses me off

The problem with having two divisions is that, realistically, broadcasters will pay only minimal attention to the 2nd tier and that would probably have financial consequences or at least risks for some of the unions. I can't imagine the SRU would be happy about the prospect of one or both of their teams not playing top-level rugby in their 'domestic' competition and then getting a reduced income.

One upside to having two tiers would be that it would be hilarious for the Welsh fans to finally get to be in a competition with the English and then have all four teams stuck in a division with Sale, Newcastle, Zebre and Edinburgh.

[SaintK]

I wouldn’t say I’m totally against some kind of combined league, maybe over 2 leagues with promotion and relegation. But definitely not at the expense of the Italians, that really pisses me off

The problem with having two divisions is that, realistically, broadcasters will pay only minimal attention to the 2nd tier and that would probably have financial consequences or at least risks for some of the unions. I can't imagine the SRU would be happy about the prospect of one or both of their teams not playing top-level rugby in their 'domestic' competition and then getting a reduced income.

One upside to having two tiers would be that it would be hilarious for the Welsh fans to finally get to be in a competition with the English and then have all four teams stuck in a division with Sale, Newcastle, Zebre and Edinburgh.

Really? More likely to be Glaws or preferably Quins

[LoveOfTheGame]

If they drop the SA and ITA teams from the URC, what will be the point of having the Champion's Cup? The 8 French teams would bring some new matchups, but it would basically just be new URC/PL league rehashed with a couple of games against the French clubs? What would be the appetite from the broadcasters and fans to watch the same teams play each other 3 of 4 times in a year? That surely would spell the end of Champion's Cup.

[Uncle fester]

If they drop the SA and ITA teams from the URC, what will be the point of having the Champion's Cup? The 8 French teams would bring some new matchups, but it would basically just be new URC/PL league rehashed with a couple of games against the French clubs? What would be the appetite from the broadcasters and fans to watch the same teams play each other 3 of 4 times in a year? That surely would spell the end of Champion's Cup.

Pretty much and that's why it's a hard no from me.

[PornDog]

The hard no for me is due to the Spivs being incompetent, arrogant fuckwits, with a tendency to screw over their partners (including themselves) and delusions of grandeur.

The further demise of the European Cup is another straw on the camel's back, but not the main reason.

Hopefully what does come out of this is not a league merger, but an impetus to reform the European Cup back to its former greatness. It was generating €50M odd for the ERC 10 years ago (just for the ERC, so not including what it was generating directly for the clubs), if it hadn't been gutted and one of the primary TV partners wasn't completely shafted then it could have been approaching twice that by now. Not an insignificant amount of revenue, even if it is to be shared across the leagues.

EPCR don't release any financial data (Go Switzerland!), but it wouldn't surprise me if revenues were now half what they were in its heyday.

[robmatic]

If they drop the SA and ITA teams from the URC, what will be the point of having the Champion's Cup? The 8 French teams would bring some new matchups, but it would basically just be new URC/PL league rehashed with a couple of games against the French clubs? What would be the appetite from the broadcasters and fans to watch the same teams play each other 3 of 4 times in a year? That surely would spell the end of Champion's Cup.

The Champion's Cup has already been drastically devalued with the current format.

[_Os_]

If they drop the SA and ITA teams from the URC, what will be the point of having the Champion's Cup? The 8 French teams would bring some new matchups, but it would basically just be new URC/PL league rehashed with a couple of games against the French clubs? What would be the appetite from the broadcasters and fans to watch the same teams play each other 3 of 4 times in a year? That surely would spell the end of Champion's Cup.

Pretty much and that's why it's a hard no from me.

The plan would be to kill Champions Cup/Challenge Cup. There would be 10 Celtic teams and 8 or 10 English teams, putting that into a workable format which doesn't destroy value, would take up basically all the available non-test calendar:

Format 1: Conferences similar to what the URC has now: 4 Irish/4 Welsh/2 Scots and 2 English/4 English/4 English. Problem with this is value is destroyed because potentially not all the English sides are playing eachother (depending on how the format works). In any transnational comp the biggest value is in the derby matches within the same country. At the moment URC is a double round against sides in the same conference and a single round against teams outside the conference.

Format 2: Two conferences: 10 Celtic sides, 10 English sides. Better than format 1, but a new problem emerges as the two conferences are playing eachother less defeating the purpose of a combined league. It would be a double round within each conference and a single around against some but not all of the other conference (guessing not enough calendar room to play all the teams in the other conference, that would be a 28 week regular season). This could also become a massive problem in the boardrooms regarding how the revenue is split, if the value was lopsided in favour of one conference, this started happening in Super Rugby.

Format 3: 20 sides on the same log all playing eachother once. Probably the best option, best fit into the current calendar. But only if the sides are competitive, there's scope for half the log never being contenders which would harm this format. There's also no home and away matches against sides from the same country which destroys a lot of value, a double round would be 38 weeks plus bye weeks and the finals, maybe 43 weeks which is unworkable.


IRFU should look at all their options, it would be dumb of them not to (if the NZRU came up with something serious, like proposing SA and NZ sides play eachother instead of SA being in Champions/Challenge Cup, I would expect SARU to look at it also). But they would be risking a lot choosing this imo, they're basically throwing everything in with England when the sport isn't that popular in England below the test side/6N/RWC. There's limited scope for growth in any British Isles format. England has disproportionate power due to how many sides they have. The governance/funding model of English clubs is also very different, basically they have a competitive advantage on the field at the cost of maybe going under entirely.

It's quite amusing, before the URC English clubs weren't keen on this. Now they are, but want to gut the ecosystem of the URC to prop themselves up. Thing is that may not work. In Super Rugby the ecosystem of teams that existed clearly helped the Aussies the most, remove the SA and Argie sides and the Aussie sides just look like they're adding not much and propping up the bottom of a Kiwi comp, whilst their test side goes through the floor. I suspect there's a chance if the English managed to pull the Welsh out of the URC something similar would happen and Welsh teams would fair worse than they do in URC (big call for the Welsh because the URC could more easily add sides if they left, which would complicate matters if they wanted to return).

English clubs are clearly trying to attack the URC though, SA can do little, part of the pitfalls of the project for us. But it is also a validation of the URC's early success. I do think the English clubs are underestimating the main risk for themselves, that they create a league half the English clubs are uncompetitive in and cannot win.

An underrated element of URC is how much growth potential it has. The travel has proven to be tolerable, the time zone is all of Europe and Africa. No one is banging on about "tradition", which really means "no change and never grow". There's no other competition which could add a rebadged Portugal national side if it wanted for example.

Possible a British Isles league has more immediate value than URC though. Rugby has mostly shown itself to be poor at long term planning, so that may be enough to convince people that matter. Personally wouldn't feel that bad about it, enjoying the URC but it's not like there's animosity that's been building up. SARU has put a lot into this though, doubt they would try again if URC ends (I said after SA's last failed RWC bid that SARU wouldn't be bidding again after the experience of that bidding process, and SARU has not).

[OomStruisbaai]

Thanks for that Ox. Look like South Africa and NZ rugby boards had detailed discussions during the All Blacks tests. Would be nice if us can get a deal between us and vok the rest.

I love the URC, it will be sad if we leave, but then if they want to leave us, good on them.

South Africa have brought a lot to the URC.

[Sards]

Sharks have been the whipping boys .

Nothing will change this year

[assfly]

In hindsight, it looked like a silly idea to postpone the SA fixtures.

Lions vs Bulls should have just doubled as 1st round and URC game. Both teams are fielding full-strength sides anway.
Bulls Stormers could have played anyway.

[Slick]

I’m surprisingly excited about the kick off this evening

[GrahamWa]

Me too. Just watched the new Squidge on how Glasgow won the title. Pumped!

[Slick]

Will be interesting to see how the games are reffed today.

In the Edinburgh game last night the reffing team had obviously been told to just make decisions and not check everything. This led to a few wrong, or at least very marginal calls, which I’m absolutely OK with if that is the way we are going again.

But then we had a try which they checked for ages on a technical point that I’m not sure anyone noticed or was bothered about.

It would be good to have clarity on what the directions to refs have been so we are not hanging them out to dry as usual

[bok_viking]

In hindsight, it looked like a silly idea to postpone the SA fixtures.

Lions vs Bulls should have just doubled as 1st round and URC game. Both teams are fielding full-strength sides anway.
Bulls Stormers could have played anyway.

I always said that they should incorporate the Currie Cup fixtures between the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers into the URC schedule. So that the games those teams play in the URC counts towards their Currie Cup total, and then once the URC is over they only play the remaining games against the non URC teams, will be a few less games on their calendar and a bit more rest for the players.

[GrahamWa]

In hindsight, it looked like a silly idea to postpone the SA fixtures.

Lions vs Bulls should have just doubled as 1st round and URC game. Both teams are fielding full-strength sides anway.
Bulls Stormers could have played anyway.

I always said that they should incorporate the Currie Cup fixtures between the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers into the URC schedule. So that the games those teams play in the URC counts towards their Currie Cup total, and then once the URC is over they only play the remaining games against the non URC teams, will be a few less games on their calendar and a bit more rest for the players.

Makes sense to everyone except the sponsors, so it'll never happen as $$$$ matter.

[OomStruisbaai]

URC starts where it ended. Competitive even more.

[OomStruisbaai]

Will be sad if the Sharks will be the SA embarrament again.