United Rugby Championship

[Dave Cahill]

Happy that the Stormers won, they actually try to play expansively at times. Bulls are a very negative teams and Jake White is an unpleasant person.

Found him to be anything but last week, very polite and gracious post match

But I agree, the team that tried to play the most rugby deservedly won

[alanair]

Brace was notable by his total absence. Missed virtually everything of note

Just keeping up the expected standard of URC reffing - abysmal

[paddyor]

Pretty happy with the final. As has been said already they’ve been a good addition to the league. Should get the full benefit of it next season. They talked about it on the 42 and it does feel like the league has turned a corner and hopefully the public and media give it a bit more respect now. Saffers have added a lot of stars to their rosters too for next year.

They’re not singing about viewership figures though which they were after about 12 rounds so not confident.

[paddyor]

Kolbe to stormers.

[neill_m]

Kolbe to stormers.

Still has two years on his Toulon deal to run, so that could be an issue for the Stormers. Gelant joining Racing 92.

[paddyor]

Draongs rebranding

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... e-24331869

Hopoefully a bit more successful than previous versions.

[neill_m]

Fixtures for season 22/23 released on Thursday.

[neill_m]

Via @simonrug (Welsh Rugby Journo) on twitter

URC fixtures released at 10:30am tomorrow, weekends only for all rounds with days/times/tv etc to follow next week.

[dropkick]

Via @simonrug (Welsh Rugby Journo) on twitter

URC fixtures released at 10:30am tomorrow, weekends only for all rounds with days/times/tv etc to follow next week.

Weekends only? I hope he means Friday nights too.

[neill_m]

Via @simonrug (Welsh Rugby Journo) on twitter

URC fixtures released at 10:30am tomorrow, weekends only for all rounds with days/times/tv etc to follow next week.

Weekends only? I hope he means Friday nights too.

He means Sep 16-18 as an example v actually getting a confirmed day/time etc.

[D4surfer]

Via @simonrug (Welsh Rugby Journo) on twitter

URC fixtures released at 10:30am tomorrow, weekends only for all rounds with days/times/tv etc to follow next week.

Weekends only? I hope he means Friday nights too.

He means Sep 16-18 as an example v actually getting a confirmed day/time etc.

I hope the dates for the knock out stages are released at the same time.

[neill_m]

Leinster Rugby URC Schedule

Round 1 – Zebre Parma v Leinster – Weekend of September 16/17/18
Round 2 – Leinster v Benetton – Weekend of September 23/24/25
Round 3 – Ulster v Leinster – Weekend of September 30/October 1/2
Round 4 – Leinster v Cell C Sharks – Weekend of October 7/8/9
Round 5 – Connacht v Leinster – Weekend of October 14/15/16
Round 6 – Leinster v Munster – Weekend of October 21/22/23
Round 7 – Scarlets v Leinster – Weekend of October 28/29/30
Round 8 – Leinster v Glasgow Warriors – Weekend of November 25/26/27
Round 9 – Leinster v Ulster – Weekend of December 2/3/4
Round 10 – Munster v Leinster – Weekend of December 23/24/25/26
Round 11 – Leinster v Connacht – Weekend of December 30/31/January 1
Round 12 – Ospreys v Leinster – Weekend of January 6/7/8
Round 13 – Leinster v Cardiff Rugby – Weekend of January 27/28/29
Round 14 – Leinster v Dragons – Weekend of February 17/18/19
Round 15 – Edinburgh v Leinster – Weekend of March 3/4/5
Round 16 – Leinster v DHL Stormers – Weekend of March 24/25/26
Round 17 – Emirates Lions v Leinster – Weekend of April 14/15/16
Round 18 – Vodacom Bulls v Leinster – Weekend of April 21/22/23

Heineken Cup Semi Finals Apr 28-30
United Rugby Championship Quarter Finals May 5-7
United Rugby Championship Semi Finals May 12-14
Heineken Cup Final Saturday May 20
United Rugby Championship Final Saturday May 27

[cormac]

Final is on May 27th.

[D4surfer]

We will need to have points on the board early. We finish with 3 SA teams with the last 2 being away.

We may have a Heineken Cup semifinal the week after our SA trip. Ideally we will have qualified for the URC knockouts before the last 2 matches and can leave our front liners at home.

Jaysus, I'm excited and it's only July.

[johng]

For anyone else who hates those stupid windows 8 tiles on the URC site that take up the whole screen for a single round of fixtures and just wants a list.....

R1 – Friday, September 16 / Saturday, September 17 / Sunday, September 18
Edinburgh Rugby v Dragons RFC
Ulster v Connacht
Benetton v Glasgow Warriors
Zebre Parma v Leinster
Scarlets v Ospreys
Cardiff Rugby v Munster
Cell C Sharks v DHL Stormers **Feb 3/4
Emirates Lions v Vodacom Bulls **Feb 3/4

R2 – Friday, September 23 / Saturday, September 24 / Sunday, September 25
Zebre Parma v Cell C Sharks
Glasgow Warriors v Cardiff Rugby
Leinster v Benetton
DHL Stormers v Connacht
Vodacom Bulls v Edinburgh Rugby
Scarlets v Ulster
Ospreys v Emirates Lions
Dragons RFC v Munster

R3 – Friday, September 30 / Saturday, October 1 / Sunday, October 2
Cardiff Rugby v Emirates Lions
Ulster v Leinster
Benetton v Scarlets
DHL Stormers v Edinburgh Rugby
Vodacom Bulls v Connacht
Ospreys v Glasgow Warriors
Munster v Zebre Parma
Dragons RFC v Cell C Sharks

R4 – Friday, October 7 / Saturday, October 8 / Sunday, October 9
Edinburgh Rugby v Emirates Lions
Zebre Parma v DHL Stormers
Glasgow Warriors v Vodacom Bulls
Connacht v Munster
Benetton v Dragons RFC
Scarlets v Cardiff Rugby
Leinster v Cell C Sharks
Ulster v Ospreys

R5 – Friday, October 14 / Saturday, October 15 / Sunday, October 16
Edinburgh Rugby v Benetton
Ospreys v DHL Stormers
Emirates Lions v Ulster
Cell C Sharks v Glasgow Warriors
Munster v Vodacom Bulls
Scarlets v Zebre Parma
Cardiff Rugby v Dragons RFC
Connacht v Leinster

R6 – Friday, October 21 / Saturday, October 22 / Sunday, October 23
Connacht v Scarlets
Benetton v Vodacom Bulls
Zebre Parma v Edinburgh Rugby
Emirates Lions v Glasgow Warriors
Cell C Sharks v Ulster
Dragons RFC v Ospreys
Cardiff Rugby v DHL Stormers
Leinster v Munster

R7 – Friday, October 28 / Saturday, October 29 / Sunday, October 30
Scarlets v Leinster
Glasgow Warriors v Benetton
Cardiff Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby
Dragons RFC v Zebre Parma
Munster v Ulster
Ospreys v Connacht
Vodacom Bulls v Cell C Sharks **Feb 10/11
Emirates Lions v DHL Stormers **Feb 10/11

R8 – Friday, November 25 / Saturday, November 26 / Sunday, November 27
Benetton v Edinburgh Rugby
Emirates Lions v Dragons RFC
Vodacom Bulls v Ospreys
Cell C Sharks v Cardiff Rugby
Munster v Connacht
DHL Stormers v Scarlets
Leinster v Glasgow Warriors
Ulster v Zebre Parma

R9 – Friday, December 2 / Saturday, December 3 / Sunday, December 4
Edinburgh Rugby v Munster
Zebre Parma v Glasgow Warriors
Cell C Sharks v Ospreys
DHL Stormers v Dragons RFC
Emirates Lions v Scarlets
Vodacom Bulls v Cardiff Rugby
Connacht v Benetton
Leinster v Ulster

R10 – Friday, December 23 / Saturday, December 24 / Monday, December 26
Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh Rugby
Cell C Sharks v Emirates Lions
DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls
Benetton v Zebre Parma
Dragons RFC v Cardiff Rugby
Connacht v Ulster
Munster v Leinster
Ospreys v Scarlets

R11 – Friday, December 30 / Saturday, December 31 / Sunday, January 1
Edinburgh Rugby v Glasgow Warriors
Cell C Sharks v Vodacom Bulls
DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions
Zebre Parma v Benetton
Scarlets v Dragons RFC
Leinster v Connacht
Ulster v Munster
Cardiff Rugby v Ospreys

R12 – Friday, January 6 / Saturday, January 7 / Sunday, January 8
Dragons RFC v Vodacom Bulls
Glasgow Warriors v DHL Stormers
Benetton v Ulster
Connacht v Cell C Sharks
Cardiff Rugby v Scarlets
Munster v Emirates Lions
Ospreys v Leinster
Edinburgh Rugby v Zebre Parma

R13 – Friday, January 27 / Saturday, January 28 / Sunday, January 29
Ulster v DHL Stormers
Zebre Parma v Ospreys
Benetton v Munster
Dragons RFC v Glasgow Warriors
Connacht v Emirates Lions
Scarlets v Vodacom Bulls
Edinburgh Rugby v Cell C Sharks
Leinster v Cardiff Rugby

R14 – Friday, February 17 / Saturday, February 18 / Sunday, February 19
Glasgow Warriors v Ulster
Munster v Ospreys
Zebre Parma v Connacht
Scarlets v Edinburgh Rugby
Leinster v Dragons RFC
Cardiff Rugby v Benetton
Vodacom Bulls v DHL Stormers
Emirates Lions v Cell C Sharks

R15 – Friday, March 3 / Saturday, March 4 / Sunday, March 5
Munster v Scarlets
Glasgow Warriors v Zebre Parma
Cardiff Rugby v Ulster
Dragons RFC v Connacht
Edinburgh Rugby v Leinster
Ospreys v Benetton
Vodacom Bulls v Emirates Lions
DHL Stormers v Cell C Sharks

R16 – Friday, March 24 / Saturday, March 25 / Sunday, March 26
Benetton v Emirates Lions
Ulster v Vodacom Bulls
Scarlets v Cell C Sharks
Zebre Parma v Cardiff Rugby
Leinster v DHL Stormers
Ospreys v Dragons RFC
Connacht v Edinburgh Rugby
Munster v Glasgow Warriors

R17 – Friday, April 14 / Saturday, April 15 / Sunday, April 16
Cell C Sharks v Benetton
Connacht v Cardiff Rugby
Glasgow Warriors v Scarlets
Vodacom Bulls v Zebre Parma
Emirates Lions v Leinster
Edinburgh Rugby v Ospreys
DHL Stormers v Munster
Ulster v Dragons RFC

R18 – Friday, April 21 / Saturday, April 22 / Sunday, April 23
DHL Stormers v Benetton
Glasgow Warriors v Connacht
Emirates Lions v Zebre Parma
Vodacom Bulls v Leinster
Ospreys v Cardiff Rugby
Dragons RFC v Scarlets
Cell C Sharks v Munster
Ulster v Edinburgh Rugby

[johng]

Season starts 1 week earlier. Finishes 3 weeks earlier.

[paddyor]

Round 16 – Leinster v DHL Stormers – Weekend of March 24/25/26
Heineken Cup Rd 16 March/April 31/1/2
Heineken Cup QF April 7/8/9
Round 17 – Emirates Lions v Leinster – Weekend of April 14/15/16
Round 18 – Vodacom Bulls v Leinster – Weekend of April 21/22/23
Heineken Cup Semi Finals Apr 28-30
United Rugby Championship Quarter Finals May 5-7
United Rugby Championship Semi Finals May 12-14
Heineken Cup Final Saturday May 20
United Rugby Championship Final Saturday May 27

That's some run in. The days of the double are gone.

Edit added Rd 16 HCC. Thats some end to the season. Also the interpros are over by December.

[riocard911]

Round 16 – Leinster v DHL Stormers – Weekend of March 24/25/26
Heineken Cup Rd 16 March/April 31/1/2
Heineken Cup QF April 7/8/9
Round 17 – Emirates Lions v Leinster – Weekend of April 14/15/16
Round 18 – Vodacom Bulls v Leinster – Weekend of April 21/22/23
Heineken Cup Semi Finals Apr 28-30
United Rugby Championship Quarter Finals May 5-7
United Rugby Championship Semi Finals May 12-14
Heineken Cup Final Saturday May 20
United Rugby Championship Final Saturday May 27

That's some run in. The days of the double are gone.

Edit added Rd 16 HCC. Thats some end to the season. Also the interpros are over by December.

"The days of the double are gone"? Ná bí mar sin, John. J10's last season. A home final in the Heino to aim for. Confidence and belief in the "Leinster Way" through the roof after the BIG's heroics in NZ. In fact, one could even think about it like this: Thesis - The Saffer teams in the URC will make the Irish provinces and players better. Confirmation - after one season with Saffer involvement in the URC the Irish national team wins a first ever Test Series away to the All Blacks. After two seasons?... Won't spell it out for fear of the mocker gods, but you get my jist!

[paddyor]

Round 16 – Leinster v DHL Stormers – Weekend of March 24/25/26
Heineken Cup Rd 16 March/April 31/1/2
Heineken Cup QF April 7/8/9
Round 17 – Emirates Lions v Leinster – Weekend of April 14/15/16
Round 18 – Vodacom Bulls v Leinster – Weekend of April 21/22/23
Heineken Cup Semi Finals Apr 28-30
United Rugby Championship Quarter Finals May 5-7
United Rugby Championship Semi Finals May 12-14
Heineken Cup Final Saturday May 20
United Rugby Championship Final Saturday May 27

That's some run in. The days of the double are gone.

Edit added Rd 16 HCC. Thats some end to the season. Also the interpros are over by December.

"The days of the double are gone"? Ná bí mar sin, John. J10's last season. A home final in the Heino to aim for. Confidence and belief in the "Leinster Way" through the roof after the BIG's heroics in NZ. In fact, one could even think about it like this: Thesis - The Saffer teams in the URC will make the Irish provinces and players better. Confirmation - after one season with Saffer involvement in the URC the Irish national team wins a first ever Test Series away to the All Blacks. After two seasons?... Won't spell it out for fear of the mocker gods, but you get my jist!

There's a possibility we end up camped in South Africa for 6 weeks.....

I suppose nothing has changed really from last season which had a similarly difficult run in just my estimation of the South Africans and the fact they're no in the HCC. Finishing in the top 2 is crucial.

[Theleinsterlad]

That's some run in. The days of the double are gone.

Edit added Rd 16 HCC. Thats some end to the season. Also the interpros are over by December.

"The days of the double are gone"? Ná bí mar sin, John. J10's last season. A home final in the Heino to aim for. Confidence and belief in the "Leinster Way" through the roof after the BIG's heroics in NZ. In fact, one could even think about it like this: Thesis - The Saffer teams in the URC will make the Irish provinces and players better. Confirmation - after one season with Saffer involvement in the URC the Irish national team wins a first ever Test Series away to the All Blacks. After two seasons?... Won't spell it out for fear of the mocker gods, but you get my jist!

There's a possibility we end up camped in South Africa for 6 weeks.....

I suppose nothing has changed really from last season which had a similarly difficult run in just my estimation of the South Africans and the fact they're no in the HCC. Finishing in the top 2 is crucial.

Can’t help but wonder if we had played our first team down in SA last season how different the season end would have been.