URC 2025/26: Stormers land the big fish at home for season opener

The Stormers will host Irish giants Leinster in the 2025/26 season’s opening night in Cape Town. The Bulls will also be at home in the opening round, while the Sharks and Lions make the trek north to kick-start their campaigns.

Leinster have the toughest start in their URC league history with two away matches, both in South Africa, and against the Stormers in Cape Town and Bulls in Pretoria.

The Stormers play the Bulls in Cape Town on the 3rd January, 2026 and do a back-to-back against the Sharks on the 24th and 31st January, with the first match-up in Cape Town and the second in Durban.

The season starts on the weekend of the 26th (Friday) and 27th (Saturday) September, with the Stormers in action on Friday night and the Bulls on Saturday.