As the 2023-2024 United Rugby Championship season unfolds, the excitement in the world of fantasy rugby is reaching a fever pitch. 

Round 3 is about to kick off, and fantasy managers are gearing up to make strategic moves, as players' performances start to shape the landscape of this thrilling virtual competition. 

With a myriad of star-studded lineups and unexpected twists, this season promises to be one for the record books. 

In this article, we'll take a closer look at the key matchups, standout players and essential tips to help you gain the upper hand in your URC fantasy rugby journey.

Here is a breakdown of the best performers heading into Round 3, plus some sleeper picks that could have your team rocketing up the leagues.

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— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) November 1, 2023

Top Performers Per Position Group

Prop 

Jack Boyle: Leinster Rugby

21-years-old - 6’1” - 113kg

Biggest Strengths: Open-play ball carrying and mauling

Fantasy Points: 23.5

Gerhard Steenkamp: Vodacom Bulls

26-years-old - 6’4” - 128kg

Biggest Strengths: Set piece - maul & scrum

Fantasy Points: 20.5

Rhys Carre: Cardiff Rugby

25-years-old - 6’3” - 131kg

Biggest Strengths: Close-quarters carrying

Fantasy Points: 20

Hooker

Tom Stewart: Ulster

22-years-old - 6’0” - 103kg

Biggest Strengths: Maul and close-range try scoring 

Fantasy Points: 40

Johann Grobbelaar: Vodacom Bulls 

25-years-old - 5’11” - 100kg

Biggest Strengths: Maul and close-range try scoring

Fantasy Points: 34.5

Dylan Tierney-Martin: Connacht

24-years-old: 5’11” - 101kg

Biggest Strengths: Open-field play and link player

Fantasy Points: 26

Lock

Edwin Edogbo: Munster Rugby 

22-years-old - 6’6” - 128kg

Biggest Strengths: Powerful ball carrying and set-piece wrecker

Fantasy Points: 28.5

Joe Joyce: Connacht Rugby 

29-years-old - 6’5” - 119kg

Biggest Strengths: Dominant tackler and mauler 

Fantasy Points: 27.5

Ruben van Heerden: DHL Stormers

26-years-old - 6’7” - 118kg 

Biggest Strengths: Maul defense and dominant tackles

Fantasy Points: 24

Backrow

Francke Horn: Emirates Lions

24-years-old - 6’3” - 103kg 

Biggest Strengths: Open-play ball carrying and dominant tackles

Fantasy Points: 45

Cameron Hanekom: Vodacom Bulls

21-years-old - 6’4” - 100kg 

Biggest Strengths: Open-play ball carrying and link play

Fantasy Points: 40.5

Elrigh Louw: Vodacom Bulls 

24-years-old - 6’4” - 112kg 

Biggest Strengths: Mauling, close range tries and dominant tackles

Fantasy Points: 39

Scrumhalf

Caolin Blade: Connacht Rugby 

29-years-olds - 5’7” - 80kg

Biggest Strengths: Game-breaking runs and try scoring 

Fantasy Points: 37.5

Nathan Doak: Ulster Rugby 

21-years-old - 6’1” -87kg 

Biggest Strengths: Field general, who marshals his team and goal kicking

Fantasy Points: 37

Reuben Morgan-Williams: Ospreys

25-years-old - 5’10” - 84kg

Biggest Strengths: Silky smooth passing 

Fantasy Points: 27.5

Fly-Half

Cathal Forde - Connacht Rugby 

21-years-old - 6’2” - 95kg 

Biggest Strengths: Line breaks and distribution (playing center currently)

Fantasy Points: 61

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu: DHL Stormers

21-years-old - 6’1” - 89kg 

Biggest Strengths: Playmaking, offloading and goal kicking (playing center currently)

Fantasy Points: 60.5

Ben Healy: Edinburgh Rugby 

24-years-old - 6’3 - 97kg

Biggest Strengths: Goal kicking, distribution and defense.

Fantasy Points: 44.5

Centers

Huw Jones: Glasgow Rugby 

29-years-old - 6’1” - 102kg 

Biggest Strengths: Line breaks and offloads 

Fantasy Points: 23.5 

Antoine Frisch: Munster Rugby

27-years-old - 6’2” - 90kg

Biggest Strengths: Defense and offloads

Fantasy Points: 23

Werner Kok: Hollywoodbets Sharks

30-years-old - 5’1” - 96kg 

Biggest Strengths: Try scoring and turnovers (Currently playing wing)

Fantasy Points: 22.5

Outside Backs

Tommy O’Brien: Leinster Rugby 

25-years-old - 6’0” - 92kg 

Biggest Strength: Line breaks and try scoring 

Fantasy Points: 46.5

Clayton Blommetjies: DHL Stormers

33-years-old - 6’1” - 87kg 

Biggest Strength: Line breaks and distribution (currently playing fly-half)

Fantasy Points: 45.5 

Jacob Stockdale: Ulster Rugby 

27-years-old - 6’3” - 103kg

Biggest Strength: Strike runs and try finishing

Fantasy Points: 43

Your Fantasy Team of the Week is here 🤩

Congratulations to Hammer who topped #URCFantasy in Round 2 and won x2 tickets to a match of their choice 🎟👏

Play now. Link in bio 📲 #BKTURC #URC

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) November 1, 2023

Best Value Picks 

Starting with a budget of $100, picking a full team of 23 is a challenge and makes understanding where to find those value picks crucial. 

As the season progresses and star players return from Rugby World Cup duty, this will become even tougher. 

In the absence of the World Cup players, several young talents and underrated veterans have emerged. 

Here are some of the best value picks, if you are looking to fill in some spots around your star selections.

Prop: Ruan Dreyer - Emirates Lions ($2m): A player likely to be first choice all season who currently is the fifth-rated prop in terms of fantasy points.

Hooker: Angus Fraser - Glasgow Warriors ($2m): An ascending talent who has a nose for the try line.

Lock: Joe Joyce - Connacht Rugby ($2m): Like a first choice option for Connacht and currently ranked second in Lock fantasy points - Edogbo in first is great but has three World Cup stars returning in his position for Munster.

Backrow: Camerone Hanekom - Vodacom Bulls ($2m): The latest South African back-row sensation is in a pack that likely is to be dominant and has been given the license to roam and get on the end of try scoring opportunities.

Scrumhalf: Ben Vellacot - Edinburgh Rugby ($3m): Forming a great combination with halfback partner Ben Healy. A sniping, try-scoring threat who will likely be a consistent starter for the Scottish capital team.

Flyhalf: Tom Jordan - Glasgow Warriors ($6m): The Kiwi born playmaker is a key cog in a Warriors team that likes to attack. This will likely see him score more tries than several other first choice No. 10s.

Center: Mason Grady - Cardiff ($3m): The Welsh international is a powerhouse and possibly the best back for Cardiff. Likely to be a try-scoring weapon for them this season and will be a consistent starter.

Back Three: Ben Loader - DHL Stormers ($3m): The former London Irish star is enjoying his time in Cape Town and will benefit from playing alongside some of the game’s best attacking backs in Damian Willemse and Manie Libbok when they return from their World Cup celebrations.

Returning Stars 

Following South Africa’s second consecutive Rugby World Cup victory, and the Irish stars returning from their break, a number of top-quality operators will be returning to their URC clubs over the coming weeks. 

Below are some of the best fantasy points machines to consider getting into your lineup in the coming weeks:

Mack Hansen - Connacht Rugby

Bundee Aki - Connacht Rugby

Finlay Bealham - Connacht Rugby

Hugo Keen - Leinster Rugby

Caelen Doris - Leinster Rugby

Dan Sheehan - Leinster Rugby

Jack Crowley - Munster Rugby

Craig Casey - Munster Rugby

Tadhg Beirne - Munster Rugby

RG Snyman - Munster Rugby

Damian Willemse - DHL Stormers

Manie Libbok - DHL Stormers

Deon Fourie - DHL Stormers

Eben Etzebeth - Hollywoodbets Sharks

Lukhanyo Am - Hollywoodbets Sharks

Grant Williams - Hollywoodbets Sharks

Kurt-Lee Arendse - Vodacom Bulls

Marco van Staden - Vodacom Bulls