The United Rugby Championship season kicks off with a blockbuster clash as the DHL Stormers welcome Leinster to DHL Stadium in Cape Town. 

This Round 1 matchup pits South Africa’s 2022 champions against the defending URC winners, immediately giving both sides a chance to measure themselves against elite opposition. With two proud rugby nations represented, the contest promises intensity from the opening whistle.

• Subscribe To FloRugby To Watch URC Rugby All Season Long
• Rugby Today: Here's What's Streaming On FloRugby
• The 100 Best Rugby Players In The World: The Full List

DHL Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson emphasized the weight of the occasion, noting that his team must be sharp against the defending champions: “Playing the defending champions at home means that we will have to be on our game to get the result we want and we know we will have our fans right behind us as always.”

 With regular leaders Salmaan Moerat and Deon Fourie sidelined by injury, Dobson confirmed that Ruhan Nel will captain the side, pointing to his long-standing role within the Stormers’ leadership group.

For Leinster, senior coach Jacques Nienaber highlighted the intensity of their opening stretch in South Africa, which includes matches against the Stormers, Bulls, and Sharks. 

“Three South African teams — the team that ended fifth, the team that ended second, and then the team that finished third," Nienaber said. "It’s teams that normally challenge at the back end of the competition. We will have a very good idea where we are after these three games.” Both sides recognize the significance of this early-season test, and with lineups confirmed, attention now turns to kickoff in Cape Town.

DHL Stormers vs. Leinster Kickoff In Round 1 Of The United Rugby Championship

Kickoff for DHL Stormers vs. Leinster is set for 1:00 p.m. ET at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. The game will be contested as part of Round 1 of the United Rugby Championship. The match will be refereed by Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR), with assistant referees Sean Muller (SARU) and Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU), and Adam Jones (WRU) serving as TMO.

DHL Stormers Lineup vs. Leinster In Round 1 Of United Rugby Championship

• Starters: Wandisile Simelane, Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel (captain), Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas, Jurie Matthee, Stefan Ungerer, Vernon Matongo, André-Hugo Venter, Neethling Fouché, Adré Smith, JD Schickerling, Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Evan Roos
• Replacements: JJ Kotze, Oli Reid, Zachary Porthen, Ruben van Heerden, Ruan Ackermann, Marcel Theunissen, Dewaldt Duvenage, Clinton Swart

Our team for the big @Vodacom #URC opener against defending champs @leinsterrugby at DHL Stadium on Friday night.

📢Team announcement https://t.co/b5cjo3P6h3
🎟️ Tickets here https://t.co/KSlJ2J7pHc #STOvLEI #inittogether pic.twitter.com/kLbM9hlznM

— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) September 25, 2025

Leinster Lineup vs. DHL Stormers In Round 1 Of United Rugby Championship

• Starters: Jimmy O'Brien, Tommy O'Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Ciarán Frawley, Jordan Larmour, Sam Prendergast, Luke McGrath (captain), Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Rabah Slimani, Diarmuid Mangan, Brian Deeny, Ryan Baird, Scott Penny, James Culhane
• Replacements: John McKee, Paddy McCarthy, Andrew Sparrow, Max Deegan, Will Connors, Fintan Gunne, Harry Byrne, Hugh Cooney

“We’ve tried to prepare as well as we possibly can, let’s see how we go!”

Leo Cullen chats about traveling to South Africa, some early challenges, and the widely anticipated start of a new season 🔥#NeverLessThanEverything #STOvLEI pic.twitter.com/V4I1wJY5g8

— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) September 25, 2025

How To Watch DHL Stormers vs. Leinster In Round 1 Of The United Rugby Championship

The match between DHL Stormers and Leinster will stream live on FloRugby and the FloSports app. Coverage begins shortly before kickoff at 1:00 p.m. ET. A FloRugby subscription is required to watch every game of Round 1 in the United Rugby Championship.

United Rugby Championship Round 1 Fixtures

Sept. 26

• DHL Stormers vs Leinster, DHL Stadium, 1:00 p.m. ET
• Ulster vs Dragons, Affidea Stadium, 3:05 p.m. ET
• Glasgow Warriors vs Sharks, Scotstoun Stadium, 3:05 p.m. ET

Sept. 27

• Vodacom Bulls vs Ospreys, Loftus Versfeld, 8:00 a.m. ET
• Zebre Parma vs Edinburgh, Stadio Lanfranchi, 10:05 a.m. ET
• Scarlets vs Munster, Parc y Scarlets, 12:30 p.m. ET
• Cardiff Rugby vs Lions, Cardiff Arms Park, 1:45 p.m. ET
• Connacht vs Benetton, Dexcom Stadium, 1:45 p.m. ET

The FloSports Annual Plan The Best Way To Watch URC

Don't miss a professional European club rugby match by subscribing to the FloRugby annual plan. The subscription also unlocks the entire FloSports offerings, from auto racing to track and field and thousands of college sports. 

European Union Rugby Lives On FloSports And FloRugby

Rugby fans can stream every match from the Top 14, Gallagher Premiership, and United Rugby Championship on FloRugby, along with the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup, making the platform the U.S. home for the world’s biggest club competitions and the game’s top players

How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby

Professional club rugby in Europe all streams on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to: 

• United Rugby Championship
• PREM Rugby
• Top 14
• Investec Champions Cup
• EPCR Challenge Cup
• Currie Cup
• Super Rugby
• And more

FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays. 

Join The Rugby Conversation On FloRugby Social

• Follow us on Twitter @florugby
• Follow us on Instagram @florugby
• Watch us on YouTube
• Like us on Facebook