FloRugby's BKT United Rugby Championship Team Of The Week | Round One

BKT URC Team of the Week sees Jurie Matthee, Zac Ward and Sebastian Negri headline Round 1 after standout displays in scoring, carrying and defence.

Sep 29, 2025 by Philip Bendon

FloRugby's BKT United Rugby Championship Team Of The Week | Round One

Ever wondered why many believe the URC to be the most exciting club rugby competition in the world? Well, look no further than round one, which had everything from blowouts to edge-of-your-seat arm wrestles.

Kicking off on Friday evening with three fascinating contests, the table was set for what proved to be a cracking Saturday of equally intriguing fixtures.

Among the round one winners, no side laid down more of a marker than season one champions the DHL Stormers, who blitzed reigning champions Leinster 35–0 in Cape Town.

Other notable results included Zebre’s last-minute heroics to pick up where they left off last season with a three-point victory over Edinburgh. Elsewhere, Munster and Connacht got the Clayton McMillan and Stuart Lancaster eras off on a perfect note with performances that proved both sides are serious contenders this season. The same could be said of Ulster, who, in Richie Murphy’s second season, already displayed glimpses of the game plan that saw the Irish U20S dominate for multiple seasons under his tutelage.

Elsewhere, perennial contenders the Vodacom Bulls began the Johan Ackermann era on a highly entertaining note in a helter-skelter, back-and-forth contest with an Ospreys side who themselves look like they have taken a step forward again this season.

Finally, season three champion,s the Glasgow Warriors, without their British and Irish Lions, clinically took down the Hollywoodbets Sharks at Scotstoun Stadium.

Given the sheer abundance of top-quality performances in round one, picking a matchday-23 was a challenging exercise. Alas, someone had to do it, so here is our FloRugby team of the week for round one.

1. Vernon Matongo – DHL Stormers

Tasked with handling the vastly experienced French international Rabah Slimani, the 23-year-old loosehead did a lot more than just hold his own. Absolutely battering Slimani and co. into submission from the off, Matongo announced himself to the URC as a potential star in just his sixth URC match.

2. Tommaso Di Bartolomeo – Zebre Parma

Sometimes you need to do a double-take when delving through the stat line from a match as tight as Zebre’s win over Edinburgh. Cross-referencing the numbers with the tape, hooker Tommaso Di Bartolomeo was mesmerising in round one. Hitting 18 of his 22 line-out jumpers against a formidable Edinburgh unit is a seriously impressive return. Combining this success with his top-of-the-charts 13 tackles and his routine presence at the breakdown, it is clear why the hooker had such an impact on his team’s highly successful first outing.

3. Neethling Fouché – DHL Stormers

Teaching Leinster’s young Irish international loosehead Jack Boyle a lesson or two before doing the same to his replacement Paddy McCarthy, the DHL Stormers veteran was back to his very best on Friday evening at Cape Town Stadium. Locking down a 100% win rate on his own ball whilst relegating Leinster to a 78% return was as good as it gets for a tighthead.

4. Leonard Krumov – Zebre Parma

Nabbing 12 of Di Bartolomeo’s line-out throws, the Zebre lock laid the platform for his side to rip into Edinburgh. Getting through tons of the unfashionable work at the breakdown, Krumov ensured that Edinburgh didn’t completely have it their own way.

5. JF van Heerden – Vodacom Bulls

Another young star in the making at Loftus Versfeld, the 21-year-old former Grey College pupil has long been discussed as a future Springbok. Against the Ospreys in one of the most helter-skelter matches you will see this season, van Heerden stood out as a class above the rest. Carrying the ball 15 times, winning 11 line-outs and torturing the Ospreys on their own throw, van Heerden started the season as the competition’s best lock.

6. Cormac Izuchukwu – Ulster Rugby

Match-on-match, Ulster’s supremely gifted utility forward takes a step forward to the point that he must now be living in Andy Farrell’s head as the next great Irish forward. Now quite clearly the leader in the Ulster pack, Izuchukwu is everything that his captain, Iain Henderson, was about five years ago. Powerful beyond belief in contact, ultra-intelligent in his involvement and a quiet leader, his side follows. Simply put, the Dragons had no answers for him. His 10 carries for 45 metres, a line break, defender beaten, turnover, three line-outs won and try scored barely reflected just how good he was in round one.

7. Alex Kendellen – Munster Rugby

One of Irish Rugby’s more interesting cases. Clearly valued as a leader and player by both his provincial and international coaches, Kendellen is eerily similar to the man he is hoping to displace in Josh van der Flier. Underrated by those who don’t track him closely, Kendellen gets through a mountain of work every week. In round one, he made 21 tackles, won a turnover, had a try assist and generally stunted the Scarlets’ attack at source. Between himself, John Hodnett and young Sean Edogbo, Munster have three out-and-out opensides who all have the potential to be Irish international regulars.

8. Evan Roos – DHL Stormers

Much maligned in the public sphere, all DHL Stormers number eight Evan Roos does is compile impressive performance after impressive performance. Once again dominating Leinster, Roos was a monster on the opening night of the season. Topping the carry charts for his side with 12 for 64 metres, beating five defenders, making 10 tackles and scoring two tries, Roos was the key cog that made his side click.

9. Craig Casey – Munster Rugby

Munster’s captain picked up right where he left off last season with another sublime showing. Keeping the Scarlets on the back foot all match, Casey’s sniping running game, bullet passes and pinpoint box kicks played a significant role in the Clayton McMillan era getting off to the perfect start.

10. Jurie Matthee – DHL Stormers

No Sacha, no Manie, no Damian, no problem! Whilst the Stormers’ world-class playmaking trio were getting prepared to shred Argentina in the Rugby Championship, their clubmates were in the midst of putting in an equally impressive showing against the reigning champions. Sure, Leinster were without much of their frontline squad, but as we have seen in previous seasons, this has not generally affected the Dublin-based side. Laying down his best career performance to date, Jurie Matthee orchestrated an attacking masterclass in Cape Town. Edging his side into a narrow half-time lead, Matthee laid the platform for what would be a second-half offensive explosion. Beating eight defenders, making two line breaks, gaining over 50 metres and scoring a worldie of a try, as well as scoring 20 points, gives him the nod as our fly-half for round one.

11. Seabelo Senatla – DHL Stormers

Can someone please do an age test on the Stormers winger? Sure, he is listed as a 32-year-old, but can we believe him? Still shredding guys in their early twenties, the former Blitzbokke star is still one of the most electric finishers in the URC. Beating nine defenders, making five line breaks and topping the metres-made chart with 76, Senatla was all the way back to his best in round one.

12. Cathal Forde – Connacht Rugby

One of the ever-expanding list of highly promising Irish centres, early indications are that Cathal Forde has taken yet another step forward heading into this season. Working under Stuart Lancaster, the 24-year-old powerhouse feels like an inevitable future Irish international. The 6’2”, 100kg Galway man has all of the physical traits to be a modern inside centre, but with the subtle skills developed during his time as an outhalf. In round one, he was his side’s go-to carrier with 16 for 71 metres, six defenders beaten, and 13 tackles made. Our bet is that by the end of this season, Forde and fellow former U20 star Hugh Gavin will be Ireland’s centre partnership in waiting.

13. Lukhanyo Am – Hollywoodbets Sharks

From one centre starting his career to one who has achieved the highest honours in the sport. The Hollywoodbets Sharks star sent a little reminder that, for all of Jesse Kriel and Canan Moodie’s brilliance, he remains a live option for the Springboks. Taking on a potent Glasgow Warriors outfit, Am was quite clearly a class above the other backs on display. Topping the carry charts for his side’s backline with 12, beating two defenders, scoring a try and generally being a creative spark, the 31-year-old reaffirmed that there are plenty more good performances left in his legs.

14. Zac Ward – Ulster Rugby

Another player who has been discussed as a potential Irish international, Olympic 7s standout Zac Ward, was unstoppable in round one. Absolutely torching the Dragons in the wide channels, Ward was everywhere with his 14 carries, three line breaks, two defenders beaten, a try assist and a try, only offering a snippet into how effective he was in round one. Crucially, his physicality opens up opportunities for the electric pairing of Jacob Stockdale and Mike Lowry, who, alongside the currently injured Robert Baloucoune and Werner Kok, ensure that Ulster have one of the very best backfields in the URC.

15. Mike Haley – Munster Rugby

One of Munster’s many players who will feel they should have had more international game time in recent seasons, Mike Haley, looked like a fish in water under new head coach Clayton McMillan. Topping the carry charts in what might have been Munster’s collective best back three performance alongside Thaakir Abrahams and Shane Daly in seasons, Haley was exceptional. Making 68 metres from 15 carries whilst beating seven defenders and scoring a try, he laid down the gauntlet to his rivals for the Munster number 15 shirt.

Replacements

16. Andre-Hugo Venter (DHL Stormers), 17. Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), 18. Mornay Smith (Vodacom Bulls), 19. Jean Kleyn (Munster Rugby), 20. Morgan Morse (Ospreys), 21. Stefan Ungerer (DHL Stormers), 22. Cullum Sheedy (Cardiff Rugby), 23. Jacob Stockdale (Ulster Rugby)

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