URC Round 16 Preview: Stormers vs. Glasgow Headlines Playoff Race

URC Round 16 features Stormers vs. Glasgow, Munster vs. Ulster and key playoff clashes as the race for the top eight intensifies.

Apr 22, 2026 by Null Null

Full Match Highlights: ASM Clermont vs Glasgow Warriors | Investec Champions Cup 2025-2026 Round 35:06

Round 16 in the BKT United Rugby Championship is headlined by a huge clash at DHL Stadium, where second-placed DHL Stormers host leaders Glasgow Warriors in a meeting between the top two sides in the table. Glasgow begin the weekend on 55 points, four clear of DHL Stormers and Leinster, while the Capetonians have the chance to cut the gap at the top and strengthen their push for a home quarter-final.

There is also major pressure building across the play-off race. Munster host Ulster at Thomond Park in a meeting between sixth and fifth, with just one point separating the sides, while Benetton welcome third-placed Leinster knowing a result could be crucial to their fading top-eight hopes. In Johannesburg, fourth-placed Fidelity SecureDrive Lions face ninth-placed Connacht Rugby in another fixture with direct play-off significance.

Elsewhere, Cardiff host Ospreys in a Welsh derby with Shield significance, with Ospreys able to clinch the Welsh Shield with another positive result. Edinburgh take on Hollywoodbets Sharks with both teams trying to revive their campaigns, while Zebre Parma and Dragons RFC meet in Parma with both looking to halt difficult BKT URC runs. Scarlets also face a major test at home to Vodacom Bulls, who start the round in eighth place and looking to protect their place inside the top eight.

The @URCOfficial delivered the ultimate weekend of upsets in Round 15! 🤯

🦁 @LionsRugbyCo stun No. 1 Glasgow
🦅 @connachtrugby topples No. 2 Stormers
☘️ @leinsterrugby wins the Irish derby vs Ulster to steal 3rd#urc pic.twitter.com/gSuNWxofpT
— FloRugby (@FloRugby) April 20, 2026

Round 16 URC Fixtures At A Glance

Glasgow Warriors travel to DHL Stormers in a first-versus-second showdown
Munster Rugby v Ulster Rugby brings together sixth and fifth at Thomond Park
Fidelity SecureDrive Lions v Connacht Rugby is a direct top-nine battle in Johannesburg
Cardiff Rugby v Ospreys is a Welsh derby with Shield significance
Vodacom Bulls begin the round in eighth, with Connacht one point behind in ninth.

URC Milestone watch

Boan Venter is 1 appearance short of 100 in the BKT URC
Tadhg Furlong is 1 appearance short of 100 in the BKT URC
Aaron Wainwright, Keelan Giles, Matt Fagerson and Mike Haley are each 2 short of 100 appearances
Joe Davies, Josh van der Flier, Kieran Hardy and Scott Penny are each 3 short of 100 appearances

URC Schedule This Week

Friday, April 24:

Saturday, April 25:

URC Table snapshot

Glasgow Warriors, 55 pts
DHL Stormers, 51 pts
Leinster Rugby, 51 pts
Fidelity SecureDrive Lions, 48 pts
Ulster Rugby, 47 pts
Munster Rugby, 46 pts
Cardiff Rugby, 46 pts
Vodacom Bulls, 45 pts
Connacht Rugby, 44 pts
Ospreys, 34 pts
Hollywoodbets Sharks, 34 pts
Edinburgh Rugby, 28 pts
Benetton Rugby, 28 pts
Scarlets, 23 pts
Dragons RFC, 21 pts
Zebre Parma, 14 pts

URC Top Try Scorers

Evan Roos, DHL Stormers — 10
Embrose Papier, Vodacom Bulls — 9
Joshua Kenny, Leinster Rugby — 9
Sean Jansen, Connacht Rugby — 9
Zac Ward, Ulster Rugby — 8
Jamie Dobie, Glasgow Warriors — 7
Joe Roberts, Scarlets — 7
Johann Grobbelaar, Vodacom Bulls — 7
Ruan Venter, Fidelity SecureDrive Lions — 7
Werner Kok, Ulster Rugby — 7

URC Round 16 Preview

Cardiff Rugby (7) v Ospreys (10)

The big picture

A Welsh derby with Shield significance opens the round, with Cardiff Rugby still chasing a play-off place and Ospreys able to clinch the Welsh Shield with another positive result.

Match angles

Cardiff Rugby’s 28-24 win over Scarlets in Round 15 ended a run of three successive defeats in all competitions.
Cardiff’s only loss at the Arms Park in the BKT URC since January 2025 was the 21-17 defeat to Scarlets in December 2025.
Ospreys’ only away victory in the BKT URC since March 2025 was 26-19 at Scarlets in Round 8.
Ospreys are undefeated in their last five Welsh derbies in the BKT URC and can clinch the Welsh Shield with another positive result.
Cardiff Rugby have won just one of their last five clashes with Ospreys.
Ospreys are unbeaten in their last seven visits to Cardiff Arms Park since Cardiff’s 17-15 win in August 2007.

Form snapshot

Cardiff Rugby last 6 BKT URC: W-L-W-L-L-W
Ospreys last 6 BKT URC: D-W-W-L-L-W

Recent BKT URC meetings

Ospreys have won the last meeting and four of the last six between the sides.

Jan 1, 2026: Ospreys 33 Cardiff Rugby 22
Apr 19, 2025: Ospreys 19 Cardiff Rugby 36
Jan 1, 2025: Cardiff Rugby 13 Ospreys 13

Key players in the BKT URC this season

Cardiff Rugby: Josh Adams 6 tries, Callum Sheedy 56 points
Ospreys: Kieran Hardy 5 tries, Dan Edwards 68 points

Edinburgh (12) v Hollywoodbets Sharks (11)

The big picture

Edinburgh and Hollywoodbets Sharks both need a strong finish to keep their campaigns alive, with the visitors arriving level on points with Ospreys and Edinburgh trying to build on last week’s win.

Match angles

Edinburgh Rugby’s 31-30 win over Zebre Parma in Round 15 ended a run of three successive BKT URC defeats.
The Scotsmen have lost their last five BKT URC clashes with South African sides since beating DHL Stormers 38-7 at Hive Stadium in October 2024.
Hollywoodbets Sharks’ last six BKT URC matches have been won by the home team on the day.
Sharks have not won outside South Africa since beating Ulster Rugby 22-19 in April 2025.
Edinburgh Rugby’s only victory in this fixture came in the inaugural clash, 21-5 at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in March 2022.

Form snapshot

Edinburgh Rugby last 6 BKT URC: L-W-L-L-L-W
Hollywoodbets Sharks last 6 BKT URC: W-L-L-W-W-L

Recent BKT URC meetings

Hollywoodbets Sharks have won the last three meetings between the sides.

Apr 18, 2025: Edinburgh Rugby 17 Hollywoodbets Sharks 18
Mar 30, 2024: Hollywoodbets Sharks 23 Edinburgh Rugby 13
Jan 28, 2023: Edinburgh Rugby 19 Hollywoodbets Sharks 22

Key players in the BKT URC this season

Edinburgh Rugby: Ben Vellacott and Ewan Ashman 5 tries, Ross Thompson 39 points
Hollywoodbets Sharks: Phepsi Buthelezi 6 tries, Jordan Hendrikse 43 points

Zebre Parma (16) v Dragons RFC (15)

The big picture

Two sides under pressure meet in Parma, with Zebre Parma and Dragons RFC both desperate to halt losing BKT URC runs.

Match angles

Zebre’s only victories since October 2025 have all come in the European Challenge Cup.
Zebre have lost their last six home games in the BKT URC since opening the season with a pair of home wins.
Dragons RFC are winless in their last six BKT URC matches since beating Scarlets at Rodney Parade on New Year’s Day.
Dragons have won their last two away matches, both in the Challenge Cup, and have not won three successive road games since October 2004.
The last six BKT URC meetings between the sides have been won by the home team on the day.
Dragons’ only victory on their last eight visits to Zebre in the BKT URC was 52-28 in October 2019.

Form snapshot

Zebre Parma last 6 BKT URC: L-L-L-L-L-L
Dragons RFC last 6 BKT URC: L-L-D-L-L-L

Recent BKT URC meetings

The last three meetings have been dominated by the home side.

Feb 28, 2025: Zebre Parma 31 Dragons RFC 21
Mar 29, 2024: Dragons RFC 20 Zebre Parma 13
Oct 29, 2022: Dragons RFC 47 Zebre Parma 7

Key players in the BKT URC this season

Zebre Parma: Simone Gesi 5 tries, Giacomo da Re 39 points
Dragons RFC: Che Hope and Rio Dyer 4 tries, Angus O'Brien 72 points

DHL Stormers (2) v Glasgow Warriors (1)

The big picture

Round 16’s headline game pits second-placed DHL Stormers against leaders Glasgow Warriors, with major consequences at the top of the table and in the race for home quarter-finals.

Match angles

DHL Stormers’ three-game winning run in the BKT URC ended with the 24-33 defeat to Connacht Rugby last weekend.
Stormers have won all five matches they have played against Scottish opposition at DHL Stadium.
Glasgow Warriors’ last five BKT URC matches have all been won by the home team on the day.
The Scotsmen have suffered back-to-back defeats, to Toulon in Europe and Fidelity SecureDrive Lions in the BKT URC, for the first time since May 2025.
The two sides have met six times, with the Stormers’ only victory coming in the inaugural clash, 32-7 at DHL Stadium in April 2022.

Form snapshot

DHL Stormers last 6 BKT URC: L-L-W-W-W-L
Glasgow Warriors last 6 BKT URC: W-W-L-W-W-L

Recent BKT URC meetings

Glasgow Warriors have won the last five meetings between the sides.

May 30, 2025: Glasgow Warriors 36 DHL Stormers 18
Oct 26, 2024: DHL Stormers 17 Glasgow Warriors 28
Jun 8, 2024: Glasgow Warriors 27 DHL Stormers 10

Key players in the BKT URC this season

DHL Stormers: Evan Roos 10 tries, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 103 points
Glasgow Warriors: Jamie Dobie 7 tries, George Horne 49 points

Fidelity SecureDrive Lions (4) v Connacht Rugby (9)

Match angles

Fidelity SecureDrive Lions have won their last five BKT URC matches, the first time they have achieved that in the competition.
Lions have lost just once at home in the BKT URC this season, 17-52 to Vodacom Bulls in Round 11.
Connacht Rugby have won their last six BKT URC matches, equalling their best run in the Championship.
The Irish province have won their last three clashes with South African opposition since Bulls beat them 28-27 at Dexcom Stadium in October 2025.
The two sides have met four times, with honours split evenly at two wins apiece.

Form snapshot

Fidelity SecureDrive Lions last 6 BKT URC: L-W-W-W-W-W
Connacht Rugby last 6 BKT URC: W-W-W-W-W-W

Recent BKT URC meetings

The sides are level at two wins each from four meetings.

Apr 26, 2025: Fidelity SecureDrive Lions 26 Connacht Rugby 7
Mar 23, 2024: Connacht Rugby 14 Fidelity SecureDrive Lions 38
Jan 28, 2023: Connacht Rugby 43 Fidelity SecureDrive Lions 24

Key players in the BKT URC this season

Fidelity SecureDrive Lions: Ruan Venter 7 tries, Chris Smith 137 points
Connacht Rugby: Sean Jansen 9 tries, Sam Gilbert 66 points

Munster Rugby (6) v Ulster Rugby (5)

The big picture

A huge interpro at Thomond Park brings together sixth-placed Munster and fifth-placed Ulster, with only one point separating the teams in the race for a top-four finish.

Match angles

Munster Rugby beat Benetton Rugby 45-15 in Round 15 and have not won back-to-back BKT URC matches since Round 5.
Ulster Rugby’s last four BKT URC matches have been won by the away team on the day.
Ulster have won successive away matches in the BKT URC, at Zebre Parma and Edinburgh Rugby, and have not won three in a row on their travels in the competition since October 2023.
Ulster’s 28-3 win over Munster at Affidea Stadium in January ended a run of three successive Munster victories in the head-to-head series.
Ulster are looking to complete a BKT URC season double over Munster for the first time since 2013/14.

Form snapshot

Munster Rugby last 6 BKT URC: L-L-W-L-L-W
Ulster Rugby last 6 BKT URC: W-L-W-L-W-L

Recent BKT URC meetings

Munster Rugby had won three straight before Ulster’s victory in January.

Jan 2, 2026: Ulster Rugby 28 Munster Rugby 3
May 9, 2025: Munster Rugby 38 Ulster Rugby 20
Dec 20, 2024: Ulster Rugby 19 Munster Rugby 22

Key players in the BKT URC this season

Munster Rugby: Brian Gleeson and Gavin Coombes 4 tries, Jack Crowley 64 points
Ulster Rugby: Zac Ward 8 tries, Nathan Doak 89 points

Scarlets (14) v Vodacom Bulls (8)

The big picture

Vodacom Bulls head to Llanelli protecting a top-eight place, while Scarlets need a lift after another setback in a difficult season.

Match angles

Scarlets’ only win in their last six BKT URC matches was the 36-17 victory over Zebre Parma in Round 13.
The Welsh side have lost their last four Championship clashes with South African opponents since beating Fidelity SecureDrive Lions in May 2025.
Vodacom Bulls’ only loss in their last seven BKT URC matches was 19-32 to DHL Stormers on 14 March.
Bulls have won their last five matches against Welsh opposition since Scarlets beat them at Parc y Scarlets in October 2024.
The four BKT URC meetings between the sides have all been won by the home team.

Form snapshot

Scarlets last 6 BKT URC: D-L-L-W-L-L
Vodacom Bulls last 6 BKT URC: W-W-L-W-W-W

Recent BKT URC meetings

The home side has won all four BKT URC meetings between the teams.

Oct 18, 2024: Scarlets 23 Vodacom Bulls 22
Oct 22, 2023: Vodacom Bulls 63 Scarlets 21
Jan 27, 2023: Scarlets 37 Vodacom Bulls 28

Key players in the BKT URC this season

Scarlets: Joe Roberts 7 tries, Sam Costelow 39 points
Vodacom Bulls: Embrose Papier 9 tries, Handre Pollard 77 points

Benetton (13) v Leinster (3)

The big picture

Benetton Rugby need a statement result to revive their play-off hopes, but they host a Leinster Rugby side still firmly in the hunt near the summit and dominant in this fixture.

Match angles

Benetton Rugby’s only win in their last seven BKT URC matches was 31-19 over Ospreys in Round 13.
The Italians have lost successive matches at Stadio Monigo, to Munster Rugby in the BKT URC and Exeter in the Challenge Cup, and have not lost three in a row at home since April 2022.
Leinster Rugby’s only victory outside Ireland in the BKT URC this season was away to Dragons RFC in Round 6.
Leinster have won their last six clashes with Benetton Rugby.
Benetton’s only win at Stadio Monigo over Leinster in the Championship came in September 2010.

Form snapshot

Benetton Rugby last 6 BKT URC: L-D-D-W-L-L
Leinster Rugby last 6 BKT URC: W-W-L-L-W-W

Recent BKT URC meetings

Leinster Rugby have won the last six meetings between the sides.

Oct 5,2024: Benetton Rugby 5 Leinster Rugby 35
Feb 17, 2024: Leinster Rugby 47 Benetton Rugby 18
Sep 23, 2022: Leinster Rugby 42 Benetton Rugby 10

Key players in the BKT URC this season

Benetton Rugby: Louis Lynagh 6 tries, Jacob Umaga 87 points
Leinster Rugby: Joshua Kenny 9 tries, Harry Byrne 55 points

URC MILESTONES AND RECORDS

Approaching player milestones

Boan Venter (Edinburgh) — 99 appearances
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster) — 99 appearances
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons) — 98 appearances
Keelan Giles (Ospreys) — 98 appearances
Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) — 98 appearances
Mike Haley (Munster) — 98 appearances
Joe Davies (Dragons) — 97 appearances
Josh van der Flier (Leinster) — 97 appearances
Kieran Hardy (Ospreys) — 97 appearances
Scott Penny (Leinster) — 97 appearances

URC Milestones reached

Tommaso Menoncello has now made 50 BKT URC appearances
Ruan Vermaak has now made 50 BKT URC appearances
Ox Nche has now made 100 BKT URC appearances
Lorenzo Cannone has now made 50 BKT URC appearances
Josh Murphy has now made 100 BKT URC appearances
Jan-Hendrik Wessels has now made 50 BKT URC appearances

URC Record Watch

Evan Roos leads the BKT URC try-scoring charts with 10 tries this season
Chris Smith is the league’s leading points scorer with 137 this season
George Horne has moved to 51 career BKT URC tries and is now seventh on the all-time list
The single-season points record is 287, set by Felipe Contepomi for Leinster in 2005/06
The single-season try record is 16, set by Tom Stewart for Ulster in 2022/23

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Round 15 @URCOfficial gave us the chaos 🌪️
Round 16 gives us the ultimate heavyweight collision. 🥊

No. 2 @THESTORMERS host the No. 1 @GlasgowWarriors in a battle to control the URC summit! ⚔️ — Who ya got?

Catch it all on 📺 FloRugby. Full schedule 👇#URC pic.twitter.com/OVrAYIypPa
— FloRugby (@FloRugby) April 21, 2026

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