The DHL Stormers and Glasgow Warriors have become the first teams to book their places in the BKT United Rugby Championship Play-Offs, leaving seven sides battling for the remaining six spots as the race to the eight hits full throttle.
Their qualification was confirmed following a statement result in Cape Town, where the Stormers beat Glasgow 48-12 to leapfrog the Scottish side and take top spot on the table.
John Dobson’s men delivered a dominant performance in front of 23,740 fans, running in six tries — including one from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who contributed 23 points. Prop Ntuthuko Mchunu crossed twice inside the opening 15 minutes, while Evan Roos extended his lead as the league’s top try scorer with his 11th of the campaign.
Mchunu, who has now scored in three straight matches, earned Player of the Match honors.
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“We just wanted to make a statement, more for ourselves than anyone else,” he said. “I’m really proud that the boys started strong and finished strong.”
Despite the heavy defeat, Glasgow still secured a playoff spot thanks to other results, though their South African tour proved difficult, following a 54-12 loss to the Lions the previous week.
Captain Kyle Steyn was candid in his assessment.
“We lost the key battles — set-piece, kicking and discipline,” he said. “But there’s no need to panic. It’s a long season and we’ll regroup.”
Lions Surge, Leinster Rugby Stunned
The Lions climbed to third after beating Connacht 33-21 in Johannesburg, extending their winning streak to six matches. Centre Henco van Wyk scored twice for the second straight week as the hosts claimed a bonus-point victory.
Connacht’s own six-game run came to an end, tightening the playoff race even further.
Meanwhile, Leinster suffered a shock 29-26 defeat to Benetton in Italy. The Irish side looked set to join Stormers and Glasgow in qualifying after leading late, but Jacob Umaga’s last-minute penalty secured a famous win for the hosts.
Benetton captain Michele Lamaro praised his team’s belief.
“At the end, we started to believe we could win, and that made the difference,” he said.
The result dropped Leinster to fourth, with Munster moving into fifth after a commanding 41-14 victory over Ulster in Limerick. Cardiff climbed to sixth with a narrow 24-21 derby win over the Ospreys, while the Bulls edged the Scarlets 23-21 thanks to a late Handré Pollard penalty.
Ulster currently hold the final playoff spot, with Connacht just three points behind in ninth.
Both the Sharks and Ospreys have now been eliminated from playoff contention, while Dragons secured a dramatic 19-18 win over Zebre in Parma — their first league victory outside Wales in five years.
Cardiff Eye Historic Playoff Berth
Cardiff are closing in on a historic first URC playoff appearance after back-to-back derby wins. Sitting sixth with two rounds remaining, their fate is now in their own hands.
“We’ve got a big opportunity,” said lock Rory Thornton. “We want to be in the playoffs — that’s been the goal all season.”
Cardiff have already surpassed last season’s points tally and will finish with home advantage in their final game against the Stormers — a scenario that could decide their playoff fate.
Their 24-21 win over the Ospreys showcased both attacking intent and defensive resilience, holding off a late comeback to secure nine crucial points from two derbies.
Head coach Corniel van Zyl highlighted the difference from last season.
“We’re not chasing from behind this time,” he said. “We’ve been competitive in every game and put ourselves in a stronger position.”
For the Ospreys, defeat — combined with discipline issues — ended their playoff hopes.
Munster’s Try Fest and Dragons’ Late Drama
Munster delivered one of the performances of the weekend in their 41-14 win over Ulster.
Flanker John Hodnett scored four tries to equal the URC record for most in a match, while replacement Alex Kendellen added a hat-trick after coming off the bench.
“It was a team performance,” said Hodnett. “We just kept things simple and played our game.”
Elsewhere, the Dragons produced late drama in Parma.
Fly-half Tinus de Beer’s audacious overhead flick pass set up the winning try for David Richards in the 82nd minute, sealing a memorable 19-18 victory.
“It probably comes off once in ten,” De Beer admitted. “But it worked this time.”
The win ended a five-year wait for a league victory outside Wales and highlighted the team’s growing resilience.
What Comes Next In The URC?
Attention now briefly shifts to European competition, with the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup semi-finals taking center stage next weekend.
Leinster, Ulster and the Dragons will represent the URC before domestic action resumes for the penultimate round in early May.
That round will feature several crucial top-eight clashes, including Leinster vs. Lions, Ulster vs. Stormers and Glasgow vs. Cardiff.
With just two rounds remaining, the race for playoff places — and positioning — is reaching boiling point.
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