The 2025/26 United Rugby Championship season delivered one of the most competitive title races in recent memory.
Glasgow Warriors surged to the top of the standings, Leinster Rugby continued to showcase elite depth and the South African franchises once again proved how dangerous they become when the playoffs arrive.
But not every great season looked the same.
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Some teams overwhelmed opponents with attack, others built success through physicality and game management, while a few surprised the league entirely by exceeding expectations and forcing their way into the playoff picture.
With the knockout stages now here, these are the teams that stood above the rest during the 2025/26 URC campaign.
1. Glasgow Warriors
No team earned the top spot more than Glasgow.
The Warriors finished first in the standings with 65 points and dominated elite competition throughout the season. Their win over Leinster at Scotstoun proved they can overpower title contenders physically and tactically.
2. Leinster Rugby
Leinster remain the most talented squad in the competition. Even after a few inconsistent performances, the Irish province still finished second and closed the regular season by scoring 68 points against Ospreys.
3. DHL Stormers
The Stormers may have the highest ceiling in the URC. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Evan Roos powered one of the league’s most dangerous attacks, while the expected arrivals of Cheslin Kolbe and Siya Kolisi only raise expectations for next year.
4. Vodacom Bulls
The Bulls remain one of the toughest teams in world rugby to beat at home. Handre Pollard’s arrival transformed the attack and gave the side elite game management in close matches.
5. Munster Rugby
Munster’s playoff pedigree keeps them near the top. They may not have been as dominant as previous seasons, but their physicality and knockout experience make them incredibly dangerous.
6. Connacht Rugby
Connacht quietly became one of the best attacking teams in the URC. Victories over Munster and Stormers late in the year proved they belong among the playoff contenders. They finished eighth on the final table, but started hitting their stride late in the year.
7. Cardiff Rugby
Cardiff exceeded expectations by reaching the playoffs for the first time in decades.
8. Fidelity SecureDrive Lions
The Lions were wildly entertaining and dangerous at their best, especially at Ellis Park. They were perhaps the biggest success story in all of club rugby this season.
And the non-playoff teams, missing the Investec Champions Cup next season.
9. Ulster Rugby
No team had a worst May, Ulster narrowly missed the playoffs despite showing flashes of top-eight quality throughout the season. They rotated squads and saw players lost to injury before losing in the EPCR Challenge Cup Final.
Zac Ward’s 11 tries and Nathan Doak’s continued development were major positives, but inconsistency ultimately cost them a postseason place.
10. Hollywoodbets Sharks
The Sharks entered the season with huge expectations but never found enough consistency to challenge for the playoffs. It didn't help that star Eben Etzebeth missed the season and Siya Kolisi announced he was living for the Stormers at the end of the season.
Despite their Springbok talent, a 10th-place finish has to be viewed as underwhelming.
11. Ospreys Rugby
Dan Edwards emerged as one of the URC’s top scorers with 110 points, but the Ospreys struggled defensively throughout the campaign.
Inconsistency prevented them from mounting a serious playoff push.
12. Edinburgh Rugby
Edinburgh showed flashes of quality during the season but never sustained momentum for long stretches.
Defensive struggles and inconsistency ultimately left them outside the playoff race.
13. Benetton Rugby
Benetton struggled to build on recent progress and endured a difficult season defensively. Jacob Umaga and Louis Lynagh impressed individually, but results rarely followed consistently. They'll be in a world of hurt when Tommaso Menoncello leaves for Top 14 powerhouse Toulouse.
14. Scarlets Rugby
The Scarlets competed hard throughout the season but lacked enough consistency to climb the standings. Joe Roberts continued developing into an important attacking player with seven tries.
15. Dragons RFC
The Dragons showed signs of improvement despite another difficult season near the bottom of the table. Angus O’Brien was one of the team’s biggest bright spots after scoring 94 points.
16. Zebre Parma
Zebre Parma finished bottom of the standings after winning just two matches all season.
The Italian side struggled physically and defensively against stronger opposition throughout the campaign.
United Rugby Championship Playoffs Round 1 Schedule
May 29, 2026
- 1:45 PM CT: Glasgow Warriors vs. Connacht Rugby, Scotstoun Stadium (Glasgow)
May 30, 2026
- 6:00 AM CT: Vodacom Bulls vs. Munster Rugby, Loftus Versfeld (Pretoria)
May 30, 2026
- 8:30 PM CT: DHL Stormers vs. Cardiff Rugby, DHL Stadium (Cape Town)
May 30, 2026
- 2:00 PM CT: Leinster Rugby vs. Fidelity SecureDrive Lions, Aviva Stadium (Dublin)
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