Two playoff teams from a season ago collide immediately in Round 1 as Connacht Rugby welcomes the DHL Stormers to Galway to begin the 2026-27 United Rugby Championship season.
Connacht grabbed the eighth and final playoff spot last season before falling to Glasgow Warriors in the quarterfinals. The Stormers finished third and advanced one round further before their season ended against eventual champion Leinster. History favors the visitors, who have won four of six URC meetings between the clubs, but Connacht flipped the script in their most recent matchup with a 33-24 victory in Cape Town in April.
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There is plenty to watch in both lineups. Mack Hansen returns for Connacht, while new signing Francois van Wyk starts in the front row. For the Stormers, Leolin Zas is set to make his 100th appearance, while Andre Warner, Riley Norton and Vernon Matongo are among the new faces in the starting XV.
Connacht Rugby vs. DHL Stormers Kickoff Time, Lineups
Connacht Rugby and the DHL Stormers kick off at 2:45 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 25, at Dexcom Stadium in Galway, Ireland, in Round 1 of the 2026-27 URC season.
How To Watch Connacht Rugby vs. DHL Stormers
Connacht Rugby vs. DHL Stormers will stream live on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States as the two 2025-26 playoff teams open their URC seasons.
Connacht Rugby Lineup vs. DHL Stormers
Starting XV
- Francois van Wyk
- Eoin de Buitléar
- Finlay Bealham
- Niall Murray
- Josh Murphy
- Seán O’Brien
- Shamus Hurley-Langton
- Paul Boyle (c)
- Ben Murphy
- Josh Ioane
- Finn Treacy
- Cathal Forde
- John Devine
- Mack Hansen
- Sam Gilbert
Replacements
- Matthew Victory
- Jordan Duggan
- Fiachna Barrett
- David O’Connor
- Max Flynn
- Caolin Blade
- Seán Naughton
- Shayne Bolton
DHL Stormers Lineup vs. Connacht Rugby
Starting XV
- Vernon Matongo
- André-Hugo Venter
- Neethling Fouché
- Riley Norton
- JD Schickerling
- Evan Roos
- Louw Nel
- Hacjivah Dayimani
- Andre Warner
- Jurie Matthee
- Leolin Zas
- Jonathan Roche
- Ruhan Nel (c)
- Seabelo Senatla
- Warrick Gelant
Replacements
- Vernon Paulo
- Olly Reid
- Sazi Sandi
- Connor Evans
- Adré Smith
- Marcel Theunissen
- Ezekiel Ngobeni
- Yaqeen Ahmed
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