URC 2026-27 Power Rankings: Leinster and the South African Heavyweights Reload for Opening Weekend

The United Rugby Championship returns for its 2026-27 season on September 25, and the balance of power remains tilted on a familiar, brutal axis between Dublin and Pretoria. Following a 2025-26 campaign that culminated in Leinster Rugby securing their ninth league crown with a decisive 32-7 victory over the Vodacom Bulls at Croke Park, the Irish province enters the new season with a target on their backs. But the chasing pack hasn't spent the summer licking their wounds—they've been engaged in a massive recruitment arms race.[2]

Leinster’s title defence begins with an immediate, high-altitude stress test: a two-match tour to South Africa to face the Lions at Ellis Park and the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban. Head coach Leo Cullen, entering his final season in charge, is taking no chances. He has named a formidable 41-man travelling squad loaded with heavy artillery. The roster includes 15 Ireland internationals who featured in the summer Nations Championship, meaning the likes of Andrew Porter, Tadhg Furlong, and Josh van der Flier are all making the trip.[1][2]

“With the new season upon us we are particularly pleased to announce an exciting squad that will represent Leinster rugby in South Africa for our BKT URC opening two rounds,” Cullen noted as the squad prepared for departure. The inclusion of new signings Joey Carbery and Peter Dooley alongside three uncapped academy prospects signals Leinster’s intent to hit the ground running, actively avoiding the sluggish start that hampered their early South African tour last year.[1][2]

Sitting right behind Leinster in the power rankings are the Vodacom Bulls, who finished fourth in the 2025-26 regular season with a 12-6 record and 59 points before their run to the Grand Final. The Pretoria-based outfit scored a staggering 82 tries last season but leaked 406 points, prompting head coach Johan Ackermann to overhaul his squad's defensive structure while maintaining their physical, overpowering DNA.

Ackermann has unveiled a 55-man squad for the upcoming campaign that features 15 Springboks. The Bulls have aggressively recruited to replace departing stalwarts, bringing in flyhalf Curwin Bosch, lethal finisher Thaakir Abrahams, and seasoned loose forward Hanro Liebenberg. They open their season away against Zebre Parma before heading to Thomond Park to face Munster—a crucial early test of their retooled defensive line.[4]

The DHL Stormers occupy the third spot in the preseason hierarchy, having finished third in last year's regular season before falling to Leinster in the semi-finals. Director of Rugby John Dobson has assembled what might be the most talented roster in the franchise's history, headlined by the blockbuster arrivals of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, two-time World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe, and destructive tighthead Wilco Louw.[3]

The Cape Town side now boasts 15 Springboks in their 56-man squad. “Given the experienced core we have who have stayed loyal to us for so long, the iconic players returning to the fold and the young talent coming through our system, we feel well-positioned to build on last season,” Dobson stated, noting that his squad carried a combined 1,569 Stormers caps into the new campaign.[3]

Rounding out the top four are the Glasgow Warriors, who quietly dominated the 2025-26 regular season. Franco Smith’s side finished first overall with a 13-5 record and 65 points, conceding a league-low 338 points. The Scottish outfit was particularly ruthless at Scotstoun, going 9-0 at home and outscoring opponents 316-119 during the regular season.[6]

Glasgow finalized their preseason preparations this week with a 33-man squad selection for their final friendly against Bath at Old Anniesland. With a core of Scottish internationals returning and new arrivals like Bayley Kuenzle integrating into the midfield, the Warriors remain the most significant structural threat to the Irish-South African hegemony.[5]

For the Hollywoodbets Sharks, who host Leinster in Round 2, the arrival of the defending champions represents the ultimate early-season measuring stick. The Durban franchise will have one home game against the Ospreys to find their rhythm before Cullen's squad arrives at Kings Park. That clash won't just test the Sharks' credentials—it will immediately clarify the URC's early power dynamics and set the stakes for the next nine months of rugby.