All 16 teams participating in this year’s United Rugby Championship season have beefed up their squads for 2024-2025, with some opting for savvy moves to build depth — while others aim for the high-profile signings.

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The five signings listed below undoubtedly are examples of the latter: big names who want to play for big clubs and win big trophies. Each move has its own story, however, and there are plenty of underlying reasons behind each move.

Regardless, the URC has gotten even better going into the season’s first round, which will be streamed in the United States live, and exclusively, on FloRugby.

Here’s a look at five of the top United Rugby Championship transfers heading into the 2024-2025 season:

How To Watch The United Rugby Championship In The United States?

Every match of the URC is streaming live on FloRugby and the FloSports app this season.

Replays, highlights and breaking news will be on both platforms. 

Siya Kolisi, Hollywoodbets Sharks

One of the greatest leaders of men in the history of rugby union is back to playing club rugby in his home country.

After achieving the impressive feat of being the second captain to guide his nation to consecutive Rugby World Cup victories last year, Kolisi recently made the decision to leave French team Racing 92 and rejoin the Sharks, the team for which he previously played from 2021-2023.

At the age of 33, the flanker is nearing the end of his career, having faced many challenges during his time in France. Despite making 18 appearances for Racing 92 in the 2023-2024 season, Kolisi's performance was hindered by frequent injuries, limiting his contribution.

His decision to return home also was influenced by his choice to continue playing for the Springboks following last year’s Rugby World Cup.

He won’t have to worry about that back in Durban, linking back up with many of his Springboks teammates on the Sharks, as they’ll be gunning for more silverware after winning the EPCR Challenge Cup title in May — their first major trophy in the professional era.

Jordie Barrett, Leinster Rugby

Though it might be a short-term deal, it is rare to witness a consistently starting All Black, at the peak of his career, playing for a club outside of Super Rugby Pacific.

In a shock move announced in April, the 27-year-old exercised an option with the New Zealand Rugby Union to play overseas, and he’ll join Leinster — one of the most powerful forces in all of European rugby — in December after the All Blacks’ end-of-year tour in Europe against England, Ireland, France and Italy.

The move isn’t just a rugby venture, it's also a sentimental one for Barrett, as his family briefly lived in County Meath, just north of Dublin, when he was a boy in the early 2000s. 

Having previously played his entire Super Rugby career with the Hurricanes, Barrett’s jaunt to Ireland will be the first time he’s ever played for a club side outside of New Zealand. 

The move is a coup for the already-stacked Leinster, which made the European Rugby Champions Cup final and will get Barrett as a midseason reinforcement.

RG Snyman, Leinster Rugby

The massive 6-foot-9 lock likely won’t play in the URC right away as he recovers from a foot injury suffered during international duty this summer, but the Springbok's move away from Munster to its loaded provincial rival was a controversial one that likely will lead to plenty of jeering from the Munster faithful when the two sides meet this season in Round 4.

Snyman, whose contract with Munster ended at the conclusion of the 2023-2024 season, was forced to move away from Thomond Park after the club opted to keep his Springboks teammate and fellow second-rower, Jean Kleyn, for 2024-2025 (Irish Rugby Football Union laws prohibit teams from having two non-Irish-qualified players in the same position).

Left to search for a new club, Snyman was linked to other teams, both in Europe and back home in South Africa, but he opted to sign with Leinster in a move that undoubtedly puts him in a great position to win some silverware, but also makes him persona non grata to Munster supporters.

Adam Hastings, Glasgow Warriors

The son of the legendary Gavin Hastings, Adam — whose name is rugby royalty in Scotland — is back in Glasgow for a second stint with the Warriors after playing with Gloucester from 2021-2024. 

In his first stint with the club from 2017 to 2021, the fly-half played in 53 matches for the Warriors, erupting onto the scene in the 2018-2019 campaign when he became the Pro14 Young Player of the Season and led Glasgow to the Grand Final.

Capped 30 times by the Scotland national team, with plenty of great years of rugby still left at age 27, Hastings already is just outside of the top 5 in Warriors history for points scorers with 407 and can continue to climb the list.

Hastings is notable after the Warriors won the URC title last season in stunning fashion. They became the first side outside of Ireland or South Africa to win the competition in its current format. 

With a URC championship to defend and a Champions Cup slate to come, Glasgow will be heavily chased — and Hastings will be an important figure.

Matt Gallagher, Benetton Rugby

Matt Gallagher, who previously played under coach Johann van Graan at Munster and Bath, has joined Benetton for his second stint in the URC. This comes after his key role in the revival of Premiership team Bath, which went from last place in the league in 2021-2022 to finishing second and making it to the league final two years later.

Matt, the son of former All Black John Gallagher who won the 1987 Rugby World Cup, was unable to play for New Zealand like his father did due to residency qualifications. However, he was able to represent England by birth and also had the option to play for Ireland and Italy through his family connections.

It's not a surprise then, that Gallagher’s move to Benetton is an internationally driven one, as he promptly was given a call-up by the Azzurri for mid-year tests this summer, making his senior international debut against Samoa.

With a total of 10 tries under his belt from his time at The Recreation Ground, Gallagher is expected to seamlessly join a strong group of backs, which includes recent additions Louis Lynagh and Tommaso Menoncello.

2024-2025 URC Rugby Schedule

Check out the full United Rugby Championship schedule on FloRugby.

When Does The URC Season Begin And When Is The URC Grand Final?

Week 1 of the United Rugby Championship season begins on Sept. 20. 

The URC quarterfinals will start May 30, 2025, and the URC Grand Final is scheduled for June 14, 2025. 

What Were The 2023-2024 URC Final Standings?

Here is the table from last season: 

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