Playoff Race Heats Up In URC Round 16, As Drama Unfolds Across Key Matches
Playoff Race Heats Up In URC Round 16, As Drama Unfolds Across Key Matches
The URC playoff race intensified in Round 16 with dramatic matches across the league, as teams battled for crucial points. Watch the action on FloRugby!
The playoff race in the BKT United Rugby Championship tightened over the weekend, as all 16 teams battled across a dramatic Round 16, streamed live and exclusively on FloRugby in North America and territories of the United States.
- Subscribe To FloRugby To Watch Champions Cup In 2024-25
- Who's The Best Rugby Team In The World? Here Are The Top 50 Rugby Clubs
- 100 Best Rugby Players In The World: Here's The Full List
- The 25 Best Rugby Clubs In The World On April 23 | FloRugby Rankings
The action kicked off on Friday with two crucial matchups.
In Glasgow, the Warriors hosted the Vodacom Bulls in a highly anticipated clash between top-4 contenders at Scotstoun Stadium.
Meanwhile, Cardiff Arms Park saw a fierce encounter between Cardiff Rugby and Munster, both sides eager to solidify their playoff credentials.
Over in Parma, Zebre Parma and Edinburgh played out a tense battle, with both sides fighting hard to climb the standings.
Saturday’s fixtures brought more intensity.
The Emirates Lions welcomed Connacht to Johannesburg, with vital points on the line for both.
In Swansea, Welsh rivals Ospreys and Dragons met in a lively derby at the Swansea.com Stadium.
In Cape Town, the DHL Stormers looked to maintain their strong form against an in-form Benetton side, while Scarlets hosted table-topping Leinster in Llanelli in one of the round’s most eagerly awaited matchups.
The weekend closed out in Belfast, where Ulster faced the Hollywoodbets Sharks in a match with major implications for both teams' playoff aspirations.
Across the board, Round 16 delivered thrilling rugby, dramatic momentum swings, and performances that will have major ramifications as the competition races toward the final rounds and the knockout stages.
Here is a full recap of the round sixteen action:
Cardiff Vs. Munster
Cardiff kept its URC playoff hopes alive with a dramatic 29-21 comeback win over Munster at the Arms Park on Friday.
The Welsh side, with only one previous win against Irish opposition since 2022, overcame a 21-12 deficit early in the second half to claim a vital bonus-point victory before a raucous crowd of over 11,250.
Munster led twice, with tries from Calvin Nash, Mike Haley and Tom Farrell, but indiscipline proved costly.
Fineen Wycherley's yellow card paved the way for Cardiff’s surge, with Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Harri Millard and Johan Mulder crossing in addition to a penalty try.
Taulupe Faletau starred on a night that could mark his final home appearance for Cardiff, while Callum Sheedy and Ben Thomas controlled territory with tactical kicking.
A fourth defeat in five leaves Munster seventh and vulnerable to dropping out of the playoff spots.
“It’s a brilliant night,” Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt said. “The crowd gave the boys that extra five or 10%.”
Munster interim coach Ian Costello admitted: “Discipline was a big factor. We let the game get away from us.”
Glasgow Warriors Vs. Vodacom Bulls
The Bulls gained a measure of revenge for last season’s United Rugby Championship final defeat, overpowering Glasgow 31-24 at Scotstoun on Friday to damage the Warriors’ hopes of securing a top-2 finish.
Johan Goosen’s three penalties gave the visitors a narrow halftime lead, despite Jamie Dobie's try giving Glasgow hope.
After the break, the Bulls’ physical dominance told, with Johann Grobbelaar and David Kriel crossing to put Jake White’s side firmly in control.
Late tries from Kyle Steyn and Stafford McDowall salvaged a losing bonus point for the Warriors, but it may prove scant consolation as they cling to second place with tough away trips to Benetton and Leinster remaining.
Goosen’s pinpoint kicking, combined with the Bulls’ bruising defense, stifled Glasgow's high-tempo approach.
A defensive error from Tom Jordan allowed the Bulls to extend their lead beyond reach midway through the second half.
The Bulls now look poised to lock up the second spot with two home games remaining.
“We deserved that win,” Bulls head coach White said. “We were physical, accurate, and made our pressure count.”
Zebre Parma Vs. Edinburgh
Cammy Scott landed a superb touchline conversion with the final kick of the match to snatch a 25-25 draw for Edinburgh against Zebre on Saturday, though the result does little to aid their URC playoff hopes.
Darcy Graham’s electric break set up Matt Currie’s 82nd-minute try, and Scott, a late replacement at fly-half, curled over a difficult kick to tie the game.
Edinburgh rises to ninth but has played a game more than its rivals for a top-8 finish.
Zebre, seeking a season sweep after a win in Edinburgh, dominated for long spells, with Alessandro Fusco scoring two first-half tries and Jacopo Trulla adding another after the break.
Boan Venter’s powerful double kept Edinburgh in touch, but a yellow card for Ben Muncaster and two penalties from Giovanni Montemauri looked to have sealed it for the Italians.
Scott’s late heroics salvaged a draw, but both sides were left frustrated at the final whistle.
Emirates Lions Vs. Connacht
The Lions ended a five-match losing streak and kept their slim URC playoff hopes alive with a scrappy 26-7 win over Connacht at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Renzo du Plessis opened the scoring in the 13th minute after strong forward interplay, as the Lions adopted a more pragmatic, territory-based approach. Kade Wolhuter added three penalties to give the hosts an 11-0 lead at halftime.
Despite Du Plessis’ yellow card early in the second half, Connacht struggled to capitalize.
JC Pretorius extended the Lions' advantage with a counter-attacking try, before Eoin de Buitléar's late score briefly gave the visitors hope.
Edwill van der Merwe sealed the win after the hooter, sprinting clear following a Connacht error, with Lubabalo Dobela adding the conversion.
The Lions’ victory came at a cost, however, with first-choice scrumhalf Morné van den Berg limping off injured in the second half.
Both sides showed signs of fragile confidence, but the Lions’ tactical discipline proved decisive as Connacht’s playoff hopes faded further.
Ospreys Vs. Dragons
Ospreys kept its slim URC playoff hopes alive with a dominant 61-26 win over Dragons on Saturday, running in nine tries in their final Welsh derby of the season.
Fly-half Dan Edwards scored 20 points, including two second-half tries, as Ospreys overcame a slow start to secure a bonus-point victory in front of 4,677 at Swansea.com Stadium.
Debutant Harry Rees-Weldon and Angus O’Brien gave Dragons an early 10-0 lead, but Ospreys responded through Will Spencer and Dewi Lake to take a 14-10 halftime advantage.
Ben Warren, Kieran Hardy, Reuben Morgan-Williams, and Keelan Giles — who also bagged a late brace — crossed after the break as the hosts overwhelmed a fading Dragons side that have lost 15 straight matches.
The match marked farewell appearances for Welsh stalwarts Adam Beard and Dan Lydiate, the latter playing his final professional game before retirement.
Ospreys, ninth in the table, must win its remaining two games in South Africa to stand any chance of a top-8 finish.
Scarlets Vs. Leinster
Scarlets produced a stunning 35-22 victory over league leaders Leinster at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday to keep its URC playoff hopes alive.
Tries from Gareth Davies, Tom Rogers, Taine Plumtree and Joe Roberts powered the Scarlets to a bonus-point win, handing Leinster just its second defeat of the season.
Leinster that was missing several frontline players, but still fielded a strong side packed with Ireland internationals, had not lost to Welsh opposition since January 2022.
Returning Wales duo Sam Costelow and Johnny Williams gave Scarlets a timely boost, with Costelow contributing early with a penalty and a cross-field kick that set up Rogers' try.
Leinster hit back through Jamie Osborne after a charge-down, and Diarmuid Mangan’s score narrowed the gap before halftime.
Scarlets surged again after the break, with Roberts finishing a slick move off a scrum.
Although James Culhane pulled one back for Leinster, Ioan Lloyd's late penalties, combined with a crucial Vaea Fifita turnover, sealed a famous win that lifts Scarlets into seventh place with two rounds remaining.
DHL Stormers Vs. Benetton
The DHL Stormers scored seven tries in a dominant 56-5 victory over Benetton at DHL Stadium on Saturday, boosting their URC playoff hopes.
The bonus-point win lifted the defending champions to sixth in the standings with two home games remaining against Dragons RFC and Cardiff.
The Stormers stormed to a 30-0 halftime lead with tries from Sazi Sandi, Dan du Plessis and Seabelo Senatla, along with a penalty and a drop-goal from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu played a key role in the opening half, setting up du Plessis’ score with a quick tap and line break.
Benetton managed a brief response early in the second half through Jacob Umaga-Smith, but the Stormers quickly secured the bonus point when Marcel Theunissen powered over.
Despite Damian Willemse receiving a yellow card for a high tackle, the hosts continued their dominance.
Leolin Zas intercepted a loose pass to sprint clear for the fifth try, before Paul de Villiers and Feinberg-Mngomezulu completed the rout.
The Stormers' commanding performance keeps them firmly on course for a top-8 finish. They're seeking to defend their title in the postseason.
Ulster Vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks
Ulster suffered a crushing blow to its URC playoff ambitions after conceding 22 unanswered points in a 27-20 defeat to the Hollywoodbets Sharks at Ravenhill on Friday.
Ulster raced to an early 19-5 lead thanks to tries from Jack Murphy, Jude Postlethwaite and Nathan Doak.
Jacob Stockdale was instrumental, setting up Doak’s score with a blistering break and chip-and-chase.
Despite the dominance, Ulster’s momentum faltered after Stockdale’s yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.
The Sharks capitalized with a try from Makazole Mapimpi before the break.
The South Africans dominated the second half, as replacement forwards turned the tide at scrum time. Manu Tshitsuka and Jurenzo Julius both crossed for tries, with fly-half Jordan Hendrikse adding two conversions and a late penalty to seal the comeback.
Ulster struggled to regain control, and crucial handling errors under pressure proved costly.
The defeat, Ulster’s second home loss of the season, leaves its playoff hopes hanging by a thread with only two games remaining.
The Sharks’ victory - their first over Ulster in Belfast - boosts their own late-season momentum after a difficult campaign.
Jurenzo Julius levels it up! 🦈🔥
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) April 26, 2025
Sharks and Ulster locked in — it’s game on!#BKTURC #URC | #KidsRound #ULSvSHA pic.twitter.com/9vdXxSEP1y
How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby
FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to:
FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.