The teams for this weekend’s Round 17 fixtures of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship have been named with all details of match officials and broadcast information below.
TEAM NEWS HEADLINES
#SHAvBEN
- Ben Tapuai comes into Cell C Sharks starting XV with Marnus Potgieter coming into the replacements as the only change for the team
- Dewaldt Duvenage captains Benetton
#GLAvSCA
- For the first time this season, Huw Jones moves to full-back for Glasgow Warriors
- Scarlets make eleven changes to the starting XV with Iwan Shenton making his URC debut
#ULSvDRA
- Alan O’Connor captains Ulster
- Ashton Hewitt returns from injury as he is named in Dragons RFC starting XV
#BULvZEB
- Johan Goosen returns from injury and is named in Vodacom Bulls starting XV
- Zebre Parma make five changes to their starting XV
#LIOvLEI
- Rhynardt Rijnsburger and Ruan Delport get their first starts in the URC for the Emirates Lions
- Dave Kearney will make his 150th appearance. Ireland U20 and Leinster Academy fly-half Sam Prendergast is set to make his Leinster debut.
#STOvMUN
- Evans Roos makes his return from injury and is named among the replacements for the DHL Stormers
- Jeremy Loughman has recovered from a thigh injury and is named in Munsters starting XV while Keith Earls also returns from injury and is named among the replacements
#CONvCAR
- Captain Jack Carty, international Finlay Bealham, Denis Buckley, Jarrad Butler, Josh Murphy and Diarmuid Kilgallen have all overcome injuries to come straight into Connacht’s starting XV
- Corey Domachowski will make his 100th appearance for Cardiff Rugby
#EDIvOSP
- Scotland back-row duo both Hamish Watson and Jamie Ritchie both start for Edinburgh Rugby
- Tom Botha will make his 100 th appearance for Ospreys
FRIDAY, APRIL 14
Cell C Sharks v Benetton
Hollywoodbets King Park, Durban – KO 17.30 IRE & UK / 18.30 ITA & SA
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 90th league game)
AR 1: Morne Ferreira (SARU) AR 2: Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)
Live on: SuperSport, Eurosport, Discovery +, Viaplay, Premier Sports, SuperSport, FloRugby.com & URC.tv
Cell C Sharks: Boeta Chamberlain, Werner Kok, Lukhanyo Am, Ben Tapuai, Makazole Mapimpi, Curwin Bosch, Grant Williams, Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Thomas du Toit, Hyron Andrews, Gerbrandt Grobler, Siya Kolisi (CAPT), Vincent Tshituka, Sikhumbuzo Notshe
Replacements: Kerron van Vuuren, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Carlu Sadie, Jeandre Labuschagne, Phepsi Buthelezi, Cameron Wright, Marnus Potgieter, Thaakir Abrahams
Benetton: Rhyno Smith, Edoardo Padovani, Ignacio Brex, Joaquin Riera, Marcus Watson, Tomas Albornoz, Dewaldt Duvenage (CAPT), Nahuel Tetaz, Giacomo Nicotera, Tiziano Pasquali, Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro, Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements: Siua Maile, Thomas Gallo, Filippo Alongi, Riccardo Favretto, Manuel Zuliani, Alessandro Garbisi, Jacob Umaga, Marco Zanon
Glasgow Warriors v Scarlets
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 30th league game)
AR 1: Ross Mabon (SRU) AR 2: Calum Worsley (SRU)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)
Live on: Viaplay, BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport, TG4, Discovery +, FloRugby.com & URC.tv
Glasgow Warriors: Huw Jones, Kyle Steyn (CAPT), Stafford McDowall, Sam Johnson, Cole Forbes, Tom Jordan, Ali Price; Jamie Bhatti, Johnny Matthews, Zander Fagerson, Lewis Bean, JP du Preez, Ryan Wilson, Matt Fagerson, Sione Vailanu.
Replacements: Fraser Brown, Nathan McBeth, Simon Berghan, Richie Gray, Scott Cummings, Rory Darge, Jamie Dobie, Domingo Miotti
Scarlets: Tom Rogers, Steff Evans, Ioan Nicholas, Eddie James, Ryan Conbeer; Dan Jones, Kieran Hardy, Wyn Jones, Shaun Evans, Sam Wainwright, Morgan Jones, Vaea Fifita, Iwan Shenton, Josh Macleod (CAPT), Carwyn Tuipulotu
Replacements: Daf Hughes, Steff Thomas, Javan Sebastian, Aaron Shingler, Iestyn Rees, Dane Blacker, Rhys Patchell, Joe Roberts
Ulster v Dragons RFC
Kingspan Stadium, Belfast – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA
Referee: Ben Blain (SRU, 31st league game)
AR 1: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) AR 2: Padraic Reidy (IRFU)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
Live on: Viaplay, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Discovery +, FloRugby.com & URC.tv
Ulster: Mike Lowry, Craig Gilroy, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, John Cooney, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor (CAPT), Sam Carter, David McCann, Marcus Rea, Duane Vermeulen
Replacements: John Andrew, Andy Warwick, Jeffery Toomaga Allen, Kieran Treadwell, Nick Timoney, Nathan Doak, Stewart Moore, Ethan McIlroy
Ulster Skills Coach Craig Newby said: “The Dragons come here with nothing to lose, we have reviewed them and have looked at areas we need to tidy up on. We play better when we are at home and we have to focus on winning these two games and our Quarter-Final.”
Dragons RFC: Jordan Williams, Rio Dyer, Jared Rosser, Max Clark, Ashton Hewitt, Angus O’Brien, Rhodri Williams (CAPT), Rhodri Jones, Elliot Dee, Leon Brown, Ben Carter, Matthew Screech, George Nott, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright
Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Josh Reynolds, Lloyd Fairbrother, Sean Lonsdale, George Young, Lewis Jones, Will Reed, Aneurin Owen
Dragons RFC Head Coach Dai Flanagan said: “We knew we had a tough end to the season with Glasgow away, Ulster away and Scarlets at Principality Stadium, but it is a challenge we’ll continue to embrace.”
SATURDAY, APRIL 15
Vodacom Bulls v Zebre Parma
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg – KO 12.00 IRE & UK / 13.00 ITA & SA
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU, 7th league game)
AR 1: Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU) AR 2: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU)
TMO: David Sutherland (SRU)
Live on: SuperSport, Discovery +, Viaplay, Premier Sports, TG4, FloRugby.com & URC.tv
Vodacom Bulls: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie, Stedman Gans, Harold Vorster, David Kriel, Johan Goosen, Embrose Papier, Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Mornay Smith, Ruan Vermaak, Ruan Nortje (CAPT), Marco van Staden, Cyle Brink, Elrigh Louw
Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, Dylan Smith, Francois Klopper, Janko Swanepoel, WJ Steenkamp, Keagan Johannes, Chris Smith, Cornal Hendricks
Zebre Parma: Richard Kriel, Kobus van Wyk, Erich Cronjé, Enrico Lucchin, Simone Gesi, Geronimo Prisciantelli, Alessandro Fusco, Paolo Buonfiglio, Jacques Du Toit, Matteo Nocera, David Sisi (CAPT), Leonard Krumov, Guido Volpi, Iacopo Bianchi, Davide Ruggeri
Replacements: Luca Bigi, Alessio Sanavia, Muhamed Hasa, Andrea Zambonin, Giacomo Ferrari, Chris Cook, Tiff Eden, Jacopo Trulla
Zebre Parma Head Coach Fabio Roselli said: “We had two weeks to prepare this game and, despite the end of the season, there was a lot of energy, concentration and will to continue the path of growth. It is precisely on improving some aspects of our game that we have focused on in the last two weeks. We know the Bulls well, we know that they too are living a period of pressure related to results. We have prepared the game in order to defuse their strengths and take advantage of our style of play. It will be an entertaining match, the first half more intense and stressful in terms of attitude”.
Emirates Lions v Leinster
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg – KO 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA & SA
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 70th league game)
AR 1: Morne Ferreira (SARU) AR 2: Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU)
TMO: David Sutherland (SRU)
Live on: SuperSport, RTÉ, Viaplay, Premier Sports, Discovery +, FloRugby.com & URC.tv
Emirates Lions: Quan Horn, Stean Pienaar, Manuel Rass, Marius Louw (CAPT), Edwill van der Merwe, Gianni Lombard, Sanele Nohamba, Rhynardt Rijnsburger, PJ Botha, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Willem Alberts, Ruben Schoeman, Jaco Kriel, Ruan Delport, Francke Horn
Replacements: Morne Brandon, JP Smith, Ruan Dreyer, Darrien Landsberg, Travis Gordon, Morne van den Berg, Rynhardt Jonker, Andries Coetzee
Leinster: Chris Cosgrave, Tommy O’Brien, Liam Turner, Ben Brownlee, Dave Kearney, Sam Prendergast, Nick McCarthy, Michael Milne, Lee Barron, Vakhtang Abdaladze, Brian Deeny, Jason Jenkins, Rhys Ruddock (CAPT), Will Connors, Max Deegan
Replacements: Tadgh McElroy, Ed Byrne, Thomas Clarkson, Alex Soroka, James Culhane, Ben Murphy, Charlie Tector, Rob Russell
DHL Stormers v Munster
DHL Stadium, Cape Town – KO 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA & SA
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 44th league game)
AR 1: AJ Jacobs (SARU) AR 2: Griffin Colby (SARU)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)
Live on: SuperSport, RTÉ, Viaplay, Premier Sports, Discovery +, FloRugby.com & URC.tv
DHL Stormers: Damian Willemse, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Ruhan Nel, Dan du Plessis, Seabelo Senatla, Manie Libbok, Paul de Wet, Steven Kitshoff (CAPT), Joseph Dweba, Frans Malherbe, Ruben van Heerden, Marvin Orie, Willie Engelbrecht, Ben-Jason Dixon, Hacjivah Dayimani
Replacements: JJ Kotze, Ali Vermaak, Neethling Fouche, Ernst van Rhyn, Marcel Theunissen, Evan Roos, Herschel Jantjies, Clayton Blommetjies
Munster: Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Malakai Fekitoa, Shane Daly, Jack Crowley, Conor Murray, Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, RG Snyman, Peter O’Mahony (CAPT), Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Scott Buckley, Josh Wycherley, Keynan Knox, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue, Craig Casey, Ben Healy, Keith Earls
DHL Stormers Head Coach John Dobson said: “We have had some incredible support at home this season and we know that it will be another special atmosphere on Saturday. This is a great opportunity for us to build some momentum as we head towards the play-offs and with DHL Western Province playing first it promises to be another memorable double-header.”
Connacht v Cardiff Rugby
The Sportsground, Galway – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 34th league game)
AR 1: Dan Carson (IRFU) AR 2: Tomas O’Sullivan (IRFU)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
Live on: RTÉ, S4C, Viaplay, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Discovery +, FloRugby.com & URC.tv
Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen, Jack Carty (CAPT), Caolin Blade, Denis Buckley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Finlay Bealham, Josh Murphy, Niall Murray, Cian Prendergast, Conor Oliver, Jarrad Butler
Replacements: Eoin de Buitléar, Peter Dooley, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Oisín Dowling, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Kieran Marmion, Tom Daly, Shane Jennings
Cardiff Rugby: Ben Thomas, Owen Lane, Mason Grady, Max Llewellyn, Jason Harries, Rhys Priestland, Tomos Williams (CAPT), Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher, Keiron Assiratti, Lopeti Timani, Seb Davies, James Botham, Thomas Young, Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Rhys Carré, Dillon Lewis, Teddy Williams, Josh Turnbull, James Ratti, Lloyd Williams, Harri Millard
Connacht Director of Rugby Andy Friend said: “There’s a great buzz around the place this week. We’re all very aware of the importance of tomorrow’s game, and we’re really focused on ensuring we’re at our best from minute one to the final whistle. Having six men back from injury for this game is a huge boost for us, and it also means that we’ve had make a number of really difficult selection decisions and some quality players are missing out. As much as that’s a headache, it’s a brilliant place to be at this time of year. With a big home crowd expected and with their energy behind us, we’ll be doing everything in our power to get us closer to that playoff spot”
Edinburgh Rugby v Ospreys
The DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 22nd league game)
AR 1: Fin Brown (SRU) AR 2: Ru Campbell (SRU)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Live on: Viaplay, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Discovery +, FloRugby.com & URC.tv
Edinburgh Rugby: Emiliano Boffelli, Darcy Graham, Mark Bennett, James Lang, Damien Hoyland, Blair Kinghorn, Ben Vellacott, Pierre Schoeman, Dave Cherry, WP Nel, Marshall Sykes, Sam Skinner, Jamie Ritchie (CAPT), Hamish Watson, Viliame Mata
Replacements: Stuart McInally, Boan Venter, Luan de Bruin, Jamie Hodgson, Connor Boyle, Henry Pyrgos, Chris Dean, Duhan can der Merwe
Ospreys: Iestyn Hopkins, George North, Michael Collins, Keiran Williams, Luke Morgan, Owen Williams, Rhys Webb (CAPT), Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Rhys Davies, Dan Lydiate, Morgan Morris
Replacements: Sam Parry, Nicky Smith, Tomas Francis, Huw Sutton, Ethan Roots, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Max Nagy
Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach Mike Blair said: “This is a massive game for both our players and the fans. The results haven’t gone our way, but we’ve been working especially hard in training to change this around and we want to put in a display that will make the Edinburgh supporters proud. It’s Fan Appreciation Night and we’re expecting a really good crowd at DAM Health Stadium for our home finale. It should be an electric atmosphere from kick-off which will drive our players on. There are guys playing their final home game for the club, while there are also guys who’ll be keen to show what they’re about ahead of a big summer of rugby. Every player pulling on the jersey will be motivated for what is a really important match for the club.”
Ospreys Head Coach Toby Booth said: “Edinburgh are a tough opposition. Like us, they’re a squad filled with internationals. They have some great ball carriers in the back row and can cause problems around the set piece, but we have some threats of our own and we’re ready for what is set to be a hard-fought fixture.”
