What time and TV channel is Stormers v Leinster in BKT URC opening game?

Leinster travel to the DHL Stadium to take on Stormers in the first game in the first round of the 2025/26 BKT United Rugby Championship season

Champions Leinster are set to face Stormers in the opening game of the 2025/26 BKT URC season.

The Dublin-based Blues have had a challenging pre-season, with their significant Lions contingent unavailable to travel due to their success in the 2024/25 season. Additionally, their Ireland summer tour players have only just returned to training and club captain Caelan Doris remains on the injured list.

The Stormers also face similar issues with international commitments, and will be without Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse for the opener. The loss of Manie Libbok (to Japan) could also be keenly felt.

The match details are as follows:.

Who: Stormers v Leinster

Where: DHL Stadium, Cape Town.

Kick-off time: 6pm Irish time.

Round of the League: First Round.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi [FIR, 42nd league game].

Two key headlines include: Centre Ruhan Nel captaining DHL Stormers for the first time and No10 watch at Leinster sees Sam Prendergast start at no10, Ciaran Frawley play no12, with Harry Bryne on the bench.

Fun Fact 1#: Leinster will start their opening game against Stormers with 11 international and four uncapped players in their starting XV.

Fun Fact 2#: Leinster academy prop Andrew Sparrow is in line for his debut off the bench.

Fun Fact 3#: The URC have previously utilised a straightforward yellow and red card system, but this season sees the introduction of a ‘third’ card.

Quotes Corner:

Leinster Senior Assistant Coach Jacques Nienaber: “I don’t think the fact that you won a trophy is giving you a better opportunity, you still have to work hard. We are not entitled to anything. We’re not entitled to having a good start because we are the defending champions. We will have to work hard on Friday and we will face a very determined Stormers side, and then we will face a very determined Bulls side as well after what happened in the final. So it will be good for us.”

Leinster flanker Scott Penny: “It’s always a tough challenge when we travel to South Africa. Their teams are, obviously, very physical and we’ve never beaten Stormers over here so we want to do this. Also we have never won two games from two over so that’s also a challenge. Stormers are a very physical team and this will be about winning momentum in attack and stopping momentum in defence. You have got to put your hand in the dark place and Jacques always talks about getting low, pulling out those shots, putting your body on the line and if you don’t do that, that’s when they’re gonna get the momentum attack. They will all come looking for offloads, looking to connect, looking to put us under a pressure in the defence so you have got to win those collisions in attack and defence.”

DHL Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson:”There has been a lot of har “There’s been a lot of hard work put in from players and management to get to this point and we are all very excited to get going,” Dobson expressed. “Playing the defending champions at home means that we will have to be on our game to get the result we want and we know we will have our fans right behind us as always. ” With Salmaan Moerat and Deon Fourie out due to injuries, Ruhan was the natural choice to take over as captain and we know the team will be in good hands on the field. “He has been part of the leadership group for some time and is completely aligned with the coaching team in terms of the way we want to play.”

Match Betting: 7/2 Stormers – 50/1 draw – Leinster 1/5.

Tournament Betting, URC Grand Final winner: 8/15 Leinster, 9/2 Bulls, Munster, Sharks 8/1, Stormers, Glasgow Warriors 14/1.

What TV channels is the match on: SuperSport, TG4, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby and URC.tv.

TEAM NEWS.

Stormers: Wandisile Simelane, Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel (CAPT), Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas, Jurie Matthee, Stefan Ungerer, Vernon Matongo, André-Hugo Venter, Neethling Fouché, Adré Smith, JD Schickerling, Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Evan Roos.

Replacements: JJ Kotze, Oli Reid, Zachary Porthen, Ruben van Heerden, Ruan Ackermann, Marcel Theunissen, Dewaldt Duvenage, Clinton Swart.

Coach: John Dobson (2019-present).

Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien, Tommy O’Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Ciarán Frawley, Jordan Larmour, Sam Prendergast, Luke McGrath (CAPT), Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Rabah Slimani, Diarmuid Mangan, Brian Deeny, Ryan Baird, Scot.

t Penny, James CulhaneReplacements: John McKee, Paddy McCarthy, Andrew Sparrow, Max Deegan, Will Connors, Fintan Gunne, Harry Byrne, Hugh CooneyCoach: Leo Cullen (2015-present).