The 2025‑26 United Rugby Championship (URC) is about to start, and fans everywhere are wondering where they can catch the action. The opening clash – Leinster vs the Stormers in Cape Town – lands on Friday 26 September, and the league has arranged a hefty lineup of broadcasters and streaming platforms to make sure you don’t miss a single tackle.

Broadcast Options by Region

URC rugby fans in the UK can tune into Premier Sports, which holds the primary rights and will air all 151 games live. This is their third year in a row as the host broadcaster, and they’re set to celebrate a milestone: the 1,000th URC match on their screens.

If you prefer free‑to‑air, Wales’ S4C keeps its long‑standing partnership with the league. The Welsh‑language channel will show 20 live matches featuring the Welsh regions and will also provide postponed coverage of another 18 games.

Across the Irish Sea, TG4 remains the go‑to channel for matches involving Irish sides, while EirSport adds extra coverage where needed.

Outside of the British Isles, the picture is equally diverse:

• Viaplay streams every URC fixture on its digital platforms, and a selection of games also airs on the free‑to‑air Viaplay Xtra channel.
• South African viewers get the league on Supersport, which has been the home of the competition for years.
• Italian fans can catch the action via DAZN, which covers both the Italian side Benetton and the rest of the tournament.
• In the United States, the FloRugby app (part of FloSports) streams every match live, giving American fans full access to the South African franchises, the Irish provinces, and the Italian club.
• French audiences will find coverage on beIN Sports, while Setanta Sports spreads the games across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
• EuroSport adds another layer of coverage in select territories, ensuring the league reaches even more viewers.

All these partners mean that wherever you are, a TV channel or an OTT service is likely waiting with the next URC game ready to play.

Season Format and Key Dates

The competition structure stays the same as recent years. After the regular rounds, the top eight clubs move on to the playoffs. Those knockout games start on 29 May, with semi‑finals slated for 6 June and the Grand Final on Saturday 20 June 2026.

Mid‑season, the league spices things up with themed rounds that have become fan favourites. Rounds 7, 8 and 9 are earmarked for festive derbies – expect local rivalries and a few holiday‑time surprises. The “Race to the Eight” really heats up from Round 13, as teams battle for those playoff spots and the coveted Champions Cup qualification.

Organisers have also hinted at additional themed weeks, such as Kids Round, Origin Round and Unity Round, though exact dates are still being firmed up. These special events usually bring community activities, school outreach and family‑friendly promotions that make the sport more accessible.

In short, the 2025‑26 URC season promises a packed schedule, a variety of viewing options, and plenty of moments that will keep fans glued to their screens – whether that’s a living‑room TV, a laptop, or a phone on the go.