The 2026/27 United Rugby Championship will welcome several teams from around the world, including 4 squads from South Africa. They will do everything possible to defeat some of Europe’s best rugby clubs, but it won’t be easy.
South Africa will send the Vodacom Bulls, Hollywoodbets Sharks, DHL Stormers and Lions. They will compete in the 16-team championship and face squads from Scotland, Italy, Wales and Ireland.
The 2026/27 United Rugby Championship will begin on September 25, with the quarter-finals scheduled for May next year. The idea of the schedule is to provide a balance of home and away matches. There are several important storylines to follow, so let’s learn more about the South African squads that will compete in this championship.
How the 2026/27 United Rugby Championship Works
As mentioned, this competition will have 16 teams. We at Efirbet South Africa decided to dive deep and learn how it all works, so here is their distribution:
- South Africa – 4 teams
![]()
- Ireland – 4 teams
![]()
- Wales – 4 teams
![]()
- Scotland – 3 teams
![]()
- Italy – 3 teams
![]()
Although the teams are from different countries, the results contribute to a single overall URC league table. Every single team will play 18 matches, so there will be plenty of options to bet on.
Each victory is worth 4 league points and there will be bonus points for teams who score over 4 tries. The losing teams can also earn one point if they finish within 7 points of their opponents.
Once the group stage matches are over, the top 8 will proceed to the knockout stage. Those in the lead will have the home advantage in the quarter-finals, so it will be important for the teams to step up their game and perform better than the rest.
Let’s learn more about the 2026/27 United Rugby Championship South African teams we will see in action.
Vodacom Bulls
This is probably one of the country’s most credible title contenders because the Vodacom Bulls finished 4th in the previous season. They eventually reached the Grand Final, where they lost to Leinster.
One of the reasons the Vodacom Bulls have a strong chance of winning is their home advantage. Teams that will visit them will have to get used to the altitude in Pretoria, and this is easier said than done. With that said, the Vodacom Bulls will need to step up their game and perform well in Europe if they want to succeed.
The Bulls will start the competition with a match against Zebre Parma. It is one of those games where people expect them to win, but you never know what’s going to happen in an opening game.
Lions
The Lions are the second South African team that fans and bettors will keep a close eye on. The team will arrive at this event after finishing seventh and reaching the quarter-finals in the last campaign. An interesting fact is that the team is also the current South African Shield champion.
No one can deny that the Lions can compete against their domestic opponents. However, fans will have to wait and see whether the team has what it takes to bring down its EU counterparts. The team will kick off the action against Leinster on 26 September. The game will be very interesting to follow because Leinster is the defending champion.
Hollywoodbets Sharks
Backed by the biggest online bookmaker in South Africa, Hollywoodbets Shark is among the most intriguing squads out there. The team has many high-quality players with significant experience, but it has yet to win a big event. A quick look at the previous season of the United Rugby Championship shows the club finished 10th.
Going into the new campaign, the Hollywoodbet Sharks need to try to be more consistent in their results. It is one of the rugby teams that are very difficult to predict. A team of this caliber can’t rely exclusively on high-profile victories – it also needs to win the games against lower-ranked opponents.
The team’s first challenge will be against the Ospreys on September 26. This is one of those opponents who will allow the Sharks to start with a victory before they face Leinster in Round 2. Everyone knows that this match will be challenging, so the team must try to step up its game.
DHL Stormers
Bettors looking to make the most when betting on the 2026/27 United Rugby Championship should keep a close eye on the DHL Stormers. The team has been one of South Africa’s most successful squads since this tournament began. The club won the inaugural URC title several years ago and even reached the final in the next season.
Speaking of previous performance, the DHL Stormers came third in the 2025/26 competition. This makes them one of the most dangerous squads in the event. The team knows how to counterattack and create opportunities even when there are none.
One of the reasons why people expect a lot from the DHL Stormers is the home advantage. The team will welcome its opponents in Cape Town, where large crowds will give them even more motivation to win.
The team will begin the campaign with a match against Connacht in Galway on September 25. After that, the DHL Stormers will have another clash against a European powerhouse.
URC Betting Category – What to Wager On
A quick analysis of some of the best bookmakers will show you that the 2026/27 United Rugby Championship will offer several betting options. The number of markets will depend a lot on the specific operator, but some will have more than others. Let’s analyze everything.
Outright Winner
People who choose to bet on the Outright Winner must select a team they believe will win the URC Grand Final. Assuming you want to focus on South African squads, the Bulls and Stormers are the ones that most people will probably focus on. People choosing this market must analyze the squad strength and all of their most recent results.
To Reach the Playoffs
If you are not comfortable with your prediction to win the entire event, you can wager on a team to reach the playoffs. This means that a given squad needs to be among the top 8 after 18 rounds.
Do not be surprised if the odds for some teams, such as the Lions, are lower than usual. The South African team will want to repeat its previous top 8 finish, so we expect it to step up its game.
- Superb sportsbook
- Cool and useful betting features
- Great odds
- Licensed Betting Platform
- Reputable and Famous Brand
- Useful Betting Features
- Generous welcome bonus and more offers
- Aviator, Lucky Number and 1400+ Casino Games
- Variety of Sports betting options and features
- Fast registration and easy-to-use interface
- Exciting bonuses and boosted odds
- Smooth mobile app with free data betting
- Reputable brand with huge history
- Focus on responsible gambling
- Good odds
- Competitive Odds
- Sports Markets and Casino Games
- Great Welcome Bonuses
- Great betting features
- Excellent variety of gaming sections
- Competitive odds
Show More
Other Options
Each match in the 2026/27 United Rugby Championship will offer several different markets that you can bet on. Expect to find things like match winners, handicap betting, total match points, winning margins, and much more. We recommend checking our bookies because they offer more markets and competitive odds.
So, which South African Team has the Best Chance?
The Bulls and Stormers seem to be in the best position before entering the 2026/27 United Rugby Championship. Both reached the semi-finals last year and the Bulls even went to the final.
The Lions also can’t be dismissed after they won the South African Shield. As for the Sharks, the team has enough quality players to make a difference. It will definitely be an interesting competition and we will have to wait and see whether South African teams will live up to the expectations.
