URC quarter-finals confirmed: ODD time for Bulls v Sharks blockbuster

The three South African franchises who secured their spots in the United Rugby Championship (URC) playoffs will ALL take to the field on Saturday, 4 June, on a jam-packed weekend of knock-out action, tournament organisers confirmed on Monday.

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Only one match will be played on Friday, 3 June, an all-Irish derby between Ulster and Munster in Belfast (20:35 SA time), while Saturday will see the remaining three quarter-final clashes, with the action beginning and ending in South Africa.

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The Bulls will host the league’s first playoff game on South African soil when they host the Sharks in Pretoria at an earlier-than-usual 13:45, before Leinster take on the Glasgow Warriors in Dublin at 16:15 (SA time).

The Stormers and Edinburgh will wrap up the quarter-final stages in Cape Town at 19:00.

The timings of each match have made provision for the possibility of extra-time and a place-kicking competition.

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United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-finals (SA times):

Friday, 3 June

Ulster v Munster, Kingspan Stadium, Belfast – 20:35

Saturday, 4 June

Bulls v Sharks, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – 13:45

Leinster v Glasgow Warriors, RDS Arena, Dublin – 16:15

Stormers v Edinburgh, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town – 19:00

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Playoff pathway:

QF1: Leinster v Glasgow Warriors

QF2: Stormers v Edinburgh

QF3: Ulster v Munster

QF4: Bulls v Sharks

Semi-final 1: Winners of QF1 play at home to winners of QF4 (Leinster/Glasgow Warriors v Bulls/Sharks)

Semi-final 2: Winners of QF2 play at home to winners of QF3 (Stormers/Edinburgh v Ulster v Munster)

The team with highest ranking from the regular season league table will host URC final.

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Rankings for the URC quarter-finals were determined by each team’s placing in the league table:

1. Leinster (67 points)

2. Stormers (61)

3. Ulster (59)

4. Bulls (58)

5. Sharks (57)

6. Munster (56)

7. Edinburgh (54)

8. Glasgow Warriors (50)

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