Tournament organisers have released the revised schedule for the remainder of the URC, following the postponement of a number of fixtures due to Covid-19.
The Round 10 fixtures involving South African teams, due to take place in Ireland and Italy on the weekend of 7/8 January, have been rescheduled to the final weekend of February, to avoid further rescheduling in the immediate calendar.
The postponed fixtures from Rounds Six and Seven (that were due to take place in South Africa at the end of November/beginning of December) will now be moved to the weekends of March 11/12 and March 18/19. More details about these fixtures will be confirmed after further discussions with key stakeholders involved are completed.
Several South African derbies have also been adjusted to accommodate the revised schedule.
In a statement, organisers said they were fully committed to playing all games as scheduled but would ensure that the welfare of teams and players came first.
The statement said: “The league is greatly encouraged by the decision of the UK government to ease travel restrictions with respect to South Africa and will continue to comply with directions set out by the health authorities and government departments in our various jurisdictions.
“The Vodacom URC Medical Advisory Group will continue to provide regular guidance and updates to our Clubs regarding best practice and health and safety measures in relation to Covid-19 protocols.
“The dates and kick-off times for Round 18 will be confirmed next month after consultation with our broadcast partners who have been of great assistance during this process.”
Revised United Rugby Championship schedule:
Weekend of March 11/12/13
DHL Stormers v Zebre Parma
Cell C Sharks v Scarlets
Vodacom Bulls v Munster
Emirates Lions v Cardiff
Weekend March 18, 19, 20
Vodacom Bulls v Scarlets
Cell C Sharks v Zebre Parma
Emirates Lions v Munster
DHL Stormers v Cardiff
Saturday 22 January
Emirates Lions v Cell C Sharks
Vodacom Bulls v DHL Stormers
Saturday 5 February
Vodacom Bulls v Emirates Lions
DHL Stormers v Cell C Sharks
Saturday 8 January
Edinburgh v Cardiff
Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys
Munster v Ulster
Scarlets v Dragons
Friday 25 February
Zebre Parma v Vodacom Bulls
Leinster v Emirates Lions
Saturday 26 February
Connacht v DHL Stormers
Benetton v Cell C Sharks
Friday 28 January
Ulster v Scarlets – 21:35
Dragons v Benetton – 1:35
Saturday 29 January
Emirates Lions v Vodacom Bulls
Connacht v Glasgow Warriors
Cell C Sharks v DHL Stormers
Zebre Parma v Munster
Ospreys v Edinburgh
Cardiff v Leinster
Friday 18 February
Munster v Edinburgh
Cardiff v Zebre Parma
Saturday 19 February
Emirates Lions v DHL Stormers
Vodacom Bulls v Cell C Sharks
Leinster v Ospreys
Scarlets v Connacht
Glasgow Warriors v Benetton
Sunday 20 February
Dragons v Ulster
Friday 4 March
Ulster v Cardiff
Edinburgh v Connacht
Saturday 5 March
Benetton v Leinster
Scarlets v Glasgow Warriors
Munster v Dragons
Sunday 6 March
Ospreys v Zebre Parma
Saturday 9 April
DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls
Cell C Sharks v Emirates Lions
Friday 25 March
Emirates Lions v Ospreys
Munster v Benetton
Saturday 26 March
Zebre Parma v Scarlets
DHL Stormers v Ulster
Cell C Sharks v Edinburgh
Cardiff v Glasgow Warriors
Vodacom Bulls v Dragons
Connacht v Leinster
Friday 1 April
Cell C Sharks v Dragons
Glasgow Warriors v Zebre Parma 19.35
Saturday 2 April
Benetton v Connacht
Vodacom Bulls v Ulster
Emirates Lions v Edinburgh
DHL Stormers v Ospreys
Leinster v Munster
Scarlets v Cardiff
Friday 22 April
DHL Stormers v Glasgow Warriors
Ulster v Munster
Edinburgh v Zebre Parma
Saturday 23 April
Vodacom Bulls v Benetton
Emirates Lions v Connacht
Dragons v Scarlets
Cardiff v Ospreys
Cell C Sharks v Leinster
Friday 29 April
Vodacom Bulls v Glasgow
Munster v Cardiff
Saturday 30 April
Emirates Lions v Benetton
Cell C Sharks v Connacht
Zebre Parma v Dragons
DHL Stormers v Leinster
Ospreys v Scarlets
Edinburgh v Ulster
Weekend May 20/21/22
Connacht v Zebre Parma
Leinster v Edinburgh
Ulster v Cell C Sharks
Dragons v Emirates Lions
Scarlets v DHL Stormers
Ospreys v Vodacom Bulls
Glasgow Warriors v Munster
Benetton v Cardiff
