The United Rugby Championship (URC) resumes this Friday, February 27th, 2026, following a break for the Six Nations, with several key matchups scheduled across the weekend. For fans looking to follow the action, a variety of broadcast and streaming options are available, including free-to-air choices in the UK and Ireland.
Currently, Glasgow Warriors lead the URC table, four points ahead of Leinster, who have rebounded from a slow start to the campaign. Cape Town’s Stormers are a further four points back, with Ulster and Cardiff rounding out the top five.
Free Options for UK and Irish Viewers
Several games will be available to watch for free each round. This weekend, viewers in the UK can catch Cardiff Rugby versus Leinster on S4C, kicking off at 7:00 PM GMT on Friday, February 27th. In Ireland, TG4 will broadcast three matches: Cardiff v Leinster (7:00 PM GMT Friday), Lions v Stormers (12:30 PM GMT Saturday), and Connacht v Glasgow Warriors (3:00 PM GMT Saturday).
S4C will broadcast one match featuring a Welsh region in every round of the competition, totaling 20 live games throughout the 2025-26 season. A second Welsh fixture each round will be broadcast on a deferred, as-live basis. All S4C URC matches will feature commentary in both Welsh and English, accessible via the S4C terrestrial channel, S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer, and the S4C Chwaraeon YouTube channel. BBC Wales will also broadcast occasional URC matches throughout the season.
TG4 and its TG4 Player now hold exclusive free-to-air rights to URC live streams in Ireland, offering at least 26 live games this season, including the final in June, as well as access to the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Premium Streaming Options
For comprehensive coverage, Premier Sports holds the rights to every URC fixture in the UK and Ireland. Subscriptions are available on a rolling monthly basis for £16.99, a year-long contract for £11.99 per month, or an annual upfront payment of £120 (equivalent to £10 per month). Premier Sports is also accessible through Sky Q, Prime Video, STV Player, and Virgin Media.
International Viewing Options
Fans in the United States can stream URC matches via FloRugby, with monthly subscriptions at $29.99 and annual subscriptions at $150. In South Africa, SuperSport offers various packages for viewing the matches. For viewers in Ireland seeking complete coverage beyond TG4’s free offerings, Premier Sports is available through Sky Sports (Sports Extra pack) and Now Sports Extra memberships.
Staying Connected While Traveling
For fans traveling outside their home region, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can provide access to their usual streaming services. NordVPN is currently recommended by tech experts as a reliable option, with a current offer of 70% off plus three months free for Rugby World readers.
URC Round 12 Fixtures
Here’s a complete list of Round 12 fixtures:
- Friday, February 27th, 2026
- Cardiff Rugby v Leinster – FREE ON S4C (UK) AND TG4 (Ireland) – Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff – Kick-off: 7:00 PM GMT
- Edinburgh v Scarlets – Hive Stadium, Edinburgh – Kick-off: 7:45 PM GMT
- Saturday, February 28th, 2026
- Lions v Stormers – FREE ON TG4 (Ireland) – Ellis Park, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 12:30 PM GMT
- Bulls v Sharks – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – Kick-off: 3:00 PM GMT
- Connacht v Glasgow Warriors – FREE ON TG4 (Ireland) – Dexcom Stadium, Galway – Kick-off: 3:00 PM GMT
- Munster v Zebre Parma – Thomond Park, Limerick – Kick-off: 5:30 PM GMT
- Dragons v Benetton – Rodney Parade, Newport – Kick-off: 5:30 PM GMT
- Ospreys v Ulster – Electric Brewery Field, Bridgend – Kick-off: 7:45 PM GMT
