The penultimate round of the BKT United Rugby Championship regular season arrives with the playoff picture still tantalisingly unresolved. Nine teams remain in contention for the top eight, and with fixtures pitting contenders directly against one another across the weekend, Round 17 could prove decisive in shaping the knockout stages. The Stormers lead Glasgow by a single point at the summit, the Lions and Leinster are locked together on 53 points, and Munster, Cardiff, the Bulls, Ulster and Connacht are all scrapping for spots five through nine. From Friday night’s top-of-the-table encounters in Glasgow and Belfast to Saturday evening’s interprovincial showdown in Galway, every fixture carries consequence.

Glasgow Warriors v Cardiff Rugby

Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Kick-off: Friday 8 May, 19:45 BST
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 39th game)
Assistant Referees: Ru Campbell (SRU), David Sutherland (SRU)
TMO: Colin Stanley (IRFU)
Where to watch: Premier Sports, BBC Wales, SuperSport, URC.tv, FloRugby

Glasgow’s final home game of the regular season doubles as their annual Plaster It Purple fixture, and Franco Smith’s men will be desperate to deliver a performance in front of their Scotstoun faithful. The Warriors trail leaders Stormers by a single point and need a five-point haul to maintain pressure on the South Africans heading into the final round. Glasgow have endured a difficult spell, losing three in a row if you include their Champions Cup quarter-final defeat to Toulon, and will be eager to rediscover their home form after a two-week break.

Cardiff arrive firmly in the playoff hunt, sitting sixth on 50 points with a six-point cushion over ninth-placed Connacht. The Blue and Blacks have claimed a match point from all but one fixture this season and are boosted by the return of Wales wing Josh Adams, who has not played since the Six Nations due to a back spasm and head injury. Adams starts at outside centre for the first time since 2022, with Ben Thomas shifting to inside centre. Flanker James Botham returns from injury to wear the number six jersey, while Keiron Assiratti starts at tighthead prop.

Glasgow welcome back Scotland pair George Horne and Matt Fagerson from ankle and hamstring injuries respectively, with both having been absent since April. Ally Miller makes his first start in the second row, while Rory Darge returns to the lineup after missing the South African tour for the birth of his son. Dan Lancaster returns at fly-half in a side showing nine changes from their last outing.

Glasgow head coach Franco Smith said: “Everyone is looking forward to being back at our home tomorrow night. Cardiff remain firmly in the playoff hunt with a squad fully committed to their goal, and they will come here ready to compete for everything. Our focus this week has been on ourselves. We know how much the supporters are a part of our journey, especially this season — we want to give them a performance to be proud of in our last home game of the regular season.”

Cardiff head coach Corniel van Zyl said: “We are starting to get a few boys back on the pitch and the squad is in a healthier position going into a really important few weeks in terms of the playoffs. It’s going to be a big test. Glasgow are a great team, they are well coached and do a lot of the basic stuff well and know how to put you under pressure.”

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Steyn (C), 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 George Horne; 1 Jamie Bhatti, 2 Johnny Matthews, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Ally Miller, 5 Alex Samuel, 6 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Patrick Schickerling, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Jare Oguntibeju, 20 Macenzzie Duncan, 21 Sione Vailanu, 22 Ben Afshar, 23 Ollie Smith.

Cardiff Rugby: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Jacob Beetham, 13 Josh Adams, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Tom Bowen, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Johan Mulder; 1 Rhys Barratt, 2 Liam Belcher (C), 3 Keiron Assiratti, 4 Josh McNally, 5 Rory Thornton, 6 James Botham, 7 Dan Thomas, 8 Taine Basham.
Replacements: 16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 George Nott, 20 Alun Lawrence, 21 Ellis Bevan, 22 Rory Jennings, 23 Ioan Lloyd.

Ulster Rugby v DHL Stormers

Venue: Affidea Stadium, Belfast
Kick-off: Friday 8 May, 19:45 BST
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 60th game)
Assistant Referees: Padraic Reidy (IRFU), Jack MacNeice (IRFU)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Where to watch: Premier Sports, SuperSport, URC.tv, FloRugby

The league leaders travel to Belfast seeking to cross another frontier in a season where they have already won at venues where they had never previously triumphed, including Thomond Park and Treviso. The Stormers have never won in Belfast, and their only loss in their last five URC matches was the 24-33 defeat to Connacht at DHL Stadium in Round 15. Historically, the home team has won on all five occasions these sides have met.

Ulster sit eighth on 47 points and know a victory would take them a significant step closer to securing a playoff berth and Champions Cup qualification for next season. Richie Murphy’s side have lost their last two home fixtures in the championship, to Leinster and Connacht, and have not lost three successive home games since January 2025. Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale are absent through injury, but Angus Bell returns after a foot issue. Ireland international Iain Henderson continues to captain the side.

The Stormers are without injured captain Ruhan Nel, with Dan du Plessis moving to outside centre and Damian Willemse shifting from fullback to the midfield. Warrick Gelant returns at fullback, while Imad Khan replaces the injured Cobus Reinach at scrum-half. Deon Fourie captains the side and will start at openside flanker, with Paul de Villiers named in the number 16 jersey in an intriguing tactical move that could see both fetchers on the field simultaneously in the closing stages. Evan Roos draws level with Duane Vermeulen on 73 starts at number eight for the Stormers.

Stormers director of rugby John Dobson said: “We have been forced to make a few changes, but we are excited about what this team can do and we know it will take the best of us to get the win. As we get closer to the playoffs the stakes get higher each week and this is a crucial match in the context of our season.”

Ulster Rugby: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Ethan McIlroy, 12 Jude Postlethwaite, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak; 1 Angus Bell, 2 James McCormick, 3 Tom O’Toole, 4 Iain Henderson (C), 5 Charlie Irvine, 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 7 Nick Timoney, 8 Juarno Augustus.
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 Bryn Ward, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Wilhelm De Klerk.

DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Wandisile Simelane, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Imad Khan; 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 3 Sazi Sandi, 4 Adré Smith, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 6 Deon Fourie (C), 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 8 Evan Roos.
Replacements: 16 Paul de Villiers, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Keke Morabe, 22 Stefan Ungerer, 23 Jurie Matthee.

Vodacom Bulls v Zebre Parma

Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Kick-off: Saturday 9 May, 12:45 BST / 13:45 SAST
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 115th game)
Assistant Referees: Griffin Colby (SARU), Dylen November (SARU)
TMO: Adam Jones (WRU)
Where to watch: SuperSport, Premier Sports, URC.tv, FloRugby

The Bulls sit seventh on 49 points and need maximum returns from their final two home fixtures against the Italian sides to stay in the playoff race and potentially sneak into the top four. Johan Ackermann has made wholesale changes, most notably at fly-half where Springbok veteran Willie le Roux steps in at number 10 in place of Handré Pollard, who drops to the bench. Ackermann stressed the changes are about building depth with the playoffs in mind rather than any disrespect to the visitors.

Kurt-Lee Arendse moves to fullback, with Cheswill Jooste and Sergeal Petersen completing a potent back three. Canan Moodie returns at outside centre after missing the previous fixture with a hamstring niggle. Captain Ruan Nortje is rested, with Ruan Vermaak and JF van Heerden starting in the second row. Marcell Coetzee shifts to blindside flanker alongside Jeandre Rudolph at openside, with Cameron Hanekom at number eight.

A notable milestone awaits off the bench: scrumhalf Embrose Papier will make his 170th appearance for the Bulls when he takes the field, surpassing Joost van der Westhuizen as the franchise’s most-capped scrumhalf. Papier is also second on the season’s try-scoring list with nine, two behind Evan Roos.

Zebre Parma have made 10 changes to their starting XV, with both Matteo Canali and Ion Neculai set to reach 50 caps for the Italian outfit from the bench. Giovanni Licata captains the side from number eight.

Bulls coach Johan Ackermann said: “In the modern game, you can’t underestimate anyone. There are such small margins. Zebre have pushed sides very hard, been competitive and unlucky not to win more. They are a quality team that play a good brand. You can’t underestimate them based on the log.”

Vodacom Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Willie le Roux, 9 Paul de Wet; 1 Jan Hendrik Wessels, 2 Marco van Staden, 3 Wilco Louw, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 5 JF van Heerden, 6 Marcell Coetzee (C), 7 Jeandre Rudolph, 8 Cameron Hanekom.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Stedman Gans.

Zebre Parma: 15 Mirko Belloni, 14 Jacopo Trulla, 13 Marco Zanon, 12 Enrico Lucchin, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Martin Roger Farias, 9 Thomas Dominguez; 1 Paolo Buonfiglio, 2 Giampietro Ribaldi, 3 Matteo Nocera, 4 Franco Carrera, 5 Leonard Krumov, 6 Alessandro Ortombina, 7 Davide Odiase, 8 Giovanni Licata (C).
Replacements: 16 Giovanni Quattrini, 17 Luca Franceschetto, 18 Ion Neculai, 19 Matteo Canali, 20 Bautista Stavile, 21 Samuele Locatelli, 22 Alessandro Fusco, 23 Migael Prinsloo.

Hollywoodbets Sharks v Benetton Rugby

Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: Saturday 9 May, 15:00 BST / 16:00 SAST
Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, 20th game)
Assistant Referees: Hanru van Rooyen (SARU), Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU)
TMO: Craig Evans (WRU)
Where to watch: SuperSport, Premier Sports, URC.tv, FloRugby

Neither side remains in playoff contention, but this fixture still carries intrigue. The Sharks field a formidable backline featuring Springboks Siya Kolisi, Ox Nche and Vincent Koch in the pack, while 18-year-old Zekhethelo Siyaya has been handed the fly-half jersey in what amounts to a significant endorsement from head coach JP Pietersen. The South African Schools player has impressed in two appearances at fullback and now gets the opportunity to direct proceedings from number 10 in what is effectively his first home game for the franchise.

It has been a frustrating season for the Sharks, who underwent mid-season coaching changes and a mountain of injuries to first-choice players. Andre Esterhuizen captains the side from inside centre alongside the returning Jurenzo Julius, while Jaco Williams comes back from injury at fullback. Siya Kolisi begins his penultimate game for the Sharks before returning to the Stormers in the off-season.

Benetton arrive having beaten Leinster last time out but sit 13th in the table. Niccolò Cannone captains the Italian side, with Tommaso Menoncello and Leonardo Marin forming an exciting centre partnership. Louis Lynagh starts on the right wing.

Benetton head coach Calum MacRae said: “Sharks are a very dangerous side, quick in transition and physically strong. We’ll need discipline, accuracy and full focus, while carrying forward the courage and motivation from our last games.”

Sharks head coach JP Pietersen said: “Benetton is a strong side with a good set-piece and boasts several Italian internationals. Regarding our selection, it’s just a rotation of players. Ox and Vinnie are good to go and deserve a start. They’ve been looking good lately.”

Hollywoodbets Sharks: 15 Jaco Williams, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (C), 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 9 Bradley Davids; 1 Ox Nche, 2 Eduan Swart, 3 Vincent Koch, 4 Jason Jenkins, 5 Emile van Heerden, 6 Siya Kolisi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 8 Emmanuel Tshituka.
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Nicholas Hatton, 21 Ross Braude, 22 Jean Smith, 23 Litelihle Bester.

Benetton Rugby: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Leonardo Marin, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Alessandro Garbisi; 1 Destiny Aminu, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 3 Marcos Gallorini, 4 Niccolò Cannone (C), 5 Giulio Marini, 6 Riccardo Favretto, 7 Alessandro Izekor, 8 Lorenzo Cannone.
Replacements: 16 Nicholas Gasperini, 17 Ivan Nemer, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Mattia Midena, 20 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 21 Federico Ruzza, 22 Andy Uren, 23 Federico Zanandrea.

Ospreys v Scarlets

Venue: Electric Brewery Field, Bridgend
Kick-off: Saturday 9 May, 17:30 BST
Referee: Ben Connor (WRU, 8th game)
Assistant Referees: Carwyn Sion (WRU), Gareth Newman (WRU)
TMO: Keith David (WRU)
Where to watch: S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, URC.tv, FloRugby

The west Wales derby may not carry playoff significance for either side, but there is no shortage of motivation at the Electric Brewery Field. Wales captain Jac Morgan will lead the Ospreys for the final time at home before his move to Gloucester next season, while Jack Walsh also bids farewell ahead of a switch to French club Montauban. On the bench, Wales wing Keelan Giles is in line for his first appearance since February.

The Ospreys could still lift the Welsh Shield with victory, while the Scarlets will be keen to avoid finishing as the lowest-placed Welsh side. The visitors currently sit a point behind the Dragons with two games remaining. Both sides have endured difficult campaigns — the Ospreys sit 11th on 35 points, the Scarlets 15th on 24.

The Scarlets are boosted by the return of captain Josh Macleod from a hamstring injury and Tom Rogers, who has come through head injury protocols after missing the defeat to the Bulls. Dan Davis is set to make his 100th appearance for the Scarlets from the bench.

Scarlets interim director of rugby Nigel Davies said: “It’s always a big fixture against the Ospreys, our nearest and dearest rivals. It’s what the supporters want to see, these contests with the best players from each side going up against each other. It brings that level of intensity, passion, identity and also brings a different layer to your preparation.”

Ospreys: 15 Jack Walsh, 14 Iestyn Hopkins, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Luke Morgan, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Kieran Hardy; 1 Steffan Thomas, 2 Sam Parry, 3 Tom Botha, 4 Rhys Davies, 5 Ryan Smith, 6 James Ratti, 7 Jac Morgan (C), 8 Morgan Morris.
Replacements: 16 Lewis Lloyd, 17 Garyn Phillips, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Huw Sutton, 20 Ross Moriarty, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Keelan Giles, 23 Evardi Boshoff.

Scarlets: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Eddie James, 11 Macs Page, 10 Joe Hawkins, 9 Dane Blacker; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Jac Price, 5 Max Douglas, 6 Taine Plumtree, 7 Josh Macleod (C), 8 Fletcher Anderson.
Replacements: 16 Harry Thomas, 17 Josh Morse, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Dan Davis, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, 23 Ioan Jones.

Leinster Rugby v Fidelity SecureDrive Lions

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: Saturday 9 May, 17:30 BST / 18:30 SAST
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU, 28th game)
Assistant Referees: Keane Davison (IRFU), Stuart Gaffikin (IRFU)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
Where to watch: Premier Sports, SuperSport, URC.tv, FloRugby

The standout fixture of the round sees third meet fourth in Dublin, with both sides locked on 53 points. The Lions arrive on a remarkable six-game winning streak — their best-ever run in the URC — and are on the brink of securing their first-ever playoff appearance in the competition’s history. A victory in Dublin would all but guarantee a top-four finish and home advantage in the quarter-finals, while dealing a significant blow to Leinster’s seeding hopes.

Leinster are back in URC action after their nervy Champions Cup semi-final victory over Toulon that earned Leo Cullen’s side a ninth European final. They have won their last 15 matches at the Aviva Stadium since Northampton beat them there in the European Cup in May 2025, but have lost three of their last five championship matches, all away from home. Robbie Henshaw is unavailable after a head injury sustained against Toulon, while Jordan Larmour is back in full training and James Lowe and Tadhg Furlong continue their integration. James Ryan captains the side, with Max Deegan returning at blindside flanker.

The Lions’ only victory in eight visits to Ireland was the 38-14 triumph over Connacht in March 2024, and they have never won in Dublin. Centre Richard Kriel will bring up his 50th appearance in a Lions jersey, while Ruan Venter returns to the back row and Etienne Oosthuizen is back in the second row alongside Reinhard Nothnagel. The league’s leading points scorer Chris Smith starts at fly-half. Erich Cronje and Angelo Davids swap wings, with Cronje moving to the right ostensibly to counter Leinster’s kicking threat.

Lions assistant coach Jaque Fourie said: “We came here to win. We are not here to just compete; we want the victory on Saturday, and then we’ll take it from there. Our season approach has been game by game. It is all in our own hands. Whatever happens on Saturday is not in someone else’s hands.”

Leinster assistant coach Tyler Bleyendaal said: “We know the challenge the Lions are bringing. They are extremely cohesive at the moment and playing with a lot of confidence. They are a very dangerous team with ball in hand. They punish any mistakes or any lapses in concentration. It’s going to be a fiercely contested match.”

Leinster Rugby: 15 Ciarán Frawley, 14 Joshua Kenny, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 Jimmy O’Brien, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Luke McGrath; 1 Ed Byrne, 2 John McKee, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 4 Brian Deeny, 5 James Ryan (C), 6 Max Deegan, 7 Will Connors, 8 James Culhane.
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Diarmuid Mangan, 20 Scott Penny, 21 Fintan Gunne, 22 Hugh Cooney, 23 Hugo Keenan.

Fidelity SecureDrive Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Erich Cronje, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg; 1 SJ Kotze, 2 PJ Botha, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 6 Siba Mahashe, 7 Ruan Venter, 8 Francke Horn (C).
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Batho Hlekani, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Kelly Mpeku.

Dragons RFC v Edinburgh Rugby

Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport
Kick-off: Saturday 9 May, 19:45 BST
Referee: Filippo Russo (FIR, 9th game)
Assistant Referees: Lucas Yendle (WRU), Marcus Caudle (WRU)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)
Where to watch: Premier Sports, SuperSport, URC.tv, FloRugby

The Dragons’ final home game of the season carries individual significance. Aaron Wainwright plays his 150th URC game, while Ryan Woodman is set for his 50th appearance from the bench. Jared Rosser and Rhodri Williams both return to the starting side for what head coach Filo Tiatia wants to be a proper farewell at Rodney Parade. Edinburgh have won all four previous meetings between the sides, but the Dragons will be eager to end that run on home soil.

Edinburgh arrive in positive mood after back-to-back home victories and are looking to make it three wins on the bounce. Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe returns from injury to make his first Edinburgh appearance since January, one of four changes from the win over the Sharks. Harry Paterson returns from injury at fullback, Ross Thompson replaces Cammy Scott at fly-half, and Callum Hunter-Hill starts in the second row. Pierre Schoeman and Magnus Bradbury are both set for their 150th Edinburgh appearances.

Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia said: “We’re looking forward to the game and want to finish the season strong. It’s our last home game and important to us how we front up. Edinburgh will pose a stern test. They are a good set-piece team, have some good plays and can be very direct. They have a lot of international players in their squad.”

Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt said: “The mood in camp has been really positive after two excellent home performances. Back-to-back wins have given the group genuine momentum and there’s a real energy about the place. Going to Rodney Parade is a different challenge entirely. It’s a difficult venue, a passionate crowd, and Dragons will be fired up on home soil. But we believe in what we’re doing right now and we’d love to make it three wins on the bounce.”

Dragons RFC: 15 Angus O’Brien (CC), 14 Jared Rosser, 13 Fine Inisi, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Rhodri Williams; 1 Rodrigo Martinez, 2 Brodie Coghlan, 3 Dillon Lewis, 4 Seb Davies, 5 Ben Carter (CC), 6 Harrison Keddie, 7 Thomas Young, 8 Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Chris Coleman, 19 Matthew Screech, 20 Ryan Woodman, 21 Niall Armstrong, 22 Harri Ackerman, 23 Huw Anderson.

Edinburgh Rugby: 15 Harry Paterson, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Mosese Tuipulotu, 12 Findlay Thomson, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Hector Patterson; 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Ewan Ashman, 3 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 4 Callum Hunter-Hill, 5 Grant Gilchrist (C), 6 Glen Young, 7 Freddy Douglas, 8 Tom Currie.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Marshall Sykes, 20 Liam McConnell, 21 Magnus Bradbury, 22 Charlie Shiel, 23 Piers O’Conor.

Connacht Rugby v Munster Rugby

Venue: Dexcom Stadium, Galway
Kick-off: Saturday 9 May, 19:45 BST
Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU, 15th game)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (IRFU), Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: Mark Patton (IRFU)
Where to watch: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, URC.tv, FloRugby

The biggest interprovincial of the weekend sees ninth-placed Connacht host fifth-placed Munster at a sold-out Dexcom Stadium in what is almost a must-win for the hosts. Connacht sit on 44 points, nine behind the Lions in third, and need to win and hope other results go their way to keep their top-eight ambitions alive heading into the final round. Their six-game URC winning run ended with a 33-21 defeat at the Lions in Round 16, but they have won their last four matches at Dexcom Stadium in all competitions since Leinster beat them there in January.

Bundee Aki and Josh Ioane return to the Connacht starting XV, adding experience and firepower. In a poignant subplot, veteran Jack Carty comes off the bench in what will be his final game at Dexcom Stadium. Connacht will be without Cathal Forde (wrist) and Matthew Victory (shoulder) for the remainder of the season. Cian Prendergast captains the side.

Munster sit fifth on 51 points and a victory could see them leapfrog into the top four, given Leinster and the Lions face each other in Dublin. Craig Casey captains the side from scrum-half in the absence of a lengthy injury list that includes Jack Crowley, Tadhg Beirne, Jean Kleyn, Michael Milne, Oli Jager, Tom Farrell and Calvin Nash. Mike Haley returns from a groin injury to start at fullback, Fineen Wycherley has recovered from a knee injury to start in the second row, and replacement Alex Kendellen will make his 100th Munster appearance at the age of just 25.

Connacht’s only victory in their last six clashes with Munster was the 22-9 win at Dexcom Stadium on New Year’s Day 2024, but Munster have lost on their last three visits to Galway. Munster won the Thomond Park meeting 17-15 last October.

Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster said: “The importance of this game is not lost on us. We’ve put ourselves back in the hunt for a playoff spot, and now we need to make sure we bring it to the final day and give ourselves a fighting chance. With a sold-out crowd I know our supporters will get behind us and the players are really excited about playing in front of them again.”

Connacht Rugby: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Shane Jennings, 13 Harry West, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Shayne Bolton, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Ben Murphy; 1 Billy Bohan, 2 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 3 Sam Illo, 4 Darragh Murray, 5 Josh Murphy, 6 Cian Prendergast (C), 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 8 Sean Jansen.
Replacements: 16 Eoin de Buitléar, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Joe Joyce, 20 Paul Boyle, 21 Matthew Devine, 22 Jack Carty, 23 Seán Naughton.

Munster Rugby: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Shane Daly, 13 Alex Nankivell, 12 Dan Kelly, 11 Andrew Smith, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Craig Casey (C); 1 Jeremy Loughman, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 4 Edwin Edogbo, 5 Fineen Wycherley, 6 Tom Ahern, 7 John Hodnett, 8 Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 Conor Bartley, 19 Jack O’Donoghue, 20 Brian Gleeson, 21 Ben O’Donovan, 22 Seán O’Brien, 23 Alex Kendellen.

After enduring a frustrating few months, Andrew Porter admits it’s “incredibly special” to be back as Leinster Rugby push for silverware on two fronts.

The 79-times capped Ireland prop missed the whole of the Six Nations campaign after picking up a calf injury in training.

Then, just two games into his comeback, he hurt his arm in the Investec Champions Cup last 16 tie against Edinburgh Rugby, consigning him to another month on the sidelines.

But now he’s all smiles having returned to action in the semi-final victory over Toulon on the weekend, marking the occasion with a Player of the Match performance.

It was as if he had never been away, as he delivered a dominant display in the scrum and provided his usual mighty ball carrying and defiant defence.

The Dubliner has resumed duties at the real business end of the season with Leinster now having a Champions Cup final against Bordeaux-Begles to look forward to in Bilbao on May 23, as well as aiming to retain their URC crown.

They currently lie fourth in the league log, but are just three points behind the table-topping DHL Stormers with home games against the Fidelity SecureDrive Lions and the Ospreys to come.

So there is a huge amount to play for over the coming weeks and Porter is thrilled to be involved again.

“It’s incredibly special for me to be back after a bit of injuries,” said the 30-year-old loosehead.

“We are going from strength to strength. It’s incredibly exciting what we are doing and we are just delighted. We have been to Bilbao before, a few years ago, we have great memories, so hopefully we can repeat that.”

Reflecting on the 29-25 victory over Toulon at the Aviva Stadium, he said: “They definitely put it to us the whole 80, but it was absolutely incredible being out there.

“You could feel the energy from the crowd, from each other. It was very special.”

He added: “I thought the scrum went incredibly well. It’s great to have seven other lads around you who are completely dialled in. It’s somewhere we have come on leaps and bounds.

“You know you are coming up against quality opposition like Kyle Sinckler who is a seasoned international and has been playing incredibly well for Toulon.

“It was a big French pack, but you relish those opportunities in a semi-final. It’s great to be a part of something like that.

“It’s always handy when you have a great back five and a pack like we have. I think we have been building very well as a pack.”

Leinster were presented with challenges during the course of the game as Porter and fly-half Harry Byrne were yellow carded in quick succession just before the break, while they also faced a late Toulon revival, but held firm to claim the win.

“I didn’t really help things myself with that ten minutes in the bin,” said the prop.

“But it was incredible to see how we stuck in with 13 men in the first half going into the second and dug it out. It was incredibly inspiring.”

Now comes the final lap of the season in both league and cup with two trophies up for grabs.

“It’s great to be in the position we are in, but there’s still work to do,” said Porter.

That work begins on Saturday when the third-placed Lions roll up at the Aviva Stadium.

Assistant coach Tyler Bleyendaal is well aware of the threat posed by the in-form visitors from Johannesburg who have won their last six URC matches.

“We know the challenge the Lions are bringing,” said the Kiwi.

“They are extremely cohesive at the moment and playing with a lot of confidence and they are getting results from that.

“They are a very dangerous team with ball in hand. They punish any mistakes or any lapses in concentration. They are awesome in transition. They also defend really well and have got a great kicking game.

“It’s going to be a fiercely contested match. We have got a lot of respect for the Lions and how they are playing.”

Bleyendaal added: “The URC log is so tight. It’s hotly contested at the top of the table, so every point matters. “That’s why we have had to turn the page very quickly to focus on the Lions. We need to perform well and try to get a result.

“We have only got two league matches left and then the seedings will be there. We understand that having home advantage for as long as possible in the URC is a big advantage.”

Welsh international Taine Basham says moving to Cardiff Rugby has been just the refresh his career needed.

After some eight years with Dragons RFC, the back row forward decided to make the short journey from Rodney Parade to the Arms Park last summer.

He has gone on to make 15 appearances for Cardiff this season, showing his versatility by packing down both on the flank and at No 8 as he has shared in the push for the URC play-offs.

In his most recent outing, the crucial 24-21 derby day victory over the Ospreys, he was the game’s top carrier by some distance, with 19, demonstrating his trademark dynamism with ball in hand.

Now he turns his attention to the final two games of the regular season, away to Glasgow Warriors and home to the DHL Stormers, as Cardiff look to nail down a top eight finish.

Reflecting on his new start at the Arms Park, the 26-year-old says: “I was at a stage in my career where I wanted to kick on again.

“I’m not really a youngster anymore. It felt like the right time to move on and, as soon as Cardiff came calling, I was really attracted to the idea. It’s a club with a really rich history and they play a great brand of rugby.

“Coming in pre-season, it was probably the refresh that I needed, a change of scenery and training.

“Even though Wales is a small bubble, it is different and I’ve really enjoyed it. I think it’s been a good move for me.

“I settled in quite quickly. They are a great bunch of boys and they have been very welcoming.

“We have been competitive in pretty much every game and we’ve had some good wins against some really big teams.

“It’s been the first time with the fans being on my side here and hopefully I have made a good impression. There is a really good buzz with the supporters. I am loving it and just enjoying my craft here.”

Expanding on what the move to Cardiff has brought him, Basham said: “Fresh faces, fresh ideas, but the biggest thing that has stood out for me is the way players speak to each other on the pitch. We sort of coach each other out there.

“The likes of Liam Belcher, Callum Sheedy and Josh McNally, they lead the week, which has been great, and they are sort of coaching you on the pitch as well.

“There are quality players here with many skills and talents who you can learn off and there is quality coaching here too.

“As with everywhere in Wales, the back row is really competitive and it’s just a case of showing what you can do when you have the opportunity of playing.

“Being a competitor, you want to play every game. I just want to be the best sort of player I can for Cardiff.”

On his positional preference, he says: “I have played most of my rugby during my career at 7, but I’ve obviously played a lot at 8 as well.

“It’s all about what I can bring to the game in whatever jersey I can do it. I am happy to play anywhere in the back row as long as I am on the pitch. In terms of my attributes, I don’t think it changes for me.

“I like to get my hands on the ball, get my team-mates on the front foot and then in defence make some good reads and be dominant in that area.

“Wherever I am asked to play, I am more than happy to go out and do a job anywhere I can help the team.”

Looking back on his career to date, five years have now passed since Basham exploded onto the international scene.

After scoring two tries on his Wales debut against Canada in June 2021, he then produced outstanding displays on the openside flank against New Zealand and South Africa that autumn, having only just turned 22.

The young man from the village of Talywain, just north of Pontypool, has gone on to take his tally of caps up to 17, with the last of those coming in February 2024.

“I came on to the international scene early. My rise was fairly quick, starting against the All Blacks at such a young age,” he says.

“I felt like I did well, but injuries and selection sometimes don’t go your way and I haven’t been in recent squads. It’s how you bounce back from that.

“Obviously, I have ambitions to play for Wales again, but I just want to play well for Cardiff first and foremost. I want to play as much as I can and as well as I can.

“I am probably a bit more mature now. I have played a lot of rugby for a 26-year-old, I guess, but I feel like there’s plenty of miles left in the tank. I am still enjoying it, that’s the most important thing.”

ENDS