The Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed its plans to reduce the number of men’s professional teams from four to three from the 2028–29 season, with either the Ospreys or Scarlets set to lose their professional status.

The governing body announced on Wednesday that it will establish three licence areas — one in the capital, one in east Wales and one in west Wales — with Cardiff Rugby and Dragons RFC set to be offered the capital and east licences respectively. That leaves the Swansea-based Ospreys and the Llanelli-based Scarlets in direct competition for the remaining western licence, with a merger between the two also a possibility.

Licensing process and timeline

The WRU Board confirmed that only incumbent teams will be eligible for a licence, ruling out the prospect of any new entities entering the professional game. The licensing process is scheduled to begin in December 2026 and conclude by the end of the 2026–27 season at the latest.

Following the autumn Nations Championship matches in November, the WRU will bring together the leadership of all four professional teams and other stakeholders to co-create what it has called the “future operating model for the men’s game.” That collaborative process will run through the first quarter of 2027, at which point all current professional clubs will be given the opportunity to confirm whether they wish to participate in the new structure.

WRU Vice Chair John Manders said: “We have affirmed that the future operating model will involve three professional teams from start of the 2028/29 season and now have a firm timeline for our next steps. We have already begun to put the support structures in place to develop the related player pathways, to create the best environments for our senior players, to provide the right financial support and to develop the facilities around them. We are making important progress which will safeguard the future of our game, concentrate resources and give our teams the best chance of achieving success at all levels.”

Cardiff and Dragons offered certainty

The announcement provides clarity for Cardiff Rugby, which has been under WRU ownership since being rescued from financial collapse in 2025, and for the independently backed Dragons RFC. Both are set to receive licences provided they agree to the final terms.

Marianne Økland, Chair of the Professional Rugby Board, said: “The aim is to finalise the new licensing model as quickly as possible and then move quickly to confirm future licence arrangements and transition plans. This will allow an orderly implementation and avoid prolonged uncertainty for clubs, players, supporters, investors and sponsors.

“Assuming that Cardiff Rugby and Dragons RFC want to sign up to the proposed licensing terms, there is now certainty that they will be offered the capital and east licences respectively.”

Uncertainty in the west

The decision leaves Ospreys and Scarlets facing an anxious wait. Between them, the two western regions have won the competition now known as the United Rugby Championship six times — the Ospreys lifting the trophy four times, most recently in 2012, and the Scarlets twice, most recently in 2017.

Both clubs only recently signed the Professional Rugby Agreement 2025 (PRA25) following more than a year of wrangling with the WRU. Ospreys signed in June and Scarlets followed in July, securing increased funding of £6.5 million over two years compared to the previous £4.5 million per year. The Scarlets’ agreement came in the same month the club announced a £2.1 million loss for the latest financial year.

A merger between the two was close to happening in 2019 but ultimately fell through, and it remains a practical if deeply controversial possibility.

Økland acknowledged the difficulty of the situation for both clubs: “We understand that there will be ongoing uncertainty until a final decision on the west licence is made. That is why we are committed to progressing in a collaborative way, whilst not underestimating the considerable challenges ahead, and providing stability for all at the earliest opportunity.”

A game in crisis

The restructuring comes against the backdrop of a deep crisis in Welsh rugby. More than 50 per cent of the WRU’s turnover comes from international matches, and the national team’s results have been dire since the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Despite briefly topping the world rankings in 2019 and winning the Six Nations title in 2021, Wales have since suffered an unprecedented 18-match Test losing sequence and record home defeats to England, Argentina and South Africa, slumping to 11th in the World Rugby rankings.

The decision to reduce the professional game to three teams has been heavily criticised by players, fans and politicians, sparking protests and even legal action. Whether the restructuring will reverse Welsh rugby’s fortunes or simply deepen the sense of crisis remains to be seen — but the clock is now ticking for Ospreys and Scarlets as they prepare to fight for their survival.

Leinster saved their best for last, producing a devastating display to demolish the Vodacom Bulls 36–7 at Croke Park and become the first side to win back-to-back BKT United Rugby Championship titles. In front of 39,184 supporters on a balmy but wet Friday night in Dublin, Leo Cullen’s side delivered a performance eerily similar to last year’s Grand Final at the same venue, tearing apart a Springbok-laden Bulls outfit that imploded through ill-discipline and errors to suffer a fourth defeat in five URC finals.

Key moments

2 mins – YELLOW CARD BULLS: Canan Moodie shown yellow for a deliberate knock-on, intercepting a Prendergast pass intended for McCarthy. Bulls down to 14.

5 mins – TRY LEINSTER: Tommy O’Brien pounces on a loose Pollard pass, grubbers ahead and gathers to score from 60 metres. Prendergast converts. (Leinster 7–0 Bulls)

6 mins: Caelan Doris goes off with a foot injury. Jack Conan replaces the Leinster captain.

16 mins – TRY LEINSTER: Gibson-Park takes a quick lineout and fires to Prendergast, who feeds Keenan. The full-back breaks through and sends Ioane over in the corner. Prendergast’s conversion misses. (Leinster 12–0 Bulls)

25 mins – YELLOW CARD BULLS: Willie le Roux sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, cutting out Keenan’s pass to O’Brien.

27 mins – TRY LEINSTER: Jack Conan drives over from close range after sustained forward pressure from the lineout. Prendergast converts. (Leinster 19–0 Bulls)

31 mins – PENALTY LEINSTER: Prendergast slots from in front after a scrum free-kick and penalty for not releasing. (Leinster 22–0 Bulls)

39 mins: Tommy O’Brien limps off with a leg injury. Garry Ringrose on, Ioane moves to the wing.

Half-time: Leinster 22–0 Bulls. A carbon copy of last year’s final, with Leinster in total control. Two Bulls yellow cards for deliberate knock-ons proved devastating, O’Brien, Ioane and Conan all crossing while Prendergast ran the show. Pollard’s error-strewn half summed up the Bulls’ performance, ending with a penalty kicked dead on the stroke of half-time.

46 mins – TRY LEINSTER: Prendergast scores from close range after a clever no-look pass to Osborne opens space. Converts his own try. (Leinster 29–0 Bulls)

55 mins: Harold Vorster held up over the line after a TMO check. Controversial call, with the Bulls adamant he grounded the ball.

58 mins – YELLOW CARD LEINSTER: James Lowe sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on on his farewell appearance.

62 mins – TRY BULLS: Canan Moodie scores off Papier’s pass after a lineout maul. Pollard converts. (Leinster 29–7 Bulls)

67 mins: Ruan Nortjé try disallowed. TMO rules Moodie’s offload in the build-up went forward.

73 mins: Luke McGrath enters for his 257th and final Leinster appearance, replacing Gibson-Park to a standing ovation.

77 mins – TRY LEINSTER: Harry Byrne drives over from close range after sustained pressure. Converts his own try. (Leinster 36–7 Bulls)

Full-time: Leinster 36–7 Bulls

Player of the Match: Sam Prendergast (Leinster)

The victory secured Leinster’s 10th league championship across all formats, 25 years after they won the first Celtic League title in 2001, and went a considerable way towards healing the wounds of their 41–19 Champions Cup final defeat to Bordeaux Bègles in Bilbao just four weeks earlier. It was also a fitting farewell for James Lowe, Luke McGrath, Rieko Ioane and Jerry Cahir, all playing their final matches in blue.

Sam Prendergast, outstanding throughout, was named Player of the Match after contributing a try, three conversions and a penalty for a 13-point haul. The 23-year-old Kildare man controlled proceedings with a composure and authority that will have delighted Ireland head coach Andy Farrell ahead of next month’s Nations Championship opener against Australia in Sydney.

The only cloud over the evening was the first-half departures of captain Caelan Doris and try scorer Tommy O’Brien, both limping off with injuries that will be assessed before Ireland’s squad assembles. Doris, however, offered reassurance afterwards. “My knee was fine, it was actually something else,” the captain said. “We’ll get it checked later. But I’m looking forward to a few beers with the lads. From a big disappointment a few weeks ago, I’m very proud we have been able to turn the page. It’s been a massive motivation for us to get it right, it was great to watch.”

The Bulls had spoken all week about starting fast and maintaining their discipline. They failed on both counts inside 82 seconds. Lowe burst into the clear on the left and Prendergast’s searching pass intended for Joe McCarthy was slapped down by Canan Moodie, who was promptly shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. The visitors initially defended heroically with 14 men, Cameron Hanekom producing a crucial turnover penalty on his own try line to repel Leinster’s opening siege. But they came unstuck on their first meaningful attack when Handré Pollard took his eye off a head-high pass that slipped through his fingers. O’Brien pounced on the loose ball in midfield, grubbed ahead, gathered a kind bounce and sprinted 60 metres to score unopposed. Prendergast converted from in front and Leinster led 7–0 after just five minutes.

Doris’s withdrawal with a foot injury in the sixth minute could have derailed the home side, but Jack Conan slipped seamlessly into the back row and soon made his presence felt. On 16 minutes, Leinster produced the try of the match. Jamison Gibson-Park took a quick lineout and fired a 35-metre pass to Prendergast, who fed Hugo Keenan. The full-back’s spin and acceleration opened up the Bulls defence before he sent it wide left to Ioane, who stepped inside Kurt-Lee Arendse and powered over in the corner. Prendergast’s conversion from the touchline curled wide, but at 12–0, Leinster were already in command.

The province’s defensive line speed was suffocating. When the Bulls briefly flickered into life through Stravino Jacobs, Prendergast accelerated back to make a brave sliding gather that prevented a certain try — a moment of defensive brilliance that encapsulated his influence on the evening. At the other end, Gibson-Park’s grubber forced Willie le Roux to concede a five-metre scrum, and although Rónán Kelleher was held up over the line, Leinster’s relentless pressure soon produced a third score. Keenan magnificently claimed a Prendergast bomb inside the Bulls 22 and le Roux, attempting to intercept Keenan’s pass to O’Brien, became the second Bull to be sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on in the 25th minute. From the resulting lineout, Conan drove low and reached out to ground the ball from close range. Prendergast converted and, at 19–0 after 27 minutes, the contest was effectively over.

Prendergast’s penalty after a scrum free-kick extended the lead to 22–0 in the 31st minute and the Bulls could not find an answer before the break. Their lineout, targeted superbly by Max Deegan and Josh van der Flier throughout, lost four first-half throws, while Pollard’s nightmare continued when he kicked a penalty dead on the stroke of half-time, denying his side any late momentum.

The second half brought no reprieve. Prendergast struck again within six minutes of the restart, reacting smartly to lazy defence on the edge of a ruck to snipe and dive over from close range after his elegant no-look pass to Jamie Osborne had opened the space. He converted his own try to make it 29–0 and the rout was on.

The Bulls showed more fight after introducing their bench, with the Springbok bomb squad of Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Wilco Louw, Cobus Wiese and Jeandré Rudolph all arriving in the 53rd minute. Harold Vorster appeared to have crossed for the visitors’ first try, but a TMO review upheld the on-field decision of held up, a call that drew fierce protests from the South Africans and was widely regarded as harsh. Minutes later, Lowe became the third player to be sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on — an unfortunate moment on his farewell appearance — and the Bulls finally breached the Leinster defence when Moodie shot through a gap off Embrose Papier’s pass to score. Pollard converted to make it 29–7 in the 62nd minute.

Any faint hopes of a miracle were extinguished almost immediately. Ruan Nortjé crossed for what appeared to be the Bulls’ second try, but the TMO ruled that Moodie’s offload in the build-up had gone forward — another contentious call that left the visitors fuming. The Bulls’ frustrations should, however, have been directed internally. Their senior players failed to deliver when it mattered most: le Roux and Moodie’s yellow cards were self-inflicted, Pollard’s error led directly to the opening try, and their lineout never functioned.

Leinster, by contrast, were clinical to the end. McGrath’s arrival for his 257th and final appearance in the 73rd minute was greeted with an enormous ovation, and the departing scrum-half helped set up the final try, conducting the forwards’ carries before Harry Byrne drove over from five metres and converted his own score to seal it at 36–7.

Doris, grimacing but on his feet, led the squad up to the trophy podium alongside Lowe, whose two children joined him on stage for an emotional lift of the trophy. “That’s pretty special,” said Prendergast. “We have unbelievable characters leaving the group, it’s nice to have a happy memory to end it on and we can celebrate that in the next few days. Since Europe, all our group has been focused on has been winning this back-to-back. Nobody had done it before.”

Ioane, visibly moved, was succinct. “We saved our best performance until last. I’ve loved my time in Dublin.”

And Lowe, the province’s all-time leading try scorer, offered a promise: “We will go enjoy Japan for a few years, then we will be back in a few years.”

For the Bulls, the questions that have lingered through four finals in five seasons now echo louder than ever. They came to Dublin with 11 Springboks in their starting XV and the momentum of eight consecutive wins, but produced a performance that head coach Johan Ackermann will find difficult to defend. The same mistakes, the same venue, the same outcome — and a record that now reads four defeats from five URC Grand Finals.

Leinster, meanwhile, can bask in the glow of a perfect end to a frustrating season. The URC may not be the trophy they covet most, but it is one worth celebrating — and the sight of Lowe, McGrath and their teammates completing a lap of honour in the Dublin rain, trophy aloft, was the farewell this group deserved.

Teams

Leinster: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Tommy O’Brien (Garry Ringrose 40+2), 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast (Harry Byrne 68), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park (Luke McGrath 73); 1 Jerry Cahir (Alex Usanov 49), 2 Rónán Kelleher (Dan Sheehan 47), 3 Tadhg Furlong (Thomas Clarkson 47), 4 Joe McCarthy (Diarmuid Mangan 70), 5 James Ryan, 6 Max Deegan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris (captain) (Jack Conan 6).

Vodacom Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs (Stedman Gans 56), 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier (Zak Burger 67); 1 Gerhard Steenekamp (Jan-Hendrik Wessels 53), 2 Johan Grobbelaar (Nizaam Carr 72), 3 Francois Klopper (Wilco Louw 53), 4 Ruan Vermaak (Cobus Wiese 53), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 7 Elrigh Louw (Marco van Staden 53), 8 Cameron Hanekom (Jeandré Rudolph 53).

Match details

Leinster 36 (Tries: O’Brien, Ioane, Conan, Prendergast, H. Byrne; Conversions: Prendergast 3/4, H. Byrne 1/1; Penalties: Prendergast 1/1)
Vodacom Bulls 7 (Tries: Moodie; Conversions: Pollard 1/1)
Half-time: 22–0

Venue: Croke Park, Dublin
Attendance: 39,184
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Adam Jones (Wales), Ben Breakspear (Wales)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)

The fifth BKT United Rugby Championship Grand Final brings together its two most compelling rivals for a second consecutive year, as defending champions Leinster host the Vodacom Bulls under Friday night lights at Croke Park. It is the first Friday evening Grand Final in competition history, a scheduling quirk forced by the Aviva Stadium’s unavailability, with GAA fixtures occupying Croke Park across the rest of the weekend. The 82,000-capacity home of the GAA will provide a spectacular backdrop for the ninth meeting between these sides in the URC era — a rivalry that has become the competition’s defining fixture.

This is the fourth successive cross-continental final and the first time the same two teams have met in back-to-back Grand Finals. With 11 Springboks in the Bulls’ starting XV and 14 Ireland internationals across the Leinster matchday squad, Friday’s decider will resemble a Test match in club colours. Leinster are chasing a record-extending tenth overall league title and aim to become the first side to defend the crown in the URC era. The Bulls arrive in Dublin for a fourth final in five seasons, seeking to finally get their hands on the trophy after defeats to the Stormers (2022), Glasgow Warriors (2024) and Leinster last year.

Leinster – Defending champions with a point to prove

BKT United Rugby Championship Grand Final Photocall 16/6/2026 Leinster and Ireland captain Caelan Doris posing with the URC Trophy. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Form

Leo Cullen’s side have had a season of two halves. Finishing second in the regular-season standings behind Glasgow Warriors and reaching the Champions Cup final gave them a formidable look heading into the knockout rounds, but the 41–19 demolition by Bordeaux Bègles in Bilbao on 23 May left deep psychological bruising. It was Leinster’s fifth successive Champions Cup final loss and fourth in five seasons, raising legitimate questions about their defensive system under senior coach Jacques Nienaber, particularly against teams capable of sustained, high-tempo attack.

The response in the URC play-offs has been effective rather than spectacular. A 59–10 demolition of the Lions in the quarter-final offered catharsis, before a more anxious semi-final against the Stormers at the Aviva Stadium. Leinster built a 13–0 lead through a Rieko Ioane try and two Sam Prendergast penalties, but Andrew Porter’s first-half departure with a calf injury destabilised their scrum and the Stormers clawed back to 13–11. A late red card for Ruan Ackermann and a yellow for Salmaan Moerat opened the door for Jamison Gibson-Park’s clinching try in a 20–11 victory.

Friday’s final completes a clean sweep of South African opponents in this season’s play-offs — the Lions in the quarter-final, the Stormers in the semi-final and now the Bulls in the decider. Their only defeat in their last six fixtures across all competitions was the Bordeaux reversal. At Croke Park, Leinster have played six matches including last season’s Grand Final, with their only defeat coming in their most recent visit — a 14–31 loss to Munster in Round Four.

Through the various guises of this competition, this is Leinster’s 13th appearance in a league final, with eight victories and four defeats. Their only loss in the last eight finals was to Connacht at Murrayfield in 2016.

Team news

Cullen has made three changes to the side that defeated the Stormers. Captain Caelan Doris has been passed fit after the knee injury he sustained during the semi-final — he was pictured wearing a brace at last week’s Leinster Rugby Awards night but trained fully this week and takes his place at number eight. Dan Sheehan, who missed the semi-final entirely, has also recovered and is named among the replacements.

Tadhg Furlong returns at tighthead for his first start since April, having missed both knockout fixtures through injury. His comeback is a significant boost, replacing Thomas Clarkson who drops to the bench. Jerry Cahir comes in at loosehead in place of the injured Porter, preferred to 20-year-old Alex Usanov, who came under considerable scrum pressure after replacing Porter in the semi-final. Cahir is making his 15th appearance in what is also his final game before joining Connacht. Rónán Kelleher retains the hooker’s jersey ahead of the returning Sheehan.

Tommy O’Brien is the third change, returning on the right wing for Jimmy O’Brien after recovering from a back complaint that kept him out of both knockout fixtures. O’Brien had a stellar regular season and was named Nissan Supporters’ Player of the Year, Bank of Ireland Men’s Player’s Player of the Year, and picked up the Optimum Nutrition Tackle of the Year prize at the Leinster Rugby Awards.

James Lowe starts on the left wing in his 101st and final appearance for the province before his move to Japan’s Suntory Sungoliath, departing as Leinster’s all-time leading try scorer with 71 tries across nine seasons. Rieko Ioane and Jamie Osborne continue in the centres, with Prendergast and Gibson-Park — the player of the match in the semi-final — renewing their half-back partnership. Joe McCarthy and James Ryan are unchanged in the second row, with Max Deegan and Josh van der Flier completing the back row.

The bench features six Ireland internationals, including the returning Sheehan, Jack Conan, Garry Ringrose and Luke McGrath, who is set for his 257th and final appearance before joining Perpignan. The selection of Harry Byrne at back-up fly-half confirms Ciarán Frawley has played his last game for the province.

Ryan Baird, Jack Boyle, Will Connors, Hugh Cooney, RG Snyman, Charlie Tector and Paddy McCarthy remain long-term absentees.

Leinster (caps in brackets): 15. Hugo Keenan (85), 14. Tommy O’Brien (61), 13. Rieko Ioane (17), 12. Jamie Osborne (76), 11. James Lowe (101), 10. Sam Prendergast (51), 9. Jamison Gibson-Park (173); 1. Jerry Cahir (15), 2. Rónán Kelleher (94), 3. Tadhg Furlong (166), 4. Joe McCarthy (65), 5. James Ryan (111), 6. Max Deegan (160), 7. Josh van der Flier (175), 8. Caelan Doris (108, captain).

Replacements: 16. Dan Sheehan (88), 17. Alex Usanov (9), 18. Thomas Clarkson (79), 19. Diarmuid Mangan (30), 20. Jack Conan (179), 21. Luke McGrath (256), 22. Harry Byrne (93), 23. Garry Ringrose (150).

What they said

Leinster assistant coach Robin McBryde was forthright about the set-piece challenge awaiting his pack. “You know they are going to come after you in the tighter aspects – the scrum, the lineout maul – so it would be foolish to look any further than that from a set piece point of view,” McBryde said. “We can’t be scared. We’ve got to meet them head-on and go for it. And that’s what we’ll do.”

Former Leinster captain Isa Nacewa, who won four European Cups across two spells with the province, identified the full-back battle between Hugo Keenan and Willie le Roux as the key contest. “There will be a bit of kicking in this game,” Nacewa said. “There will be a lot of field cover needed by both teams. They are both stand-out, world-class players, but for me, the fullback battle is key. It is not just the flat stuff, but also some key tactical decisions needed by both these players. Willie [le Roux] oozes class and always has. When he is on, every team has to watch out.”

Vodacom Bulls – redemption on their minds

BKT United Rugby Championship Grand Final Photocall 16/6/2026 Vodacom Bulls skipper Marcell Coetzee posing with the URC Trophy. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Form

The Bulls’ season has been a story of transformation. Under head coach Johan Ackermann, who replaced Jake White after last year’s 32–7 final humiliation at this same venue, the Pretoria side endured a torrid mid-season run that saw them lose seven consecutive matches across the URC and Champions Cup. Ackermann has spoken candidly about questioning his own decisions during that period, eventually taking direct control of the forwards coaching to rebuild relationships and restore confidence.

The turnaround has been extraordinary. The Bulls arrive at Croke Park on an eight-match URC winning streak, the form team in the competition. Their timing has been impeccable. The quarter-final destruction of Munster (45–14) at Loftus Versfeld was emphatic, with Handré Pollard slotting all six conversions and recording 15 points. But it was the semi-final at Murrayfield that will live longest in the memory. Trailing 21–3 after just 25 minutes, having conceded two tries to Kyle Steyn and a penalty try while Pollard and Ruan Nortjé were in the sin bin, the Bulls produced one of the most remarkable comebacks in URC history. Johan Grobbelaar, Embrose Papier and Francois Klopper all crossed as the visitors scored 19 unanswered points, holding Glasgow scoreless in the second half to win 22–21.

The Bulls have visited Ireland on 12 occasions, winning four times — more than any other South African team. The two sides have met in three previous play-off fixtures, with the Bulls holding the edge two wins to one courtesy of semi-final victories at the RDS in 2022 (a sensational 27–26 raid) and in Pretoria in 2024 (25–20), though Leinster’s 32–7 victory last year remains the largest winning margin in URC Grand Final history. The Bulls also won the solitary regular-season meeting this campaign, a 39–31 thriller at Loftus Versfeld in early October.

This is the Bulls’ fourth final in five URC seasons, though they are yet to taste victory. They do, however, have pedigree when it comes to finals, having won all three of their Super Rugby deciders in 2007, 2009 and 2010.

Team news

Ackermann has named an unchanged matchday 23 from the Glasgow semi-final, a resounding vote of confidence in the group that engineered the Murrayfield comeback. Eleven Springboks start, with captain Marcell Coetzee leading the side. Francois Klopper is retained at tighthead ahead of Springbok Wilco Louw — a significant show of faith in Klopper, who will earn his 50th URC cap on Friday alongside full-back Willie le Roux. Louw’s considerable power is held in reserve on a bench that has all the hallmarks of a bomb squad, with Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Cobus Wiese completing a 6–2 split designed to increase the intensity in the second half rather than defend it.

The half-back pairing of Pollard and Embrose Papier is the axis around which the Bulls’ game plan revolves. Papier — the joint URC leading try scorer this season with 12 tries and the competition’s Player of the Year, with six Man of the Match awards — provides sniping threat and tempo, while Pollard is the competition’s third-highest points scorer with 127 this campaign, behind fellow South African playmakers Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Chris Smith.

Harold Vorster and Canan Moodie form the midfield partnership, with Vorster’s direct carrying providing a hard edge through the centre channel. Kurt-Lee Arendse and Stravino Jacobs offer genuine finishing pace on the wings, while le Roux orchestrates from full-back. Ruan Vermaak and Ruan Nortjé provide lineout security and physicality in the second row, with Coetzee, Elrigh Louw and the outstanding Cameron Hanekom — last season’s URC Next-Gen Player of the Year — completing a formidable loose trio.

Vodacom Bulls: 15. Willie le Roux, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13. Canan Moodie, 12. Harold Vorster, 11. Stravino Jacobs, 10. Handré Pollard, 9. Embrose Papier; 1. Gerhard Steenekamp, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 3. Francois Klopper, 4. Ruan Vermaak, 5. Ruan Nortjé, 6. Marcell Coetzee (captain), 7. Elrigh Louw, 8. Cameron Hanekom.

Replacements: 16. Marco van Staden, 17. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18. Wilco Louw, 19. Cobus Wiese, 20. Jeandré Rudolph, 21. Zak Burger, 22. Stedman Gans, 23. Nizaam Carr.

What they said

Ackermann has framed the occasion in terms of gratitude rather than entitlement. “For me it’s important that we understand that it’s a privilege to be here,” he said. “It’s not your right, you’re not entitled to be here. To come to work every day and call this work – it’s a great privilege. We’ve got a shot, and if you ask me, do I believe we can win? Then I’m going to say yes.”

Former Bulls and Springbok great Victor Matfield identified the scrum-half and midfield battles as decisive. “Gibson-Park is the heart of the Leinster attack,” Matfield said. “Embrose Papier has been outstanding. Hopefully, he gets a good run with the Springboks this year. His kicking game is spot-on, especially the contestable kicks.” On the centres, Matfield backed Moodie to rise to the occasion. “Moodie is an up-and-coming star, and I do enjoy him at No.13. That will be his position going forward with the Boks as well. It will be a great test for him against this Leinster attack, and you need a No.13 that makes good decisions [on defence].”

Key battles

Here are three head-to-head contests that could prove decisive on Friday night.

The scrum-half duel between Gibson-Park and Papier is the most intriguing individual match-up. Gibson-Park has been instrumental in both knockout victories — he was the scorer of the semi-final clinching try against the Stormers and a British and Irish Lions stalwart who sets the tempo for everything Leinster do. Papier’s 12 tries and six Man of the Match awards make him arguably the most dangerous nine in the competition, with a sniping running game and contestable kicking that has added a new dimension to his game this season.

At fly-half, Prendergast has tallied 83 points in the URC this campaign and is set to start in back-to-back Grand Finals, having notched 10 points off the tee in last year’s one-sided affair. He re-established himself as Leinster’s first-choice ten after missing out on the 23-man squad for the Champions Cup final defeat to Bordeaux, and has since operated almost flawlessly. Pollard, with 127 points as the competition’s third-highest scorer and 85 Springbok caps behind him, is the big-match operator the Bulls will look to for composure and territorial control. A two-time World Cup winner, Pollard defines knockout rugby — territory, scoreboard pressure, composure.

In the back row, former World Player of the Year van der Flier — who scored a 23rd-minute try in last year’s final to help set the platform for Leinster’s victory — goes head-to-head with Elrigh Louw, who has returned from almost 11 months on the sidelines to feature in nine wins from his last 10 URC appearances.

Porter’s absence, however, looms as the most significant factor. Without their first-choice loosehead, Leinster’s scrum faces a Bulls pack that dismantled Glasgow at set-piece time. McBryde’s refusal to shy away from the challenge suggests Leinster know this is where the match could be won or lost.

Head-to-head record

The Bulls lead the overall head-to-head 5–3 across eight previous meetings since the South African sides joined the URC in 2021.

The bigger picture

Beyond the trophy, the match carries implications on multiple fronts. Ireland head coach Andy Farrell named his squad for the summer Nations Championship fixtures on Wednesday, with Ireland facing Australia, Japan and New Zealand in their opening matches.

For the Bulls, a victory in Dublin would represent the most significant result in the franchise’s URC history, validating Ackermann’s appointment and the project he has built since inheriting a side scarred by three final defeats. Their Super Rugby pedigree — three titles in 2007, 2009 and 2010 — demonstrates this is a franchise that knows how to win finals, even if the URC trophy has proved elusive.

The decline in Leinster’s attendances is a backdrop Cullen will want to address. Only 9,493 and 15,346 attended the quarter-final and semi-final respectively, a trend that has prompted discussion among the province’s supporters and media. Last year’s Grand Final at Croke Park attracted 46,127, and a comparable figure on Friday would ease concerns about supporter engagement.

For James Lowe, this is the final chapter of an extraordinary Irish adventure that began in 2017, departing as the province’s all-time leading try scorer with 71 tries. McGrath’s 257th and final appearance brings to a close one of the longest and most decorated careers in Leinster’s history. Ioane’s 17th and final cap completes a short but impactful stint in Dublin. And Cahir, in just his 15th appearance, plays his last game before joining Connacht. A farewell under the Friday night lights at Croke Park, with a championship on the line, is the stage they all deserve.

Venue: Croke Park, Dublin
Kick-off: Friday, 19 June – 19:30 (UK & Ireland) / 20:30 (South Africa) / 04:30 Saturday (AEST) / 06:30 Saturday (NZST)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 63rd league game)
Assistant Referees: Adam Jones (WRU), Ben Breakspear (WRU)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Live on: Premier Sports 1, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv