Bulls host Benetton, Stormers hit the road
The Bulls will host their first quarter-final in the Vodacom URC at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday after securing the SA Shield and a top-two finish in the overall standings.
The Bulls face Benetton in Pretoria, before the DHL Stormers lock horns with the Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium next week in the Vodacom URC quarter-finals.
Munster will face Ospreys at Thomond Park on Friday night in the opening clash of the final eight, and the defending champions will host the Grand Final should they qualify having earned the top ranking after a dramatic ending to the regular season yesterday.
The Bulls secured the SA Shield and a top-two finish on the overall standings following a 26-14 win over Sharks in Durban, and will host their first quarter-final in the competition at Loftus Versfeld next Saturday.
Eight-time league winners Leinster take on Ulster at Aviva Stadium and the final game of the slate sees the Warriors and Stormers meet in Scotland.
It will be a maiden play-off tie away from home for the Capetonians, who hosted back-to-back URC finals and won the inaugural edition in 2021-22.
The Lions missed out on a first appearance in the play-offs after going down 29-24 to the Stormers in a thrilling round 18 clash at Cape Town Stadium.
A losing bonus point moved the Lions to 50 points and gave Ivan van Rooyen’s troops a glimmer of hope, which was extinguished courtesy of Ospreys’ five-point win in Cardiff.
The potential semi-finals will see Munster or Ospreys tackle the winners between the Warriors and Stormers, while either the Bulls or Benetton await the victors of the all-Ireland showdown in Dublin.
URC quarter-finals and times:
Friday, June 7
Munster vs Ospreys, Limerick, 20:35
Saturday, June 8
Bulls vs Benetton, Pretoria, 15:30
Leinster vs Ulster, Dublin, 18:00
Glasgow Warriors vs Stormers, Glasgow, 20:35
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