The Vodacom United Rugby Championship quarter-final line-up has been confirmed after a dramatic final round of pool fixtures, with South Africa's Bulls and Sharks earning home advantage, while the Stormers will travel to Scotland for a tough clash against Glasgow.
Quarter-Finals Locked In
The Bulls, already assured of second place before the final weekend, rounded off their regular season with a commanding 55–15 win over the Dragons at Loftus Versfeld. Their nine-try performance, dedicated to late teammate Cornal Hendricks, sets up a quarter-final against Edinburgh in Pretoria on Saturday, 31 May.
Joining them at home will be the Hollywoodbets Sharks, who secured third place by grinding out a 12–3 win over the Scarlets in Durban. Despite a scrappy affair marked by handling errors and missed chances, the Sharks did enough to claim the South African Shield and will now host Munster.
The DHL Stormers booked a playoff trip to Glasgow after defeating Cardiff 34–24 in a fiery clash at the DHL Stadium. Both sides received red cards in a match filled with attacking flair and defensive lapses. The Cape side will now face the Warriors on Friday, 30 May.
Leinster, who topped the table, will host the Scarlets in Dublin to complete the quarter-final roster.
Match Highlights
Stormers 34–24 Cardiff
The Stormers struck five tries, with doubles from Leolin Zas and Suleiman Hartzenberg, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s late penalty sealed Cardiff’s fate. The Cape side’s handling errors, however, remain a concern ahead of their Scottish test.
Bulls 55–15 Dragons
A rampant Bulls side dominated from the outset, with tries from Akker van der Merwe (2), Sergeal Petersen (2), and others highlighting their attacking cohesion. The emotional win was a fitting tribute to Hendricks.
Lions 29–28 Ospreys
Jaco Visagie bagged a brace, and Dobela’s dramatic final score clinched a morale-boosting win. The Lions showcased grit in their final outing of the season.
Sharks 12–3 Scarlets
In a scrappy match dictated by penalties, Aphelele Fassi’s accurate boot delivered the win. While the Sharks’ attack misfired, their resolute defence held firm to secure the home quarter-final.
Upcoming Quarter-Finals
Friday, 30 May
Glasgow Warriors vs DHL Stormers, Glasgow
Saturday, 31 May
Vodacom Bulls vs Edinburgh, Pretoria
Hollywoodbets Sharks vs Munster, Durban
Leinster vs Scarlets, Dublin
URC action pauses for a week to accommodate the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup finals before the race for the title resumes.
[Submitted by Kevin Rademeyer]