Edinburgh's turnover king and Glasgow Warriors ace included in URC elite team

The Elite XV is determined by a media vote and players must have made at least nine appearances to be considered. The two Scots to make it into the team are Edinburgh’s Jamie Ritchie and Glasgow Warriors’ Sione Tuipulotu.

Ritchie has already won the URC’s ‘Turnover King’ award, given to the player who has won the most turnovers during the regular season. The Scotland flanker made 22 in the URC in 2023-24, four more than Connacht’s Shamus Hurley-Langton, who finished in second place.

Tuipulotu has enjoyed another fine season, helping Glasgow reach the semi-finals where they will face Munster on Saturday. It’s the second year running that the centre has been named in the Elite XV.

The team is dominated by players from Vodacom Bulls, who will face Leinster in the other semi. The South African franchise supplies six of the XV, including hooker Akker van der Merwe, brother of Edinburgh and Scotland wing Duhan.

Defending URC champions Munster have three players in the XV with Next-Gen Player of the Season Jack Crowley selected alongside fellow Ireland international Tadhg Beirne, and Alex Nankivell.

Warrick Gelant (Stormers), Jordan Larmour (Leinster), John Cooney (Ulster) and Ox Nche (Sharks) make up the rest of the XV.

Full URC Elite XV: 15. Warrick Gelant (DHL Stormers), 14. Jordan Larmour (Leinster Rugby), 13. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), 12. Alex Nankivell (Munster Rugby), 11. Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), 10. Jack Crowley (Munster Rugby), 9. John Cooney (Ulster Rugby), 1. Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), 2. Akker van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls), 3. Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), 4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby), 5. Ruan Nortjé (Vodacom Bulls), 6. Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), 7. Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), 8. Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls)