How the URC play-offs work: Glasgow Warriors’ route to the title, possible opponents and key dates

Glasgow Warriors, who finished the league standings at the top of the table after 18 games, enter the knockout stages as top seeds. That means they have ‘home’ advantage all the way to the final, should they get there.

Their first opponents will be Connacht who booked their place thanks to a bonus point win away to Edinburgh in the final round of regular season fixtures. Here are all eight teams who have made it to the play-offs, when and where they face each other plus Glasgow’s potential route to the final:

URC play-off quarter finals: dates, kick off times and venues

Glasgow Warriors will play Connacht in the first of the four URC play-off quarter-finals. It is scheduled to kick off on Friday, May 29 at 7:45pm UK time at Scotstoun Stadium.

Here are the dates and kick off times for the other three quarter-final matches (all kick off times BST):

• Vodacom Bulls vs Munster - Saturday, May 30 - 12:00 - Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
• DHL Stormers vs Cardiff Rugby - Saturday, May 30 - 14:30 DHL Stadium, Cape Town
• Leinster vs Fidelity SecureDrive Lions - Saturday, May 30 - 20:00 Avia Stadium, Dublin

Glasgow Warriors potential route to 2026 URC final

The winner of Glasgow Warriors vs Connacht will play the winner of the Bulls vs Munster tie in the semi-finals. Should Connacht win then they would be the away team for the semi-final with Bulls or Munster taking home advantage.

Both semi-finals are currently scheduled to be played on Saturday, June 6. Glasgow would also have ‘home’ advantage in the semi-finals and their fixture would be played at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh due to Scotstoun being prepared for the Commonwealth Games.

Warriors’ finished top of the standings at the end of the regular URC season which means they would also have ‘home’ advantage if the reached the final. However, a potential venue for a Warriors final is currently to be determined due to the current unavailability of all suitable stadiums in Scotland.

Belfast’s Affidea Stadium is the current preference for Glasgow but that could change as Scottish Rugby explore the feasibility of having Murrayfield ready for the showpiece match on Saturday, June 20. That date is just six days after the Home of Scottish Rugby hosts a concert.

On the other side of the draw it is Leinster who have home advantage in the semi-finals if they win their quarter-final against the Lions as they finished second in the league standings. If the Lions win then they would be away to the winner of the Stormers vs Cardiff tie.

Full 2026 URC play-off dates: quarter-finals, semi-finals and final

Here is the current schedule for the 2026 URC play-offs:

• Quarter-finals - Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30
• Semi-finals - Saturday, June 6
• Final - Saturday, June 20

All matches are due to be broadcast live on Premier Sports in the UK.

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