URC statement: New South African trip confirmed for Munster and co

The under-pressure United Rugby Championship has tweaked its upcoming fixtures schedule in the hope that the recent virus-enforced chaos involving cross-hemisphere travel isn't repeated next month. Cardiff, Munster, Scarlets and Zebre Parma were all caught up in quarantine hell when shortly after they arrived in South Africa recently for two rounds of URC matches versus the local Bulls, Lions, Sharks and the Stormers franchises.

Those games were called off following the emergence of the omicron virus strain and it resulted in outbreaks and quarantine that affected those Welsh, Irish and Italian clubs and their respective European campaigns. Scarlets, for instance, has to forfeit their Champions Cup tie at Bristol as their squad was held up in quarantine in Belfast after its complicated return from South Africa.

The shambles of the trips to the southern hemisphere by the four European-based teams generated grave concerns that the URC season won't be completed with all of its planned fixtures taking place. However, tournament organisers are determined they can safeguard the credibility of the cross-hemisphere tournament and they have now taken steps to ensure there is no more fixtures chaos in the near future. 

All four South African franchises were due to play in Europe in round ten of the URC on the weekend of January 7, but these matches which were to feature the Bulls at Zebre, the Lions at Leinster, the Stormers and Connacht and the Sharks at Benetton have been rescheduled for the weekend of February 25 in the hope that the current pandemic restrictions will have been lifted.  

It is also intended to play the infamously postponed round six and seven URC matches featuring Cardiff, Munster, Scarlets and Zebre in South Africa on the weekend of March 11 and 18. A URC tournament statement on Monday read: "Scheduling for the United Rugby Championship up to round 17 has been completed with adjustments made to cater for postponed and rescheduled fixtures.

"To avoid further rescheduling in the immediate calendar, the round ten fixtures involving South African teams due to take place in Ireland and Italy have been rescheduled to the final weekend of February. The postponed fixtures from rounds six and seven that were due to take place in South Africa will now be moved to the weekends of March 11/12 and March 18/19. More details about these fixtures will be confirmed after further discussions with key stakeholders involved are completed.

"A number of South African derbies have also been adjusted to accommodate the revised schedule. The URC is fully committed to playing all games as scheduled but will ensure that the welfare of teams and players comes first. The league is greatly encouraged by the decision of the UK government to ease travel restrictions with respect to South Africa and will continue to comply with directions set out by the health authorities and government departments in our various jurisdictions.

"The URC medical advisory group will continue to provide regular guidance and updates to our clubs regarding best practice and health and safety measures in relation to Covid-19 protocols. The dates and kick-off times for round 18 will be confirmed next month after consultation with our broadcast partners who have been of great assistance during this process."

URC SCHEDULE ROUNDS 10 TO 17

Round 10 – Saturday, January 8

Edinburgh v Cardiff | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA / 17:00 SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | Premier Sports, S4C

Munster v Ulster | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA / 21 :35 SA | RTE, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Scarlets v Dragons | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA / 21 :35 SA | Premier Sports

Round 8 (SA derbies) – Saturday, January 22

Emirates Lions v Cell C Sharks | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Vodacom Bulls v DHL Stormers | 15:05 UK / 16:05 ITA / 17:05 SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Round 11 – Friday, January 28

Ulster v Scarlets | 19.35 UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | Premier Sports

Dragons v Benetton | 19.35 UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | BBC Wales, Mediaset, Premier Sports

Saturday, January 29

Emirates Lions v Vodacom Bulls | 13.00 UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Connacht v Glasgow Warriors | 14.55 UK / 15.55 ITA / 16.55 SA | RTÉ 2, Premier Sports

Cell C Sharks v DHL Stormers | 15.05 UK / 16.05 ITA / 17.05 SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Zebre Parma Parma v Munster | 17.00 UK / 18.00 ITA / 19.00 SA | Mediaset, RTÉ 2, Premier Sports

Ospreys v Edinburgh | 17.15 UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA | Premier Sports

Cardiff v Leinster | 19.35 UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | S4C, TG4, Premier Sports

Round 9 (SA derbies) – Saturday, February 5

Vodacom Bulls v Emirates Lions | 13.00 UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports

DHL Stormers v Cell C Sharks | 15.05 UK / 16.05 ITA / 17.05 SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Round 12 (SA derbies) – Saturday, February 12

Emirates Lions v DHL Stormers | 13.00 UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Vodacom Bulls v Cell C Sharks | 15.05 UK / 16.05 ITA / 17.05 SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Round 12 – Friday, February 18

Munster v Edinburgh | 19.35 UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | TG4, Premier Sports

Cardiff v Zebre Parma | 19.35 UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | BBC Wales, Mediaset, Premier Sports

Saturday, February 19

Leinster v Ospreys | 17.00 UK / 18.00 ITA / 19.00 SA | RTÉ 2, S4C, Premier Sports

Scarlets v Connacht | 19.35 UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | S4C, TG4, Premier Sports

Glasgow Warriors v Benetton | 19.35 UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | Premier Sports, Mediaset

Sunday, February 20

Dragons v Ulster | 14:00 UK / 15:00 ITA / 16:00 SA | Premier Sports

Round 10 (rescheduled) – Friday, February 25

Zebre Parma v Vodacom Bulls | 17:30 UK / 18:30 ITA / 19:30 SA | Mediaset, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Leinster v Emirates Lions | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA / 21 :35 SA | TG4, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Saturday, February 26

Connacht v DHL Stormers | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | RTE, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Benetton v Cell C Sharks | 15:05 UK / 16:05 ITA / 17:05 SA | Mediaset, Super Sport, Premier Sport

Round 13 – Friday, March 4

Ulster v Cardiff | 19.35 UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | BBC NI, BBC Wales, RTÉ 2, Premier Sports

Edinburgh v Connacht | 19.35 UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | Premier Sports, TG4

Saturday, March 5

Benetton v Leinster | 12.55 UK / 13.55 ITA / 14.55 SA | Mediaset, RTÉ 2, Premier Sports

Scarlets v Glasgow Warriors | 17.15 UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA | Premier Sports

Munster v Dragons | 17.15 UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA | TG4, S4C, Premier Sports

Sunday, March 6

Ospreys v Zebre Parma | 14.00 UK / 15.00 ITA / 16.00 SA | S4C, Mediaset, Premier Sports

Round 6 (rescheduled) - Weekend of March 11/12/13

DHL Stormers v Zebre Parma | TBC | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Cell C Sharks v Scarlets | TBC | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports

Vodacom Bulls v Munster | TBC | Super Sport, TG4, Premier Sports

Emirates Lions v Cardiff | TBC | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports

Round 7 (rescheduled) – Weekend of March 18/19/20

Vodacom Bulls v Scarlets | TBC  | Super Sport, BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Cell C Sharks v Zebre Parma | TBC | Super Sport, Italian TV, Premier Sports

Emirates Lions v Munster | TBC | Super Sport, RTE, Premier Sports

DHL Stormers v Cardiff | TBC | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports

Round 14 – Friday, March 25

Emirates Lions v Ospreys | 17.00 UK / 18.00 ITA / 19.00 SA | Super Sport, BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Munster v Benetton | 19.35 UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | TG4, Mediaset, Premier Sports

Saturday, March 26

Zebre Parma v Scarlets | 13.00 UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA | Mediaset, BBC Wales, Premier Sports

DHL Stormers v Ulster | 13.00 UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Cell C Sharks v Edinburgh | 15.05 UK / 16.05 ITA / 17.05 SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Cardiff v Glasgow Warriors | 17.15 UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA | Premier Sports

Vodacom Bulls v Dragons | 17.15 UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA | SuperSport, S4C, Premier Sports

Connacht v Leinster | 19.35 UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA | RTÉ 2, Premier Sports

Round 15 – Friday, April 1

Cell C Sharks v Dragons | 18.30 UK / 19.30 ITA & SA | Super Sport, BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Glasgow Warriors v Zebre Parma | 19.35 UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, Mediaset

Saturday, April 2

Benetton v Connacht | 12.00 UK / 13.00 ITA & SA | Mediaset, RTÉ 2, Premier Sports

Vodacom Bulls v Ulster | 13.00 UK / 14.00 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sports

Emirates Lions v Edinburgh | 15.05 UK / 16.05 ITA & SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports

DHL Stormers v Ospreys | 17.15 UK / 18.15 ITA & SA | SuperSport, S4C, Premier Sports

Leinster v Munster | 19.00 UK / 20.00 ITA & SA | TG4, Premier Sports

Scarlets v Cardiff | 19.35 UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports

Round 13 (SA derbies) – Saturday, April 9

DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA & SA | Super Sport, Premier Sport

Cell C Sharks v Emirates Lions | 15 :05 UK / 16 :05 ITA & SA | Super Sport, Premier Sport

Round 16 – Friday, April 22

DHL Stormers v Glasgow Warriors | 17.30 UK / 18.30 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Premier Sport

Ulster v Munster | 19.35 UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | BBC NI, RTÉ 2, Premier Sports

Edinburgh v Zebre Parma | 19.45 UK / 20.45 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, Mediaset

Saturday, April 23

Vodacom Bulls v Benetton | 13.00 UK / 14.00 ITA & SA | SuperSport, Mediaset, Premier Sports

Emirates Lions v Connacht | 15.05 UK / 16.05 ITA & SA | SuperSport, RTÉ 2, Premier Sports

Dragons v Scarlets | 15.00 UK / 16.00 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Cardiff v Ospreys | 17.15 UK / 18.15 ITA & SA | S4C, Premier Sports

Cell C Sharks v Leinster | 17.15 UK / 18.15 ITA & SA | SuperSport, TG4, Premier Sports

Round 17 – Friday, April 29

Vodacom Bulls v Glasgow Warriors | 18.00 UK / 19.00 ITA & SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Munster v Cardiff | 19.35 UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | TG4, BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Saturday, April 30

Emirates Lions v Benetton | 13.00 UK / 14.00 ITA & SA | Super Sport, Mediaset, Premier Sports

Cell C Sharks v Connacht | 15.05 UK / 16.05 ITA & SA | Super Sport, TG4, Premier Sports

Zebre Parma v Dragons | 15.05 UK / 16.05 ITA & SA | Mediaset, S4C, Premier Sports

DHL Stormers v Leinster | 17.15 UK / 18.15 ITA & SA | Super Sport, RTÉ 2, Premier Sports

Ospreys v Scarlets | 17.15 UK / 18.15 ITA & SA | Premier Sports

Edinburgh v Ulster | 19.35 UK / 20.35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports

Round 18 – Weekend of May 20/21/22 (to be confirmed in January 2022)

Connacht v Zebre Parma | TBC

Leinster v Edinburgh | TBC

Ulster v Cell C Sharks | TBC

Dragons v Emirates Lions | TBC

Scarlets v DHL Stormers | TBC

Ospreys v Vodacom Bulls | TBC

Glasgow Warriors v Munster | TBC

Benetton v Cardiff | TBC