The new United Rugby Championship season is coming into view, and the conversation is already heating up. Former internationals Schalk Brits and Ryan Wilson have tipped the Bulls to finally get over the line after finishing runners-up in the last two seasons, citing the arrival of new head coach Johan Ackermann and World Cup winner Handre Pollard as decisive additions.
Leinster's title defence and the 'asterisk'
Leinster return as defending champions but face what some have branded an asterisk over their title defence, a catch-all for the kind of external pressure and circumstances that can unsettle even the most seasoned squads. The champions are accustomed to being hunted; handling that weight, along with the demands of a long campaign, will be a defining test.
Bulls on the charge
Back-to-back near-misses have sharpened the Bulls’ edge. Ackermann’s presence promises clarity and bite, while Pollard’s influence adds leadership and composure in the critical moments that separate contenders from champions. The Pretoria club has been close; the question now is whether these additions unlock the final step.
Province-by-province talking points
The RTÉ Rugby podcast, with Neil Treacy joined by Bernard Jackman and Johne Murphy, offered a province-by-province lens on 2025/26: squad depth, cohesion and early-season form, with a view to how each team’s identity might evolve as the fixtures stack up. From set-piece reliability to backline fluency and game-management under pressure, the margins are slim and the opportunities significant.
The road ahead
The URC rarely grants clear favourites for long. Travel demands, squad rotation and tight scorelines tend to compress the table and reward resilience. Leinster’s response to champion-level scrutiny and the Bulls’ push under new stewardship frame the early narrative, but the pack behind them has never been shy about springing surprises.
Expect a season where small edges become big stories, and where the line between contenders and champions is drawn in the final minutes.
