United Rugby Championship: All player moves, transfers for SA teams

The upcoming United Rugby Championship season kicks off on Friday, 25 September, running through to the Grand Final on 19 June 2027. There will be 18 regular season rounds followed by a three-round top-eight playoff series

Leinster enter the new campaign as title holders, having overcome the Bulls in last season’s title decider.

South Africa’s franchises, the Bulls, Stormers, Lions and Sharks will each undertake three separate two-game regional tours during the regular season.

The opening round of fixtures will include some blockbuster battles such as the Lions hosting Leinster and Connacht tackling the Stormers.

South Africa’s teams have been busy during the off season, and there have been a host of player moves and transfers that have taken place.

ALL THE INS AND OUTS FOR SA TEAM IN THE UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

Lions

Transfers IN ⬅️

Boan Venter (Prop, 29, from Edinburgh)

Dan Kasende (Winger, 31, from Ospreys)

Boeta Chamberlain (Flyhalf, 27, from Newcastle Red Bulls)

Asad Moos (Scrumhalf, 22, from Stormers)

Transfers OUT ➡️

Ruben Schoeman (Lock, 30, to Narbonne)

Gianni Lombard (Flyhalf, 28, to Sharks)

Darrien Landsberg (Lock, 27, to Sharks)

Franco Marais (Hooker, 33, to RETIREMENT)

**Stormers **

Transfers IN ⬅️

Wilco Louw (Prop, 31, from Bulls)

Siya Kolisi (Back row, 35, from Sharks)

Cheslin Kolbe (Winger, 32, from Tokyo Sungoliath)

Transfers OUT ➡️

Salmaan Moerat (Lock, 28, to La Rochelle)

Dan du Plessis (Centre, 31, to Bordeaux)

Dylan Maart (Winger, 29, to Bulls)

Corne Weilbach (Prop, 24, to Saracens)

Ruben van Heerden (Lock, 28, to Montpellier)

Siyabonga Ntubeni (Hooker, 35, to RETIREMENT)

Asad Mood (Scrum-half, 22, to Lions)

** Sharks**

Transfers IN ⬅️

Ivan van Zyl (Scrum-half, 31, from Saracens)

Thomas du Toit (Prop, 31, from Bath)

Gianni Lombard (Fly-half, 28, from Lions)

Darrien Landsberg (Lock, 27, to Sharks)

Stephan Lewies (Lock, 34, from Harlequins)

Transfers OUT ➡️

Grant Williams (Scrum-half, 29, to Kobelco Steelers)

Aphelele Fassi (Fullback, 28, to Brave Lupus)

Siya Kolisi (Back row, 35, to Stormers)

Jean Smith (Fly-half, 23, to Benetton)

Francois Venter (Centre, 35, to RETIREMENT)

Le Roux Malan (Centre, 27, to Cardiff Rugby)

Luan Giliomee (Fullback, 20, from Sharks)

**Bulls **

Transfers IN ⬅️

Thaakir Abrahams (Winger, 27, from Munster)

Luan Giliomee (Fullback, 20, from Sharks)

Dylan Maart (Winger, 29, from Stormers)

Hanro Leibenberg (Back row, 30, from Leicester Tigers)

Curwin Bosch (Fullback, 29, from Brive)

Transfers OUT ➡️

Wilco Louw (Prop, 31, to Stormers)

Ruan Nortje (Lock, 27, to Kubota Spears)

Johan Goosen (Flyhalf, 33, to RETIREMENT)

David Kriel (Centre, 27, to La Rochelle)

Kurt-Lee Arendse (Winger, 30, to Sagamihara)

Round 1 brings us three Friday night fixtures, all taking place in the Northern hemisphere, featuring a highly anticipated clash between Connacht and Stormers in Galway. This is followed by a stacked Saturday which is headlined by defending Champions Leinster taking on the Lions in the lunchtime kick off.

Round 1

Friday 25th September 2026

** Benetton v Dragons RFC **

20:45 SAST | Stadio Monigo, Treviso

Connacht v Stormers

20:45 SAST | Dexcom Stadium, Galway

Ulster v Edinburgh

20:45 SAST | Affidea Stadium, Belfast

Saturday 26th September 2026

Lions v Leinster

13:30 SAST | 10bet Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Sharks v Ospreys

16:00 SAST | Hollywoodbets Kings Park

Munster v Glasgow Warriors

18:30 SAST | Thomond Park, Limerick

Zebre Parma v Bulls

18:30 SAST | Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma

Scarlets v Cardiff Rugby

20:45 SAST | Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli