CONFIRMED: URC quarterfinals dates and times
NEWS: The highly-anticipated dates and kick-off times of the 2023 United Rugby Championship quarterfinals have been confirmed.
The 2023 URC Play-Offs will kick off in Belfast where Ulster (2) will host an Irish derby against Connacht (7) at Kingspan Stadium on Friday, May 5 at 19.35 UK and Ireland time (18.35 GMT).
The Saturday slate will begin in Cape Town where defending champions, Stormers (3), will take on their South African rivals, Bulls (6), in a rematch of last season’s URC Grand Final.
The game at Cape Town Stadium is scheduled to get underway at 15.30 SA Time (13.30 GMT).
No.1 ranked Leinster will host the Sharks (8) in Dublin at 17.00 UK time and 18.00 SA time (16.00 GMT) with that game taking place in Aviva Stadium.
It will be the Sharks’ second trip to the Irish capital this season having taken part in a thrilling 88-point encounter back in October.
The quarterfinals close out in Scotland where Glasgow Warriors (4) make their return to the Play-Offs for the first time since 2019. Their opponents at Scotstoun Stadium will be Munster (5) who are searching for their first league title since 2011.
URC Quarterfinal
FRIDAY, MAY 5
Quarterfinal Two: Ulster (2) v Connacht (7)
Venue: Kingspan Stadium, Belfast
Kick-off: 19.35 (18.35 GMT)
SATURDAY, MAY 6
Quarterfinal Three: Stormers (3) v Bulls (6)
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 15:30 (13.30 GMT)
Quarterfinal One: Leinster (1) v Sharks (8)
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 17:00 (16.00 GMT; 18.00 South African time)
Quarterfinal four: Glasgow Warriors (4) v Munster (5)
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Kick-off: 19.35 (18.35)
Semifinal Path
In the Semifinals, to be played the weekend of May 12, the winner of quarterfinal one will play the winner of quarterfinal four and the winner of quarterfinal two will play the winner of quarterfinal three.
In a change to last season’s rules, the teams with the highest seeding in each Semifinal will have home venue rights. Previously, the winners of quarterfinal one and quarterfinal two were guaranteed home draws no matter their ranking.
Semifinal One: Leinster (1) / Sharks (8) v Glasgow Warriors (4) / Munster (5)
Semifinal Two: Ulster (2) / Connacht (7) v Stormers (3) v Bulls (6)
The semifinal winners will meet on Saturday, May 27 at the venue of the highest-ranked team to have qualified for the United Rugby Championship Grand Final.