The 2025 United Rugby Championship quarterfinals delivered high-stakes battles across all four matchups.
Glasgow defended their title hopes at home, the Bulls mounted a comeback in Pretoria, Leinster held off a strong Scarlets challenge, and the Sharks edged Munster in a dramatic shootout.
- Glasgow Warriors 36 – 18 DHL Stormers
- Vodacom Bulls 42 – 33 Edinburgh
- Leinster 33 – 21 Scarlets
- Sharks 24 – 24 Munster (*Sharks wins on shoutout)
Here are the full results, recap, and highlights from each quarterfinal:
GLASGOW WARRIORS POWER PAST STORMERS TO REACH URC SEMI-FINALS AT SCOTSTOUN
Glasgow Warriors 36 – 18 DHL Stormers (HT: 19–13)
Glasgow Warriors kept their title defense alive with a thrilling 36–18 quarter-final win over the DHL Stormers at Scotstoun, delivering a clinical five-try performance to march into the United Rugby Championship semi-finals. The reigning champions weathered a fast Stormers start and two tries from Seabelo Senatla to pull away in the second half with pace, creativity, and discipline. After an early penalty from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu gave the Stormers the lead, Glasgow responded through Rory Darge, who finished a clever lineout move. Kyle Rowe then dotted down after a grubber from Sione Tuipulotu before Senatla pounced on a chaotic high ball to score under the posts. But Henco Venter’s determined finish reestablished the Warriors’ advantage before halftime. Senatla’s second try brought the Stormers within one early in the second half, but Glasgow surged again. Rowe crossed for his second after a Tom Jordan break, then capped off his brilliant night with an assist for George Horne to seal the win. With the semi-finals looming, Franco Smith’s side look primed to defend their crown.
GLASGOW WARRIORS
- Tries: Darge (9’), Rowe (14’, 45’), Venter (27’), Horne (51’)
- Conversions: Horne (10’, 15’, 46’, 52’)
- Penalties: Horne (55’)
DHL STORMERS
- Tries: Senatla (25’, 42’)
- Conversions: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (26’)
- Penalties: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (6’, 18’)
BULLS FIGHT BACK FROM 16-POINT DEFICIT TO STUN EDINBURGH IN PRETORIA THRILLER
Vodacom Bulls 42 – 33 Edinburgh (HT: 18–21)
The Bulls produced a thunderous comeback in Pretoria to overpower Edinburgh 42–33 and book their place in the United Rugby Championship semi-finals. Trailing by 16 points in the first half, the hosts rallied with six tries in an open, high-octane clash at Loftus Versfeld. Edinburgh started on fire, with Wes Goosen and Ross Thompson both crossing early to silence the home crowd and build a 21–5 lead. But momentum shifted as the Bulls clawed back through Cameron Hanekom, David Kriel, and Harold Vorster to trail by just three at the break. After halftime, the Bulls asserted their dominance. Canan Moodie’s slicing break gave them the lead for the first time, before scrumhalf Keagan Johannes added a fifth try with a sharp dart around the ruck. Edinburgh stayed in the fight, responding through Ewan Ashman and another from Goosen, but Bulls captain Ruan Nortje’s try sealed the deal. Flyhalf Keagan Johannes added three conversions and two penalties in a clutch performance. The Bulls now await the winner of Sharks vs Munster in the URC semi-finals, which they will host.
VODACOM BULLS
- Tries: Hanekom (18’), Kriel (31’), Vorster (36’), Moodie (42’), Johannes (46’), Nortje (51’)
- Conversions: Johannes (43’, 47’, 52’)
- Penalties: Johannes (10’, 61’)
EDINBURGH
- Tries: Goosen (4’, 63’), Thompson (13’, 28’), Ashman (58’)
- Conversions: Thompson (5’, 14’, 29’, 59’)
LEINSTER POWER PAST SCARLETS TO SET UP SEMI-FINAL SHOWDOWN WITH GLASGOW
Leinster 33 – 21 Scarlets (HT: 15–14)
Leinster survived a spirited challenge from the Scarlets to claim a 33–21 victory at the Aviva Stadium and book their place in the URC semi-finals, where they’ll host holders Glasgow Warriors next weekend. Despite a fast start, the top-seeded Irish side were made to work hard against the eighth-seeded Welsh visitors. James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park got Leinster off to a flying start with tries inside the first 10 minutes. But Scarlets clawed their way back, responding with scores from Tom Rogers and Blair Murray to narrow the gap to one point by halftime. Murray’s try, coming after a thrilling counterattack in the dying seconds of the first half, swung momentum in the visitors’ favor. Leinster, however, responded with composure after the break. A smart chip from Sam Prendergast set up Jamie Osborne, before Hugo Keenan added the fourth try following a chargedown by Dan Sheehan. Johnny Williams briefly reignited Scarlets’ hopes with a third try, but a yellow card to Vaea Fifita ended the comeback push. While not flawless, Leinster’s depth and attacking precision proved enough to secure the win and keep their championship hopes alive.
LEINSTER
- Tries: Lowe (4’), Gibson-Park (9’), Osborne (45’), Keenan (59’)
- Conversions: Prendergast (9’, 45’)
- Penalties: Prendergast (35’, 65’, 73’)
SCARLETS
- Tries: Rogers (19’), Murray (40’), Williams (70’)
- Conversions: Costelow (20’, 41’), Lloyd (70’)
SHARKS EDGE MUNSTER IN THRILLING SHOOTOUT TO REACH FIRST-EVER URC SEMI-FINAL
Sharks 24 – 24 Munster (HT: 0–7) – Sharks win 6–4 on shoutout
The Sharks clinched a dramatic 6–4 shootout victory over defending champions Munster in Durban after their URC quarter-final ended 24–24 following extra-time. It was a historic night at Kings Park, as the South African side reached the semi-finals for the first time in franchise history. Munster led 7–0 at halftime thanks to a sharp finish from Calvin Nash, capitalizing on a pinpoint cross-field kick from Jack Crowley. Despite heavy pressure, the Sharks couldn’t convert in the opening 40 minutes, plagued by handling errors and a resilient Munster defense. The second half, however, sparked to life. Ethan Hooker danced through traffic for the Sharks’ opener before a Jaden Hendrikse penalty nudged them ahead. Munster answered through replacement Josh Wycherley and then Diarmuid Kilgallen, pushing their lead to 21–10. But the Sharks stormed back. Aphelele Fassi crossed following a dominant scrum, and Fez Mbatha powered over minutes later to give the hosts a 24–21 lead. With three minutes left, Conor Murray slotted a monster penalty from inside his own half to force extra time. Neither side could break the deadlock in the additional 20 minutes, sending the game into a rare place-kicking contest. Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse, and Bradley Davids were perfect from the tee, while Rory Scannell’s crucial miss cost Munster a spot in the final four. The Sharks now advance to face the Bulls in Pretoria.
SHARKS
- Tries: Hooker (45’), Fassi (67’), Mbatha (73’)
- Conversions: Hendrikse (46’, 68’, 73’)
- Penalties: Hendrikse (54’)
MUNSTER
- Tries: Nash (9’), Wycherley (56’), Kilgallen (60’)
- Conversions: Crowley (10’, 57’, 61’)
- Penalties: Murray (76’)
SEMI-FINALS OVERVIEW
With the semifinals now set—Leinster vs Glasgow and Bulls vs Sharks—the 2025 URC playoffs are poised for an epic finish.
Four teams remain in the hunt for the title, and after this thrilling quarterfinal round, the stage is set for more drama, intensity, and championship moments.
Who impressed you most in the quarterfinals? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s talk rugby.
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