Round 13 of the United Rugby Championship delivered edge-of-your-seat drama across Europe and South Africa, with last-gasp winners, comeback thrillers, and playoff race shakeups.
Glasgow edged Munster in a Scotstoun classic, the Bulls stunned Leinster at the death, and Ulster pulled off a huge comeback against the Dragons. Elsewhere, Benetton snatched a late win over Edinburgh, the Sharks survived a Zebre scare, and the Stormers powered past Scarlets in Llanelli. Ospreys and Connacht combined for a wild 12-try shootout in Swansea, while Cardiff finally broke their losing streak with a gritty win over the Lions.
- Glasgow 28 – 25 Munster
- Cardiff 20 – 17 Lions
- Sharks 35 – 34 Zebre Parma
- Benetton 21 – 28 Edinburgh
- Bulls 21 – 20 Leinster
- Scarlets 17 – 29 Stormers
- Dragons 30 – 34 Ulster
- Ospreys 43 – 40 Connacht
Let’s dive into all the action from a pulsating URC weekend:
GLASGOW WARRIORS STORM BACK TO EDGE MUNSTER IN URC CLASSIC
Glasgow Warriors 28 – 25 Munster (HT: 14-15)
Glasgow Warriors produced a stirring second-half comeback to defeat Munster 28-25 in a pulsating United Rugby Championship clash at Scotstoun Stadium. A late try from replacement prop Nathan McBeth completed the turnaround, securing a vital bonus-point win and keeping Glasgow in pursuit of table-toppers Leinster. Munster struck first despite being a man down after Fineen Wycherley was yellow-carded for an early dangerous lift. The visitors made the most of a turnover deep in Glasgow’s red zone, shifting wide off a kick from Tony Butler for John Hodnett to score. Sean O’Brien added a second after beating several defenders, giving Munster a 12-0 advantage. But Glasgow responded through club legend George Horne, who equalled the franchise’s all-time try record with a well-finished effort, converted by Adam Hastings. Kyle Steyn then crossed following smart work from Ollie Smith and Stafford McDowall, cutting Munster’s lead to just one by the break. The Irish province extended their lead early in the second half through another O’Brien try and a pair of Butler penalties. But Glasgow’s bench made the difference. Matt Fagerson powered over from close range before McBeth completed the comeback, with Hastings flawless from the tee. Glasgow move into second place with the win, while Munster drop to sixth but take a losing bonus point from the contest.
GLASGOW WARRIORS
- Tries: Horne (27’), Steyn (35’), Fagerson (68’), McBeth (75’)
- Conversions: Hastings (28’, 36’, 69’, 76’)
MUNSTER
- Tries: Hodnett (16’), O’Brien (22’, 65’)
- Conversions: Butler (17’), Scannell (66’)
- Penalties: Butler (32’, 55’)
CARDIFF EDGE LIONS IN TENSE FINISH FOR FIRST WIN OF 2025
Cardiff 20 – 17 Lions (HT: 10-7)
Cardiff secured their first win of the year with a gutsy 20-17 victory over the Lions at Arms Park, surviving a frantic late assault to snap a four-game losing streak in the United Rugby Championship. It was a night of celebration for Seb Davies on his 150th appearance for the club, and his team delivered, holding firm on their own try line in the final minute to deny the visitors a dramatic comeback. The Lions struck first after dominating early possession, with prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye crashing over from close range. But Cardiff hit back immediately through Ben Donnell, who finished a well-constructed team move after scrum-half Johan Mulder sparked momentum with a spirited tackle on Ntlabakanye. A Callum Sheedy penalty gave the hosts a narrow 10-7 halftime lead, despite the Lions controlling much of the territory. The second half remained tight, but Cardiff took control when Harri Millard intercepted a loose Marius Louw pass and raced over from inside his own half for a sensational solo try. Sheedy’s touchline conversion gave Cardiff a 20-14 cushion. Francke Horn’s bulldozing effort under the posts set up a tense finale, but after Gianni Lombard was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, the visitors were twice held up on the Cardiff line in the dying moments. The win moves Cardiff up to fifth in the table, while the Lions remain near the bottom despite a resilient effort.
CARDIFF
- Tries: Donnell (20’), Millard (63’)
- Conversions: Sheedy (21’, 64’)
- Penalties: Sheedy (31’, 50’)
LIONS
- Tries: Ntlabakanye (11’), Horn (57’)
- Conversions: Lombard (12’, 58’)
- Penalties: Lombard (44’)
SHARKS SURVIVE ZEBRE SCARE IN THRILLING DURBAN ENCOUNTER
Sharks 35 – 34 Zebre Parma (HT: 28-17)
The Sharks narrowly avoided a repeat of last season’s infamous defeat to Zebre, edging out the Italians 35-34 in a rollercoaster clash at Kings Park. Despite a brace from captain Siya Kolisi and an early 14-0 lead, the Durban side were nearly punished for their looseness as Zebre stormed back with two length-of-the-field tries to lead in the final quarter. Kolisi opened the scoring with a powerful finish from close range, before the Sharks’ dominant scrum created the platform for a slick move that saw veteran Makazole Mapimpi link up with teenager Jurenzo Julius for a second try. But Zebre capitalized on poor Sharks discipline and kicking errors, replying through Alessandro Gesi and Giacomo Ferrari to level the score at 14-14. Mapimpi saw yellow for deliberate offside, and Zebre took the lead through Giovanni Montemauri’s boot. Kolisi’s second try — a sensational solo effort down the touchline — put the Sharks back ahead, followed by a driving team try finished by Vincent Koch to close the half. However, two rapid-fire tries from Geronimo Prisciantelli early in the second half turned the game on its head, both stemming from Sharks turnovers deep in attack. When Montemauri slotted another penalty to stretch the lead to six, the upset was on. With five minutes to go, the Sharks’ scrum power finally told as they worked Ethan Hooker into space to score in the corner. Jordan Hendrikse’s calm conversion sealed a dramatic one-point win — a relief more than a triumph.
SHARKS
- Tries: Kolisi (3’, 31’), Julius (11’), Koch (35’), Hooker (74’)
- Conversions: Hendrikse (4’, 12’, 32’, 36’, 75’)
ZEBRE PARMA
- Tries: Gesi (13’), Ferrari (22’), Prisciantelli (45’, 49’)
- Conversions: Montemauri (14’, 23’, 46’, 50’)
- Penalties: Montemauri (29’, 62’)
BENETTON STRIKE LATE TO STUN EDINBURGH IN TREVISO
Benetton 21 – 18 Edinburgh (HT: 11-13)
Benetton pulled off a dramatic late comeback to defeat Edinburgh 21-18 in Treviso, thanks to a last-minute try from Alessandro Izekor — capitalizing on a red card to visiting centre Mosese Tuipulotu in the final moments of the match. The Italians opened the scoring through Jacob Umaga’s boot, but it was Edinburgh who struck the first major blow with a brilliant cross-field kick from Ross Thompson to winger Ross McCann, who finished well in the corner. The two fly-halves then exchanged penalties before Benetton responded with a sharp finish down the right by Ignacio Mendy, narrowing the gap to two. However, another Thompson penalty on the stroke of halftime gave the visitors a slender 13-11 lead at the break. Ewan Ashman extended Edinburgh’s lead early in the second half, crashing over from a driving maul. But Benetton stayed in the fight, and Paolo Odogwu’s unconverted try in the 63rd minute brought the deficit back to two points. The game flipped on its head with just four minutes to go, when Tuipulotu was shown red following a TMO review for a dangerous shoulder-to-head contact. With the extra man, Benetton surged forward, and it was Izekor who broke through with a superb solo effort to seal a thrilling comeback win and keep Benetton firmly in the playoff race.
BENETTON
- Tries: Mendy (38’), Odogwu (6’), Izekor (78’)
- Penalties: Umaga (6’, 36’)
EDINBURGH
- Tries: McCann (17’), Ashman (48’)
- Conversions: Thompson (18’)
- Penalties: Thompson (29’, 40’)
BULLS STUN LEINSTER WITH LAST-GASP KICK IN PRETORIA THRILLER
Bulls 21 – 20 Leinster (HT: 6-10)
The Bulls ended Leinster’s 12-match unbeaten streak with a dramatic 21-20 victory in Pretoria, sealed by a last-minute penalty from David Kriel after a collapsed scrum with the clock in the red. In a match filled with momentum swings, high-pressure kicks, and late drama, the hosts showed resilience to bounce back from a red card and snatch a memorable win. The early exchanges were tight, with Keagan Johannes putting the Bulls ahead from the tee before Jordie Barrett crossed for Leinster after some slick build-up play. Ross Byrne converted and added a penalty, while Johannes kept the hosts in touch at 10-6 by halftime. After the break, Leinster extended their lead when Andrew Osborne finished in the corner, with Byrne’s conversion making it 17-6. But the Bulls mounted a furious comeback—first with a penalty try from a collapsed maul that also saw Leinster’s Thomas Clarkson sin-binned, then a second try off another driving maul by replacement hooker Johan Grobbelaar. Kriel missed the difficult conversion to leave the Bulls ahead 18-17, before Sebastian de Klerk was red-carded for a reckless tackle on Osborne in the air. Byrne looked to have rescued Leinster with a long-range penalty off the post to make it 20-18. But in the final twist, a scrum penalty allowed Kriel to redeem himself, splitting the uprights to secure the win and hand Leinster their first defeat of the season.
BULLS
- Tries: Penalty Try (63’), Grobbelaar (70’)
- Penalties: Johannes (2’, 40’), Kriel (80’)
LEINSTER
- Tries: Barrett (3’), Osborne (43’)
- Conversions: Byrne (4’, 44’)
- Penalties: Byrne (17’, 77’)
STORMERS SURGE PAST SCARLETS WITH BONUS-POINT VICTORY IN LLANELLI
Scarlets 17 – 29 Stormers (HT: 7-15)
The Stormers claimed a vital away win and secured a bonus point in Llanelli, outclassing the Scarlets 29-17 to boost their United Rugby Championship playoff hopes. Tries from Ben Loader, Deon Fourie, Leolin Zas, and a late clincher from hooker Andre-Hugo Venter proved too much for the hosts, who were chasing a seventh consecutive home win. The Cape Town side dominated the early stages, capitalizing on Scarlets’ errors. Loader finished a flowing move sparked by a poor clearance, and Fourie crashed over moments later after another turnover. The hosts responded through young Welsh wing Ellis Mee, finishing a well-constructed lineout play, before Ioan Nicholas dotted down early in the second half to cut the gap. Despite briefly closing to within a score, missed opportunities—most notably an overcooked penalty to touch from Ioan Lloyd—proved costly. Stormers struck back clinically, with Zas finishing a sharp move to stretch the lead before Venter’s late score sealed the bonus point. Scarlets’ defeat drops them further in the race for a top-eight spot, while Stormers march on with renewed momentum and clinical edge.
SCARLETS
- Tries: Mee (29’), Nicholas (47’)
- Conversions: Lloyd (30’, 48’)
- Penalties: Lloyd (68’)
STORMERS
- Tries: Loader (13’), Fourie (17’), Zas (64’), Venter (78’)
- Conversions: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (18’, 65’, 79’)
- Penalties: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (43’)
ULSTER STORM BACK TO SINK DRAGONS IN THRILLING BONUS-POINT VICTORY
Dragons 30 – 34 Ulster (HT: 24-14)
Ulster completed a dramatic comeback at Rodney Parade, overturning a 10-point halftime deficit to beat Dragons 34-30 and keep their playoff hopes alive in the URC. Scott Wilson’s late try and a composed kicking performance from veteran scrum-half John Cooney sealed a crucial bonus-point win, propelling Ulster up to ninth on the table. Dragons burst out of the blocks when Aneurin Owen capitalized on a loose Ulster pass to score within the first minute. After James Hume responded to level the scores, two yellow cards—first to Rob Herring and later to Dragons’ Joe Westwood—shaped a back-and-forth first half filled with drama. Huw Anderson and Rhodri Williams dotted down for the home side, while Herring also grabbed a try of his own to keep Ulster in it at the break. Ulster looked sharper after halftime, with Herring grabbing a second score. Reed’s penalty kicking kept Dragons ahead 30-21 entering the final quarter, but Cooney’s accuracy off the tee and Wilson’s opportunistic turnover try flipped the momentum. With time expiring, Cooney landed his second penalty to seal the win and leave Dragons heartbroken after a game they had largely controlled.
DRAGONS
- Tries: Owen (1’), Anderson (20’), Williams (34’)
- Conversions: Reed (2’, 21’, 35’)
- Penalties: Reed (14’, 47’, 63’)
ULSTER
- Tries: Hume (9’), Herring (28’, 44’), Wilson (70’)
- Conversions: Doak (10’, 29’, 45’), Cooney (71’)
- Penalties: Cooney (65’, 80’)
OSPREYS SURVIVE CONNACHT COMEBACK IN 12-TRY CLASSIC TO BOOST PLAYOFF HOPES
Ospreys 43 – 40 Connacht (HT: 31-14)
Ospreys held off a spirited Connacht fightback in a breathtaking 12-try thriller at the Swansea.com Stadium, taking a dramatic 43-40 victory to catapult themselves into URC playoff contention. Mark Jones’ injury-hit side looked in full control with a 24-point lead early in the second half, only to see Connacht storm back to within three points before a frantic final defensive stand sealed the win for the Welsh side. Keelan Giles and Daniel Kasende both bagged braces for the Ospreys, while Kieran Hardy and Jack Walsh also crossed in a first half that saw the hosts run in five tries. Walsh was particularly influential, recording four assists and a try of his own, while Dan Edwards added 13 points from the tee. Connacht looked dead and buried at 38-14 but mounted an astonishing comeback, scoring four tries in the final half-hour through Dave Heffernan, Piers O’Conor, Josh Murphy, and a second for Shamus Hurley-Langton. Replacement scrum-half Matthew Devine pulled the strings expertly as the Irish province came close to a famous away win. Injuries forced late reshuffles for the Ospreys, including Edwards slotting in at scrum-half, but they held firm during a final four-minute Connacht onslaught to seal a vital bonus-point win. Ospreys jump from 13th to seventh with five games remaining, while Connacht come away with two losing bonus points to stay in the hunt at 12th.
OSPREYS
- Tries: Giles (16’, 32’), Hardy (34’), Kasende (35’, 56’), Walsh (43’)
- Conversions: Edwards (17’, 33’, 35’, 36’, 44’)
- Penalties: Edwards (4’)
CONNACHT
- Tries: Treacy (1’), Hurley-Langton (13’, 69’), Heffernan (47’), O’Conor (49’), Murphy (67’)
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Conversions: Ioane (2’, 14’), Hanrahan (48’, 50’, 68’)
STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 13
From buzzer-beaters in Pretoria and Treviso to high-scoring thrillers in Swansea and Durban, Round 13 reminded fans why the URC remains one of the most unpredictable competitions in rugby.
With playoff spots hanging in the balance and just five rounds to go, every point now matters. Can anyone stop Leinster despite their first loss, or are Glasgow and the Bulls beginning to build serious momentum? Stay tuned as the playoff picture takes shape—and let us know which match had you on the edge of your seat.
Who impressed you most in Round 2? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s talk rugby.
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