Round 16 of the 2025 United Rugby Championship delivered pivotal results as teams battled to strengthen their playoff hopes.
The Bulls made history in Glasgow, the Stormers produced a dominant seven-try display, and Cardiff, Scarlets, and the Sharks kept their seasons alive with critical victories.
- Glasgow Warriors 19 – 26 Vodacom Bulls
- Cardiff Rugby 26 – 21 Munster
- Zebre Parma 25 – 25 Edinburgh
- Emirates Lions 26 – 7 Connacht
- Ospreys 57 – 24 Dragons
- DHL Stormers 56 – 5 Benetton
- Scarlets 35 – 22 Leinster
- Ulster 19 – 22 Sharks
Here’s a full breakdown of all the key results and highlights from a weekend that reshaped the URC playoff picture.
VODACOM BULLS OUTMUSCLE GLASGOW WARRIORS IN STATEMENT WIN
Glasgow Warriors 19 – 26 Vodacom Bulls (HT: 7–9)
The Vodacom Bulls produced a gritty, powerhouse performance to defeat Glasgow Warriors 26–19 at Scotstoun, becoming the first South African side to win in Glasgow in the URC. In a bruising contest dominated by defense, Johan Goosen’s boot kept the Bulls in front early, slotting three penalties to edge a narrow halftime lead (9–7) after Jamie Dobie crossed for Glasgow. The Bulls took control in the second half, launching a monster maul that saw Johan Grobbelaar power over before a brilliant counterattack led to David Kriel’s try, extending the advantage to 26–7. Despite late tries from Kyle Steyn and Stafford McDowall that salvaged a crucial bonus point for Glasgow, the Bulls’ relentless tackling and clinical execution sealed a historic away victory. Man of the Match Jan-Hendrik Wessels led a heroic defensive effort with a massive individual performance, as the Bulls strengthened their bid for a top-two finish in the URC standings.
GLASGOW WARRIORS
- Tries: Dobie (34’), Steyn (76’), McDowall (78’)
- Conversions: Horne (35’, 79’)
VODACOM BULLS
- Tries: Grobbelaar (50’), Kriel (59’)
- Conversions: Goosen (51’, 60’)
- Penalties: Goosen (16’, 23’, 39’, 55’)
CARDIFF STUN MUNSTER WITH THRILLING SECOND-HALF COMEBACK
Cardiff 26 – 21 Munster (HT: 12–14)
Cardiff kept their URC playoff hopes alive with a thrilling 26–21 comeback victory over Munster at the Arms Park, overcoming a nine-point deficit early in the second half. Munster started fast with Calvin Nash finishing a slick move, and Mike Haley and Tom Farrell added tries to push the visitors ahead 21–12. However, Cardiff turned the tide when a penalty try, awarded after Jack O’Donoghue’s sin-bin, cut the deficit to two points. Powered by the brilliance of Taulupe Faletau and tactical kicking from Callum Sheedy and Ben Thomas, Cardiff surged forward. Johan Mulder finished off a smart kick to score the winning try, completing a four-try, bonus-point win. Despite late missed chances by Sheedy, Cardiff’s defense held firm under pressure. With this result, Cardiff climbed to fifth in the standings while Munster’s playoff hopes were left hanging by a thread after a fourth defeat in five games.
CARDIFF
- Tries: Hamer-Webb (25’), Millard (28’), Penalty try (54’), Mulder (62’)
- Conversions: Sheedy (28’), Thomas (63’)
MUNSTER
- Tries: Nash (12’), Haley (36’), Farrell (49’)
- Conversions: Crowley (13’, 37’, 50’)
EDINBURGH SALVAGE LAST-GASP DRAW AGAINST ZEBRE PARMA
Zebre Parma 25 – 25 Edinburgh (HT: 12–6)
Edinburgh needed a dramatic final play to rescue a 25–25 draw against Zebre Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, keeping their faint URC playoff hopes alive. Zebre struck first as Alessandro Fusco scored twice, taking advantage of Edinburgh’s sluggish start, while Jacopo Trulla’s try after halftime extended the hosts’ lead. Boan Venter led the Edinburgh fightback with two powerful tries, bringing the visitors within one point, but a yellow card to Ben Muncaster allowed Zebre to edge ahead through two Giovanni Montemauri penalties. Trailing by seven in stoppage time, Darcy Graham’s electric break set up Matt Currie for a corner try. Replacement Cammy Scott then curled over a superb touchline conversion to level the match at the death. While the draw pushed Edinburgh to ninth in the table, it leaves them with work to do and relying on other results to keep playoff hopes alive.
ZEBRE PARMA
- Tries: Fusco (27’, 38’), Trulla (41’)
- Conversions: da Re (39’, 42’)
- Penalties: Montemauri (72’, 78’)
EDINBURGH
- Tries: Venter (53’, 62’), Currie (80’)
- Conversions: Thomson (62’), Scott (80’)
- Penalties: Thomson (22’, 34’)
EMIRATES LIONS GRIND OUT VICTORY OVER CONNACHT TO STAY ALIVE
Emirates Lions 26 – 7 Connacht (HT: 11–0)
The Emirates Lions kept their faint URC playoff hopes alive with a scrappy 26–7 win over Connacht at a gloomy Ellis Park. In a match lacking energy and quality, the Lions’ superior physicality and discipline proved decisive. Renzo du Plessis opened the scoring with a powerful finish after a slick team move, followed by two Kade Wolhuter penalties to give the Lions a deserved halftime lead. Another Wolhuter penalty after the break stretched the margin, and despite a yellow card to Du Plessis that gave Connacht a window, the visitors’ maul try from Eoin de Buitlear was their only breakthrough. JC Pretorius and Edwill van der Merwe added late tries to seal the result. While the Lions’ attack remained clunky at times, strong performances from Morne van den Berg, the front row, and Man of the Match Du Plessis ensured they stayed in the playoff conversation heading into the final rounds.
EMIRATES LIONS
- Tries: du Plessis (13’), Pretorius (69’), van der Merwe (80’)
- Conversions: Dobela (80’)
- Penalties: Wolhuter (18’, 36’, 42’)
CONNACHT
- Tries: de Buitlear (73’)
- Conversions: Hawkshaw (73’)
OSPREYS CRUSH DRAGONS TO KEEP PLAYOFF HOPES ALIVE
Ospreys 57 – 24 Dragons (HT: 14–10)
The Ospreys reignited their playoff push with a commanding 57–24 victory over the Dragons at the Swansea.com Stadium, scoring nine tries in an emphatic derby win. The Dragons started strongly, taking a 10–0 lead through an Angus O’Brien penalty and a debut try from Harry Rees-Weldon. However, the Ospreys responded with tries from Will Spencer and Dewi Lake to lead at the break. The second half saw Mark Jones’ side take complete control, as Ben Warren, Keelan Giles (twice), Dan Edwards (twice), Kieran Hardy, and Reuben Morgan-Williams all crossed the line. Despite efforts from Rhodri Williams and Jared Rosser keeping Dragons in touch, Ospreys’ power at the set-piece and relentless pace proved too much. The victory marked an emotional farewell for Adam Beard at home and sent the Ospreys to South Africa with renewed belief in their playoff ambitions.
OSPREYS
- Tries: Spencer (24’), Lake (33’), Warren (44’), Giles (49’, 77’), Edwards (55’, 58’), Hardy (70’), Morgan-Williams (78’)
- Conversions: Edwards (25’, 34’, 45’, 50’, 59’), Walsh (78’)
DRAGONS
- Tries: Rees-Weldon (22’), Williams (54’), Rosser (64’)
- Conversions: O’Brien (23’, 64’), Williams (54’)
- Penalties: O’Brien (17’)
STORMERS DOMINATE BENETTON WITH SEVEN-TRY MASTERCLASS
DHL Stormers 56 – 5 Benetton (HT: 30–0)
The DHL Stormers delivered a ruthless and commanding performance to overwhelm Benetton 56–5 at DHL Stadium, reigniting their URC campaign with a seven-try demolition. The hosts raced out to an early 23–0 lead inside 20 minutes, with Sazi Sandi and Dan du Plessis crossing for tries, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu added two penalties and a drop-goal. Seabelo Senatla added a third try before halftime as the Stormers’ suffocating rush defense and slick attack left Benetton with no answers. Although Jacob Umaga briefly put Benetton on the board after the break, the Stormers responded immediately through Marcel Theunissen to seal the bonus point. Leolin Zas intercepted for another, Paul de Villiers powered over, and Feinberg-Mngomezulu capped his brilliant outing with the final try. With two home games left, the Stormers climbed to sixth in the standings, sending a strong warning to the rest of the competition with their most complete display of the season.
DHL STORMERS
- Tries: Sandi (3’), Du Plessis (15’), Senatla (32’), Theunissen (42’), Zas (64’), De Villiers (69’), Feinberg-Mngomezulu (78’)
- Conversions: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3’, 16’, 33’, 43’, 65’, 79’)
- Penalties: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (9’, 19’)
- Drop-goal: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (13’)
BENETTON
- Tries: Umaga (42’)
SCARLETS SHOCK LEINSTER TO BOOST PLAYOFF CHANCES
Scarlets 35 – 22 Leinster (HT: 22–15)
Scarlets produced one of their performances of the season to stun Leinster 35–22 at Parc y Scarlets, claiming their first win over the Irish giants in nearly seven years. Gareth Davies opened the scoring with his record-breaking 55th league try, before Tom Rogers, Taine Plumtree, and Joe Roberts all crossed to secure a bonus point early in the second half. Leinster, resting several key players ahead of their Champions Cup semi-final, responded through Jamie Osborne, Diarmuid Mangan, and James Culhane, but could not match Scarlets’ energy and execution. Sam Costelow, despite a mixed day from the tee, and Ioan Lloyd steered the Scarlets home with key penalties to deny Leinster even a losing bonus point. The victory lifted Scarlets to sixth place and kept their playoff hopes firmly alive heading into the final rounds.
SCARLETS
- Tries: G. Davies (8’), Rogers (21’), Plumtree (29’), Roberts (41’)
- Conversions: Costelow (8’, 30’, 42’)
- Penalties: Costelow (12’), Lloyd (54’, 79’)
LEINSTER
- Tries: Osborne (23’), Mangan (34’), Culhane (46’)
- Conversions: Byrne (24’, 47’)
- Penalties: Byrne (17’)
SHARKS STUN ULSTER WITH LATE COMEBACK IN BELFAST
Ulster 19 – 22 Sharks (HT: 19–5)
Ulster’s playoff hopes took a major hit after a dramatic 22–19 defeat to the Sharks at Kingspan Stadium, surrendering a 19–0 lead in a crushing second-half collapse. Ulster raced ahead with three tries in the opening half-hour, as Jack Murphy, Jude Postlethwaite, and Nathan Doak all finished moves sparked by Jacob Stockdale’s attacking brilliance. However, a yellow card to Stockdale swung momentum toward the visitors, with Makazole Mapimpi striking just before halftime. Vincent Tshituka powered over on the hour to close the gap, and Jurenzo Julius broke through to level the game. Jordan Hendrikse then nailed a clutch penalty with three minutes remaining to hand the Sharks victory. The result leaves Ulster in 12th place, three points outside the top eight with two rounds remaining, while the Sharks boosted their hopes of a top-four finish.
ULSTER
- Tries: Murphy (6’), Postlethwaite (9’), Doak (29’)
- Conversions: Murphy (9’, 30’)
SHARKS
- Tries: Mapimpi (33’), Tshituka (60’), Julius (69’)
- Conversions: J. Hendrikse (61’, 70’)
- Penalties: J. Hendrikse (77’)
STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 16
With only two rounds remaining in the regular season, the fight for playoff spots is tighter than ever across the URC.
The Bulls, Stormers, and Sharks continue to gather momentum, while teams like Ulster, Connacht, and Edinburgh now face must-win scenarios. Expect even more drama as the race to the top eight heads toward a thrilling conclusion.
Who impressed you most in Round 16? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s talk rugby.
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