Scarlets will launch their 2025-26 BKT United Rugby Championship campaign by welcoming former champions Munster to Parc y Scarlets.
Our season will kick off at home to the Irish province on Saturday, September 27 with a 5.30pm kick-off.
There is an Irish feel to the opening two weekends with Dwayne Peel’s side heading to Galway in round 2 to take on Connacht at the newly-developed Dexcom Stadium.
They then host the DHL Stormers in Llanelli in round three.
The South African adventure takes place in rounds four and five this season with the Scarlets – like they did in recent weeks – taking on the Lions in Johannesburg then the Sharks in Durban.
The international Autumn Nations Series takes centre stage in November before league action resumes on Saturday, November 29 with the visit of Glasgow Warriors to the Parc.
Following two weeks of mouthwatering Champions Cup action, it’s three weeks of Welsh derbies.
There’s a ‘Black Friday’ date with Cardiff at the Arms Park on Friday, December 19 (7.45pm).
The big West Wales Boxing Day derby is back at the Parc on Friday, December 26 with a 5.30pm kick-off then we head down the M4 to take on Dragons RFC at Rodney Parade on New Year’s Day (3pm).
The final two rounds of the Champions Cup pool stage take place in early January, then Ulster are the visitors for round 10 on Saturday, January 24 (3pm).
We travel to Treviso to take on Benetton just before the Six Nations begins (Friday, January 30) and head to Edinburgh during the fallow week of the tournament, (Friday, February 27) in round 12.
Zebre arrive in West Wales for another clash under the lights on Friday, March 20, then it’s Leinster in Dublin in round 14.
The Scarlets’ final four matches of the regular season are all on Welsh soil – Cardiff at home in round 15 on Saturday, April 18 (5.30pm), Vodacom Bulls at the Parc on Saturday, April 25 (7.45pm); we head across the Loughor to take on Ospreys on Saturday, May 9 (5.30pm), then finish the season at home to the Dragons on Saturday, May 16 (5.15pm).
Today’s announcement is the earliest-ever publication of league fixtures in competition history. With the campaign set to kick off on September 26, this release arrives 128 days ahead of round one, beating the previous benchmark of 114 days. The record-setting publication offers fans and clubs more time than ever before to plan their schedules around the league’s biggest moments.
As is now the norm, BKT URC supporters across the globe can download fixtures directly to their devices via the Ecal URC 25/26 calendar CLICK HERE ensuring they never miss a kick-off — no matter their time zone. (Note: updates may take up to an hour to sync.)
A range of themed rounds such as Kids Round, Origin Round, and Unity Round will be confirmed in the coming weeks, enhancing the match-day experience for fans and clubs alike.
The format of the competition remains unchanged, with the top eight teams progressing to the Play-Offs beginning May 29. The Semi-Finals will be played on June 6, followed by the Grand Final on June 20 to crown the 2025/26 champions.
Broadcast coverage for fixtures will continue to evolve, with additional partners to be announced as talks with a Free-to-air partner in the UK and in international territories continue.
Welsh rugby’s Professional Rugby Board (PRB) has confirmed Judgement Day will not take place in the coming 2025-26 season as the event takes a hiatus.
As URC fixtures are confirmed for next season, PRB members, the Welsh Rugby Union and the four professional clubs, have paused the annual double-derby celebration of Welsh rugby at Principality Stadium so that it can be re-imagined.
The current season’s event saw the Ospreys take on Cardiff Rugby and Dragons RFC face the Scarlets and attracted a 28,000-strong crowd, but PRB members believe a version of the event could attract much more in the right circumstances, as it has done previously.
“We will rethink the product we are offering and bring back an event to showcase Welsh professional rugby in the 2026/27 season,” said a PRB spokesperson.
“The concept has huge potential and its early incarnations were a proven success, but we think it is time to re-imagine it.
“Instead, this season will see Welsh rugby concentrate on attracting maximum crowds for the respective derby days and other showcase fixtures at our home venues.”
BKT URC 2025-26 fixtures
Round 1 – Munster (H), Sat, Sept 27 (17:30)
Round 2 – Connacht (A), Fri, Oct 3 (20:05)
Round 3 – DHL Stormers (H), Fri Oct 10 (19:45)
Round 4 – Emirates Lions (A), Sat Oct 18 (12:45)
Round 5 – Hollywoodbets Sharks (A), Sat Oct 25 (15:00)
Round 6 – Glasgow Warriors (H), Sat Nov 29 (19:45)
Round 7 – Cardiff (A), Fri Dec 19 (19:45)
Round 8 – Ospreys (H) Fri Dec 26 (17:30)
Round 9 – Dragons (A), Thurs Jan 1 (15:00)
Round 10 – Ulster (H), Sat Jan 24 (15:00)
Round 11 – Benetton (A), Fri Jan 30 (19:45)
Round 12 – Edinburgh (A), Fri Feb 27 (19:45)
Round 13 – Zebre (H), Fri March 20 (19:45)
Round 14 – Leinster (A), Sat March 28 (17:30)
Round 15 – Cardiff (H), Sat April 18 (17:30)
Round 16 – Vodacom Bulls (H), Sat April 25 (19:45)
Round 17 – Ospreys (A), Sat May 9 (17:30)
Round 18 – Dragons (H), Sat May 16 (17:15)