United Rugby Championship: Unpacking the tight playoff race that includes 11 teams

The United Rugby Championship enters its 13th of 18 Rounds this weekend and the playoff race is as hot as ever.

The top eight all advance to the quarter-finals and subsequently earn qualification to the Champions Cup next season. The top four is a luxury as teams that finish in that bracket are guaranteed to host at least the quarter-finals with the top two in prime position to host a semi-final and possibly a final.

There are 11 teams within reach of the top eight making the business end of the regular season even more interesting, Planet Rugby unpacks the race to the playoffs.

1) Leinster (49 pts)

It has been another strong season for the Irish province who lead the competition by five points and are pretty much guaranteed a top four spot and more than likely a top two spot.

Leinster host the Bulls this weekend and then embark on a two-match tour of South Africa before finishing the regular season in Ireland. If they manage wins in South Africa there is nothing stopping them from topping the table.

Fixtures

R13: Leinster v Bulls

R14: Lions v Leinster

R15: Stormers v Leinster

R16: Leinster v Ospreys

R17: Ulster v Leinster

R18: Leinster v Connacht

2) Bulls (45 pts)

Jake White’s Bulls have kicked things up a gear this season and have deserved to be near the top of the table throughout the campaign. They sit only four points behind Leinster and one point above third-placed Glasgow Warriors, making every game count as they push for the top spot.

The clash against Leinster is their last game out of South Africa with four of the last six games at Loftus Versfeld which puts the Bulls in a position to seriously challenge the top side especially if they take points over them this weekend. Even though White will have his eye on the top spot, their clash with Glasgow in Round 16 can secure the top two spot.

Fixtures

R13: Leinster v Bulls

R14: Bulls v Munster

R15: Bulls v Ospreys

R16: Bulls v Glasgow Warriors

R17: Bulls v Benetton

R18: Sharks v Bulls

3) Glasgow Warriors (44 points)

The Scottish side finds themselves in a strong position on the table only one point behind the Bulls and five ahead of fourth-place defending champions Munster.

However, Glasgow has a potentially slippery South African tour to navigate including match-ups with the Bulls and Lions that will be crucial. There is also a home and away return against Zebre that must produce full points to avoid slipping down the table. Before that the Scots must deal with a home fixture against the resurgent Sharks.

Fixtures

R13: Scarlets v Glasgow Warriors

R14: Glasgow Warriors v Sharks

R15: Zebre v Glasgow Warriors

R16: Bulls v Glasgow Warriors

R17: Lions v Glasgow Warriors

R18: Zebre v Glasgow Warriors

4) Munster (39 pts)

The holders have had an injury-interrupted season but are in the right spot near the back end being four points above the next-placed Stormers with some interesting fixtures upcoming.

Four of their last six games are at home including massive games against the Bulls, Connacht and Ulster. Munster have to manage a travelling clash against the Lions and Edinburgh amongst it all. Playoffs seem guaranteed but that can’t be said for the top four.

Fixtures

R13: Munster v Cardiff

R14: Munster v Bulls

R15: Lions v Munster

R16: Munster v Connacht

R17: Edinburgh v Munster

R18: Munster v Ulster

The United Rugby Championship table after 12 rounds of action.

A shortened United Rugby Championship table after 12 rounds of action.

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5) Stormers (35 pts)

The former champions sit just at the top of the main congestion in the playoff race with only five points separating them and 11th place.

The Stormers play four of their last six at home including vital games against Ulster and Leinster in Cape Town. Their poor tour early in the season (winless from four games) robbed them of challenging for the top spot and they will have to ensure they come away with points in their two-game tour against Dragons and Connacht. Should they do that and considering how well they perform at home a top-four spot is a real possibility.

Fixtures

R13: Stormers v Ulster

R14: Stormers v Ospreys

R15: Stormers v Leinster

R16: Dragons v Stormers

R17: Connacht v Stormers

R18: Stormers v Lions

6) Edinburgh (34 pts)

The Sean Everitt-inspired side has improved a lot this season but they now need to finish strong and the mix of fixtures is not completely against them.

A tough trip to the hit-or-miss Sharks rounds out their South African tour after which their toughest game is at home against Munster. If Edinburgh can take points from the Durban side and win at least three other games they could be in a strong position for the playoffs.

Fixtures

R13: Sharks v Edinburgh

R14: Edinburgh v Sharks

R15: Cardiff v Edinburgh

R16: Edinburgh v Zebre

R17: Edinburgh v Munster

R18: Benetton v Edinburgh

7) Ulster (34 pts)

A challenging season for the Irish province has them maybe where they would not like to be but Ulster are still in the playoff mix with six games to go and are one of the favourites to finish top eight.

There are three difficult games to navigate against the Stormers away as well as Leinster and Munster. Outside of those clashes they simply cannot afford to drop any points if they are to secure a top eight spot. Massive pressure period for the Irish outfit.

Fixtures

R13: Stormers v Ulster

R14: Ulster v Cardiff

R15: Ulster v Benetton

R16: Scarlets v Ulster

R17: Ulster v Leinster

R18: Munster v Ulster

8) Lions (34 pts)

Another team on 34 log points and perhaps one of the most impressive campaigns as something is certainly cooking for the Lions in Johannesburg. Still, to justify their development they need Champions Cup qualification.

The Lions do have some tricky match-ups but only have two away games in the last six but they have to face Leinster, Munster and Glasgow Warriors at home – all of whom are in the same playoff race. Ultimately it is a golden opportunity to make the knockouts but it won’t be handed to them.

Fixtures

R13: Ospreys v Lions

R14: Lions v Leinster

R15: Lions v Munster

R16: Lions v Cardiff

R17: Lions v Glasgow Warriors

R18: Stormers v Lions

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9) Connacht (33 pts)

Connacht come off a possibly costly loss to the Lions last time out and sit just outside the top eight but is still well and truly in the mix to make the playoffs, provided they can come out on the right end of a tricky finish.

The next three games against Benetton, Zebre and Dragons have to yield big points because Connacht face Munster, Stormers and Leinster in the three rounds, making it quite a brutal run into the end of the regular season. Taking points off the big three at the end will be massive for their playoff hopes that hang in the balance.

Fixtures

R13: Benetton v Connacht

R14: Connacht v Zebre

R15: Dragons v Connacht

R16: Munster v Connacht

R17: Connacht v Stormers

R18: Leinster v Connacht

10) Benetton (33 pts)

It is tough to see the Italians drop out of the top eight after having spent an extended period in the top four of the table but still, they are within striking distance although it would take some effort considering their upcoming fixtures.

Ultimately the three-match tour away from home where they face Ulster then the Sharks and Bulls will make or break their chances. Outside of those games they can’t afford to lose to playoff rivals Connacht or Edinburgh. Benetton compete with Ospreys for the most difficult run into the end of the season of the sides with knockout potential.

Fixtures

R13: Benetton v Connacht

R14: Benetton v Dragons

R15: Ulster v Benetton

R16: Sharks v Benetton

R17: Bulls v Benetton

R18: Benetton v Edinburgh

11) Ospreys (30 pts)

The last of the sides within reach and a team really hanging on the edge making every single result that much more important for their playoff prospects. Much like Benetton, it is a tough road to the end of the season.

For the Ospreys the next four games will paint a clear picture of whether or not they can make the playoffs with the clash against the Lions this weekend perhaps even enough to knock them out of contention. The leading Welsh side is going to have to produce something special to finish in the top eight.

Fixtures

R13: Ospreys v Lions

R14: Stormers v Ospreys

R15: Bulls v Ospreys

R16: Leinster v Ospreys

R17: Ospreys v Dragons

R18: Cardiff v Ospreys

Quarter-finals (*as things stand)

QF1: Leinster v Lions

QF2: Bulls v Ulster

QF3: Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh

QF4: Munster v Stormers