The Stormers and Vodacom Bulls made strong starts, but it was early stumbles for the Sharks and Lions in the 2025-26 Vodacom URC.

In Cape Town, the STORMERS sent out a loud, reverberating warning shot to the rest of the field when they thumped defending champions Leinster.

The Cape franchise also had two tries disallowed, which would’ve made the 35-0 blowout even more embarrassing for the Irish giants.

MORE: Dobbo hails ‘magic’ Stormers

Even stripped of their Springboks and an injury list longer than most, John Dobson’s charges bullied their visitors at scrum time, bossed the air and delivered the kind of hard-edge performance that screams title intent.

KEO: Celebrate Stormers’ lashing of Leinster

Jurie Matthee looked assured in the No 10 jersey and No 8 Evan Roos made a storming return as Leinster went pointless for the first time since 2007.

Up in Pretoria, Johan Ackermann’s BULLS gave their fans the full value of the ticket price in a breathless, entertaining 53-40 victory over the Ospreys.

The visitors flew out the blocks, but once hooker Johan Grobbelaar began his hat-trick spree and winger Cheswill Jooste announced himself with two tries on debut, the men in blue never looked back.

ACKERS: Bulls far from perfect

It was wild, it was loose, but it was a reminder that the Bulls have firepower everywhere.

In Glasgow, John Plumtree’s SHARKS showed flashes of promise, but fell away in the final quarter of a 35-19 defeat.

Winger Edwill van der Merwe marked his debut with a try and centre Lukhanyo Am produced a touch of magic, but ill-discipline and a late Warriors surge proved too much.

PLUM: Defence, discipline cost Sharks

With nine debutants blooded, Plumtree has raw material to work with, but patience will be required.

For the LIONS, it was another case of fight without finish. They clawed back to lead early in the second half against Cardiff, only to concede three tries once the hosts were restored to 15 men.

No 8 WJ Steenkamp’s score gave them hope, but turnovers and predictability in attack cost them dearly in a 33-20 defeat.

CASH: Crucial errors cost Lions in Cardiff

Ivan van Rooyen’s side will know that in this competition, opportunities squandered are rarely forgiven.

Round 1 results:
Stormers 35 Leinster 0
Ulster 42 Dragons 21
Glasgow 35 Sharks 19
Bulls 53 Ospreys 40
Zebre 31 Edinburgh 28
Scarlets 21 Munster 34
Cardiff 33 Lions 20
Connacht 26 Benetton 15

Round 2 fixtures:
Friday, 3 October
Stormers vs Ospreys, 7pm
Edinburgh vs Ulster, 9:05pm
Dragons vs Sharks, 9:05pm
Saturday, 4 October
Connacht vs Scarlets, 2:45pm
Benetton vs Glasgow, 6:30pm
Bulls vs Leinster, 6:30pm
Munster vs Cardiff, 8:45pm
Sunday, 5 October
Zebre vs Lions, 4pm

Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images