URC SA Shield: Too close to call
The race for the Vodacom URC South African Shield is reaching boiling point, with another bruising round of local derbies set to shape the standings this weekend.
The Sharks surged to the top of the South African pool after their statement 30-19 win over the Stormers in Cape Town, but the margins are tight. The Sharks, Stormers and Lions are all locked on 10 points, with points difference the only thing separating the top three.
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The Bulls, meanwhile, are playing catch-up. They sit at the foot of the table with just two points from their opening three Shield fixtures and can ill afford another slip as the derby grind intensifies.
Each team faces the other South African sides twice – home and away – while also playing teams from the other regional pools once, alternating venues each season. This ensures that the Irish, South African and Welsh franchises each contest six derby matches. Scotland and Italy, by contrast, play their domestic rivals only twice.
Historically, the Stormers have been the most successful South African Shield side, lifting the trophy twice, while the Bulls and Sharks have each claimed it once. The Sharks enter the business end of the campaign as the defending Shield holders and with momentum firmly on their side.
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SA Shield Results:
Saturday, 29 November 2025
Bulls 33 Lions 43
Saturday, 20 December 2025
Stormers 34 Lions 27
Sharks 21 Bulls 12
Saturday, 3 January
Sharks 22 Lions 23
Stormers 13 Bulls 8
Saturday, 24 January
Stormers 19 Sharks 30
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Upcoming SA Shield Fixtures:
Saturday, 31 January
Lions vs Bulls, 2:30pm
Sharks vs Stormers, 5pm
Saturday, 21 February
Lions vs Sharks, 2pm
Saturday, 28 February
Lions vs Stormers, 2:30pm
Bulls vs Sharks, 5pm
Saturday, 14 March
Bulls vs Stormers, 2pm
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Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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