2025–26 Leinster Rugby season

Leinster Rugby
2025–26 season
Head coachLeo Cullen
Chief executiveShane Nolan
← 2024–25 2026–27 →

The 2025–26 season is Leinster Rugby's fifth season in the United Rugby Championship (URC), their 32nd season of professional rugby and their 138th season of representative rugby since their foundation. Along with competing in the URC and its Irish Shield competition, both of which it will enter as champion, the club will also participate in the 2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup. Leinster will open the URC season with an away tie at Stormers on 26 September 2025.[1]

Transfers

Main article: Leinster Rugby

United Rugby Championship

Matches

The full itinery of matches was released on 21 May 2025.[18][1]

26 September 2025 Stormers v Leinster Cape Town Stadium  
18:00
4 October 2025 Bulls v Leinster Loftus Versfeld Stadium  
17:30
11 October 2025 Leinster v Sharks TBC  
17:30
18 October 2025 Leinster v Munster TBC  
17:15
25 October 2025 Leinster v Zebre Parma TBC  
17:30
28 November 2025 Dragons v Leinster Rodney Parade  
19:45
19 December 2025 Leinster v Ulster TBC  
19:45
27 December 2025 Munster v Leinster Thomond Park  
19:45
3 January 2026 Leinster v Connacht TBC  
17:30
24 January 2026 Connacht v Leinster The Sportsground, Galway  
17:30
31 January 2026 Leinster v Edinburgh TBC  
17:30
27 February 2026 Cardiff v Leinster Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45
21 March 2026 Glasgow Warriors v Leinster Scotstoun Stadium  
17:30
28 March 2026 Leinster v Scarlets TBC  
17:30
17 April 2026 Ulster v Leinster Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
19:45
25 April 2026 Benetton v Leinster Stadio Comunale di Monigo  
19:45
9 May 2026 Leinster v Lions TBC  
17:30
16 May 2026 Leinster v Ospreys TBC  
17:15

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Benetton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualifies for home URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
2 Bulls 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Cardiff 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Connacht 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Dragons 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualifies for URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
6 Edinburgh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Glasgow Warriors 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Lions 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the 2026–27 Challenge Cup
10 Munster 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 Ospreys 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Scarlets 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 Sharks 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 Stormers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 Ulster 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 Zebre Parma 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: UnitedRugby.com
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won 2) The difference between points for and points against 3) The number of tries scored 4) The most points scored 5) The difference between tries for and tries against 6) The fewest red cards received 7) The fewest yellow cards received.[19]


2025–26 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield tables
Irish Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1 Connacht — — — — — — — — — — — — —
2 Leinster — — — — — — — — — — — — —
3 Munster — — — — — — — — — — — — —
4 Ulster — — — — — — — — — — — — —
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[20]
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields.

(S) : URC Shield champion

European Rugby Champions Cup

Leinster have been drawn in Pool 3 of the European Rugby Champions Cup. alongside fellow URC side Stormers (whom Leinster will not play in line with the competition's rules), Leinster will face Harlequins, Leicester Tigers, Bayonne and erstwhile rivals La Rochelle.

European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 3
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Bayonne 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Home Champions Cup round of 16.
2 Harlequins 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 La Rochelle 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Away Champions Cup round of 16.
4 Leicester Tigers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Leinster 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Away Challenge Cup round of 16.
6 Stormers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: EPCR[21]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.
Pool matches
v  
v  
v  
v  

Notes

References

  1. ^ a b Glennon, Michael (21 May 2025). "Leinster to start 2025/26 URC campaign in South Africa". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ "Larmour, Slimani & Gunne Sign New Contracts With Leinster". IRFU.ie. 12 March 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b "James Lowe and Jamie Osborne pen new deal as Leinster continue contracts process". Independent.ie. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Lowe latest to sign new deal with Leinster". RTE.ie. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  5. ^ "Leinster Announce New Deal For O'Brien, McKee & Cooney". irishrugby.ie. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  6. ^ "Sam Prendergast pens new deal with Leinster while Alex Usanov signs first professional contract with the province". Independent.ie. 25 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  7. ^ "RG Snyman pens new Leinster deal after stunning first season since controversial Munster move". Independent.ie. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  8. ^ "Rieko Ioane to join Leinster in bombshell move". Rugby Pass. 16 April 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  9. ^ Thornley, Gerry (15 April 2024). "Jordie Barrett will join Leinster on short-term contract next December". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Munster: Irish province sign front-rowers Michael Milne and Lee Barron from Leinster on two-year deals". BBC Sport. 29 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  11. ^ "'A real statement of ambition' - Gloucester Rugby confirm signing of Irish international Ross Byrne". Gloucesteshire Live. 21 February 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
  12. ^ "Cian Healy: Retiring Irish prop grateful for 10 extra years after neck injury". BBC Sport. 1 March 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  13. ^ Nolan, Lawrence (7 May 2025). "Jordie Barrett farewelled as Leinster confirm list of nine end-of-season leavers". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ulster prop signings was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ "Ulster Rugby Academy confirmed for 2025/26", Ulster Rugby, 4 June 2025
  16. ^ "Leinster leaver joins Pro D2 club, Racing 92 issue Szarzewski statement". Planet Rugby. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  17. ^ O'Connor, Rúaidhrí (11 June 2025). "'I honestly can't wait to get started' – Leinster's Rob Russell to join Ross Byrne at Gloucester next season". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
  18. ^ Wright, Jared (21 May 2025). "Full 2025/26 United Rugby Championship fixture list confirmed as Stormers v Leinster kick-off the new season". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  19. ^ "Competition rules – United Rugby Championship". United Rugby Championship. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  20. ^ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Pool Tables | Investec Champions Cup". www.epcrugby.com. European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
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