A jam-packed weekend lies ahead in the United Rugby Championship with Irish and Welsh derbies as well as four ‘North v South’ fixtures as Benetton, Connacht, Glasgow Warriors & Leinster all kick off their South African tour.
This weekend, DHL Stormers and Cell C Sharks have their eye on a top four spot as they look to secure wins against Glasgow Warriors who travel to Cape Town and Durban, respectively.
Vodacom Bulls are looking to bounce back from their recent loss to DHL Stormers two weeks ago as Benetton make the trip to Pretoria in their first meeting since the Italian side's win in the Rainbow Cup Final last June.
The other South African fixture sees Emirates play host to Connacht with both teams maintaining mathematical chances of reaching the URC Play-Offs.
There are three derbies in Round 16, Munster travel to Kingspan Stadium looking to secure a win in the fight for top four position where they will face Ulster who sit second in the table.
Welsh Shield leaders Scarlets will travel to Rodney Parade to face Dragons while Cardiff Rugby will welcome Ospreys to the Arms Park. In Scotland, Edinburgh host Zebre Parma as they look to secure points to remain in the top eight.
SAT – Dragons vs Scarlets
Rodney Parade, Newport, 3pm
Officials:
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 22nd competition game), Assistant: Gareth Newman, Elgan Williams (both WRU), TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
Overall URC head-to-head record:
Played 37, Dragons won 9, Scarlets won 28.
Did you know?
- The two sides meet for a second successive weekend.
- Dragons eight game winless run in the United Rugby Championship ended with their 38-27 victory over Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday evening.
- Dragons have not won at Rodney Parade since beating today’s opponents, Scarlets, there 52-32 during the last season’s Rainbow Cup.
- Scarlets three game winning run in the United Rugby Championship ended with their home defeat to Dragons last weekend.
- Scarlets have won their last two away games in the Championship and have not tasted success in three successive games on the road in the Championship since 2017.
- Dragons have beaten Scarlets in their last two encounters and have never been victorious against the Men from the West in three successive United Rugby Championship fixtures.
- Scarlets have won just once in their last six visits to Rodney Parade in all competitions.
