Firstly, the BKT United Rugby Championship season is drawing to a close and, after twenty rounds of fierce competition between 16 rugby clubs across five nations, it’s now down to just two as Vodacom Bulls and Glasgow Warriors battle it out in Pretoria, South Africa at the URC Grand Final this Saturday.
There is also high drama live from France’s Top 14 semi-finals as Toulouse host La Rochelle on Friday night and Stade Francais v Bordeaux Bègles on Saturday evening and you can check out all the latest odds action with GGBet Sportsbook
Vodacom Bulls have won their last six Vodacom United Rugby Championship matches, their best run in the Championship and have lost only one of their last twelve United Rugby Championship matches at home 22-27 against Munster in April 2024. Bulls record against Scottish opponents is won three, lost three with all matches being won by the home team on the day.
Glasgow Warriors have played in three previous BKT United Rugby Championship finals, winning in 2015 and losing in 2014 and 2019. The Warriors have won their last three Championship fixtures since their 21-44 reversal to the Lions in Johannesburg in Round 17. The Warriors have been defeated on their last eight visits to South Africa.
The two teams have met on three previous occasions, Bulls winning twice in Pretoria and Glasgow once at Scotstoun. The two teams finished the regular season with just one point between them, Bulls finishing in second place and Glasgow in 4th. Glasgow Warriors have named an unchanged starting XV for their third match in succession. Key Bulls and Springbok wing Kurt-Lee Arendse returns from injury to start for the home side.
Ryan Wilson who was part of the Glasgow team that won the 2015 PRO14 Final, believes his former team has what it takes to lift the trophy again.
The former Captain who pulled on the Glasgow jersey an impressive 222 times said: “I feel like there is something special about this Glasgow Team. I think the boys can do it. But it is a very difficult place to go and play especially looking at what the Bulls did to Leinster last week, they were fantastic and the physicality was on another level.
“Can Glasgow can match the physicality of the Bulls? I think Glasgow have a more dangerous attack, but I think they showed their defence against Munster was one of the best it’s been all season and if you talk about teams peaking at the right time, Glasgow have peaked in the last two games - their performance last weekend was just incredible.
“When we won the trophy in 2015, we had lost a final the year before. We built up all season and then you get to the pinnacle and lose it, it’s very tough to take. This team have had the same experience last year in the Challenge Cup Final when they didn’t win. They will take from that.”
“I’d say to the boys - you don’t get many opportunities like this. You’ve got to take it with both hands. This is it, let’s go and take it.
“Franco has made such big strides with this team already that now people are saying this is a team that can win silverware and with the players they’ve got and that attacking back line, I think they can.”
On the impact that Glasgow reaching a Final will have on the city and nation in Scotland. He said: “It will certainly give the City of Glasgow a big boost. You know the fans back in Glasgow will be cheering the team on.
“Glasgow Warriors are really flying the flag for Scottish Rugby at the moment, I think people are looking to Glasgow to do the job for Scottish Rugby. Either way there will be a big party, if they win that trophy – there will be incredible scenes. Glasgow will be bouncing – I know the fans that have been there all season, supporting the brand of rugby they have played.
“The boys talk about it in meetings they want to represent the City, they want the fans to see a piece of them in the way they represent the club, with the fight and spirit they put into every single match and pour into that jersey. I know it is going to mean a lot to Glasgow Warriors fans.
“I hope they can replicate what we did in 2015 and go on and win the Final.”
FRI 21-SUN 23 JUNE
Top 14 Play-off Semi-final
Toulouse v La Rochelle (7.15pm)
World Rugby Sevens Repechage
Stade Louis II, Monaco (from 1pm) Live on RugbyPass TV
SATURDAY 22 JUNE
Internationals
Japan v England (6.50am, Tokyo) Live on RugbyPass TV
South Africa v Wales (2pm, Twickenham) Live on S4C & Sky Sports
Barbarians v Fiji (5.15pm, Twickenham) Live on Sky Sports
France v World XV (3pm, Bilbao)
United Rugby Championship Grand Final
Bulls v Glasgow Warriors (5pm, Loftus Versfeld) Live on Premier Sports & RTÉ
Allianz Women’s Premiership Final
Bristol Bears v Gloucester-Hartpury (3pm, Sandy Park, Exeter) Live on TNT Sports
