Fifth take on sixth as homesters Munster take on Ulster

Round 16 in the BKT United Rugby Championship is headlined by a huge clash at DHL Stadium, where second-placed DHL Stormers host leaders Glasgow Warriors in a meeting between the top two sides in the table. Glasgow begin the weekend on 55 points, four clear of DHL Stormers and Leinster, while the Capetonians have the chance to cut the gap at the top and strengthen their push for a home quarter-final.
There is also major pressure building across the play-off race. Munster host Ulster at Thomond Park in a meeting between sixth and fifth, with just one point separating the sides, while Benetton welcome third-placed Leinster knowing a result could be crucial to their fading top-eight hopes. In Johannesburg, fourth-placed Fidelity SecureDrive Lions face ninth-placed Connacht Rugby in another fixture with direct play-off significance.
Elsewhere, Cardiff host Ospreys in a Welsh derby with Shield significance, with Ospreys able to clinch the Welsh Shield with another positive result. Edinburgh take on Hollywoodbets Sharks with both teams trying to revive their campaigns, while Zebre Parma and Dragons RFC meet in Parma with both looking to halt difficult BKT URC runs. Scarlets also face a major test at home to Vodacom Bulls, who start the round in eighth place and looking to protect their place inside the top eight.
Round at a glance
Glasgow Warriors travel to DHL Stormers in a first-versus-second showdown
Munster Rugby v Ulster Rugby brings together sixth and fifth at Thomond Park
Fidelity SecureDrive Lions v Connacht Rugby is a direct top-nine battle in Johannesburg
Cardiff Rugby v Ospreys is a Welsh derby with Shield significance
Vodacom Bulls begin the round in eighth, with Connacht one point behind in ninth.
Milestone watch
Boan Venter is 1 appearance short of 100 in the BKT URC
Tadhg Furlong is 1 appearance short of 100 in the BKT URC
Aaron Wainwright, Keelan Giles, Matt Fagerson and Mike Haley are each 2 short of 100 appearances
Joe Davies, Josh van der Flier, Kieran Hardy and Scott Penny are each 3 short of 100 appearances
Fixtures
Friday, April 24:
Cardiff Rugby v Ospreys, 19:00 UK/ 20:00 ITA/SA
Edinburgh Rugby v Hollywoodbets Sharks, 19:45 UK / 20:45 ITA/SA
Zebre Parma v Dragons RFC, 19:45 UK / 20:45 ITA/SA
Saturday, April 25:
DHL Stormers v Glasgow Warriors, 13:45 UK / 14:45 ITA/SA
Fidelity SecureDrive Lions v Connacht Rugby, 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA/SA
Munster Rugby v Ulster Rugby, 17:30 UK / 18:30 ITA/SA
Scarlets v Vodacom Bulls, 19:45 UK / 20:45 ITA/SA
Benetton Rugby v Leinster Rugby, 19:45 ITA/SA
Table snapshot
Glasgow Warriors, 55 pts
DHL Stormers, 51 pts
Leinster Rugby, 51 pts
Fidelity SecureDrive Lions, 48 pts
Ulster Rugby, 47 pts
Munster Rugby, 46 pts
Cardiff Rugby, 46 pts
Vodacom Bulls, 45 pts
Connacht Rugby, 44 pts
Ospreys, 34 pts
Hollywoodbets Sharks, 34 pts
Edinburgh Rugby, 28 pts
Benetton Rugby, 28 pts
Scarlets, 23 pts
Dragons RFC, 21 pts
Zebre Parma, 14 pts
BKT URC LEAGUE LEADERS
Top Try Scorers
Evan Roos, DHL Stormers — 10
Embrose Papier, Vodacom Bulls — 9
Joshua Kenny, Leinster Rugby — 9
Sean Jansen, Connacht Rugby — 9
Zac Ward, Ulster Rugby — 8
Jamie Dobie, Glasgow Warriors — 7
Joe Roberts, Scarlets — 7
Johann Grobbelaar, Vodacom Bulls — 7
Ruan Venter, Fidelity SecureDrive Lions — 7
Werner Kok, Ulster Rugby — 7

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