Teams are announced for tonight’s BKT URC openers

THE teams for Friday night’s Round 1 fixtures of the BKT United Rugby Championship have been named with all details of match officials and broadcast information below.
Ruhan Nel captains DHL Stormers for the first time
Leinster academy prop Andrew Sparrow in line for debut off the bench
#ULSvDRA
James Hume to make 100th cap for Ulster
Matthew Screech makes 200th appearance while Tinus de Beer, Wyn Jones and Rob Hunt all make their debut for Dragons RFC
#GLAvSHA
Two debuts in Glasgow Warriors starting XV – summer signing from Racing 92, Dan Lancaster and academy centre Kerr Yule
Loosehead prop Simphiwe Matanzima, scrumhalf Ross Braude and wings Christie Grobbelaar and Edwill van der Merwe are all set to make their BKT URC debuts for the Hollywoodbets Sharks
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
DHL Stormers v Leinster
DHL Stadium, Cape Town – KO 18.00 IRE & UK / 19.00 ITA & SA
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 42nd league game)
AR 1: Sean Muller (SARU) AR 2: Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU)
TMO: Adam Jones (WRU)
Live on: SuperSport, TG4, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
DHL Stormers: Wandisile Simelane, Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel (CAPT), Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas, Jurie Matthee, Stefan Ungerer, Vernon Matongo, André-Hugo Venter, Neethling Fouché, Adré Smith, JD Schickerling, Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Evan Roos
Replacements: JJ Kotze, Oli Reid, Zachary Porthen, Ruben van Heerden, Ruan Ackermann, Marcel Theunissen, Dewaldt Duvenage, Clinton Swart
Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien, Tommy O’Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Ciarán Frawley, Jordan Larmour, Sam Prendergast, Luke McGrath (CAPT), Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Rabah Slimani, Diarmuid Mangan, Brian Deeny, Ryan Baird, Scott Penny, James Culhane
Replacements: John McKee, Paddy McCarthy, Andrew Sparrow, Max Deegan, Will Connors, Fintan Gunne, Harry Byrne, Hugh Cooney
DHL Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson said: “There has been a lot of hard work put in from players and management to get to this point and we are all very excited to get going.
“Playing the defending champions at home means that we will have to be on our game to get the result we want and we know we will have our fans right behind us as always.
“With Salmaan Moerat and Deon Fourie sidelined with injuries, Ruhan was the natural choice to take over as captain and we know the team will be in good hands on the field. He has been part of the leadership group for some time and is completely aligned with the coaching team in terms of the way we want to play,”
Leinster Senior Coach Jacques Nienaber said: “We have a tough start. We play the DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls, then we play the Hollywoodbets Sharks, who lost in the Semi-Final to the Bulls, who we then played in the final. Three South African teams — the team that ended fifth, the team that ended second, and then the team that finished third. It’s teams that normally challenge at the back end of the competition. We will have a very good idea where we are after these three games, and then it’s Munster at Croke Park. So, our first month is a blockbuster month, which is great.”
Ulster v Dragons RFC
Affidea Stadium, Belfast – KO 20.05 IRE & UK / 21.05 ITA & SA
Referee: Griffin Colby (SARU, 7th league game)
AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU) AR 2: Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: Chris Allison (SARU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Ulster: Michael Lowry, Zac Ward, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak, Callum Reid, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson (CAPT), Harry Sheridan, Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney, David McCann
Replacements: Tom Stewart, Sam Crean, Scott Wilson, Matthew Dalton, Juarno Augustus, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Ben Carson
Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien (CC), Rio Dyer, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen, Jared Rosser, Tinus de Beer, Rhodri Williams, Wyn Jones, Elliot Dee, Rob Hunt, Matthew Screech, Ben Carter (CC), Shane Lewis-Hughes, Harrison Keddie, Aaron Wainwright
Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Rodrigo Martinez, Dillon Lewis, Levi Douglas, Mackenzie Martin, Che Hope, Fine Inisi, Huw Anderson
Ulster Head Coach Richie Murphy said: “The team are hungry and very focused, there is a good plan in place and we want to give our supporters something to cheer about on Friday night at Affidea Stadium.”
Dragons RFC Head Coach Filo Tiatia said: “We’re looking forward to going to Ulster, they’re a good side and they’ll be tough over there,”
“They have a heavy pack, they’ve certainly got some experience in the midfield, and they’ve got speed. We’re looking forward to the challenge.
“The players are excited, so are the coaches, no different to Ulster, they’ll be excited to play against us. It’s time to see where we are at.”
Glasgow Warriors v Hollywoodbets Sharks
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – KO 20.05 IRE & UK / 21.05 ITA & SA
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 68th league game)
AR 1: Ru Campbell (SRU) AR 2: Rob McDowell (SRU)
TMO: Keith David (WRU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay, Kyle Rowe, Stafford McDowall (CAPT), Kerr Yule, Ollie Smith, Dan Lancaster, George Horne, Jamie Bhatti, Johnny Matthews, Fin Richardson, Jare Oguntibeju, Alex Samuel, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey
Replacements: Gregor Hiddleston, Rory Sutherland, Sam Talakai, Scott Cummings, Gregor Brown, Euan Ferrie, Jamie Dobie, Adam Hastings
Hollywoodbets Sharks: Yaw Penxe, Edwill van der Merwe, Lukhanyo Am, Francois Venter, Christie Grobbelaar, Jaden Hendrikse, Ross Braude, Simphiwe Matanzima, Fez Mbatha, Ruan Dreyer, Deon Slabbert, Marvin Orie, Phepsi Buthelezi, Emmanuel Tshituka, Vincent Tshituka (CAPT)
Replacements: Eduan Swart, Dian Bleuler, Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, Bathobele Hlekani, Nick Hatton, Jean Smith, Jurenzo Julius, Hakeem Kunene
Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Franco Smith said: “Playing at Scotstoun is always a privilege and we are looking forward to starting a new campaign at home in front of our home supporters.
“We know that home support will be vital and we know that the Warrior Nation will be make themselves heard tomorrow night.
“Even without their South African internationals, the Sharks are proof that there are no underpowered teams in the BKT URC – their squad is built to perform and their depth was a key factor in them finishing in the top four last season.”
Hollywoodbets Sharks Head Coach John Plumtree said: “I’m happy with the way we’ve prepared with some real challenges, we’re good to go,”
“The front row hasn’t played together, the same with the locks, the nine-ten combination too, so there are some challenges, but we have prepared well. We’ve put the players under pressure as much as we can based on what they’re going to be exposed to in Scotland.”

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