Three teams entered round four of the 2025/26 BKT United Rugby Championship. Exiting round four, three teams remain undefeated as Irish provinces Munster and Ulster laid down big-time markers, while the highly impressive DHL Stormers kept rolling.

Starting the run of unbeaten sides, Ulster jumped to the unofficial world number one ranking by beating a Springbok-laden Sharks side on the road in Durban. Starting a run of rather amusing memes across the rugby world wide web, seeing Ulster ahead of South Africa on mock rankings gave this writer a chuckle.

Surviving an onslaught at scrum time, Ulster shredded the Sharks with their ability to get to width quickly. Exposing the Sharks’ outside backs with their pace, Ulster were impervious. Laying the platform for this wide assault, the Ulster forwards in particular fronted up and won the battle at the gainline. 

One week removed from thumping the Bulls, Ulster proved unequivocally that they have taken major strides forward under Richie Murphy.

When the final whistle blew in Durban, in Dublin, the biggest clash of the round was about to unfold in front of over fifty thousand fans at the iconic Croke Park stadium. Entering the clash as sixteen-point underdogs with the bookies, Munster Rugby delivered a statement performance early in the Clayton McMillan era with a dominant 31 to 14 win over Leinster.

Billed as the battle of the Irish fly-half contenders, the head-to-head between Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast was a direct reflection of the match as a whole.

In short, it was no contest. Crowley, with his eighteen tackles, one hundred per cent return from the kicking tee, and ultra-intelligent dismantling of the Leinster blitz defence, was world-class.

Conversely, Prendergast struggled to find his range from the boot, was caught out of position defensively, and generally struggled in the face of a ferocious red wall. In the young playmaker’s defence, he was far from being the only Leinster player to struggle.

Away from a dominant scrum, Leinster were second best across the board, leaving Prendergast no platform to play from. Adding to his woes was arguably the worst performance of the past five years that we have seen from Jamison Gibson Park. The Lions scrumhalf was off the pace, with his passes routinely just out of reach for his carriers.

Up front, the Munster pack were exceptional. Wrestling back ascendancy in the scrum after being dominated in that area throughout the first half was a mark of the grit that McMillan has already installed in his side.

In general play, the Munster forwards were immense, with captain Tadhg Beirne leading the charge. Pulling off five turnovers, fifteen tackles, and pressuring the Leinster lineout, Beirne, who underwent elbow surgery in the offseason, dispelled the narrative that the Lions players would be rusty.

When the final whistle sounded at a wet and windy Croke Park, Munster players and fans alike rejoiced a first regular season win over their archrivals since the 2018/19 season.

Completing the unbeaten run were the Stormers, who put on a professional display to ease past Zebre Parma 31 to 13. Spearheading the Stormers’ charge once again was number eight Evan Roos, who continues to be one of the league’s most destructive ball carriers.

Away from the headline fixtures, here is how round four of the URC played out in full.

Connacht 27, 28 Vodacom BullsDragons 17, 24 Cardiff RugbyEdinburgh 43, 0 BenettonLions 29, 18 ScarletsHollywoodbets Sharks 26, 34 UlsterLeinster 14, 31 MunsterOspreys 17, 42 Glasgow WarriorsZebre 13, 31 DHL Stormers

As ever, narrowing our selection down to just a starting fifteen was a challenge to say the least, but here is our round four team of the week.

1. Michael Milne, Munster Rugby

Never got an opportunity to lay down a marker at scrum time due to Leinster’s dominance on the other side. Around the park, Milne was exceptional on both sides of the ball. Defensively, his power at the breakdown made the Leinster ruck a mess and stunted their flow. What sets the loosehead apart is his ability to generate go forward from a standing start, making him a Swiss Army knife close to the line.

2. Tom Stewart, Ulster Rugby

Another member of the snubbed crew, Ulster hooker Tom Stewart, has seen his stock drop in recent times, primarily due to injury. Now behind Leinster’s third-choice hooker Gus McCarthy in the eyes of Andy Farrell, Stewart sent a message that he is a force to be reckoned with against the Sharks. Absolutely battering experienced Springbok players, Stewart was at the heart of everything Ulster did well and went a full eighty minutes due to backrow injuries.

3. Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Lions

Despite the cloud that has surrounded him since adverse findings in his drug test, the Lions’ powerhouse has done all of his talking on the pitch. Simply put, he destroyed the Scarlets scrum whilst also getting through a solid lump of work during his sixty-three minutes on the pitch.

4. Ruben van Heerden, DHL Stormers

In a squad stacked with stars, it is the Stormers lock who is the glue that holds everything together. Doing so much of the dirty work to free up those around him, van Heerden often slips under the radar. Once again dominating in the air with eleven lineout grabs to go with his work rate at the breakdown, van Heerden had another rock-solid outing.

5. Fineen Wycherley, Munster Rugby

Quite possibly the best example of a late bloomer, Munster’s steady Eddie lock continues to improve and, in truth, dominate more heralded operators. Now twenty-seven years old and five seasons removed from his sole Irish cap, one has to feel that if he continues this form, he will be in the conversation as a live option come the Six Nations.

6. Tadhg Beirne, Munster Rugby

Out of this world good once again, the Munster skipper was unplayable. Whilst Leinster were keen to stress that their Lions players were rusty, Beirne dispelled this thought process with a performance that might just have been the best individual showing in URC history. Picking the Leinster pockets with five turnovers, absolutely dominating at the point of contact, and leading his side with aplomb, the thirty-three-year-old once again proved that he will be central for both province and country over the next two seasons.

7. Nick Timoney, Ulster Rugby

Whilst incumbent Josh van der Flier had a tough day out against Munster, Timoney pushed his case once again to be wearing the Ireland number seven shirt in Chicago. Making twenty tackles, winning a turnover, and carrying nine times into heavy traffic, Timoney was exceptional against the Sharks.

8. Evan Roos, DHL Stormers

Somehow still on the edges of the Springbok squad, the Stormers number eight continues to pile up massive performances. Topping both the carry and tackle charts for his side in a man-of-the-match performance, the twenty-five-year-old was once again the fulcrum around which his pack rotated. An honourable mention goes to Munster pair Brian Gleeson and Gavin Coombes, who were immense at Croke Park.

9. Nathan Doak, Ulster Rugby

Just edging Munster’s Ethan Coughlan and Glasgow’s Jamie Dobie, the Ulster number nine was immense in Durban. Offsetting any concerns that John Cooney’s departure this offseason would scupper Ulster’s flow, Doak has stepped up as the chief playmaker in the Ulster backline. Eerily similar to the great Ruan Pienaar in his style of play, Doak will fancy his chances to compete with Craig Casey as one of the players to replace Jamison Gibson Park in the Ireland set-up.

10. Jack Crowley, Munster Rugby

Putting to bed any debate about who Ireland’s best flyhalf is, heading into the November window, Jack Crowley completely dismantled Leinster both physically and mentally. Brutally exposing Leinster’s famed rush defence with a pinpoint short kicking game, chopping down their ball carriers with eighteen tackles, beating defenders, and landing all of his shots at goal, Crowley had about as close to a ten out of ten performance as one could ask for.

11. Thaakir Abrahams, Munster Rugby

A Springbok in waiting, Abrahams has been a revelation for Munster. Adding a sprinkling of stardust to an already electric Munster backline, the former Sharks and Lyon flyer stretched the Leinster defence, making chunk yards with ease. In truth, his pace exposed the physical but pace-deficient Leinster back three, in particular James Lowe, who simply could not get to grips with him all match.

12. Dan Kelly, Munster Rugby

Munster’s direct option off first-phase ball, Kelly took a pair of Lions centres to town on Saturday evening. Topping the tackle charts for the backline with nineteen, the former Leicester Tiger stopped Leinster’s attack as soon as it got past one pass. One incident in particular saw him smash Robbie Henshaw, forcing a Leinster knock on when the men in blue were in a promising position.

13. Tom Farrell, Munster Rugby

Close to copy and paste for his centre partner’s description, Tom Farrell scored what is likely the best try ever witnessed at Croke Park. Threading the needle between Jimmy O’Brien and Jamie Osborne, Farrell controlled a Jack Crowley chip kick to race in under the posts. His form is irresistible and completely outshining, Garry Ringrose must surely bring him into Ireland contention.

14. Darcy Graham, Edinburgh Rugby

Simply electric, Edinburgh’s flyer closed his account with one hundred metres made, six defenders beaten, two line breaks, and two tries. Similar to Abrahams, Graham’s ability to beat defenders in confined spaces is a sight to behold. Heading into November, there can be little doubt that he will occupy the Scottish number fourteen shirt.

15. Willie le Roux, Vodacom Bulls

Winding back the years, the Bulls veteran was at his slippery best in Galway as his side got back to winning ways. Dotting down for a try, beating two defenders, and making seventy-two metres paints a picture of an offensive masterclass. Yet, it was le Roux’s defensive work in organising his backline that was particularly impressive.

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