BKT United Rugby Championship Match Previews Round 4

Edinburgh defend perfect start as derby and Shield battles take centre stage.

Round 4 resumes after a strong European weekend for BKT URC clubs, with Edinburgh returning to league action as the only side to have won all three matches. Glasgow Warriors sit one point behind in second, with Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers completing the early top four.

The weekend is headlined by Leinster and Munster at Aviva Stadium, while Ospreys and Dragons RFC meet again just two weeks after their 38-31 derby at Rodney Parade. Benetton and Glasgow open their Italian/Scottish Shield campaigns, and leaders Edinburgh host 10bet Lions at Hive Stadium.

The opening three rounds have continued to underline the fine margins across the league: 13 of 24 matches have been won by the home side and 54% have finished with seven points or fewer between the teams. Attendances across Rounds 1 and 2 were also up 13% on the same period last season.

Round At A Glance

• Edinburgh are the only side to have won all three BKT URC matches and lead Glasgow Warriors by one point; Scottish teams occupy the top two positions for only the fourth time in Championship history.
• BKT URC clubs won 10 of 14 European fixtures against non-URC opposition, including six Champions Cup victories - the first time six BKT URC teams have won in the competition in the same weekend.
• Round 4 includes Leinster v Munster in the Irish Shield, an immediate Ospreys-Dragons RFC Welsh Shield rematch and the opening Italian/Scottish Shield fixture between Benetton and Glasgow Warriors.

Milestone Watch

• Ryan Elias (Scarlets) is one appearance short of 150 in the BKT URC.
• Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors) is one appearance short of 100.
• Morgan Morris (Ospreys), James Ratti (Ospreys) and Embrose Papier (Vodacom Bulls) are two apps short of 100.
• Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff) and Jarrod Evans (Cardiff) are three appearances short of 100.