Leinster secured their 10th United Rugby Championship (URC) title in June, defeating the Bulls 36-7 in the final held in Dublin. This victory marked the first successful title defense in the competition in five years. However, despite domestic success, Leinster has struggled in the European Champions Cup, losing the final for the fifth consecutive time after a heavy defeat to Bordeaux Begles.
The repeated losses in Europe appear to have influenced head coach Leo Cullen's decision to step down at the end of the 2026-27 season. The team has also seen the departure of several key players, including James Lowe, Rieko Ioane, Rabah Slimani, Ciaran Frawley, Will Connors, and Luke McGrath, which may present challenges in their quest to win a third consecutive URC title. Leinster began the new season with two away defeats in South Africa but remains capable of mounting a strong campaign.
The Bulls have been runners-up three times in the last five seasons and are eager to claim their first URC title. The South African clubs, which include the Bulls, Stormers, Sharks, and Lions, have collectively made strong showings since their inclusion expanded the league to 16 teams, which also features clubs from Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Italy. Notably, every runner-up in the URC since the South African teams joined has come from the southern hemisphere. The league season consists of 18 regular rounds, followed by three playoff stages involving the top eight teams, with higher-ranked teams maintaining home advantage throughout the playoffs.
Among South African sides, the Stormers, bolstered by 17 Springboks including Siya Kolisi and Cheslin Kolbe, are considered strong contenders after suffering a semifinal exit last year. The Bulls face challenges due to the loss of key players Ruan Nortje, Wilco Louw, and Kurt-Lee Arendse but still aim for playoff success. Meanwhile, the Sharks have experienced frequent coaching changes, casting doubt on their consistency, and the Lions remain an emerging but youthful squad with an uncertain playoff future.
Irish teams Connacht, Munster, and Ulster are expected to compete closely for playoff positions. Ulster has added former Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt to their staff, which could bolster their campaign. Welsh clubs face varied prospects: Ospreys, despite signing four Australians including Marika Koroibete, are not expected to challenge strongly, while Dragons and Scarlets may also struggle. Cardiff, led by Scott Sio, finished sixth last season and aims to replicate that performance.
Italian teams are less prominent in the title race, with Benetton their best hope. Though they have lost some key Italian players, Benetton could reach the playoffs if their away performances improve and if Louis Werchon, a 23-year-old Australian scrumhalf returning from the Queensland Reds, contributes effectively. Zebre, by contrast, finished last in the previous season.
Outside of South Africa, Glasgow Warriors represent one of Leinster’s top challengers. Under Franco Smith, they are known for an attacking, high-tempo style but will be motivated to overcome last season’s disappointing exits in both the URC semifinals and the Champions Cup quarterfinals, both at home. Edinburgh, meanwhile, continue to struggle with consistency despite a promising start to the campaign with two early wins.
With the departure of significant players across many squads, the 2024 URC season looks set to be competitive, with Leinster aiming to extend their domestic dominance while various southern hemisphere and European clubs seek to dethrone them.