The Bulls, Stormers and Sharks go into the November break in the top four. Glasgow still lead, while the Lions are down in 13th after losing there. South African league action returns with two derbies on 5 December.
Current position: 2 November 2026
Glasgow lead on 23 points. The Bulls and Stormers have 21 each, with the Bulls second on points difference; the Sharks are fourth on 19, level on points with fifth-placed Edinburgh.
| Position | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glasgow Warriors | 23 |
| 2 | Bulls | 21 |
| 3 | Stormers | 21 |
| 4 | Sharks | 19 |
| 5 | Edinburgh | 19 |
| 13 | Lions | 9 |
The Sharks' 15-3 win at Munster was the standout away result for the South African sides. The Bulls and Stormers collected bonus-point home wins, while the Lions left Glasgow with neither the result nor a losing bonus point.
Fixtures and dates
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 5 December 2026 | Lions v Bulls | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
| 5 December 2026 | Sharks v Stormers | Kings Park, Durban |
| 19 December 2026 | Sharks v Bulls | Kings Park, Durban |
| 19 December 2026 | Stormers v Lions | DHL Stadium, Cape Town |
November belongs to the international programme, including the Springboks' Nations Championship Tests. The next league meetings between the South African teams fall after finals weekend in London.
Round five: three wins, one late defeat
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Glasgow Warriors v Lions | 29-20 |
| Stormers v Ulster | 33-7 |
| Bulls v Scarlets | 54-26 |
| Munster v Sharks | 3-15 |
The Bulls led 19-0 before Scarlets pulled level at 26-26. Four tries in the final 22 minutes turned a tied match into a 28-point win, so the final margin does not tell the whole defensive story.
The Stormers scored five tries and conceded seven points against Ulster. The Sharks conceded no tries at Thomond Park, with Gianni Lombard and Ivan van Zyl supplying their two scores.
The Lions led Glasgow 20-19 late in the match before Ollie Smith's 76th-minute try changed the result. Their nine-point total leaves a much bigger recovery job than the other three South African teams face.
The break interrupts club form
A five-week gap separates the October results from the 5 December derbies. Players returning from the November Tests will have a different workload from those who stayed with their clubs.
The Bulls' comeback and the Sharks' defensive win are useful evidence, not ready-made December selections. We need the returning squads and match prices before turning either result into a handicap argument.
The URC previews handle those individual matches. The wider rugby hub also covers the international fixtures during the club break.
Compare the operators in our SA betting sites guide, then compare like-for-like rugby markets. A winning-margin bet is not the same as backing a side to cover the handicap.
Questions about URC 2026/27
Which South African team is highest in the URC?
The Bulls are second on 21 points after round five, ahead of the Stormers on points difference.
What was the Munster v Sharks result?
The Sharks won 15-3 at Thomond Park on 31 October 2026.
When do South African URC matches resume?
The Lions host the Bulls and the Sharks host the Stormers on 5 December 2026.
Where are the Lions in the table?
The Lions are 13th with nine points after their 29-20 defeat at Glasgow.