We head into round 9 of the URC this weekend with two more South African derbies to kick off 2026. The Sharks host the Lions in Durban followed by the Bulls against the Stormers in Cape Town. We look at the matches from a betting angle and offer up a bet in each game for consideration.
Sharks v Lions – Click here to bet
The Sharks ended their 2025 year with two solid back-to-back home wins, beating Saracens 28–23 in the Champions Cup before following that up with a 21–12 victory over the Bulls at home in the URC. They have now won three of their last five matches across all competitions and currently sit 13th on the URC table.
The Lions put up an impressive fight against an in-form Stormers side in their last outing, only losing 34–27 for what was their third defeat in a row which included 2 Challenge Cup matches. Prior to that, they were on a decent run of URC form, recording back-to-back wins over Ulster and the Bulls, and will be looking to rediscover that level this weekend as they sit 8th on the log in the final play-off spot.
Head to Head
These sides last met in the URC in March 2025 where the Sharks won 25-22 at home. That came just a week after the reverse fixture in Johannesburg where the Sharks were hammered 38-14.
Betting and Verdict
Sharks 1.33
Lions 3.90
Draw 31.00
Handicap: Sharks -8.5
While the Sharks arrive in better form, having won their last two matches, the Lions have been more competitive than results alone suggest. Each of their last three defeats has been by narrow margins, and importantly, the Sharks have not beaten the Lions by more than three points in any of the last four meetings between the teams.
This points toward a tighter contest than the handicap implies. The Sharks should have enough to get the job done at home, but the Lions can stay competitive, particularly if the game becomes physical and stop-start rather than open and expansive as is often the case in Durban at this time of the year.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Lions [+8.5] at 1.95.
Stormers v Bulls – Click here to bet
The Stormers continued their impressive run of form with a home victory over the Lions in their most recent outing, extending their winning streak to nine matches across all competitions. That contest finished 34–27 in Cape Town. On the back of this sustained momentum, they sit top of the table on 32 points, two clear of Munster, and crucially still have a game in hand.
The Bulls, by contrast, are enduring a difficult spell, having lost each of their last five matches. Their latest defeat came two weeks ago in Durban, where they went down 21–12 to the Sharks. After a promising start to the competition, this downturn in form has seen them slide to 11th on the table with 15 points.
Head to Head
The Stormers have had the upper hand in recent meetings, winning three of the last five clashes. The most recent encounter in Cape Town, however, saw the Bulls snatch a dramatic 33–32 victory in February 2025. Overall, three of the last four meetings between these sides have been decided by margins of fewer than seven points.
Betting and Verdict
Stormers win 1.31
Draw 26.00
Bulls win 3.65
Handicap: Stormers -7.5
The Stormers continue to deliver week in and week out and show no signs of slowing down. The Bulls, meanwhile, arrive under significant pressure after five straight defeats, and it is difficult to see them posing a sustained threat against a Stormers side in this kind of form.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Stormers [-7.5] at 1.95
Click here for betting on all the weekends URC matches
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
