The teams for this weekend's Round 8 fixtures of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship have been named with all details of match officials and broadcast information below.

TEAM NEWS HEADLINES

#STOvSCA

• Lock Gary Porter will make his DHL Stormers debut
• Scott Williams returns at centre while Dan Davis makes his first start of the season for Scarlets

#ULSvZEB

• World Cup-winning Springbok, Duane Vermeulen, to captain Ulster
• Riccardo Genovese and Matt Kvesic set to make their debut for Zebre Parma if called upon from the bench

#BULvOSP

• Ruan Nortjewill captain the Vodacom Bulls
• James Fender and Luke Scully are set to make their Osprey’s debut ifcalled upon from the bench

#BENvEDI

• Rhyno Smith returns at full-back for Benetton
• Stuart McInally, Henry Immelman, James Lang andBen Vellacott al return from injury & named in Edinburgh Rugby matchday squad

#LEIvGLA

• Ronan Kelleher and Harry Byrne return from injury and are named in Leinsters matchday squad
• Nine players return from Scotland camp and into GlasgowWarriors matchday squad

#MUNvCON

• Tadhg Beirne, who was named in World Rugby Men's 15sTeam of the Year, starts on his 50th Munster appearance
• Six Connacht players who were with the Ireland squadin November have been named in the starting XV

#LIOvDRA

• Andre Warner and Asenathi Ntlabakanye in line to maketheir season debut for Emirates Lions if called upon from the bench
• Sio Timkinson returns to Dragons RFC starting XV

#SHAvCAR

• James Venter will captain Cell C Sharks
• Lopeti Timani returns to the Cardiff Rugby startingXV

  
  

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25

DHL Stormers v Scarlets

DHL Stadium, Cape Town – KO 17.00 IRE & UK / 18.00 ITA /19.00 SA

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 5thleague game)

AR 1: Morne Ferreira (SARU) AR 2: Paul Mente (SARU)

TMO: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

Live on: SuperSport, BBC Wales, Viaplay, TG4, Discovery +,Premier Sports & URC.tv

DHL Stormers: Clayton Blommetjies,Angelo Davids, Cornel Smit, Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas, Kade Wolhuter, Paul deWet, Ali Vermaak, Joseph Dweba, Neethling Fouche, Ernst van Rhyn (CAPT), GaryPorter, Junior Pokomela, Marcel Theunissen, Hacjivah Dayimani

Replacements: JJ Kotze, Leon Lyons, SaziSandi, Connor Evans, Ben-Jason Dixon, Nama Xaba, Herschel Jantjies, Jean-Luc duPlessis

Scarlets: Johnny McNicholl, Tom Rogers, Jonathan Davies (CAPT), Scott Williams, Ryan Conbeer, DanJones, Gareth Davies, Steff Thomas, Daf Hughes, Harri O’Connor, Sam Lousi, TomPrice, Aaron Shingler, Dan Davis, Sione Kalamafoni

Replacements: Taylor Davies, KemsleyMathias, WillGriff John, Blade Thomson, Tomás Lezana, Archie Hughes, RhysPatchell, Steff Evans

DHLStormers Head Coach John Dobson said: “The players getting anopportunity this week have all been training incredibly hard all season and aredetermined to make the most of this game. We are pleased with the depth we havebuilt already this season and this is also a side that features plenty ofexperience in key positions, so we are excited to see how they go. Thisselection forms part of a clear strategy to prepare ourselves to be competitiveacross the various competitions we are involved in this season. We have anexciting young generation of young players coming through and it will be a bigchallenge for them against a team which boasts almost 300 Test caps, but we arelooking forward to it."

ScarletsHead Coach Dwayne Peel said: “We have had a good week here in CapeTown and are looking forward to getting back out there. We are not where wewant to be in the table, there is no hiding from that, but we have an excitingblock ahead of us. We need to climb the ladder in the URC and then have a goodstart in Europe and it starts on Friday. When you play out here you have tomatch the South African physicality. Stormers are a team who like to playexpansive rugby, but first and foremost we have to match that physicality. Wealso need to be more ruthless when it comes to taking opportunities, which wehaven’t really done in the first block of matches. We had a great game againstthe Stormers at Parc y Scarlets at the end of last season. We have to make surewe show that mettle again.”

Ulster v Zebre Parma

Kingspan Stadium, Belfast – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA /21.35 SA

Referee: AJ Jacobs (SARU, 13thleague game)

AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU) AR 2:Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU)

TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)

Live on: BBC NI, TG4, Viaplay, Eurosport, Discovery +,SuperSport, Premier Sports & URC.tv

Ulster: Stewart Moore, Ethan McIlroy,James Hume, Luke Marshall, Jacob Stockdale, Jake Flannery, Nathan Doak, CallumReid, Tom Stewart, Marty Moore, Cormac Izuchukwu, Sam Carter, Matty Rea, MarcusRea, Duane Vermeulen (CAPT)

Replacements: John Andrew, Andy Warwick,Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Iain Henderson, David McCann, Michael McDonald, AngusCurtis, Ben Moxham

Zebre Parma: Lorenzo Pani, JacopoTrulla, Richard Kriel, Enrico Lucchin (CAPT), Simone Gesi, GeronimoPrisciantelli, Chris Cook, Juan Pitinari, Jacques Du Toit, Matteo Nocera, JanUys, Andrea Zambonin, Guido Volpi, Giacomo Ferrari, Matt Kvesic

Replacements: Marco Manfredi, DanieleRimpelli, Riccardo Genovese, Leonard Krumov, Iacopo Bianchi, Ratko Jelic, JoeyCaputo, Erich Cronjé

UlsterAssistant Coach Dan Soper said: “The guys have been lapping-upthat we are back to a match week. We’re looking at ourselves, the opposition,and what we’re going to do on Friday, and we are really looking forward togetting going now.”

Zebre Parma HeadCoach Fabio Roselli said: "The autumn test match break has allowed us to recharge ourenergy and identify what is progressing and what we need to improve. We haveintroduced innovations in all areas, in the game and in methodology; this makesus eager to express ourselves in Belfast, at home of a top European club.Ulster have great physicality, a very solid pack and the ability to create alot of problems when they play with rhythm. We have prepared ourselves to facethem head-to-head with determination. We want to express enthusiasm, fun andcompetitiveness, trying to find the characteristics of our playing identity. Asin the past, the biggest challenge will be to start the game the way we haveprepared. We are excited to see Riccardo Genovese and Matt Kvesic at work, inthis first opportunity”.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26

Vodacom Bulls v Ospreys

LoftusVersfeld Stadium, Pretoria – KO 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA

Referee: Ben Blain (SRU, 26th league game)

AR 1: Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU) AR 2: GriffinColby (SARU)

TMO: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Live on: SuperSport, S4C, Viaplay, Premier Sports& URC.tv

Vodacom Bulls: Wandisile Simelane, DavidKriel, Lionel Mapoe, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs, Chris Smith, EmbrosePapier, Gerhard Steenekamp, Bismarck Du Plessis,  Francois Klopper, Janko Swanepoel, Ruan Nortje(CAPT), Nizaam Carr, Wj Steenkamp, Elrigh Louw

Replacements: Jan-HendrikWessels, Simphiwe Matanzima, Mornay Smith, Ruan Vermaak, Cyle Brink, Zak Bruger,Morne Steyn, Marco Jansen van Vuren

Ospreys: Max Nagy, Luke Morgan, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, KeiranWilliams, Keelan Giles, Jack Walsh, Rhys Webb (CAPT), Garyn Phillips, ScottBaldwin, Tom Botha, Bradley Davies, Huw Sutton, Ethan Roots, Will Hickey, MorganMorris

Replacements: Sam Parry, Rhys Henry, BenWarren, James Fender, Jack Regan, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Luke Scully, CaiEvans

Ospreys Head Coach Toby Booth said: “The VodacomBulls are one of the toughest teams we’ll face this year. The biggest challengefor us in this game is to prepare for the physicality of the Bulls and focus onhow we deal with that.”

Benetton v Edinburgh Rugby

StadioMonigo, Treviso – KO 13.00  IRE & UK/ 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA

Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 39th league game)

AR 1: Filippo Russo (FIR) AR 2: Alex Frasson (FIR)

TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)

Live on: Discovery + , Viaplay, SuperSport, PremierSports & URC.tv

Benetton: Rhyno Smith, Marcus Watson, Ignacio Brex, MarcoZanon, Matteo Minozzi, Tomas Albornoz, Dewaldt Duvenage (CAPT),  Nahuel Tetaz, Gianmarco Lucchesi, SimoneFerrari, Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Manuel Zuliani, LorenzoCannone

Replacements: Giacomo Nicotera, Ivan Nemer, Tiziano Pasquali, ScottScrafton,  Giovanni Pettinelli, AlessandroGarbisi, Jacob Umaga, Tommaso Menoncello

EdinburghRugby: Henry Immelman, Damien Hoyland, Matt Currie, JamesLang, Wes Goosen, Charlie Savala, Henry Pyrgos, Boan Venter, Stuart McInally, AngusWilliams, Marshall Sykes, Jamie Hodgson, Nick Haining, Luke Crosbie (CAPT), BenMuncaster

Replacements: Patrick Harrison, Jamie Jack, Lee-RoyAtalifo, Glen Young, Connor Boyle, Ben Vellacott, Jaco van der Walt, Chris Dean

Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach Mike Blair said: “While it’sbeen great to get a period of rest where we’ve been able to get guys fit, workon certain aspects of our game and take stock on the season so far, we’rehugely excited to return to action this weekend as we take on a qualityBenetton side. As a team, we were really happy with how we playedin large parts in both wins at Zebre and Cardiff, and we know we’ll need tomatch those levels of intensity and work rate for the full 80 minutes inTreviso. It’s great that we’re able to integrate some ofour international contingent back into the squad, with those players bringingadded quality to a group who’ve performed really well in recent weeks.”

Leinster v Glasgow Warriors

RDS Arena, Dublin – KO 15.15 IRE & UK / 16.15ITA / 17.15 SA

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU, 13th league game)

AR 1: KeaneDavison (IRFU) AR 2:  Andy Fogarty (IRFU)

TMO:  AJ Jacobs(SARU)

Live on: RTÉ, Viaplay, SuperSport, Discovery +,Premier Sports & URC.tv

Leinster: Jamie Osborne, Rob Russell, Liam Turner, CharlieNgatai, Dave Kearney, Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath, Ed Byrne, Rónan Kelleher, ThomasClarkson, Ross Molony, Joe McCarthy, Rhys Ruddock (CAPT), Scott Penny, MaxDeegan

Replacements: John McKee, Michael Milne, VakhAbdaladze, Jason Jenkins, Ryan Baird, Cormac Foley, Harry Byrne, Chris Cosgrave

Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay, SebastianCancelliere, Kyle Steyn (CAPT), Stafford McDowall, Rufus McLean, Tom Jordan,George Horne, Oli Kebble, Fraser Brown, Murphy Walker, Sintu Manjezi, AlexSamuel, Gregor Brown, Sione Vailanu, Jack Dempsey

Replacements: Johnny Matthews, Jamie Bhatti,Simon Berghan, JP du Preez, Lewis Bean, Euan Ferrie, Jamie Dobie, Ross Thompson

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Franco Smith said: “Tomorrow isan opportunity to measure ourselves against a strong Leinster side. We werepleased with how we ended our last block of games with our win over Benettonand we plan to carry that momentum into this important block. Tomorrow is thestart of the next part of our journey as we continue to build our squad and ourperformances.”

Munster v Connacht

Thomond Park, Limerick – KO 19.35 IRE & UK /20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 20th league game)

AR 1: PaulHaycock (IRFU) AR 2: Jonny Erskine (IRFU)

TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)

Live on: TG4, Viaplay, SuperSport, Discovery +,Premier Sports & URC.tv

Munster: Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, RoryScannell, Shane Daly, Joey Carbery, Craig Casey, Josh Wycherley, DiarmuidBarron, Roman Salanoa; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O'Mahony (CAPT), JohnHodnett, Alex Kendellen

Replacements: Niall Scannell, JeremyLoughman, John Ryan, Edwin Edogbo, Jack O'Donoghue, Paddy Patterson, JackCrowley, Gavin Coombes

Connacht: John Porch, Byron Ralston, Tom Farrell, BundeeAki, Alex Wootton, Jack Carty (CAPT) Caolin Blad, Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan,Finlay Bealham, Josh Murphy, Gavin Thornbury, Cian Prendergast, Conor Oliver, JarradButler

Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Peter Dooley, JackAungier, Niall Murray, Oisín Dowling, Kieran Marmion, Conor Fitzgerald, PaulBoyle

Connacht Director of Rugby Andy Friend said: "Everyonehad ten days off after the Ospreys game which I think was needed for coachesand players. Now that we have everyone back it's all eyes on Munster for thestart of an important ten week block for us, and we’re well positioned forthese games going forward. Munster away at Thomond Park is never an easy taskbut I thought we were close last year and the previous year we won there. Youcan’t just rock up to Thomond and think you’re going to win, you’ve got to workyour backside off and bring an element of physicality along with accuracy inwhat you are doing.”

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27

EmiratesLions v Dragons RFC

EmiratesAirline Park, Johannesburg – KO 14.00 IRE & UK / 15.00 ITA / 16.00 SA

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 29th  league game)

AR 1: Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU) AR 2: GriffinColby (SARU)

TMO: Ben Blain (SRU)

Live on: SuperSport, S4C, Viaplay, Discovery +,Premier Sports & URC.tv

Emirates Lions: Quan Horn, Rabz Maxwane, Hencovan Wyk, Marius Louw, Edwill van der Merwe, Jordan Hendrikse, Sanele Nohamba, StiSithole, PJ Botha, Ruan Dreyer, Ruben Schoeman, Reinhard Nothnagel (CAPT) EmmanuelTshituka, Ruhan Straeuli, Francke Horn

Replacements: Jaco Visagie, JP Smith, AsenathiNtlabakanye, Pieter Jansen van Vuren, Sibusiso Sangweni, Andre Warner, GianniLombard, Zander du Plessis

Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien, David Richards, Steff Hughes, JackDixon, Sio Tomkinson, Sam Davies, Lewis Jones; Aki Seiuli, James Benjamin,Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Davies, Sean Lonsdale, Aaron Wainwright, Ben Fry, RossMoriarty (CAPT)

Replacements: Ellis Shipp, Josh Reynolds,Chris Coleman, Matthew Screech, Huw Taylor, Che Hope, JJ Hanrahan, JordanWilliams

Dragons RFC Head Coach Dai Flanagan said: “We’reexcited to be in South Africa. The pitches should suit what we are trying to doin attack and we’re just looking to express ourselves. There's an opportunityfor certain players with the internationals away early on and I can't stresshow excited we are as a group to see how we perform. They've really expandedtheir game. We all know about the power the South Africans have, but they havesome subtleties with two really good outside halves and a scrum half who givesthem energy. It is up to us to match it. We can't get too loose out there.We've got to contain and control. The altitude will be tough, but it'ssomething most of us have experienced so it shouldn't be a surprise. We'reexcited to get back playing and it’s about staying in the fight. I experiencedit last year with the Scarlets, when we had two different types of games. Againstthe Sharks we were in the fight until the end, but against the Bulls they blewus off the park early on. It's important we stay in that fight and that givesus the best chance to get a positive result.”

Cell C Sharks v Cardiff Rugby

Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban – KO 16.10 IRE& UK / 17.10 ITA / 18.10 SA

Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU, 69th league game)

AR 1: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) AR 2: StephanGeldenhuys (SARU)

TMO: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)

Live on: SuperSport, S4C, Viaplay, Discovery +,Premier Sports & URC.tv

Cell C Sharks: Anthony Volmink, MarnusPotgieter, Francois Venter, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Werner Kok, BoetaChamberlain, Cameron Wright, Dian Bleuler, Kerron van Vuuren, Carlu Sadie, JustinBasson, Gerbrandt Grobler, James Venter (CAPT), Vincent Tshituka, SikhumbuzoNotshe

Replacements: Dan Jooste, Khwezi Mona, KhuthaMchunu, Hyron Andrews, Phepsi Buthelez, Bradley Davids, Lionel Cronje, BenTapuai

Cardiff Rugby: Ben Thomas, Jason Harries, ReyLee-Lo, Max Llewellyn, Theo Cabango, Jarrod Evans, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Carré,Liam Belcher, Dmitri Arhip, Lopeti Timani, Rory Thornton, Josh Turnbull (CAPT),Thomas Young, James Botham

Replacements: Kristian Dacey, CoreyDomachowski, Will Davies-King, Seb Davies, Gwilym Bradley, James Ratti, EllisBevan, Mason Grady

Cardiff Rugby Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “We weredisappointed with our last game out here last season so we have plenty ofmotivation to put things right and we’ve shown we are heading in the rightdirection and we want to build upon that. It is important now that we keep that momentum and confidence and showwe have learnt and developed from last season. We know what to expect from theSharks and they are formidable at home but we are in a good place. We will needto perform at our best and if we do that then there is no reason why we cannotmake a statement.”

The teams for Friday night's Round 8 fixtures of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship have been named with all details of match officials and broadcast information below.

TEAM NEWS HEADLINES

#STOvSCA

• Lock GaryPorter will make his DHL Stormers debut
• Scott Williams returns at centre while Dan Davis makeshis first start of the season for Scarlets

#ULSvZEB

• World Cup-winning Springbok, Duane Vermeulen, tocaptain Ulster
• Riccardo Genovese and Matt Kvesic set to make theirdebut for Zebre Parma if called upon from the bench

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25

DHL Stormers v Scarlets

DHL Stadium, Cape Town – KO 17.00 IRE & UK /18.00 ITA / 19.00 SA

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 5th league game)

AR 1: Morne Ferreira (SARU) AR 2:  Paul Mente (SARU)

TMO: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

Live on: SuperSport, BBC Wales, Viaplay, TG4,Discovery +, Premier Sports & URC.tv

DHL Stormers: Clayton Blommetjies, AngeloDavids, Cornel Smit, Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas, Kade Wolhuter, Paul de Wet, AliVermaak, Joseph Dweba, Neethling Fouche, Ernst van Rhyn (CAPT), Gary Porter, JuniorPokomela, Marcel Theunissen, Hacjivah Dayimani

Replacements: JJ Kotze, Leon Lyons, SaziSandi, Connor Evans, Ben-Jason Dixon, Nama Xaba, Herschel Jantjies, Jean-Luc duPlessis

Scarlets: Johnny McNicholl,  Tom Rogers, Jonathan Davies (CAPT), ScottWilliams, Ryan Conbeer, Dan Jones, Gareth Davies, Steff Thomas, Daf Hughes,Harri O’Connor, Sam Lousi, Tom Price, Aaron Shingler, Dan Davis, SioneKalamafoni

Replacements: Taylor Davies, Kemsley Mathias,WillGriff John, Blade Thomson, Tomás Lezana, Archie Hughes, Rhys Patchell, SteffEvans

DHL Stormers Head Coach John Dobson said: “Theplayers getting an opportunity this week have all been training incredibly hardall season and are determined to make the most of this game. We are pleasedwith the depth we have built already this season and this is also a side thatfeatures plenty of experience in key positions, so we are excited to see howthey go. This selection forms part of a clear strategy to prepare ourselves tobe competitive across the various competitions we are involved in this season. Wehave an exciting young generation of young players coming through and it willbe a big challenge for them against a team which boasts almost 300 Test caps,but we are looking forward to it."

Scarlets Head Coach Dwayne Peel said: “We havehad a good week here in Cape Town and are looking forward to getting back outthere. We are not where we want to be in the table, there is no hiding fromthat, but we have an exciting block ahead of us. We need to climb the ladder inthe URC and then have a good start in Europe and it starts on Friday. When youplay out here you have to match the South African physicality. Stormers are ateam who like to play expansive rugby, but first and foremost we have to matchthat physicality. We also need to be more ruthless when it comes to takingopportunities, which we haven’t really done in the first block of matches. Wehad a great game against the Stormers at Parc y Scarlets at the end of lastseason. We have to make sure we show that mettle again.”

Ulster v Zebre Parma

Kingspan Stadium, Belfast – KO 19.35 IRE & UK /20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA

Referee: AJ Jacobs (SARU, 13th league game)

AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU) AR 2: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU)

TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)

Live on: BBC NI, TG4, Viaplay, Eurosport, Discovery+, SuperSport, Premier Sports & URC.tv

Ulster: Stewart Moore, Ethan McIlroy, James Hume, LukeMarshall, Jacob Stockdale, Jake Flannery, Nathan Doak, Callum Reid, TomStewart, Marty Moore, Cormac Izuchukwu, Sam Carter, Matty Rea, Marcus Rea,Duane Vermeulen (CAPT)

Replacements: John Andrew, Andy Warwick, JeffToomaga-Allen, Iain Henderson, David McCann, Michael McDonald, Angus Curtis,Ben Moxham

Zebre Parma: Lorenzo Pani, Jacopo Trulla, Richard Kriel, EnricoLucchin (CAPT), Simone Gesi, Geronimo Prisciantelli, Chris Cook, Juan Pitinari,Jacques Du Toit, Matteo Nocera, Jan Uys, Andrea Zambonin, Guido Volpi, GiacomoFerrari, Matt Kvesic

Replacements: Marco Manfredi, Daniele Rimpelli, Riccardo Genovese, LeonardKrumov, Iacopo Bianchi, Ratko Jelic, Joey Caputo, Erich Cronjé

Ulster Assistant Coach Dan Soper said: “The guys havebeen lapping-up that we are back to a match week. We’re looking at ourselves,the opposition, and what we’re going to do on Friday, and we are really lookingforward to getting going now.”

Zebre Parma Head Coach Fabio Roselli said: "Theautumn test match break has allowed us to recharge our energy and identify whatis progressing and what we need to improve. We have introduced innovations inall areas, in the game and in methodology; this makes us eager to expressourselves in Belfast, at home of a top European club. Ulster have greatphysicality, a very solid pack and the ability to create a lot of problems whenthey play with rhythm. We have prepared ourselves to face them head-to-headwith determination. We want to express enthusiasm, fun and competitiveness,trying to find the characteristics of our playing identity. As in the past, thebiggest challenge will be to start the game the way we have prepared. We are excitedto see Riccardo Genovese and Matt Kvesic at work, in this first opportunity”.