Rugby365's Round Four preview has all four South African franchises positioned to go four from four, with the fixtures setting up a potentially significant log shake-up. The Sharks travel to Cardiff — where Rugby365 calls a narrow home win — carrying 10 Boks in the matchday squad and a stated identity built around pace, physicality and relentlessness. The Lions face a sterner road test at Edinburgh, with Rugby365 backing the hosts by seven, but Francke Horn's return as captain offers a lift to a squad still processing a deeply difficult week following Hyron Andrews's passing. Boan Venter's local knowledge of Hive Stadium is being actively tapped in the Lions' prep. At Loftus, the Bulls — without Embrose Papier — are tipped to hammer Ulster by 20 points, while the Stormers are backed by 22 against Scarlets at DHL, with Haashim Pead handed his first start at scrumhalf and John Dobson rotating freely through a dynamic squad.
Four SA sides chasing perfect URC starts in Round Four
Rugby365's Round Four preview tips three of the four SA franchises to win comfortably, with the Sharks facing the tightest call away at Cardiff. Full team sheets and referee appointments included.
- Hollywoodbets Sharks
- Springboks
- Emirates Lions
- Loftus Versfeld
- Vodacom Bulls
- Embrose Papier
- DHL Stormers
- DHL Stadium
- John Dobson
Dobson: Kolbe returning to win trophies, not to wind down
John Dobson says Cheslin Kolbe has made a major financial sacrifice to return to the Stormers, motivated by winning trophies rather than winding down his career, while warning the franchise is close to its limit on high-profile signings.
The Lekker Rugby Pod: Has the URC Forged a Genuine SA-Ireland Rivalry?
Pat McCarry argues the URC has given the SA-Ireland rugby rivalry genuine club-level roots, with MVA predicting a Bulls-Stormers final at Loftus and McCarry warning the Lions and Connacht are the teams no one wants to face in the playoffs.
Dobson draws a line: Kolisi and Kolbe are the Stormers' limit on marquee Bok signings
Dobson explains why Kolisi's signing sits outside the Project 2029 timeline but is justified on merit, while Kolbe is a genuine long-term fit — and why both represent the hard limit on marquee Bok acquisitions at the Stormers.
Kolbe took pay cut to force Stormers return after four failed attempts
Cheslin Kolbe accepted a significant pay cut to rejoin the Stormers for 2026/27, with coach John Dobson confirming the deal came after four previous failed attempts and that Kolbe turned down far more lucrative options to return to Cape Town.
Kolbe set for Stormers return from July 1 as Project 2029 takes shape
Cheslin Kolbe is reportedly set to return to the Stormers from July 1, with a multi-party funding arrangement — involving Roc Nations Sports, a third-party sponsor believed to be Sportybet, and SA Rugby's PONI structure — enabling his release from Suntory Sungoliath ahead of schedule.