Round 13 of the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship season is complete and in this blog we look at the results before looking ahead to Round 14 from a betting angle.
ROUND 13 RESULTS
Posted 22 March
Vodacom Bulls 40–7 Cardiff Rugby – the suggested -21.5 Bulls arrived comfortably in a game of 2 halves (40 points in the 1st and just 7 in the 2nd)
Scarlets 36–17 Zebre Parma – Scarlets beat the -16.5 handicap. No bet was made.
Ulster 19–26 Connacht – Ulster were -10.5 but were rolled at home. No bet was made.
Fidelity ADT Lions 54–17 Edinburgh – Lions were backed from -10.5 to -13.5 and the money was spot on. I was on under 53.5 and that was always in trouble.
Hollywoodbets Sharks 45–0 Munster – I took the Sharks by 8-14 and they started -6.5 a handicap they made a mockery of.
Benetton 31–19 Ospreys – Benetton beat the -6.5 handicap, No bet was made.
Glasgow Warriors 38–17 Leinster – Leinster were backed from +3.5 to slight favourites but the Warriors were too strong. I didn’t get involved.
DHL Stormers 29–21 Dragons – The Stormers started -29.5 and I backed them to score over 6.5 tries but after a fast start they were poor.
LEAGUE TABLE UPDATE
After 13 rounds the playoff picture is becoming clearer with a strong group beginning to pull away at the top of the standings.
The Glasgow Warriors lead the table in 1st place on 50 points, extending their advantage at the summit. The DHL Stormers have moved into 2nd place on 46 points, making them the leading South African side and firmly on track for a home playoff.
Ulster sit 3rd on 42 points, with Leinster in 4th on 41 points, keeping both sides well positioned inside the top four.
Just outside the top four are Cardiff Rugby in 5th on 40 points and Munster in 6th on 39 points, while the Fidelity ADT Lions have climbed to 7th on 38 points after an impressive win in Round 13.
The Vodacom Bulls now occupy 8th place on 35 points, holding the final playoff spot, although Connacht in 9th (also on 35 points) remain right on the cutoff line.
From a South African perspective the Hollywoodbets Sharks sit 11th on 29 points and will need a strong finish to break into the top eight.
With several teams tightly grouped around the playoff positions the battle for the top eight looks set to intensify over the coming rounds.
ROUND 14 FIXTURES
I will be back to look at the early handicaps on Monday.
