Final round away games in URC for SA teams confirmed

South Africa's next round of overseas fixtures has been confirmed in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship with all travel protocols in place for the teams to face some tough opposition in May.

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"The United Rugby Championship can confirm the scheduling for a thrilling final round of the season where Play-Off places will be on the line and the first Shield winners will be crowned," the release from URC states.

After a string of home games between then and now, the South African franchises face tough weekends away from home in the final round before the playoffs.

It can be presumed if they face away playoff fixtures, they will simply stay on in Europe to continue those after the final round.

Round 18 has a raft of blockbuster fixtures which starts on Friday, May 20 as Ulster welcome Cell C Sharks to Belfast, where both teams expect to compete for quarterfinal seeding while on the same night Vodacom Bulls make the trip to Ospreys who could be in contention to win the Welsh Shield.

On Saturday May 21, another Welsh-South African clash could have Play-Off and Shield ramifications as Scarlets host the DHL Stormers in Llanelli. The regular season promises to end on a fiery note with crucial Irish and Scottish derbies completing the card. Edinburgh will host Glasgow Warriors at BT Murrayfield while Munster make the trip to Dublin’s Aviva Stadium to face Leinster in a fixture that will decide vital Play-Off seedings and could crown the first Irish Shield winner.

All games will be broadcast on SuperSport.

ROUND 18 SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, MAY 20

Benetton v Cardiff

Stadio Monigo, Treviso - 19.00 SA

Ulster v Cell C Sharks

Kingspan Stadium, Belfast - KO 20.35 SA

Ospreys v Vodacom Bulls

Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea - KO 21.10 SA

SATURDAY, MAY 21

Dragons v Emirates Lions

Rodney Parade, Newport - KO 16.00 SA