Munster left out of URC Elite XV for first time as South African sides dominate

Munster Rugby have been shut out of the URC Elite XV for the first time since the United Rugby Championship was established in 2021, with the province failing to land a single representative in the media-voted end-of-season Dream Team.

The absence is a notable fall from grace for a side that supplied three members of the Elite XV in 2024/25 — the joint-most of any province that year. Their three Irish provincial rivals all feature: Leinster are spared the same fate solely through the inclusion of tight-head prop Thomas Clarkson, while Ulster and Connacht each contribute two players.

South African franchises dominate the 15-man selection. The DHL Stormers and the Vodacom Bulls of Pretoria each place three players, making them the best-represented sides in a team drawn from seven clubs across all five of the competition’s territories. To qualify, players must have made at least nine appearances during the regular season, with a shortlist of ten per position compiled by URC StatMaster before a media panel cast their votes.

The Stormers’ contingent is headlined by the league’s top try scorer Evan Roos, who crossed 12 times, and top points scorer Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who accumulated 158 points. Prop Ntuthuko Mchunu completes their trio. For the Bulls, scrum-half Embrose Papier (nine tries) and hooker Johann Grobbelaar (eight tries) are joined by second row Cobus Wiese.

Ulster’s Stuart McCloskey, outstanding for both club and Ireland this season, is named at inside centre, with team-mate Werner Kok rewarded for 10 tries with a wing berth. Connacht forwards Cian Prendergast and Darragh Murray earn their places, as do Glasgow Warriors backs Kyle Rowe and Stafford McDowall. Rowe’s numbers underline his selection: 52 defenders beaten, 21 clean breaks and 783 metres gained across 13 league appearances.

The Fidelity SecureDrive Lions, who reached the play-offs for the first time and claimed the South African Shield, are represented by flanker Ruan Venter and full-back Quan Horn. Horn, who played every minute of the regular season, picks up the Ironman award for the second consecutive year. Roos and Horn are among five players recognised in the broader end-of-season BKT URC awards, alongside Glasgow’s Chris Smith.