Everything you need to know ahead of round 12 of the URC

Another exciting round of action lies ahead in the United Rugby Championship with the competition's leading six teams all in action.

With just two points separating first to fourth places, jockeying for position continues in fascinating fashion.

Leaders Ulster, one point ahead of Leinster, head to Newport on Sunday for a Rodney Parade appointment with the Dragons.

Leinster, though, will already have leapfrogged them by then if they beat sixth-placed Ospreys in Dublin on Saturday evening.

Glasgow, currently third, are also in action on Saturday, entertaining Benetton, while the Scarlets host Connacht.

Friday night's action revolves around Limerick and Cardiff, with fifth tackling fourth as Munster face Edinburgh and Cardiff, who have three games in hand on several teams above them, greeting Arms Park visitors Zebre Parma.

FRI - Cardiff v Zebre Parma

Arms Park, Cardiff | KO 19:35 UK & IRE (20:35 ITA, 21:35 SA) | Live on Mediaset, Premier Sports, URC TV

Cardiff have dominated previous meetings with Zebre Parma, winning 13 of the 17 United Rugby Championship encounters.

Zebre's task on Friday is not made any easier by the fact that Cardiff have only suffered one URC defeat at home since February last year.

That month also saw Zebre claim their most recent win in the competition when they beat the Dragons 26-15.

Cardiff have won their last nine fixtures against Italian opposition since losing to Zebre in September 2018.

FRI - Munster v Edinburgh

Thomond Park, Limerick | KO 19:35 UK & IRE (20:35 ITA, 21:35 SA) | Live on TG4, Premier Sports, URC TV

Munster saw their four-game winning run in all competitions end with a 13-11 defeat against Glasgow last Friday.

But they now return to Thomond Park, where they have won their last seven matches since Connacht defeated them during last season's Rainbow Cup.

Edinburgh, though, are no strangers to winning in Limerick and they were the last Scottish side to achieve that feat with a 14-13 success just over seven years ago.

But their only victory over an Irish province in two years was by a solitary point against Connacht in March last year.

SAT - Leinster v Ospreys

RDS Arena, Dublin | KO 17:00 UK & IRE (18:00 ITA, 19:00 SA) | Live on RTE, S4C, Premier Sports, URC TV

Leinster will be keen to make amends following their last game against Welsh opposition, which produced an agonising 29-27 loss to Cardiff.

The Irish province have not lost successive matches to Welsh sides since 2015 and they have only been beaten once at the RDS Arena in all competitions during the past 10 months.

Ospreys have lost their last three URC away games since beating Benetton in October but they can reflect on two wins against Irish sides - Munster and Ulster - this term.

Ospreys beat Leinster in Dublin last year but they have not won back-to-back matches at the RDS Arena since their title-winning campaign of 2011-12.

SAT - Scarlets v Connacht

Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli | KO 19:35 UK & URE (20:35 ITA, 21:35 SA) | Live on TG4, S4C, Premier Sports, URC TV

If Scarlets lose to Connacht they would be the fourth Irish side to beat them in this season's competition after Leinster, Munster and Ulster.

Munster's win in Llanelli was the Scarlets' only URC home defeat this season, while Connacht are striving to avoid a third successive loss for the first time in almost a year.

Connacht have lost all six games they have played on the road in all competitions this season and been beaten on 11 previous visits to Parc y Scarlets.

The last time Connacht won in Llanelli was at the old Stradey Park - more than 17 years ago.

SAT - Glasgow v Benetton

Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow | KO 19:35 UK & IRE (20:35 ITA, 21:35 SA) | Live on Mediaset, Premier Sports, URC TV

Glasgow are on a roll in the United Rugby Championship, winning four successive games since losing by a point to Benetton in November.

The Warriors have not won five URC games on the bounce since reaching the 2019 final and they have only lost once at home in the competition during the past 12 months.

Benetton will arrive in Scotland on the back of some impressive form, having lost one of their last four URC fixtures and won their last two away games.

The Italian side are also chasing a third successive victory against Glasgow but they have only defeated their opponents once away from home - in September 2011.

SUN - Dragons v Ulster

Rodney Parade, Newport | KO 14:00 UK & IRE (15:00 ITA, 16:00 SA) | Live on Premier Sports, URC TV

 

The Dragons' four-match losing run in the United Rugby Championship ended with a 13-13 draw at home to Benetton last time out.

The Welsh side have not recorded a win at Rodney Parade, since defeating the Scarlets in last season's Rainbow Cup.

In-form Ulster have only lost one of their last seven first-team fixtures but were beaten on their only previous visit to Wales this season when they were edged out by the Ospreys two months ago.

Ulster are unbeaten in their last 10 games against the Dragons since March 2015.