Date: Friday, 28 November 2025
Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport
Kick-off: 19:45 (IRE/UK) | 20:45 (ITA) | 21:45 (SA)
Live on: Premier Sports, TG4, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Match Officials

• Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARU) – 19th URC appearance
• AR 1: Craig Evans (WRU)
• AR 2: Lucas Yendle (WRU)
• TMO: Chris Allison (SARU)

Overview

Leinster travel to Rodney Parade as 20-point favourites, with the form guide, scoring trends and defensive numbers all pointing strongly in their direction. Dragons remain winless after five rounds and are conceding over 30 points per match, while Leinster’s attack has exploded into life in recent weeks with 81 points scored in their last two fixtures.

Despite missing several Ireland internationals through injury, Leinster’s depth remains one of the strongest in the competition and they arrive in Newport seeking a third win of the season.

Dragons RFC – 2025/26 Season Results

Record: P5 | W0 | D2 | L3
Points For: 74 | Points Against: 151
Average Score: Dragons 14.8 – 30.2 Opponents
Points Difference: –77

Key Dragons Trends

• Conceded 42, 49 and 24 points in three losses.
• Have yet to win a match this season.
• Scored between 17–21 points in every game except the Glasgow result.
• Defence statistically weakest in the URC after five rounds.

Leinster Rugby – 2025/26 Season Results

Record: P5 | W2 | L3
Points For: 126 | Points Against: 136
Average Score: Leinster 25.2 – 27.2 Opponents
Points Difference: –10

Key Leinster Trends

• Scored 31, 31 and 50 points in three of their last four matches.
• Attack improving significantly across the last two rounds.
• Bench impact continues to be a major strength.
• Defence inconsistent but improving at scrum and maul.

Leinster Injury Update

• Tommy O’Brien: GRTP protocols – unavailable.
• Ryan Baird: Leg injury – out up to 3 months.
• Will Connors: Arm injury – out for several weeks.
• Robbie Henshaw: Hamstring rehab – still unavailable.
• Jamie Osborne: Shoulder injury – out up to 4 months.
• James Culhane: Knee injury – out for next few months.

Head-to-Head (URC)

Average Margin (last 4 meetings): Leinster by 22.5 points

Match Analysis

1. Leinster’s Power & Tempo v Dragons’ Defence

Dragons concede over 30 points per match and have already leaked 42, 49 and 24 this season. Leinster’s attack is trending upwards, making this a difficult matchup for the hosts.

2. Dragons’ Scoring Limits

Dragons have yet to score more than 21 points and were held to zero in Glasgow. Against a Leinster side that has recently rediscovered its attacking edge, that may not be enough to stay competitive.

3. Leinster’s Depth Advantage

Even with key injuries, Leinster’s second-string remains among the strongest units in the URC. Their set-piece dominance and bench impact should tilt the later stages heavily in their favour.

Betting Preview – Leinster –20

Why Leinster Are Favoured

• Dragons winless in all five matches.
• Dragons have conceded 151 points – the most in the league.
• Leinster have won the last four head-to-heads by margins of 6, 33, 23 and 28.
• Leinster scored 50 points last weekend.
• Dragons have scored only 14–21 points in every game.

Recommended Bets

• Leinster –20 Handicap
• Leinster Winning Margin 21–30
• Over Leinster 29.5 Points
• Anytime Tryscorer: Harry Byrne, Jason Jenkins, Scott Penny
• Dragons Under 17.5 Points

Prediction

Leinster 38–13 Dragons
Leinster’s attacking form, physical dominance and squad depth should be too much for a Dragons side struggling for confidence and defensive stability. Unless conditions are severe, Leinster should have enough to cover the handicap.

The post Dragons RFC v Leinster Rugby – Full Stats Preview, Team News & Betting appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

URC Round 3 – Weekly Betting Preview & Team News

The teams for this weekend’s Round 3 fixtures of the BKT United Rugby Championship have been named, with full match officials, broadcast details, and betting market reactions below.

Team News Headlines

• #MUNvEDI: Ten changes for Munster; Dylan Richardson debuts for Edinburgh.
• #SCAvSTO: Marnus van der Merwe returns for Scarlets; Willemse and Feinberg-Mngomezulu start for Stormers.
• #BENvLIO: John Bryant named for Benetton debut; JC Pretorius returns for Lions.
• #OSPvZEB: Harri Deaves hits 50 for Ospreys; Paolo Buonfiglio captains Zebre.
• #GLAvDRA: Johnny Matthews could reach 100 for Glasgow; Seb Davies & Jac Lloyd debut for Dragons.
• #LEIvSHA: Josh van der Flier captains Leinster; Sharks welcome back several Springboks.
• #ULSvBUL: Juarno Augustus makes first Ulster start; Handré Pollard among eight Springboks for Bulls.
• #CARvCON: George Nott & Osian Darwin-Lewis in line for Cardiff debuts; Shamus Hurley-Langton returns for Connacht.

Friday Betting Lines (Post Team Announcements)

• Glasgow -26 v Dragons (+26)
• Leinster -24 v Sharks (+24)
• Cardiff -3 v Connacht (+3)
• Ulster +6 v Bulls (-6)
• Munster -6 v Edinburgh (+6)
• Scarlets +6 v Stormers (-6)
• Benetton -9 v Lions (+9)
• Ospreys -15 v Zebre (+15)

Key Betting Movements

• Connacht backed (+4 ➜ +3) – market confident in the visitors’ structure; Cardiff drift slightly. Strength: 3/5
• Bulls backed (-4 ➜ -6) – money continues for Pretoria side with Pollard’s inclusion. Strength: 4/5
• Leinster drift (-27 ➜ -24) – punters taking the Sharks with the big start; some books offering +26. Strength: 3/5
• Stormers backed (-4 ➜ -6) – Springboks return and support follows. Strength: 3/5
• Munster drift (-10 ➜ -6) – Edinburgh still +8 in places and heavily backed; punters fancy the upset. Strength: 5/5

Market Trends

• Edinburgh and Sharks are the most popular underdogs with punters this week.
• Cardiff–Connacht remains the most finely balanced line of the weekend.
• Glasgow (-26) continues to hold the biggest spread.
• Two Irish provinces (Leinster & Munster) remain firm favourites, while Connacht and Ulster start as underdogs.

Full Fixture List, Officials & Team Lineups

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10

Munster Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby – Virgin Media Park, Cork (KO 19.45 IRE/UK)

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 110th league game) | Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Munster: Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Seán O’Brien, Andrew Smith, JJ Hanrahan, Paddy Patterson, Mikey Milne, Diarmuid Barron (C), Oli Jager, Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue, Ruadhán Quinn, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: L. Barron, J. Wycherley, J. Ryan, E. Edogbo, B. Gleeson, E. Coughlan, T. Butler, D. Kelly.

Edinburgh: Goosen, Graham, O’Conor, Lang, Van der Merwe, Healy, Vellacott, Schoeman, Ashman, Rae, Sykes, Skinner, McConnell, Richardson, Bradbury (C).
Replacements: Harrison, Venter, Hill, Young, Douglas, Muncaster, Shiel, Paterson.

Sean Everitt: “It’s a completely different challenge this week – a tough test at a difficult venue in Cork. There’s been massive growth already within this group and the energy has been excellent.”

Scarlets v DHL Stormers – Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli (KO 19.45 IRE/UK)

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR) | Live on: S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Scarlets: Murray, Rogers, Roberts, Williams (C), Mee, Hawkins, Davies, Hepburn, Van der Merwe, Thomas, T. Davies, Douglas, Taylor, D. Davis, Plumtree.
Replacements: Myhill, O’Connor, Holz, Cummins, B. Williams, Blacker, Costelow, Page.

Stormers: Willemse, Senatla, Simelane, Nel (C), Zas, Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ungerer, Vermaak, Kotze, Sandi, Schickerling, Van Heerden, De Villiers, Dixon, Roos.
Replacements: Venter, Matongo, Porthen, Evans, Theunissen, Fourie, Khan, Matthee.

Dwayne Peel: “Stormers have real strength up front and in transition play. We must be brave with and without the ball.”

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11

Benetton v Lions – Stadio Monigo, Treviso (KO 15.00 IRE/UK)

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU) | Live on: Sky Italia, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Ospreys v Zebre Parma – Bridgend (KO 15.00 IRE/UK)

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) | Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Glasgow Warriors v Dragons RFC – Scotstoun (KO 17.30 IRE/UK)

Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU) | Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Leinster Rugby v Hollywoodbets Sharks – Aviva Stadium (KO 17.30 IRE/UK)

Referee: Craig Evans (WRU) | Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Ulster Rugby v Vodacom Bulls – Affidea Stadium, Belfast (KO 19.45 IRE/UK)

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU) | Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Cardiff Rugby v Connacht Rugby – Cardiff Arms Park (KO 19.45 IRE/UK)

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR) | Live on: S4C, TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Stuart Lancaster: “My experience playing against Cardiff, home or away, it’s never easy. They’re well organised and play a great brand of rugby, so it should make for a fantastic game.”

Betting Insights & Predictions

• Connacht (+3) – live underdog; capable of another tight finish in Cardiff.
• Bulls (-6) – power advantage could tell late in Belfast.
• Edinburgh (+6 to +8) – most backed team of the week; upset potential high.
• Sharks (+26) – value line with altitude and depth concerns for Leinster.

All odds accurate as of Friday evening. Markets subject to fluctuation.

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