The stage is set! The 2025 Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final takes place in Dublin, between Leinster and the Vodacom Bulls at Croke Park this weekend.
Let’s take a look at each respective team’s Road to the Grand Final, reflecting on how both Leinster and the Vodacom Bulls did during the season to reach the ultimate game.
Road to the Grand Final – Vodacom Bulls
Round 1
DHL Stormers 32-33 Vodacom Bulls
A delayed fixture that took place in February saw the Vodacom Bulls pull off a huge away win against their South African rivals.
Round 2
Vodacom Bulls 22-16 Edinburgh
An important win on home soil to open up their account at Loftus.
Round 3
Vodacom Bulls 47-21 Ulster
7 tries at home with the likes of Canan Moodie, David Kriel, and Cameron Hanekom all getting on the scoresheet.
Round 4
Ospreys 19-29 Vodacom Bulls
A brace from Kurt-Lee Arendse as the Vodacom Bulls continued their strong start to the season.
Round 5
Scarlets 23-22 Vodacom Bulls
The first defeat of the season to eventual Quarter-Finalists, Scarlets.
Round 6
Benetton 15-17 Vodacom Bulls
A big win away from home to get back on track, with tries from Reinhardt Ludwig and Akker van der Merwe.
Round 7
Connacht 14-28 Vodacom Bulls
Another big win on the road with tries from Sebastian de Klerk, Embrose Papier, David Kriel, and Canan Moodie.
Round 8
Hollywoodbets Sharks 20-17 Vodacom Bulls
A narrow defeat to their South African rivals.
Round 9
Vodacom Bulls 31-19 Emirates Lions
Back to winning ways at home with a bonus-point victory.
Round 10
Emirates Lions 22-35 Vodacom Bulls
A big win on the road with David Kriel, Cobus Weise, Marcell Coetzee, and Akker van der Merwe all getting on the scoresheet.
Round 11
Vodacom Bulls 19-29 Hollywoodbets Sharks
A first defeat at home for the Vodacom Bulls against eventual Quarter-Final opponents, the Hollywoodbets Sharks.
Round 12
Vodacom Bulls 16-19 DHL Stormers
Another narrow defeat at home, this time to the DHL Stormers.
Round 13
Vodacom Bulls 21-20 Leinster
A narrow win at home against their Grand Final opponents, with the crucial try coming from Johan Grobbelaar.
Round 14
Vodacom Bulls 63-24 Zebre Parma
An emphatic win at home, with the Vodacom Bulls running in no less than nine tries.
Round 15
Munster 13-16 Vodacom Bulls
A huge win on the road against the 2022/23 champions.
Round 16
Glasgow Warriors 19-26 Vodacom Bulls
Another big win on the road, this time against last year’s champions.
Round 17
Vodacom Bulls 45-21 Cardiff Rugby
A big win at home with Sebastian de Klerk grabbing two tries.
Round 18
Vodacom Bulls 55-15 Dragons RFC
Another big home win to end the regular season on a high, with Akker van der Merwe and Sergeal Petersen both scoring a brace of tries.
Quarter-Final
Vodacom Bulls 42-33 Edinburgh
A hard-fought win to book their spot in the final four.
Semi-Final
Vodacom Bulls 25-13 Hollywoodbets Sharks
Tries from Sebastian de Klerk, Canan Moodie, and David Kriel helped the Vodacom Bulls secure their third Grand Final in four years.
Road to the Grand Final – Leinster Rugby
Round 1
Edinburgh 31-33 Leinster
A hard-fought win away from home on the opening day.
Round 2
Leinster 34-6 Dragons RFC
An emphatic win on their first home game of the season.
Round 3
Benetton 5-35 Leinster
A big win away to keep their perfect start to the season going.
Round 4
Leinster 26-12 Munster
A huge win against their rivals in front of over 80,000 people at this year’s Grand Final venue, Croke Park.
Round 5
Connacht 12-33 Leinster
Another big interprovincial win, this time on the road.
Round 6
Leinster 24-6 Emirates Lions
A big win at home to continue their unbeaten run.
Round 7
Ulster 20-27 Leinster
A third inter-provincial win of the season.
Round 8
Leinster 20-12 Connacht
Another big derby win at home to make it eight from eight.
Round 9
Munster 7-28 Leinster
A double completed over fierce rivals, Munster, with Luke McGrath, Sam Prendergast, Josh van der Flier, and Caelan Doris all getting on the scoresheet.
Round 10
Leinster 36-12 DHL Stormers
Another win at home to make it 10 from 10.
Round 11
Ospreys 19-22 Leinster
The unbeaten run continues with Luke McGrath, Charlie Tector, and Rabah Slimani all touching down.
Round 12
Leinster 42-24 Cardiff Rugby
12 from 12 with another victory at home.
Round 13
Vodacom Bulls 21-20 Leinster
The first defeat of the season, and against their Grand Final opponents, no less.
Round 14
Hollywoodbets Sharks 7-10 Leinster
A huge win away from home against a stacked Hollywoodbets Sharks side.
Round 15
Leinster 41-17 Ulster
Another huge inter-pro win at home with Dan Sheehan bagging a hat-trick.
Round 16
Scarlets 35-22 Leinster
Just their second defeat of the season against a fired-up Scarlets team chasing a Play-Off spot.
Round 17
Leinster 76-5 Zebre Parma
An emphatic 12-try win at home.
Round 18
Leinster 13-5 Glasgow Warriors
Another home win to complete a famous double over the reigning champions.
Quarter-Final
Leinster 33-21 Scarlets
Revenge for their regular season defeat and with that, a place in the Semi-Finals.
Semi-Final
Leinster 37-19 Glasgow Warriors
Victory over the reigning champions to book their first URC Grand Final appearance.
