LIVE SCORING | URC: Sharks v Leinster

The Sharks will be bracing themselves for a mammoth battle against Leinster at Kings Park, knowing full well that the visitors will not be happy with their one-point defeat last week and desperate to work their way up the table after consistently proving themselves as one of the top teams in the competition in the last few seasons.

The Durbanites will also be well aware of the fact that Leinster will offer a completely different challenge to that which they faced against the Ospreys, but they will also enter the game knowing that a victory against the Irish giants will serve as a massive confidence booster before taking on the Stormers in Cape Town next week.

Heading into this clash, the fact that Leinster have won just once in their last nine trips to South Africa, albeit in Durban last season, will also serve as extra motivation for the hosts to remain close to the top of the table, and they will undoubtedly bank on their vocal supporters and the warm and humid conditions to give them an edge.

Importantly, the Sharks have also been boosted by the return of Springboks Andre Esterhuizen, Eben Etzebeth, Edwill van der Merwe, Thomas du Toit and Ethan Hooker.

FOLLOW THE SHARKS’ LIVE SCORING IN THE URC

MATCH INFORMATION

Sharks v Leinster
Date: Saturday, 3 October 2026
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
SA Time: 18h30
Referee: Craig Evans
TV: SuperSport

Sharks: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Lili Bester, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton, 7 Manu Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Esethu Mnebelele, 1 Thomas du Toit
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 23 Ethan Hooker

Leinster: 15 Todd Lawlor, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Hugh Cooney, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Andrew Osborne, 10 Caspar Gabriel, 9 Fintan Gunne, 8 Josh Ericson, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Alan Spicer, 4 Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Rónan Kelleher (captain), 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Alex Usanov, 18 Niall Smyth, 19 Brian Deeny, 20 Diarmuid Mangan, 21 Oliver Coffey, 22 Sam Prendergast, 23 Hugo McLaughlin.