The Round 10 fixtures involving South African teams, due to take place in Ireland and Italy on the weekend of 7/8 January, have been rescheduled to the final weekend of February, to avoid further rescheduling in the immediate calendar.
The postponed fixtures from the sixth and seventh rounds (that were due to take place in South Africa at the end of November/beginning of December) will now be moved to the weekends of March 11/12 and March 18/19. More details about these fixtures will be confirmed after further discussions with key stakeholders involved are completed.
Several South African derbies have also been adjusted to accommodate the revised schedule.
In a statement, organisers said they were fully committed to playing all games as scheduled but would ensure that the welfare of teams and players came first.
The statement said: “The league is greatly encouraged by the decision of the UK government to ease travel restrictions with respect to South Africa and will continue to comply with directions set out by the health authorities and government departments in our various jurisdictions.
“The Vodacom URC Medical Advisory Group will continue to provide regular guidance and updates to our Clubs regarding best practice and health and safety measures in relation to Covid-19 protocols.
“The dates and kick-off times for Round 18 will be confirmed next month after consultation with our broadcast partners who have been of a great assistance during this process.”
Vodacom URC Schedule from R10 to R17 (kick-off times subject to change)
Round 10
Saturday, January 8
Edinburgh v Cardiff - 15h00 UK / 16h00 ITA / 17h00 SA
Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys - 17h15 UK / 18h15 ITA / 19h15 SA
Munster v Ulster - 19h35 UK / 20h35 ITA / 21h35 SA
Scarlets v Dragons - 19h35 UK / 20h35 ITA / 21h35 SA
Round 8 (SA Derbies)
Saturday, January 22
Emirates Lions v Cell C Sharks - 13h00 UK / 14h00 ITA / 15h00 SA
Vodacom Bulls v DHL Stormers - 15h05 UK / 16h05 ITA / 17h05 SA
Round 11
Friday, January 28
Ulster v Scarlets - 19h35 UK / 20h35 ITA / 21h35 SA
Dragons v Benetton - 19h35 UK / 20h35 ITA / 21h35 SA
Saturday, January 29
Emirates Lions v Vodacom Bulls - 13h00 UK / 14h00 ITA / 15h00 SA
Connacht v Glasgow Warriors - 14h55 UK / 15h55 ITA / 16h55 SA
Cell C Sharks v DHL Stormers - 15h05 UK / 16h05 ITA / 17h05 SA
Zebre Parma v Munster - 17h00 UK / 18h00 ITA / 19h00 SA
Ospreys v Edinburgh - 17h15 UK / 18h15 ITA / 19h15 SA
Cardiff v Leinster - 19h35 UK / 20h35 ITA / 21h35 SA
Round 9 (SA Derbies)
Saturday, February 5
Vodacom Bulls v Emirates Lions - 13h00 UK / 14h00 ITA / 15h00 SA
DHL Stormers v Cell C Sharks - 15h05 UK / 16h05 ITA / 17h05 SA
Round 12 (SA Derbies)
Saturday, February 12
Emirates Lions v DHL Stormers - 13h00 UK / 14h00 ITA / 15h00 SA
Vodacom Bulls v Cell C Sharks - 15h05 UK / 16h05 ITA / 17h05 SA
Round 12
Friday, February 18
Munster v Edinburgh - 19h35 UK / 20h35 ITA / 21h35 SA
Cardiff v Zebre Parma 19h35 UK / 20h35 ITA / 21h35 SA
Saturday, February 19
Leinster v Ospreys - 17h00 UK / 18h00 ITA / 19h00 SA
Scarlets v Connacht - 19h35 UK / 20h35 ITA / 21h35 SA
Glasgow Warriors v Benetton - 19h35 UK / 20h35 ITA / 21h35 SA
Sunday, February 20
Dragons v Ulster - 14h00 UK / 15h00 ITA / 16h00 SA
Round 10 (rescheduled)
Friday, February 25
Zebre Parma v Vodacom Bulls - 17h30 UK / 18h30 ITA / 19h30 SA
Leinster v Emirates Lions - 19h35 UK / 20h35 ITA / 21 h35 SA
Saturday, February 26
Connacht v DHL Stormers - 13h00 UK / 14h00 ITA / 15h00 SA
Benetton v Cell C Sharks - 15h05 UK / 16h05 ITA / 17h05 SA
Round 13
Friday, March 4
Ulster v Cardiff - 19h35 UK / 20h35 ITA / 21h35 SA
Edinburgh v Connacht - 19h35 UK / 20h35 ITA / 21h35 SA
Saturday, March 5
Benetton v Leinster - 12h55 UK / 13h55 ITA / 14h55 SA
Scarlets v Glasgow Warriors - 17h15 UK / 18h15 ITA / 19h15 SA
Munster v Dragons - 17h15 UK / 18h15 ITA / 19h15 SA
Sunday, March 6
Ospreys v Zebre Parma - 14h00 UK / 15h00 ITA / 16h00 SA
Round 6 (rescheduled)
Weekend of March 11/12/13
DHL Stormers v Zebre Parma - TBC
Cell C Sharks v Scarlets - TBC
Vodacom Bulls v Munster - TBC
Emirates Lions v Cardiff - TBC
Round 7 (rescheduled)
Weekend of March 18/19/20
Vodacom Bulls v Scarlets - TBC
Cell C Sharks v Zebre Parma - TBC
Emirates Lions v Munster - TBC
DHL Stormers v Cardiff - TBC
Round 14
Friday, March 25
Emirates Lions v Ospreys - 17h00 UK / 18h00 ITA / 19h00 SA
Munster v Benetton - 19h35 UK / 20h35 ITA / 21h35 SA
Saturday, March 26
Zebre Parma v Scarlets - 13h00 UK / 14h00 ITA / 15h00 SA
DHL Stormers v Ulster - 13h00 UK / 14h00 ITA / 15h00 SA
Cell C Sharks v Edinburgh - 15h05 UK / 16h05 ITA / 17h05 SA
Cardiff v Glasgow Warriors - 17h15 UK / 18h15 ITA / 19h15 SA
Vodacom Bulls v Dragons - 17h15 UK / 18h15 ITA / 19h15 SA
Connacht v Leinster - 19h35 UK / 20h35 ITA / 21h35 SA
Round 15
Friday, April 1
Cell C Sharks v Dragons - 18h30 UK / 19h30 ITA & SA
Glasgow Warriors v Zebre Parma - 19h35 UK / 20h35 ITA & SA
Saturday, April 2
Benetton v Connacht - 12h00 UK / 13h00 ITA & SA
Vodacom Bulls v Ulster - 13h00 UK / 14h00 ITA & SA
Emirates Lions v Edinburgh - 15h05 UK / 16h05 ITA & SA
DHL Stormers v Ospreys - 17h15 UK / 18h15 ITA & SA
Leinster v Munster - 19h00 UK / 20h00 ITA & SA
Scarlets v Cardiff - 19h35 UK / 20h35 ITA & SA
Round 13 (SA Derbies)
Saturday, April 9
DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls - 13h00 UK / 14h00 ITA & SA
Cell C Sharks v Emirates Lions - 15 h05 UK / 16 h05 ITA & SA
Round 16
Friday, April 22
DHL Stormers v Glasgow Warriors - 17h30 UK / 18h30 ITA & SA
Ulster v Munster - 19h35 UK / 20h35 ITA & SA
Edinburgh v Zebre Parma - 19h45 UK / 20h45 ITA & SA
Saturday, April 23
Vodacom Bulls v Benetton - 13h00 UK / 14h00 ITA & SA
Emirates Lions v Connacht - 15h05 UK / 16h05 ITA & SA
Dragons v Scarlets - 15h00 UK / 16h00 ITA & SA
Cardiff v Ospreys - 17h15 UK / 18h15 ITA & SA
Cell C Sharks v Leinster - 17h15 UK / 18h15 ITA & SA
Round 17
Friday, April 29
Vodacom Bulls v Glasgow Warriors - 18h00 UK / 19h00 ITA & SA
Munster v Cardiff - 19h35 UK / 20h35 ITA & SA
Saturday, April 30
Emirates Lions v Benetton - 13h00 UK / 14h00 ITA & SA
Cell C Sharks v Connacht - 15h05 UK / 16h05 ITA & SA -
Zebre Parma v Dragons - 15h05 UK / 16h05 ITA & SA
DHL Stormers v Leinster - 17h15 UK / 18h15 ITA & SA
Ospreys v Scarlets - 17h15 UK / 18h15 ITA & SA
Edinburgh v Ulster - 19h35 UK / 20h35 ITA & SA
Round 18
Weekend of May 20/21/22 (TBC in January 2022)
Connacht v Zebre Parma - TBC
Leinster v Edinburgh - TBC
Ulster v Cell C Sharks - TBC
Dragons v Emirates Lions - TBC
Scarlets v DHL Stormers - TBC
Ospreys v Vodacom Bulls - TBC
Glasgow Warriors v Munster - TBC
Benetton v Cardiff - TBC