URC champs Leinster battered, bruised and humbled by Stormers

Defending United Rugby Championship champions Leinster were thrashed by Stormers on the opening night of the 2025-26 season, with the hosts running up a 35-0 scoreline in Cape Town.

Jurie Matthee was at the heart of a surprisingly one-sided result, kicking 15 points and sliding over for the last of his side’s four tries.

Leinster, without their British and Irish Lions contingent, simply never got going and were blown away in the second half as Stefan Ungerer, Evan Roos, Ruan Ackermann and Matthee all went over to seal a bonus point.

Stormers held a modest 6-0 lead at the interval, Matthee slotting two penalties but missing two more as well as a drop-goal attempt.

But the Irish side’s inability to offer any scoring threat cost them as their South African opponents broke things open in the 44th minute, Seabelo Senatla stealing a loose kick and feeding Ungerer, who forced his way under the posts for the first try of the new campaign.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Stormers

35 - 0

Full-time

Leinster

All Stats and Data

Max Deegan and Tommy O’Brien both collected yellow cards as things continued to go awry, Roos and Ackermann taking advantage of the space. Matthee converted both then added his own finishing touch nine minutes from time.