This weekend in the United Rugby Championship, Scottish rugby fans will be watching closely as both Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby aim to build early momentum in their campaigns.
Glasgow Warriors: Back to business after strong start
Glasgow kicked off their 2025–26 URC campaign with a statement: a bonus-point win over the Hollywoodbets Sharks at Scotstoun.  The victory came despite a late injury blow, with Jack Dempsey forced to withdraw just minutes before kick-off due to a groin issue, prompting reshuffles to the forward pack.  Still, the Warriors crossed for tries through Kyle Rowe, Stafford McDowall, Rory Darge and scrum-half Jamie Dobie, plus a late penalty try, to seal a 35-19 result.  Coach Franco Smith will no doubt be pleased with how the side handled the adversity, though injury management will be a continued concern. 
This weekend, Glasgow will travel to Italy with the aim of reinforcing their status as Scotland’s flagship side. The side enters this season still riding high after finishing 4th in the URC table last year and pushing deep into the playoff rounds. Their 2024–25 campaign also included securing the 1872 Cup and the Scottish-Italian Shield, underlining their domestic dominance.
Smith’s squad has also seen some structural changes: assistants Scott Forrest and Roddy Grant have joined the coaching ranks.  These additions may help the Warriors manage the broader demands of a campaign spanning URC and European competition.
Key questions this week:
• Can Glasgow maintain their attacking fluency and bench depth, even if key forwards are unavailable?
• Will opposition sides look to exploit any disruption in Glasgow’s forward pack caused by injuries?
• How will the traveling squad adapt to a potentially less familiar venue (if away) or manage home expectations (if hosting)?
If Glasgow can replicate the intensity and cohesion they showed in Round 1, they should be in a good position to consolidate in the early standings.
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Edinburgh Rugby: Looking to rebound and push higher
After a season that saw Edinburgh finish 7th in the 2024–25 URC and reach the quarterfinals, expectations are higher this year.  Their return for 2025–26 is backed by firepower out wide: wings Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe remain pivotal threats in attack.  Their wings offer a balance of agility and finishing power that few defenses can ignore.
In the build-up to the new season, head coach Sean Everitt has notably set his sights on a top-four finish, raising the internal bar.  That ambition suggests Edinburgh will aim to be more than playoff hopefuls; they want to be contenders.
This Friday, Edinburgh host Ulster at the Hive Stadium (kick off 8:05 pm local) in Round 2.  Ulster themselves arrived into the season with an emphatic opening win, bagging a bonus point in a six-try performance against the Dragons.  So the Capital club faces a stern test.
Ulster’s early momentum means Edinburgh must be at their sharpest, particularly in defence. In last season’s campaign, Edinburgh boasted one of the better defensive records in the URC, finishing with an 82 % tackle success rate.  Maintaining that will be critical, especially against Ulster’s physical game.
A preview from Ulster’s media notes the home side will be “hurting” after a narrow defeat by Benetton in their own Round 6 last season.  That suggests Ulster may bring extra urgency, which Edinburgh must counter with composure and platform play.
Points to watch:
• Whether Edinburgh can impose structure early and blunt Ulster’s forward momentum.
• How effectively the back three (especially Graham and van der Merwe) can be fed space, and whether they convert opportunities.
• Discipline and set-piece reliability — crucial in tight games.
If Edinburgh can get through this opening home test with a win (or at least a bonus), they’ll have laid a strong foundation.
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Glasgow vs Edinburgh — it’s not far away now
Though Glasgow and Edinburgh do not meet this weekend, the shadow of the 1872 Cup looms large. The two sides will clash later this season (20 December 2025) in what always proves to be one of the URC’s fiercest derbies.  The aggregate score across their two league meetings determines the Cup winner, disregarding bonus points. 
For now, each club needs to finesse their squad and execute in early rounds to avoid trailing in the standings before that marquee fixture.
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Prediction.
• Glasgow look like the steadier bet: cohesive, confident, and laden with URC experience. An injury to Dempsey hurts, but their squad depth could and perhaps should carry them through – Glasgow win.
• Edinburgh face a tough challenge but also have the motivation and attacking tools to win at home. A bonus-point victory would send an early statement – Edinburgh win.
