Zebre vs Bulls: Preview and Predictions 

The Zebre Parma take on the Vodacom Bulls in their first match of the 2026/27 United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign at Sadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Saturday, 26 September. 

The Bulls head into the new URC season after reaching last season’s final, where they were beaten 36-7 by Leinster. Zebre, meanwhile, finished 16th in the 2025/26 URC but showed signs of improvement in the Challenge Cup, reaching the quarter-finals. 

Why This Match Matters So Much 

For Zebre, this is an opportunity to start the new URC season with a statement result at home. Massimo Brunello’s side struggled for consistency in the league last season, winning just two of their 18 matches, but they were competitive in several close games.  

The Bulls will want to begin the campaign strongly after another deep playoff run last season. They finished fourth in the regular season with 12 wins from 18 matches before beating Munster and Glasgow Warriors in the knockout stages to reach the final. Their 640 points and 92 tries were among the best attacking returns in the competition. 

History also favours the visitors. The Bulls have won all five previous meetings with Zebre, including a 54-19 victory at Loftus Versfeld in May 2026. 

Tactical Overview  

Zebre will need to make home advantage count and keep the Bulls from establishing control through their powerful forward pack. Their challenge will be turning pressure into points while limiting the attacking opportunities available to the visitors. 

The Bulls have plenty of attacking firepower and scored more points than any other team in the URC last season. However, they have lost several experienced players during the off-season, including Springboks Ruan Nortjé, Wilco Louw, and Kurt-Lee Arendse. New arrivals such as Curwin Bosch, Thaakir Abrahams, and Hanro Liebenberg will have important roles to play. 

A key battle could come in the breakdown, where the Bulls have Jeandre Rudolph, who led the URC for turnovers last season with 21. Zebre will need quick ball and accurate execution if they are to disrupt the Bulls’ defensive structure. 

Players to Watch  

TBC (Zebre)  

TBC (Bulls)  

Starting Lineup (Zebre)  

TBC 

Starting Lineup (Bulls)  

TBC 

Match Details 

Date: 26 September 2026  

Venue: Sadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma 

Kick-off Time: 18:30pm  

TV: SuperSport  

Prediction   

The Bulls enter the fixture with a strong recent record against Zebre and finished last season as URC runners-up. Zebre’s home advantage and the arrival of Tommaso Allan could make this a more competitive contest, but the Bulls’ attacking quality and recent head-to-head record make them the side to back. 

Prediction: Bulls to win 

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