September 21, 2026

United Rugby Championship Predictions for Week 1

Team Ratings for Week 1

The basic method is described on my Department home page.
Here are the team ratings prior to this week’s games, along with the ratings at the start of the season.

Current Rating Rating at Season Start Difference
Leinster 12.13 12.13 0.00
Bulls 10.00 10.00 -0.00
Stormers 6.49 6.49 0.00
Glasgow 6.47 6.47 -0.00
Connacht 2.62 2.62 0.00
Sharks 2.16 2.16 0.00
Lions 1.48 1.48 0.00
Munster 1.25 1.25 0.00
Ulster -0.32 -0.32 0.00
Cardiff Rugby -1.63 -1.63 -0.00
Edinburgh -2.55 -2.55 0.00
Ospreys -3.35 -3.35 0.00
Scarlets -3.47 -3.47 0.00
Benetton -6.67 -6.67 0.00
Dragons -10.04 -10.04 -0.00
Zebre -14.56 -14.56 -0.00

 

Predictions for Week 1

Here are the predictions for Week 1. The prediction is my estimated expected points difference with a positive margin being a win to the home team, and a negative margin a win to the away team.

Game Date Winner Prediction
1 Benetton vs. Dragons Sept 26 Benetton 8.90
2 Connacht vs. Stormers Sept 26 Connacht 1.60
3 Ulster vs. Edinburgh Sept 26 Ulster 7.70
4 Lions vs. Leinster Sept 26 Leinster -5.10
5 Sharks vs. Ospreys Sept 27 Sharks 11.00
6 Munster vs. Glasgow Sept 27 Munster 0.30
7 Zebre vs. Bulls Sept 27 Bulls -19.10
8 Scarlets vs. Cardiff Rugby Sept 27 Scarlets 0.70

 

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David Scott obtained a BA and PhD from the Australian National University and then commenced his university teaching career at La Trobe University in 1972. He has taught at La Trobe University, the University of Sheffield, Bond University and Colorado State University, joining the University of Auckland, based at Tamaki Campus, in mid-1995. He has been Head of Department at La Trobe University, Acting Dean and Associate Dean (Academic) at Bond University, and Associate Director of the Centre for Quality Management and Data Analysis at Bond University with responsibility for Short Courses. He was Head of the Department of Statistics in 2000, and is a past President of the New Zealand Statistical Assocation. See all posts by David Scott »

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