Written by the 10bet Content Team. Fixtures checked on 3 November 2026.
Few fixtures matter more to South African rugby fans than a derby in the United Rugby Championship (URC). The 10bet Lions play the Vodacom Bulls, the DHL Stormers and the Hollywoodbets Sharks home and away every season, and each meeting has its own travel, weather and atmosphere. This guide lists the Lions’ South African derbies for 2026/27, explains what makes them different, and shows how the common betting markets work. It does not predict results.
South African URC derbies at a glance
- Competition: United Rugby Championship, 2026/27 season
- South African clubs: 10bet Lions, Vodacom Bulls, DHL Stormers and Hollywoodbets Sharks
- Next Lions derby: 10bet Lions v Vodacom Bulls at 10bet Ellis Park on Saturday 5 December 2026
- Derbies played so far: Vodacom Bulls 57–15 10bet Lions at Loftus Versfeld on 10 October 2026
The four South African clubs and their home grounds
| Club | Home ground | City |
|---|---|---|
| 10bet Lions | 10bet Ellis Park | Johannesburg |
| Vodacom Bulls | Loftus Versfeld | Pretoria |
| DHL Stormers | DHL Stadium | Cape Town |
| Hollywoodbets Sharks | Hollywoodbets Kings Park | Durban |
Our 10bet Lions guide has the full 2026/27 fixture list, the squad and the latest results.
10bet Lions South African derbies, 2026/27
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 10 Oct 2026 | Vodacom Bulls 57–15 10bet Lions (played) | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| Sat 5 Dec 2026 | 10bet Lions v Vodacom Bulls | 10bet Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
| Sat 19 Dec 2026 | DHL Stormers v 10bet Lions | DHL Stadium, Cape Town |
| Sat 2 Jan 2027 | Hollywoodbets Sharks v 10bet Lions | Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban |
| Sat 20 Feb 2027 | 10bet Lions v Hollywoodbets Sharks | 10bet Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
| Sat 27 Feb 2027 | 10bet Lions v DHL Stormers | 10bet Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
Kick-off times are not listed here because published sources do not always agree on them, and they can change after fixtures are announced. Check the official URC fixtures for the confirmed time before you plan your day.
What makes South African derbies different
Derbies between South African clubs are not just another round of the URC. A few things set them apart:
- Altitude and climate. Johannesburg and Pretoria sit on the Highveld, while Cape Town and Durban are at the coast. Ellis Park is roughly 1,750 metres above sea level, so visiting sides from the coast often need to adjust to the thinner air, and the Lions face the opposite change when they travel.
- Travel. Domestic trips are short compared with the URC’s journeys to Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy, so teams are usually fresher for a South African fixture.
- Squad availability. Springbok call-ups and rotation affect all four clubs around international windows, so line-ups can look different from one derby to the next.
- The crowd. Rivalry between supporters adds to the atmosphere, and home crowds at Ellis Park, Loftus Versfeld, DHL Stadium and Kings Park all matter.
These factors give you things to look at. They do not decide the match. A thumping result in one derby, like the Bulls’ win on 10 October, tells you little about the return fixture.
How betting markets work on a rugby derby
Rugby betting at 10bet uses fixed odds, which means the odds are locked in when you place the bet. The markets you are most likely to see for a URC derby are:
| Market | What it means |
|---|---|
| Match result | Back either team to win. A draw is possible in rugby union but rare, and it is often offered as a separate selection. |
| Handicap | One team starts with a points head start or deficit. Your pick must win after the handicap is applied. |
| Total points | Bet on whether combined points will be over or under a set line. |
| Winning margin | Pick the team and the range of points they win by, such as 1–5 or 6–10. |
| First try scorer | Pick the player to score the first try. Higher odds, harder to get right. |
| Half-time/full-time | Pick who leads at half-time and who wins at full-time. |
Our beginner’s guide to betting on rugby explains each of these in more depth.
A worked handicap example
Imagine a handicap market on a derby where Team A is offered at -6.5 and Team B at +6.5, both at 1.90. These are example numbers, not real odds.
- If you back Team A at -6.5, they must win by seven points or more for your bet to win.
- If you back Team B at +6.5, they can lose by up to six points, or win, and your bet still wins.
The half-point means there is no push. At 1.90, a R100 winning bet returns R190, which is R90 profit.
The bookmaker’s margin
You can turn decimal odds into an implied probability by dividing 1 by the odds. At 1.90 on both sides, each is 1 ÷ 1.90, about 52.6%. Together that is about 105.3%, and the extra 5.3% is the bookmaker’s margin. It is worth knowing, because the margin is what you are really paying to bet, and it varies between markets.
Before you bet on a derby
- Check team news and confirmed line-ups, especially for Springbok availability.
- Look at weather and venue, because rain can change how a game is played.
- Set your stake before kick-off and do not chase losses.
- Remember that derbies can be tight, and a long-odds selection will lose more often than it wins.
Rugby is also a good sport for live betting, because the match state changes quickly. If you bet live, decide your limits first. See the rugby page at 10bet for the markets currently on offer, and read the current offers and their terms before you register.
Want to see where the games are played? Our 10bet Ellis Park stadium guide covers the history and capacity of the Lions’ home ground.
Frequently asked questions
Which South African teams play in the URC?
Four South African clubs play in the URC: the 10bet Lions, the Vodacom Bulls, the DHL Stormers and the Hollywoodbets Sharks. Each plays the other three home and away.
When do the Lions play the Bulls next?
The 10bet Lions host the Vodacom Bulls at 10bet Ellis Park on Saturday 5 December 2026. The Bulls won the first meeting of the season 57–15 at Loftus Versfeld on 10 October 2026. Check the official URC fixtures for the confirmed kick-off time.
Where do the Lions play their home derbies?
All of the Lions’ home games, including derbies against the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers, are played at 10bet Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
Can I bet on Lions derbies at 10bet?
Yes. Lions matches are normally on the board at 10bet while the URC season is running, with pre-match and live markets. You must be 18 or older to bet, and you can set limits on our Responsible Gambling page.
Are derbies harder to bet on than other matches?
Not necessarily, but local rivalry, travel and altitude add variables, and results between the same teams can swing widely from one meeting to the next. It is a good reason to compare markets and keep your stakes sensible.
Bet responsibly
You must be 18 or older to gamble. Betting should be fun, never a way to make money or recover losses. If gambling stops being fun, visit our Responsible Gambling page for tools and support.
