The Hollywoodbets Sharks face off against one of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship tournament’s biggest threats in their final tour match of the opening three weeks.
The current title-holders defeated the Vodacom Bulls in the previous final, and before that, won the silverware for four years running between 2018 and 2021. Further titles in 2013 and 2014, along with four losing appearances in the final make them arguably the most successful team in the tournament’s 16-year history. They have also won the Heineken Cup five times, losing a further four finals.
Leinster opened their 2025/26 account against the DHL Stormers and uncharacteristically failed to register a single point in round one, going down 35-nil in Cape Town before completing their South African tour against the Vodacom Bulls with another loss, before returning to Ireland for their first home game of the campaign: when they host the Hollywoodbets Sharks in round three.
Founded 146 years ago in 1879, Leinster generally play at the 18,500-seater RDS Arena, although the match against the Hollywoodbets Sharks will take place at their alternative venue, the 51,700-capacity Aviva Stadium, also the home of Irish international rugby.
Jordie Barrett has returned to New Zealand after a hugely successful short-term sabbatical that saw him contribute greatly to Leinster’s VURC success last season, but a strong academy system has seen Leinster promote from within, bringing 86-time All Black Rieko Ioane from the Blues for a short-term deal and bolstering their squad with eight academy players.
The team is based in Ireland’s capital Dublin, and the area has a long history dating back over 6000 years, evidence of fish traps found during construction work pointing to habitation in prehistoric times.
Dublin was established as a settlement around the seventh century by the Gaels (who spoke Gaelic), and later the Vikings.
The name Dublin is derived from the word Blackpool, in Middle Irish – ‘Du(i)blind’, to refer to a dark tidal pool in the gardens of Dublin Castle which has stood since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland, while Old Norse called it ‘Dyflin’ to refer to its earlier name Duibhlinn, attributed to an earlier Christian settlement.
One of Dublin’s greatest success stories is Arthur Guiness after whom Guiness draught is named. Founded in 1759, the Guinness brewery eventually grew to become the largest brewery in the world and the largest employer in Dublin.
Leinster rugby bring a physical edge to Dublin’s rich history of culture and learning, the city is served by four Universities, including the famous Trinity College, established in 1592. Dublin was named European Capital of Science in 2012 and has a long history of producing intellectuals, artists and men and women of international acclaim.
Included in this list are Nobel laureates William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw and Samuel Beckett, as well as writers and playwrights like Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift and the creator of Dracula, Bram Stoker.
U2 is joined by Thin Lizzy, Bob Geldof, Chris De Burgh, the Script, Sinéad O’Connor, Boyzone, Kodaline, Fontaines D.C. and Westlife, amongst other internationally acclaimed bands and musicians.
Leinster have done these famous Dubliners proud and will no doubt look to make up for a shaky start to this season’s tournaments when they host the Hollywoodbets Sharks on Saturday at 6.30pm.
