Glasgow Warriors duo named in URC team of the season

Kyle Rowe and Stafford McDowall were selected for the best XV.

The side was decided by a media selection panel with players eligible if they made nine appearances in the regular season. The panel was provided a 10-man shortlist for each position by StatMaster.

The Elite XV 25/26 is here 🤩🔥

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In a press release, URC explained the process: "The side was voted on by a media selection panel, spanning all five territories within the competition.

"To be eligible, players must have made nine appearances during the regular campaign, with the panel provided with a shortlist of 10 per position by URC StatMaster.

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"The player with the most votes in each position then earned a place in the team."

On the inclusion of Glasgow pair Rowe and McDowall, the URC release read: "Connacht provide hard-grafting forwards Cian Prendergast and Darragh Murray, while there are two Glasgow backs selected in Kyle Rowe and Stafford McDowall, with elusive winger Rowe having beaten 52 defenders, made 21 clean breaks and run for 783 metres in his 13 league outings."

It’s the fourth successive season that the Warriors have been represented in the league’s team of the season, and the first time in Franco Smith’s tenure as Head Coach that two Glasgow players have been included in the Elite XV.

However, given the Warriors finished as league leaders, there are a number of players who are unlucky to have missed out on the team of the season. 

Captain Kyle Steyn has been outstanding all season, while scrum-half George Horne and openside Rory Darge are also unlucky not to have made the team, which is dominated by the South African sides. 

George Horne is unlucky to miss out (Image: Shutterstock)

Embrose Papier is selected at scrum-half and is one of three Bulls players picked along with hooker Johann Grobbelaar and lock Cobus Wiese. 

Stormers also have three players selected - loosehead prop Ntuthuko Mchunu, number eight Evan Roos and fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

In total, seven clubs are represented in the team with Ulster, Connacht and Lions equalling Glasgow’s two selections. 

URC Elite XV 2025/26: Quan Horn, Werner Kok, Stafford McDowall, Stuart McCloskey, Kyle Rowe, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Embrose Papier; Ntuthuko Mchunu, Johann Grobbelaar, Thomas Clarkson, Darragh Murray, Cobus Wiese, Cian Prendergast, Ruan Venter, Evan Roos