2025-26 United Rugby Championship Round 2 Predictions & Tips

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Dragons vs Sharks Predictions - Dragons can shock Sharks at Rodney Parade

Ralph Staniforth

Editor

Last updated: 01 Oct 2025

Ralph Staniforth 01 Oct 2025

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Sharks missing key players, making the contest more balanced.
Dragons are resilient at home despite recent poor form.
Both teams lost their last matches, suggesting a close game.
Dragons tipped to stay within 4.5 points or snatch a win.
Sharks still have international quality but face challenges on the road.

Expired

Dragons lost their last match to the Sharks. (Getty Images)

Dragons vs Sharks Predictions

The Sharks are nowhere near full strength, and the Dragons are a very plucky side at home. They often challenge bigger sides at Rodney Parade without getting many results.

Dragons vs Sharks Predictions
Head to Head
Dragons Form
Dragons Injuries & Team News
Sharks Form
Sharks Injuries & Team News

I am backing the Dragons to get within 4.5 points of the Sharks and as usual, it tight games, it could go either way. There is value in a small layout on a Dragons victory.

Dragons lost their last match to the Sharks.
Dragons lost by 21 points away from home last weekend.
Sharks lost by 16 points last weekend.

Head to Head

The Sharks defeated the Dragons 33-30 in Newport last season.

Dragons Form

The Dragons finished bottom of the URC table last season, winning just one match. They are again favourites to finish bottom this season, although they will certainly be looking to avoid that feat.

Last weekend, the Dragons faced a tough trip to Ireland where they last 42-21 to Ulster. For periods, the Dragons were quite competitive in the game, so there were certainly positives for them to take home.

Dragons Injuries & Team News

The Dragons are likely to stick with a similar lineup this weekend.

Sharks Form

The Sharks finished third last season in the URC, eventually knocked out in the semi-finals. Given their squad, they are once expected to challenge at the top this season.

However, at the moment, the Sharks are without several Springboks, so they must make do with the rest of the squad. That said, the Sharks still have quite a few internationals in their squad that aren’t with the national team currently.

Last week the Sharks lost 35-19 to Glasgow in Scotland. It was a tough night for the Sharks, but they showed plenty of fight. Glasgow was the better side on the night but the Sharks competed well until the last quarter when two home tries stretched the score out.

Sharks Injuries & Team News

The Sharks were good last weekend but may have a few tweaks for this clash. This is a game they would have targeted for an away win.

Verdict

Dragons v Sharks

I am backing the Dragons to get within 4.5 points, perhaps winning.

Dragons +4.5

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Dragons Win

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Ralph is from South Africa and studied Sports Science post school at ETA (Education Teachers Academy) in Cape Town.

He has always had a great passion for sport and this led him into the world of sports journalism, while coaching on the side. Since 2012 Ralph has worked as a journalist and covered many topics from business to sport.

Over the last seven years he has interviewed numerous top rugby and cricket players and coaches in South Africa.

Ralph has been betting on sports for the last ten years. He’s knowledgeable on numerous topics including football, rugby, cricket, tennis and golf.

He supports Manchester United (football), Cheetahs (rugby), Knights (cricket) and has a newly found appreciation for Dominic Thiem on the tennis courts.