Benetton Rugby and Dragons draw 19-19 in URC season opener

Benetton Rugby opened their United Rugby Championship (URC) 2026/2027 season with a 19-19 draw against the Welsh side Dragons at Monigo Stadium. Under the new technical management of Wayne Pivac, Benetton took a commanding 19-7 lead in the first half with tries from François Mey, Bautista Bernasconi, and Ignacio Mendy.

However, the Dragons mounted a comeback in the second half. Tries from Fine Inisi and Elliot Dee, combined with the kicking of Tinus de Beer, allowed the visitors to level the score. A late attempt by de Beer to secure the win struck the upright, leaving the match tied.

Following the match, Argentine prop Matias Medrano, making his official debut for the club, noted the team's strong scrum performance in the first half but emphasized the need to maintain intensity and improve defensive work to grow throughout the season.