A new look rugby competition for Ireland's provinces will begin next season. With a change of name, format, sponsor and competitors, the United Rugby Championship takes over from the Guinness PRO14.
First the Celtic League, rebranded the Magners League, then the RaboDirect PRO12, the Guinness PRO12, and from 2017-18 the Guinness PRO14, it is a competition that has served Ireland, Welsh, Scottish and Italian club sides well.
In its 20 years, Irish teams have dominated with 13 titles - Leinster (8 ), Munster (3 ), Ulster and Connacht (1 ). Cardiff, Edinburgh and Dragons have never won the crown, and between them Ospreys and Scarlets have six titles. On Saturday a new name will be added to the list when Benetton and the Bulls contest their first PRO14 final - and also the last.
The new-look championship, with the addition of four South African sides, plans to take the tournament to another level - 16 teams across five nations with 18 rounds of action in a single league format.
There is a greater emphasis on regionalism - four pools of four teams, Irish, Welsh, South African and a combined Scottish/Italian. After 18 games, the top eight teams will qualify for the quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and a final. Teams will be seeded from 1 to 8 and will receive home advantage according to their seeding for these fixtures.
The regular season will be reduced from 21 to 18 - no games to take place during international weekends. Regional pools will account for six games, the remaining 12 games played against all other teams in the league home or away.
But the biggest concern for some teams, and particularly Connacht, is the change to Heineken Cup qualification. Eight teams will qualify, but four of those will be regional pool winners - so a team could essentially finish outside the top eight, but still qualify as a pool winner. The remaining four highest ranked teams which did not win their regional pool will qualify, while final seeding for the Champions Cup will be based on the league positions of all eight teams.
The IRFU was the only rugby union to oppose this change in European qualification which is based first on ensuring at least one team from the four regions qualifies rather than overall meritocracy, which will make it more difficult for Connacht. European Rugby says discussions, including South African participation, remain on-going. PRO14 hopes that from 2022/23, South African teams will be able to enter the Champions Cup if they have finished in the qualification places in the URC standings in 2021/2022.
Connacht is one of eight PRO14 teams to have qualified for next season - all four Irish clubs in the top four. 1, Leinster 71 match points (league champions ); 2, Munster 64 match points (won 14, points difference +163 )Finalists always ranked 1 & 2 regardless of final standing in tables; 3, Ulster 64 points (won 14, +206 ); 4, Connacht 45 points; 5, Scarlets 39 points; 6, Ospreys 36 points (won 8, -17 ); 7, Cardiff Rugby 36 points (won 8, -19 ); 8, Glasgow Warriors 30 points.
Regional pools for proposed URC.
Irish Pool: Connacht, Leinster, Munster, Ulster; Welsh Pool: Dragons, Cardiff Rugby, Ospreys, Scarlets; South African Pool: Cell C Sharks, DHL Stormers, Emirates Lions and Vodacom Bulls; Italian & Scottish Pool: Benetton Rugby, Edinburgh, Glasgow Warriors, Zebre Rugby Club.
Fixture Dates for 2021/22 season:
R1: 24/25/26 September
R2: 1/2/3 October
R3: 8/9/10 October
R4: 15/16/17 October
R5: 22/23/24 October
R6: 29/30/31 October
R7: 3/4/5 December
R8: 24/25/26 December
R9: 31 December 1/2 January
R10: 7/8/9 January
R11: 28/29/30 January
R12: 18/19/20 January
R13: 4/5/6 March
R14: 25/26/27 March
R15: 1/2/3 April
R16: 22/23/24 April
R17: 29/20/21 April
R18: 20/21/22 May
URC Quarter Finals: 3/4/5 June
URC Semi-Finals 10/11/12 June
URC Final: 23/24/25 June
