Pro14 Season 2019-2020

Burkie1203

https://twitter.com/simonrug/status/1138818178082062336?s=19

According to Simon Thomas the conferences will be


Embra
Munster
Connacht
Blues
Scarlets
Benetton
Kings


Leinster
Glasgow
Ulster
Ospreys
Dragons
Zebre
Cheetahs

KBurke85

As a Connacht fan I think I'd be happy enough with that.

sydthebeat

and again conference A will be a lot more competitive than Conference B

Buer

Very odd way to determine the pools. Three of the four semi finalists including the two finalists in the same pool due to it being based on points and not the actual outcome of the tournament.

Not as badly lopsided as last season but not far off. Very much set up for a Leinster vs Munster final even this far out.

PMC83

Quinlan mentioned on OTB that the final would be in Cardiff City Stadium next year. Though I haven't read about it anywhere else?

Nice to have it in Cardiff, a shame the Principality is too big for it

phog

PMC83 wrote: »

Quinlan mentioned on OTB that the final would be in Cardiff City Stadium next year. Though I haven't read about it anywhere else?

Nice to have it in Cardiff, a shame the Principality is too big for it

From WoL

Dave_The_Sheep

If you were Benetton you'd have to fancy your chances of getting to the playoffs again this season, if they can keep up some semblance of the form they had last season, and unless the Scarlets get their **** together a bit compared to last season, hard to see Munster not strolling that conference.

Edmc123

Does anybody know when the fixtures will be released?

bilston

Edmc123 wrote: »

Does anybody know when the fixtures will be released?

It's normally well into July, it might be even later this year because of the late start to the season.

I think they wait until after the European draw and fixtures have come out

Squidgy Black

Demetri Catrakilis joining the Kings from Harlequins, been hampered pretty badly with injuries over the years but is probably the type of signing the Kings/Cheetahs should be targetting.

sydthebeat

excellent signing for them if he can stay fit.

KBurke85

https://www.pro14rugby.org/2019/06/17/conferences-confirmed-for-2019-20-2020-21-guinness-pro14-seasons/

Conferences have now been confirmed. They are as posted at the beginning of the thread.

yerrahbah

Great chance for Munster to finish top and avoid another away semi final in Dublin

thomond2006

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2019%E2%80%9320_Pro14_transfers

The list of transfers for the Pro14 teams. Bear in mind this doesn't include players that left/retired during the 2018-19 season.

Jump_In_Jack

They should have swapped Munster and Leinster to even up the conferences and keep Glasgow in a separate conference to Leinster.
Ignoring the playoffs is a disappointment considering that they used them properly for ranking the teams for the Heineken Cup draw.

bilston

Bit s*** for Ulster

phog

Jump_In_Jack wrote: »

They should have swapped Munster and Leinster to even up the conferences and keep Glasgow in a separate conference to Leinster.
Ignoring the playoffs is a disappointment considering that they used them properly for ranking the teams for the Heineken Cup draw.

Why?

They ignored the playoff when they created the conferences when we changed from Pro12 to Pro14

Buer

I'd be sore about the conferences but I'm sure Leinster were aware at how the pools were going to be formed before they took the foot off the gas. It's a bit of a silly way to work it out but Leinster have nobody to blame but themselves.

Cookiemunster

Buer wrote: »

I'd be sore about the conferences but I'm sure Leinster were aware at how the pools were going to be formed before they took the foot off the gas. It's a bit of a silly way to work it out but Leinster have nobody to blame but themselves.

The Pro14 swapped the Irish and Welsh seedings. Munster and Connacht were 1 & 4 two years ago when the original conferences were decided and were in A. Now they are again 1 & 4 but have moved to B.

As I said in another thread I think they did this to make sure that more than just Ospreys and Scarlets swapped conferences as would have been the case under the original seeding system.

Podge_irl

Buer wrote: »

I'd be sore about the conferences but I'm sure Leinster were aware at how the pools were going to be formed before they took the foot off the gas. It's a bit of a silly way to work it out but Leinster have nobody to blame but themselves.

I'm still reasonably convinced Leinster will top the pool so I don't overly care.

awec

Podge_irl wrote: »

I'm still reasonably convinced Leinster will top the pool so I don't overly care.

I am absolutely convinced Leinster will stroll to the top of the conference again.

Jump_In_Jack

phog wrote: »

Why?

They ignored the playoff when they created the conferences when we changed from Pro12 to Pro14

The playoffs backed up the table results when the conferences were first devised so there were no issues and the conferences worked fairly well over the past two seasons.

However, sticking to the same system has made the conferences a bit uneven now.
They have missed a good opportunity to use the results to seed the conferences more accurately.

Would have been a lot better to just seed the teams according to the strength of the clubs.

FWIW I think the following split would have made for two far more even conferences:

Conference A
Leinster
Munster
Benetton
Cardiff
Edinburgh
Dragons
Kings


Conference B
Glasgow
Ulster
Connacht
Ospreys
Scarlets
Cheetahs
Zebre

Jump_In_Jack

Sam Hidalgo-Clyne: Scotland scrum-half to leave Scarlets
Anybody know why Sam Hidalgo-Clyne has fallen so far out of favour in recent years?
He's now a free agent.

razorblunt

Jump_In_Jack wrote: »

Sam Hidalgo-Clyne: Scotland scrum-half to leave Scarlets
Anybody know why Sam Hidalgo-Clyne has fallen so far out of favour in recent years?
He's now a free agent.

His form fell off a cliff towards the end of his Edinburgh stay, once it was announced he was leaving it picked up as he was in the shop window.

I wonder will he sign back on at Quins?


In other Edinburgh news, seems to be a few whispers doing the rounds that Kwagga Smith is Embra bound.

Dog Botherer

razorblunt wrote: »

His form fell off a cliff towards the end of his Edinburgh stay, once it was announced he was leaving it picked up as he was in the shop window.

I wonder will he sign back on at Quins?


In other Edinburgh news, seems to be a few whispers doing the rounds that Kwagga Smith is Embra bound.

Good bit of business for Edinburgh there if true. Smith has been very impressive every time i’ve seen him, and wasn’t a million miles away from consideration for the WC.

razorblunt

3 month cover for the WC it seems unless he gets picked himself.

stephen_n

Hidalgo-Clynne to Racing an interesting move.

Jupiter Mulligan

PMC83 wrote: »

Quinlan mentioned on OTB that the final would be in Cardiff City Stadium next year. Though I haven't read about it anywhere else?

Nice to have it in Cardiff, a shame the Principality is too big for it

Is that grass or plastic?

Buer

stephen_n wrote: »

Hidalgo-Clynne to Racing an interesting move.

Only a short term move though. I'd say he's playing for his career at this point. If that goes badly, nobody is going to really want him and he'll end up taking a pretty crap contract somewhere.

I can't see him getting much game time though even with Machenaud at the RWC. Iribaren is the clear back up and a cut above SHC. Chauveau has left this summer though so he should be back up until the end of the RWC.

I saw he commented that he possibly wold have had to even decline a call up if Townsend named him as he had to give his club career priority (I assume he meant trying to rescue it).

leakyboots

Any word on broadcast rights for this and the Heineken?

Cookiemunster

leakyboots wrote: »

Any word on broadcast rights for this and the Heineken?

There's no change from last year.

Burkie1203

Pro14 final June 20th next year apparently

bilston

leakyboots wrote: »

Any word on broadcast rights for this and the Heineken?

Last year was the first year of a 3 year deal, similar with Europe, although that may have been a 4 years.

Aside the from the cost factor I think Premier/Eir Sports did a pretty good job.

Mebuntu

leakyboots wrote: »

Any word on broadcast rights for this and the Heineken?

Eir has confirmed by email today that from 1st August:

Eir Sports Package (free for Eir BB customers) excludes BT Sport.

Includes:

Every game in Rugby World Cup

Pro14 - every game incl all Leinster and Munster games live.


With BT Sports to become available on Sky from (presumably) 1st August it will be interesting to find out how much extra it will cost.

The good thing is that the Heineken doesn't start til mid-Nov so no need to buy BT until then unless you want to watch the football. After mid-Jan no more Heneken til April/May so you could cancel BT until then.

stephen_n

Buer wrote: »

Only a short term move though. I'd say he's playing for his career at this point. If that goes badly, nobody is going to really want him and he'll end up taking a pretty crap contract somewhere.

I can't see him getting much game time though even with Machenaud at the RWC. Iribaren is the clear back up and a cut above SHC. Chauveau has left this summer though so he should be back up until the end of the RWC.

I saw he commented that he possibly wold have had to even decline a call up if Townsend named him as he had to give his club career priority (I assume he meant trying to rescue it).

In all honesty bar an absolutely biblical injury crisis, he’s nowhere near a call up even to a training squad. Such a mad decline, he seemed like a real prospect when he first broke through.

thomond2006

thomond2006 wrote: »

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2019%E2%80%9320_Pro14_transfers

The list of transfers for the Pro14 teams. Bear in mind this doesn't include players that left/retired during the 2018-19 season.

Not a lot of particularly big name signings there for the coming season. Or will many more continue to be announced?

bilston

Batrachotox wrote: »

Not a lot of particularly big name signings there for the coming season. Or will many more continue to be announced?

No real big name signings although Cardiff and Ulster have brought some good players in, albeit they are both losing big players in Anscombe and Best.

razorblunt

stephen_n wrote: »

In all honesty bar an absolutely biblical injury crisis, he’s nowhere near a call up even to a training squad. Such a mad decline, he seemed like a real prospect when he first broke through.

Japan next if it doesn’t work out in France I’d say.

ClanofLams

Ruan Pienaar apparently Cheetahs bound. Can see them surprising a few people next season. Poor last season but have a very young squad and haven’t lost anyone bar Shaun Venter, Pienaar clearly an upgrade there. New coach too, with a favourable run of fixtures they could get off to a fast start playing weakened teams during the World Cup. Similar could happen in the 6N period.

thomond2006

A few of the Cheetahs players might be only contracted until November due to the old position of the Currie Cup in the calendar. In their first season the Cheetahs lost a few starters after November as they had signed for Super Rugby teams. A player like Maxwane needs to be locked up long term, he only turns 24 next month.

Pienaar would be quite a signing. Even at his age he could command a serious salary in Europe/Japan.

The SA sides should look to build some momentum during the RWC when some of their opponents will be fielding weakened sides.

ClanofLams

There was a Saffer journalist on craggy rugby pod earlier this season who was fairly optimistic about this season. If I recall correctly, he said at that time that basically all the squad was signed up until at least the end of 19-20 season and thought their Pro14 performances would be significantly better in the coming season.

jacothelad

ClanofLams wrote: »

There was a Saffer journalist on craggy rugby pod earlier this season who was fairly optimistic about this season. If I recall correctly, he said at that time that basically all the squad was signed up until at least the end of 19-20 season and thought their Pro14 performances would be significantly better in the coming season.

I hope that is well placed but I'm an Ulster supporter and I've been fairly optimistic about the coming season since 2006....:D:D:D:D:D:D.



This usually lasts until the inevitable selection of a full back at 10, wing at 12, a wing at 13, a centre at 11, a centre at 14 and a center at full back. Of course now that Nelson is a Canadian we need to dig up a different full back to play instead of an actual out half.

Squidgy Black

Blommetjies released from Scarlets after only a season. Paid out his final year of his contract, only played 6 games with Scarlets before being shipped out to Leicester on loan.

I wonder will he head back to Cheetahs or try find a contract in the Championship or even ProD2, seems to be a lot of questions over his fitness/work rate.

Exclamation Marc

Two year contract for AWJ at Ospreys and Wales.

I know his Pro14 exposure is limited but great that he's retained.

thomond2006

Ruan Pienaar's move to the Cheetahs is reported as a done deal by SA media. Two year deal for Pienaar to join his hometown team.

thomond2006

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ruan Pienaar's move to the Cheetahs is reported as a done deal by SA media. Two year deal for Pienaar to join his hometown team.

Confirmed:
http://www.fscheetahs.co.za/news/toyota-cheetahs-welcomes-ruan-pienaar-20190710

ClanofLams

Fixtures out tomorrow at one pm.

Cheetahs announced four new signings today, from reading online it seems a couple of them have super rugby experience and the centre smit is apparently a highly rated prospect. Three two year deals and one three year deal. Club seems to becoming more stable, they will be much improved and think they have a reasonable chance of sneaking into top three next year, catching Glasgow or Ulster on the hop.


http://www.fscheetahs.co.za/news/four-new-players-for-toyota-cheetahs-in-guinness-pro14-20190716

thomond2006

The Cheetahs will also be match fit as they will have an extended pre-season of competitive games via the Currie Cup. A strong start in the 3-4 games during the RWC window will be crucial.

Burkie1203

Pisser for Glasgow if true.

https://twitter.com/MarkPalmerST/status/1151178809607172098?s=19

sydthebeat

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Pisser for Glasgow if true.

https://twitter.com/MarkPalmerST/status/1151178809607172098?s=19

Hahaha.... Fcuk em

Exclamation Marc

And the fixtures are out...

https://twitter.com/PRO14Official/status/1151461352420118529?s=19

Weekend away for Glasgow as expected. Away game for Leinster and a home tie for Munster.