Rainbow Cup 2021

bayern

RAINBOW CUP FIXTURES

ROUND 1

April 24, 2021

Ulster v Connacht
Leinster v Munster
Benetton v Glasgow Warriors
Edinburgh v Zebre Rugby Club
Ospreys v Cardiff Blues
Dragons v Scarlets
Vodacom Bulls v Emirates Lions
DHL Stormers v Cell C Sharks

ROUND 2

May 8, 2021

Connacht v Leinster
Munster v Ulster
Zebre v Benetton
Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh
Cardiff Blues v Dragons
Scarlets v Ospreys

May 1, 2021 (EPCR Semi-Final Weekend)

DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls
Cell C Sharks v Emirates Lions

ROUND 3

May 8, 2021

Vodacom Bulls v Cell C Sharks
Emirates Lions v DHL Stormers

May 15, 2021

Munster v Connacht
Leinster v Ulster
Benetton v Zebre
Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors
Scarlets v Cardiff Blues
Dragons v Ospreys

Round 4: Weekend of May 29.
Round 5: Weekend of June 5.
Round 6: Weekend of June 12.
Final: Weekend of June 19.

https://supersport.com/rugby/news/210326_Rainbow_Cup_fixtures_confirmed

irishbucsfan

Can we all just pretend this is going to be the greatest competition we’ve ever been in?

Just to give us something to keep us going.

molloyjh

It clearly will be. Some of the best clubs teams in the world coming together in a time of struggle and strife in what is effectively an origin story for an upcoming competition to lift a struggling league out of the doldrums and into the big time. How is this not going to be the best thing since sliced bread!?

Clegg

It's really hard to get spite up for Leinster/Munster games when they play each other so frequently.

Opening fixture of the Rainbow Cup.

bayern

Clegg wrote: »

It's really hard to get spite up for Leinster/Munster games when they play each other so frequently.

Opening fixture of the Rainbow Cup.

it's a joke.

irishbucsfan

Clegg wrote: »

It's really hard to get spite up for Leinster/Munster games when they play each other so frequently.

Opening fixture of the Rainbow Cup.

I don’t think the frequency is the problem.

Munster’s fall from grace has deprived the decent people of Leinster of a top class game. They are letting us down. If they were any good at all, I’d love to see us play every week. But we’ll just end up beating them by 60 points or whatever.

hahashake

Will they be given an exemption for travel from SA or are the organisers just hoping the rules will change in the interim?

thomond2006

The bombardment of interpros at the beginning of this is unfortunate but it's making the best of it. They're already changing their plans of having you play your opponents from your pool as there was supposed to be 2 provinces in each. Anyway, the South African teams coming to Europe will be interesting. Who knows what the standard will be like?

Celtic Rugby must cross their fingers and hope the South Africans are competitive. If at least two of them could be at a standard to compete with the provinces it would be a fantastic prospect for the Pro16/xx. The current league season has shown the chasm between the provinces and the other sides, particularly when the internationals are away. A full Scarlets side could compete IMO, but they've been unable to due to missing 20-25 players.

yerrahbah

So I take it each Pro12 team will only play 1 SA team each through this

thomond2006

yerrahbah wrote: »

So I take it each Pro12 team will only play 1 SA team each through this

Well the original plan was:

The Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup will kick off on April 17 with two pools of 8 teams made up of two Irish, two South African, two Welsh, one Italian and one Scottish club. Each team will play one game against each pool opponent and the sides that finish top of their pools will face off in a final on June 19.

So each European team would play a South African side twice. However with three interpro weekends breaking up this plan, who knows..

pickarooney

Are there any matches scheduled for SA versus European teams?

thomond2006

I see they've reduced the 'regular season' of this from seven games to six games. The first round scheduled for the 17th April isn't taking place.

awec

What's the odds on rounds 4, 5 and 6 not taking place?

The opening interpros are going to be standard interpro fare, right? Glorified A teams.

yerrahbah

thomond2006 wrote: »

Well the original plan was:



So each European team would play a South African side twice. However with three interpro weekends breaking up this plan, who knows..

That seems to have changed

https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/pro14/kick-off-opening-rounds-of-rainbow-cup-confirmed



A total of six rounds (eight games per round) will take place with all teams ranked in a single league table. The top two teams will then play each other in the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup Final on June 19.

thomond2006

awec wrote: »

What's the odds on rounds 4, 5 and 6 not taking place?

The opening interpros are going to be standard interpro fare, right? Glorified A teams.

3rd April: EPCR R16
10th April: EPCR QF
17th April: Rest week
24th April: RC 1
1st May: EPCR SF
8th May: RC 2
15th May: RC 3
22nd May: EPCR F

It will depend on European progression for the most part I'd say. However, with everyone getting a rest week on the 17th, I imagine you'll see strong sides on the 24th.

Caranica

I can't get my head around how 16 teams play 6 rounds in a single group including three derbies. With any kind of a fair seeding the Irish teams wouldn't all play each other.

Cookiemunster

Caranica wrote: »

I can't get my head around how 16 teams play 6 rounds in a single group including three derbies. With any kind of a fair seeding the Irish teams wouldn't all play each other.

It's a place holder tournament to get the SA players game time for the Lions tour and give the teams up here something to do until June. Seeding and meritocracy aren't really important.

bayern

Cookiemunster wrote: »

It's a place holder tournament to get the SA players game time for the Lions tour and give the teams up here something to do until June. Seeding and meritocracy aren't really important.

they could have just continued with the league instead of this crap.

Cookiemunster

awec wrote: »

What's the odds on rounds 4, 5 and 6 not taking place?

They'll go ahead alright. The SA teams have 3 weeks between R3 and R4. Plenty of time to get up North and quarantine.

awec wrote: »

The opening interpros are going to be standard interpro fare, right? Glorified A teams.

It'll depend on their European progress I'd assume. I can't see too many IRFU edicts for the rest of the season as there won't be a summer tour for Ireland.

Cookiemunster

bayern wrote: »

they could have just continued with the league instead of this crap.

Continuing with the league was two more regular season games (return interpros) and two semi finals. It's not like there was loads more rugby to be played.

FrannoFan

Could the leinster v munster game been the pro14 final instead of shoe horning it into the gap between europe and 6 nations?

sydthebeat

bayern wrote: »

they could have just continued with the league instead of this crap.

oh please no... it was painful watching.....

Irish teams points difference = +703

welsh teams PD = -136

scottish and italian teams PD = -567

hahashake

People are talking about quarantine but unless the rules change or they are given an exemption, they are not allowed to travel as it currently stands.

sydthebeat

hahashake wrote: »

People are talking about quarantine but unless the rules change or they are given an exemption, they are not allowed to travel as it currently stands.

i cant see why they wont be granted the same pro sports exemptions that other European pro rugby teams are given... once they pass their initial quarantine and have a rolling testing procedure in place

hahashake

sydthebeat wrote: »

i cant see why they wont be granted the same pro sports exemptions that other European pro rugby teams are given... once they pass their initial quarantine

I know in the UK, the "red list" countries includes SA but no European countries. So not the same.

sydthebeat

hahashake wrote: »

I know in the UK, the "red list" countries includes SA but no European countries. So not the same.

but once they are base din a European country and have completely quarantine, they wont be seen to be travelling from south africa, but from Europe

hahashake

So presumably they will be in quarantining Dublin for 2 weeks.

scott1974

molloyjh wrote: »

It clearly will be. Some of the best clubs teams in the world coming together in a time of struggle and strife in what is effectively an origin story for an upcoming competition to lift a struggling league out of the doldrums and into the big time. How is this not going to be the best thing since sliced bread!?

The tournament that no-one asked for.. what joy!!

irishbucsfan

hahashake wrote: »

So presumably they will be in quarantining Dublin for 2 weeks.

Depends where they’re staying yeah.

But also, who knows what things will be like then

Paul Smeenus

Am becoming pretty disenchanted with provincial rugby competitions. Not Awec-level enraged, but it all feels fairly meh. I was excited to bring in a competition with the SA teams, but God it feels rudderless.

thomond2006

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

Am becoming pretty disenchanted with provincial rugby competitions. Not Awec-level enraged, but it all feels fairly meh. I was excited to bring in a competition with the SA teams, but God it feels rudderless.

The real competition will be next season. Given the current Covid situation, we'll be doing well to have any games with SA sides.

irishbucsfan

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

Am becoming pretty disenchanted with provincial rugby competitions. Not Awec-level enraged, but it all feels fairly meh. I was excited to bring in a competition with the SA teams, but God it feels rudderless.

I believe I read in the media that Ulster were finished anyway

Paul Smeenus

thomond2006 wrote: »

The real competition will be next season. Given the current Covid situation, we'll be doing well to have any games with SA sides.

I completely understand the need for TV money and all the rest of it. But I simply don't care. It's so clearly games for the sake of games. It's just a bit mince.

Paul Smeenus

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I believe I read in the media that Ulster were finished anyway

Nope.

irishbucsfan

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

I completely understand the need for TV money and all the rest of it. But I simply don't care. It's so clearly games for the sake of games. It's just a bit mince.

But you like games!

Come on, it’s going to literally revolutionise the way you enjoy sports entertainment

thomond2006

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

I completely understand the need for TV money and all the rest of it. But I simply don't care. It's so clearly games for the sake of games. It's just a bit mince.

It's games for the sake of games but there's more to it. They want to integrate the SA teams into the Pro14. The Springboks need games before the Lions.

The alternative would be to continue the league which is all well and good but 90% of those games are rubbish. Connacht and Ulster can feel hard done by for missing out on a SF but that's it really.

Podge_irl

bayern wrote: »

they could have just continued with the league instead of this crap.

I will take the possibility of games against the SA Super Rugby teams any day before more of the procession that was the league.

Paul Smeenus

thomond2006 wrote: »

It's games for the sake of games but there's more to it. They want to integrate the SA teams into the Pro14. The Springboks need games before the Lions.

The alternative would be to continue the league which is all well and good but 90% of those games are rubbish. Connacht and Ulster can feel hard done by for missing out on a SF but that's it really.

True. I might feel more excited when I see our Rounds 4-6 fixtures.

Dubinusa

It's a chance to play young lads. What's wrong with seeing Ahern or McCann playing bok teams. It will also be a proving ground for academy players trying to get development contracts. Lads like Hawkshaw should get some minutes to prove themselves. I think it's a meh tournament, but it gives the coaches a chance to feature lads they normally wouldn't.

Tommybojangles

I'm definitely excited, maybe I'm naive!
I think it might be that the effects of the 5 months without sport last year haven't left me yet and I'm excited about everything. I even find myself waking up on Saturdays to watch Kearney play for the force

Bazzo

Is this being televised on the current pro12/14 broadcasters?

sydthebeat

Bazzo wrote: »

Is this being televised on the current pro12/14 broadcasters?

yes

https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/pro14/guinness-pro14-rainbow-cup-questions-answers

Where will I be able to watch all of these games?

Right through until the last kick of the ball in the Rainbow Cup in June, fans will be able to watch it all unfold with current broadcast partners Premier Sports, eir Sport, S4C, TG4, DAZN and Super Sport.

KBurke85

Bazzo wrote: »

Is this being televised on the current pro12/14 broadcasters?

From the statement
PRO14 Rugby is currently consulting with our broadcast partners to select kick-off times and will confirm the scheduling as soon as possible.

Neil3030

Will they be the Vodafone Bulls when they finish quarantining?

pickarooney

Dubinusa wrote: »

It's a chance to play young lads. What's wrong with seeing Ahern or McCann playing bok teams. It will also be a proving ground for academy players trying to get development contracts. Lads like Hawkshaw should get some minutes to prove themselves. I think it's a meh tournament, but it gives the coaches a chance to feature lads they normally wouldn't.

I'm looking forward to seeing Ahern. I am so over Ryan Baird at this stage.

Garda Kenny

pickarooney wrote: »

I'm looking forward to seeing Ahern. I am so over Ryan Baird at this stage.

Correct

thomond2006

I hope Eir will carry the SA vs SA games in the first few weeks.

bilston

thomond2006 wrote: »

I hope Eir will carry the SA vs SA games in the first few weeks.

I, perhaps naively, assumed that was a given!

Pussyhands

They should have just called this the Money Cup.

That's the only reason for it. Change the structure of the Pro 14 mid way through the league to create this money grabbing thing.

Pussyhands

SA teams participating in a NH tournament just doesn't work, logistics just don't work.

Be better to have a 20 teams Celtic+English league. Play every other team once with top 4 playing off.

19 game general season with promotion and relegation.

Dave_The_Sheep