United Rugby Championship announced, beginning September 2021

thomond2006

Q: WHAT IS HAPPENING?
The Guinness PRO14 is changing into a 16-team league called the United Rugby Championship and will include South Africa’s former Super Rugby teams – Cell C Sharks, DHL Stormers, Emirates Lions and Vodacom Bulls. These teams will play in the league against the 12 existing teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.

Q: SO, IT’S BACK TO A LEAGUE FORMAT?
Yes, all 16 teams will be ranked from 1 to 16 in a single-standing league table to decide who reaches the Quarter-finals. Additionally, regional pools will exist to ensure home & away derby fixtures are played.

Teams will be seeded from 1 to 8 and will receive home advantage according to their seeding. A full round of Quarter-finals and Semi-finals will take place to produce two teams who will qualify for the Grand Final.

Q: HOW WILL THE FIXTURES WORK AND HOW MANY GAMES WILL MY TEAM PLAY?
Every team will play 18 games in the regular season comprising of:

6 Home AND away fixtures against their regional pool opponents
12 Home OR away fixtures against the other 12 teams in the league
This means derby matches are unaffected, and every team plays each other at least once each season.

Q: WHY ARE YOU CHANGING THE NAME OF THE TOURNAMENT?
The United Rugby Championship represents elite club rugby across two hemispheres. Each team and territory offer something unique to the game; and although we are unified by our love of the sport, the rivalries at the heart of the game remain the reason we watch it.

With such a complete change in format and the addition of the big-name South African sides, it is the right time to change the name of the tournament that is more fitting and will have much greater longevity. It’s fair to say using numbers in the name hasn’t quite worked out so well.

Q: WHY ‘UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP’?
URC symbolises a new era for club rugby, while not forgetting our roots as the Celtic League. The URC brings together teams, players and fans from iconic locations across the North & South. Over 140 names were tested – including PRO16 and PRO Rugby Championship – but ultimately United Rugby Championship rose to the top based upon feedback from stakeholders across a number of internal and external surveys which have shaped the brand values and expectations from teams, fans, media and broadcasters.

At its core, the URC seeks to be Bigger, Bolder and Stronger that the previous incarnations of the league with a more familiar format, no crossovers with international weekends and more teams capable of winning the title.

Q: WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF FEWER REGULAR SEASON GAMES AND NO CROSSOVER WITH INTERNATIONAL WEEKENDS?
A: Fans, broadcasters and media will always welcome new faces and breakthrough Next-Gen talents, but the message has been consistent that they want to see the top internationals play more often in the league. This will always have a natural challenge given that 16 teams are feeding into five national squads, so by removing the crossover with international weekends everyone can expect to see the top talent playing more often than in the past.

With expectations that the competitiveness of the league will be increased by the addition of the South African teams, it will ensure that every game counts in the race to reach the knock-out stages.

The regular season will consist of 18 rounds followed by three rounds of knock-outs including the Grand Final to provide an overall total of 21 game weekends per season. This is down from a total of 24 when the tournament was previously a 12-team league.

Q: REGIONAL POOLS WERE MENTIONED EARLIER ON, HOW WILL THEY WORK?
A: The regional pools are a mechanism to ensure all home and away derby games are played while also recognising a champion for that region each season. The Irish, South African and Welsh teams all have their own natural pools of four while the Scottish and Italian teams will enter into their own pool of four because each there are only two participants from each nation involved.

This also means that Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors, Benetton and Zebre will only play two derby games per season rather than three in the PRO14 format. The fixtures from the regional pools will account for six games with the remaining 12 games played against all other teams in the league. Points from all 18 games will be used in the single-standing league table and for the regional pools.

Q: HOW WILL CHAMPIONS CUP QUALIFICATION WORK?
A: A total of eight teams from the United Rugby Championship will qualify for the Heineken Champions Cup. The winner of each pool will qualify, followed by the next highest ranked teams in the main league table.

From the 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 2021/22. Regional pool mechanic will ensure at least one team will qualify.

All points won during the URC season will contribute to rankings in the regional pools and the winner of each pool will earn a place in the Champions Cup for the following season. This addition to the format is expected to add even greater intensity to these age-old rivalries.

The remaining four places will then be awarded to the four highest-ranked teams in the single-standing league table who did not win their regional pool. Final seeding for the Champions Cup will be based upon the league positions of all eight teams.

Q: HOW ARE HOME OR AWAY FIXTURES DECIDED?
A: The initial balance fixtures will be predicated on a number of factors including: stadium availability; club preference; player welfare, broadcast rights and the accommodation of mini‐tours involving fixtures with South African clubs. Each year the home or away fixture will alternate much like it does in the Guinness Six Nations, so if Ospreys played away to the DHL Stormers in Cape during the 2021/22 season, then they would host the Stormers in Swansea the following year and the fixture would continue to alternate on that basis.

Q: HOW WILL TEAMS COPE WITH TRAVELLING TO AND FROM SOUTH AFRICA?
A: Visiting teams will require a 7-day turnaround leading into these fixtures. This will include 5 ‘clean days’ that do not involve any travel. Flights between Europe and South Africa are overnight which will allow players to rest during their travel while training facilities and accommodation venues have already been road-tested from previous Guinness PRO14 and Super Rugby fixtures.

Q: HOW MANY CROSS-HEMISPHERE AWAY GAMES WILL TEAMS PLAY?
A: Teams from the ‘North’ (UK, Ireland, Italy) will play two (2) away games in South Africa each season and the aim is for these games to be played back-to-back. Teams from South Africa will play six (6) away games in the North and most likely require three-game tours.

Q: WHAT COVID SAFETY PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED FOR CROSS-HEMISPHERE TRAVEL?
A: It is widely expected that the majority of player groups, coaching teams and support staff will have been vaccinated ahead of the 2021/22 season. However, league organisers will continue to follow the guidance of the Government and local Health Authorities, as well as the Medical Advisory Group, which consists of the lead medical chiefs from each of the five unions represented in the URC.

This group has provided robust direction throughout the pandemic and has consistently updated practices and policies as the science surrounding Covid-19 has advanced. The appropriate testing and Covid safety protocols will continue to exist, while all travelling teams will be based in facilities which meet Covid safety requirements.

Q: HOW WILL THE KNOCK-OUT STAGES WORK?
A: After 18 rounds, the top eight teams will be seeded 1 to 8 with the four highest-ranked teams having home advantage for the Quarter-finals. That seeding will also determine who plays at home in the Semi-finals.

How seeding will work for Quarter-final fixtures: 1st v 8th , 2nd v 7th, 3rd v 6th, 4th v 5th

Each season the URC Grand Final will be held at a destination venue similar to the Guinness PRO12 and PRO14 deciders held between 2015 and 2019.

Q: WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE NEW FORMAT?
A: Less games to conflict with international weekends, one league table in place and a full Quarter-final round of four games which will increase knock-out games from five to seven.

Q: WHY ARE THE TOYOTA CHEETAHS AND THE SOUTHERN KINGS NO LONGER INVOLVED IN THIS LEAGUE?
A: The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic had three major effects on the make-up of the Guinness PRO14. Firstly, cross-hemisphere fixtures were not possible in 2020 and for much of 2021 and, in addition, the Southern Kings were dissolved in September 2020. Finally, the break-up of the Super Rugby tournament as it created an opportunity for the South African Rugby Union’s executive committee to vote for their top four ‘franchises’ to join in place of the Cheetahs and Kings.

Q: WHEN WILL THE SEASON START & FINISH?
A: The first round of the URC take place on the final weekend of September, and the URC Grand Final weekend will take place in mid-June 2022.

Q: HOW LONG WILL THE URC REMAIN IN THIS EXACT FORMAT?
A: The format of the URC will remain in this format for at least the next five years. The intention is for the league not to change format again.

http://unitedrugby.com/

Former Former Former

The intention is for the league not to change format again.

Lol. Let's see.

guapos

HOW WILL CHAMPIONS CUP QUALIFICATION WORK?
A: A total of eight teams from the United Rugby Championship will qualify for the Heineken Champions Cup. The winner of each pool will qualify, followed by the next highest ranked teams in the main league table

Every guaranteed at least one team in champs cup

thomond2006

thomond2006

It's a straight league format for qualification into the playoffs.

For Europe, there's one guaranteed spot for each pool (Ireland, Wales, Scotland/Italy and SA) with 4 'next best' qualifiers. It's going to be more tricky for the provinces to all get in.

bilston

Structure seems better than I was thinking last night.

It could make Champions Cup qualification a bit more dicey for the provinces, but that in itself will improve the competition assuming the Pools are split by country (IRE/WAL/SA/Scotland & Italy).

TRC10

Not a fan of the South African teams being in the "European Cup".

Other than that, it sounds good.

The fact that there's no games on international weekends will be tremendous for the quality of the league.

Brewster

Certainly something needed to be done. Would suggest a more competitive offering.

yerrahbah

No clashes with international games is huge.

Not sure how often we will see the likes of Sexton or Healy but subs and travelling reserves should all be available

Champions Cup qualification will be tricky for Ulster, Munster and Connacht

If we assume Leinster top the Irish pool. then you have 1 from Wales, 1 from SCO/ITA and 1 from SA.

Id be surprised if a 2nd SA team doesn't qualify, leaving 3 spots for everyone else

thomond2006

Only six games out of eighteen will be on European soil for the South African sides, in two trips of three games. It's setup for them to excel.

Cookiemunster

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1404721637182820354

RonnieL

As a Connacht fan, we're drawing a fairly short straw by having to play 3 of the best teams in the league more often than anyone else, but overall I think it's a good structure. Hopefully the pandemic f*$ks off, and it gets to play out how the organisers have planned it.

mun1

Only one of Irish provinces guaranteed Heineken cup each year !
Dogfight in the main 16 team league for remaining 4 positions among 12 remaining teams.

Should make the league games more interesting and hopefully less dead rubbers.

One of glasgow or Edinburgh get to qualify from regional pool with the other Scottish team having four games v Italians to make up points.

Should be fun !

irelandrover

round 8 on christmas day? somehow i suspect that is wrong.

TRC10

mun1 wrote: »

Only one of Irish provinces guaranteed Heineken cup each year !
Dogfight in the main 16 team league for remaining 4 positions among 12 remaining teams.

Should make the league games more interesting and hopefully less dead rubbers.

One of glasgow or Edinburgh get to qualify from regional pool with the other Scottish team having four games v Italians to make up points.

Should be fun !

Yeah lots of try bonus points for Glasgow and Edinburgh, not really a level playing field

Cookiemunster

irelandrover wrote: »

round 8 on christmas day? somehow i suspect that is wrong.

It's just the Fri/Sat/Sun of that weekend. Obviously exact fixtures dates will be different.

thomond2006

With no international window games, the league becomes more competitive overnight. We won't have Zebre's seconds rocking up for a 50 point pummeling against a side with more depth who can deal with missing 8-10 starters.

awec

Looks like they got the message about competitiveness, so I'll give it a chance. No international overlap, combined with less european games should hopefully make for a better competition. Hopefully.

thomond2006

It's the only show in town for the SA teams for 2021/22. I think for 2022/23 it will be interesting to see how their league lineups shape out if they have to balance URC and Europe, though as awec says there's only four pool games in Europe now.

Clegg

I hope Leinster keep selecting the academy players. It's proven a great way of introducing young pros to the game.

awec

Half the league making the playoffs is a bit daft but I suppose you can see why it had to be done when the pools are so hugely imbalanced.

thomond2006

Clegg wrote: »

I hope Leinster keep selecting the academy players. It's proven a great way of introducing young pros to the game.

There's only three less games and one more playoff round (for all teams) so it isn't a huge change.

We aren't going to a situation where starting internationals play every game, but if they play a higher proportion it will make a difference.

awec

awec wrote: »

Half the league making the playoffs is a bit daft but I suppose you can see why it had to be done when the pools are so hugely imbalanced.

This is my only gripe so far. Qualifying for Europe will be quite competitive but at the same time a team could fluff half the season yet still make the playoffs. Can lead to a bit of ambivalence in the regular season (though we had that already).

aloooof

There's a lot about this I'm liking. The addition of the SA teams alone makes it a more valuable competition to win. That there are no fixtures overlapping international windows, possibly resulting in relatively stronger teams makes it even more so.

If they can sort out a decent TV deal / a streaming service, I think it's about as good an outcome as we could have hoped for.

Cookiemunster

Seeing as a team could finish 8th and not qualify for Europe, but still win the actual competition, I'm assuming that (in the unlikely I know event of that actually happening) the champion then gets the final European spot at the expense of the 8th qualifier. It would be strange for your champion not being in Europe.

aloooof

AdamD wrote: »

This is my only gripe so far. Qualifying for Europe will be quite competitive but at the same time a team could fluff half the season yet still make the playoffs. Can lead to a bit of ambivalence in the regular season (though we had that already).

I think you could also have a scenario where a team qualifies for the champions cup, but not the QF's (albeit unlikely).

(EDIT: what Cookiemunster said)

awec

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Seeing as a team could finish 8th and not qualify for Europe, but still win the actual competition, I'm assuming that (in the unlikely I know event of that actually happening) the champion then gets the final European spot at the expense of the 8th qualifier. It would be strange for your champion not being in Europe.

I don't think so, cause CC seeding is based on your league position.

So the 8th qualifier could be a regional pool winner, and therefore guaranteed CC qualification.

Maybe they'd kick out the lowest seeded non-pool winner.

sydthebeat

awec wrote: »

I don't think so, cause CC seeding is based on your league position.

So the 8th qualifier could be a regional pool winner, and therefore guaranteed CC qualification.

Maybe they'd kick out the lowest seeded non-pool winner.

that would make more sense

cant see it ever being needed though

Tomtom364

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Seeing as a team could finish 8th and not qualify for Europe, but still win the actual competition, I'm assuming that (in the unlikely I know event of that actually happening) the champion then gets the final European spot at the expense of the 8th qualifier. It would be strange for your champion not being in Europe.

Id say It is likely that it will not be league position at the end of the regular season that decides the rankings but overall position after the knock outs, like it was with the Pro14 last season.

Aka Winner ranked 1
losing finalist 2
losing semifinalists 3 & 4 - league points deciding who gets which
same for the quarters
and then teams ranked 9-16 are just that.

Then take away your 4 already qualified teams and the highest 4 go through

Former Former Former

awec wrote: »

Half the league making the playoffs is a bit daft but I suppose you can see why it had to be done when the pools are so hugely imbalanced.

It's a bit mad but if it keeps more teams interested for longer, then that's a good thing.

Edit: but I suppose European qualification will also keep them interested.

ClanofLams

https://twitter.com/nickheathsport/status/1404723071630589958?s=21

On free to air television, can’t see that lasting too long with CVC but very good while it is, should grow interest in both the league and rugby generally. Will be interesting to see how many games RTÉ are showing, guess they will cover the four interprovincial games every game weekend anyway, maybe giving TG4 the odd less attractive fixture.

Cookiemunster

ClanofLams wrote: »

https://twitter.com/nickheathsport/status/1404723071630589958?s=21

On free to air television, can’t see that lasting too long with CVC but very good while it is, should grow interest in both the league and rugby generally. Will be interesting to see how many games RTÉ are showing, guess they will cover the four interprovincial games every game weekend anyway, maybe giving TG4 the odd less attractive fixture.

The last time RTE had it they showed Munster or Leinster homes games and had highlights on Against the Head on Mondays. I highly doubt that their coverage this time will be any better. The days of seeing every game are gone for the time being if the above is correct, which would actually be a backwards step.

OldRio

I only hope RTÉ don't treat the league with utter contempt. They do have previous on this.

cantwbr1

ClanofLams wrote: »

https://twitter.com/nickheathsport/status/1404723071630589958?s=21

On free to air television, can’t see that lasting too long with CVC but very good while it is, should grow interest in both the league and rugby generally. Will be interesting to see how many games RTÉ are showing, guess they will cover the four interprovincial games every game weekend anyway, maybe giving TG4 the odd less attractive fixture.

I know that commercial realities apply but it would be a shame if TG4 didn’t have games as they have been consistent in their support of the league in all its forms.

Former Former Former

OldRio wrote: »

I only hope RTÉ don't treat the league with utter contempt. They do have previous on this.

You mean by having Daire O'Brien present it?

SqueakyKneecap

I have no faith in RTE to give this the presentation it deserves. I hope TG4 can maintain their current spread of games at least.

Happyhouse22

This competition looks fantastic

That said posting to highlights some (small) concerns I have.

1. Only 18 games in a season, it’s not many... any danger it will stunt development for youngsters..

2. Hard for Irish teams to qualify for Europe... maybe an inevitable result of obtaining a more competitive league structure but still...

3. Fantastic if this ends up on free to air tv but obviously less attractive if far fewer games are shown, hopefully some agreement can be come to. Like the idea of going free to Ait though with possible plans for pay tv in the future.. Yiu need to build an audience for a product before you can sell it properly.

4. Will the different qualification methods for Europe/playoffs be confusing? Possibly... wonder why they didn’t choose one system and go with it for both.

5.

phog

The top 4 teams from the two conferences this season are all in the same Pool for next season, they'll be some dogfitghts for the top two teams.
I'll give it a season or two but I think we'll see changes, too much at stage for some clubs in some very unbalanced pools.

thomond2006

phog wrote: »

The top 4 teams from the two conferences this season are all in the same Pool for next season, they'll be some dogfitghts for the top two teams.
I'll give it a season or two but I think we'll see changes, too much at stage for some clubs in some very unbalanced pools.

The top 4 teams were Irish largely because internationals barely featured in the league and the provinces unsurprisingly cleaned up.

That issue disappears to a large extent now.

Lost Ormond

OldRio wrote: »

I only hope RTÉ don't treat the league with utter contempt. They do have previous on this.

As others have said. Change the presenter and the programme would immediately be better. Sooner O Brien goes the better

Happyhouse22 wrote: »

This competition looks fantastic

That said posting to highlights some (small) concerns I have.

1. Only 18 games in a season, it’s not many... any danger it will stunt development for youngsters..

2. Hard for Irish teams to qualify for Europe... maybe an inevitable result of obtaining a more competitive league structure but still...

3. Fantastic if this ends up on free to air tv but obviously less attractive if far fewer games are shown, hopefully some agreement can be come to. Like the idea of going free to Ait though with possible plans for pay tv in the future.. Yiu need to build an audience for a product before you can sell it properly.

4. Will the different qualification methods for Europe/playoffs be confusing? Possibly... wonder why they didn’t choose one system and go with it for both.

18 games is more than enough. Young players will still get game time and ideally we can find a better quality competition for A teams to play in as well as it might see fringe players play with clubs for game time which will help them..

It will be bit harder to qualify for Europe but that isnt necessarily a problem considering how poor the league has been recently.

irelandrover

Taking out the top team from each pool then you need to finish in the top 4 from 12 to qualify for the champions cup. To be honest if you cant do that then you don't deserve to be in the champions cup.

I think there are a lot of positives to the new league format with very few downsides. They seem to have taken a lot of the complaints into account from the last few years and taken steps to address them.

awec

irelandrover wrote: »

Taking out the top team from each pool then you need to finish in the top 4 from 12 to qualify for the champions cup. To be honest if you cant do that then you don't deserve to be in the champions cup.

I think there are a lot of positives to the new league format with very few downsides. They seem to have taken a lot of the complaints into account from the last few years and taken steps to address them.

Yea but the complaint is that it'll be a lot easier for some teams to do this because they avoid games against the best teams.

Connacht for example will have to play Leinster twice while Glasgow will only play them once, while Glasgow get 2 games against Zebre and Connacht just 1.

But there's no way around this without reducing the number of teams.

phog

thomond2006 wrote: »

The top 4 teams were Irish largely because internationals barely featured in the league and the provinces unsurprisingly cleaned up.

That issue disappears to a large extent now.

The previous 2 seasons (19/20 and 18/19) it was 3 Irish provinces in the Top 4 on their pools
In 17/18 and again 16/17 it was 2 Irish provinces in the Top 4

So while Internationals might have played a part in those final standing we still have very imbalanced pools in this competition.

Lost Ormond

Lost Ormond wrote: »

As others have said. Change the presenter and the programme would immediately be better. Sooner O Brien goes the better

It's not just the presenter, it was the entire theme of the show.
I used hate when they would rarely show a Connacht game. They would spend the build up discussing Leinster, and occasionally Munster. They would spend half time discussing Leinster, and occasionally Ireland.
Their panelists were just ex players who spoke about their mates who dont play for either team involved in the game that is on tv, and very little else.

Honestly, I'll give RTE a chance, but wont take me very long to give up on them.
I wonder could we lobby them to provide alternate audio options. One with live commentary, and one without.

Fingers crossed TG4 continue to get a game every weekend.

thomond2006

There's no alternative to an imbalanced competition unless you scrap the home and away derbies and that isn't a runner. From a rugby pov, I wouldn't mind but financially they are vital.

thomond2006

thomond2006 wrote: »

The top 4 teams were Irish largely because internationals barely featured in the league and the provinces unsurprisingly cleaned up.

That issue disappears to a large extent now.

Does it? The irfu will limit internationals minutes anyway the main difference is you see one or two of the Irish teams missing out and a few Welsh/Scottish/Italian teams having no real buisness in the playoffs. I less there has been some sort of plan out in place whereby the other Celtic teams and Italian teams can become competitive and stop.losing players to the prem its likely to be changed I'd say

Lost Ormond

Deleted User wrote: »

It's not just the presenter, it was the entire theme of the show.
I used hate when they would rarely show a Connacht game. They would spend the build up discussing Leinster, and occasionally Munster. They would spend half time discussing Leinster, and occasionally Ireland.
Their panelists were just ex players who spoke about their mates who dont play for either team involved in the game that is on tv, and very little else.

Honestly, I'll give RTE a chance, but wont take me very long to give up on them.
I wonder could we lobby them to provide alternate audio options. One with live commentary, and one without.

Fingers crossed TG4 continue to get a game every weekend.

Changing the presenter to someone who doesnt have all the snide comments, doesnt care about many issues and the programme would be immediately better
But yeah the overall show should be better.

irelandrover

awec wrote: »

Yea but the complaint is that it'll be a lot easier for some teams to do this because they avoid games against the best teams.

Connacht for example will have to play Leinster twice while Glasgow will only play them once, while Glasgow get 2 games against Zebre and Connacht just 1.

But there's no way around this without reducing the number of teams.

I get the argument. However on the flip side Glasgow will have 2 games against a Zebre team who are targetting those 2 games. Zebre will target 6 games in the year to top their pool and qualify for the champions cup.

thomond2006

Nikolas Narrow Bulb wrote: »

Does it? The irfu will limit internationals minutes anyway the main difference is you see one or two of the Irish teams missing out and a few Welsh/Scottish/Italian teams having no real buisness in the playoffs. I less there has been some sort of plan out in place whereby the other Celtic teams and Italian teams can become competitive and stop.losing players to the prem its likely to be changed I'd say

In fairness, there's normally a Welsh side that is reasonably competitive. Scarlets on paper were that team but they were battered by injuries and call ups. I recall a game at Parc y Scarlets where Leinster mauled them to death, but Scarlets were missing 20-25 players.

Red Silurian

awec wrote: »

Yea but the complaint is that it'll be a lot easier for some teams to do this because they avoid games against the best teams.

Connacht for example will have to play Leinster twice while Glasgow will only play them once, while Glasgow get 2 games against Zebre and Connacht just 1.

But there's no way around this without reducing the number of teams.

One thing they could do is reduce the Italian and Scottish teams to 16 Regular games ie they play everybody once and an additional derby

It means that the nations willing to put more teams into the league get the leg up instead of the nations that don't seem to care much

Rigor Mortis

Heineken cup qualification just got a lot tougher, unless you are Edinburgh / Glasgow. They are the real winners here.

Its probably the smartest way of doing it. Two away games in SA every year against quality opposition. Those should be great tours.