NPR

A fans guide to the new United Rugby Championship

So you may be a bit in the dark about the new United Rugby Championship and have questions - well here’s a quick primer to help you make sense of it all.

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 Quarterfinals. 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 Quarterfinals and Semifinals 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 mechanisms 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 Quarterfinals. That seeding will also determine who plays at home in the Semifinals.

How seeding will work for Quarterfinal 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 Quarterfinal 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.

assfly wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 6:17 am Quite disappointed to see that Supersport have the broadcasting rights. Seemed like a great opportunity to introduce a more affordable online streaming option. But instead live rugby will remain the privilege of the few whilst we wonder why the game isn't growing.

handyman wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 6:56 am Wouldn't the SABC have been able to afford such sporting events if they weren't overstaffed, overpaid and more effective?

assfly wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 7:01 am

handyman wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 6:56 am Wouldn't the SABC have been able to afford such sporting events if they weren't overstaffed, overpaid and more effective?

They would be the most logical option, but it would no doubt be a disaster.

I can't understand why an online streaming service like Showmax or Rugbypass couldn't bid for the rights, either on a monthly or pay-per-view basis. I'm sure a lower price would attract a lot more viewers and make it financially feasible.

assfly wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 7:01 am

handyman wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 6:56 am Wouldn't the SABC have been able to afford such sporting events if they weren't overstaffed, overpaid and more effective?

They would be the most logical option, but it would no doubt be a disaster.

I can't understand why an online streaming service like Showmax or Rugbypass couldn't bid for the rights, either on a monthly or pay-per-view basis. I'm sure a lower price would attract a lot more viewers and make it financially feasible.

Chilli wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 7:09 am A system similar to that would cause the collapse of DSTV.

If we could choose and pay for channels that we want to watch as opposed to the 90% absolute crap channels which are available it would make sense.

boere wors wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 7:09 am With the break in february we could well compete in the Six Nations then. What else to do there?

Chilli wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 7:09 am

assfly wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 7:01 am

handyman wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 6:56 am Wouldn't the SABC have been able to afford such sporting events if they weren't overstaffed, overpaid and more effective?

They would be the most logical option, but it would no doubt be a disaster.

I can't understand why an online streaming service like Showmax or Rugbypass couldn't bid for the rights, either on a monthly or pay-per-view basis. I'm sure a lower price would attract a lot more viewers and make it financially feasible.

If we could choose and pay for channels that we want to watch as opposed to the 90% absolute crap channels which are available it would make sense.

assfly wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 7:30 am

boere wors wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 7:09 am With the break in february we could well compete in the Six Nations then. What else to do there?

By the looks of things, we will need that period as a rest period. There's a shitload of rugby to be played.

assfly wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 6:17 am Quite disappointed to see that Supersport have the broadcasting rights. Seemed like a great opportunity to introduce a more affordable online streaming option. But instead live rugby will remain the privilege of the few whilst we wonder why the game isn't growing.

Blake wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 9:41 am Agreed, but to be fair to MultiChoice and SuperSport, if it wasn't for them them Boks wouldn't have made it through 2018-2019 and SARU & the Unions wouldn't have made it through crowd-less Covid 2020/2021.
They have played a major role in bankrolling SA Rugby through crisis after crisis over the last 4 years, expecting a return on their investment when things get "back to normal".

So while I would love some free-to-air rugby to grow the sport and ride the wave of goodwill the RWC gave the sport, the best we can likely hope for (and the most fair outcome IMO) is to give the SABC some delayed broadcast rights once the match has been completed. My view is that that provides them best of all worlds and is a win-win for everybody:
- Cash-strapped SABC gets some content
- Rugby gets to grow to a new audience
- If more fans pick up an interest in rugby, adds are they will eventually want to start watching it live...which means more subscribers for MultiChoice / SuperSport.

assfly wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 9:55 am I think the most logical way forward would be for DSTV to upgrade their business model so that they have a digital streaming service for rugby (and other sports) with a pay-per-view option. Make it affordable so that what they lose in individual fees they make up for in volume.

The premium DSTV package is just simply too expensive, and this nonsense of having a satellite dish fixed to your chimney just seems so old fashioned.

But Handyman does make a good point that so long as data remains ridiculously expensive in SA this will be a tough sell.

charltom wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 9:40 am If this is going to be another SA only thread, might it be worth amending the title by adding "SA division" or similar?

Following on from that, Nienaber said he didn’t want to comment on the Bulls’ plan in Treviso, but instead he saw a positive in what transpired in Italy. In the sense that it confirmed what a good competition the PRO14, which will now morph into a 16-team competition known as the United Rugby Championship, South African teams are going to be part of from September.

“I can’t comment on the Bulls and their plans but what I can say is that this is a very good competition we going to be part of,” he said.

“It will be very different to what we are used to (from Super Rugby and the local competitions) in that the teams we play against will be much more tactical. Playing against all the different teams is going to be challenging from a tactical viewpoint.

“Our teams will be playing against teams from Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy, and all those nations have different playing styles and cultures. And then within those nations there are differences. For instance, in Wales the Ospreys don’t play the same playing style as the Scarlets or the other Welsh teams. They all have differences.

“That is why we were so keen for South Africa to get into that competition. Because playing against so many different tactical approaches forces coaches and players to adapt week in and week out to different playing styles and conditions.

That has to be good for our rugby. An example of what I am talking about came in the 2019 World Cup, where we played Japan in the quarterfinal and then the next week we had to play Wales, who play very different tactically to Japan.

“Teams are going to have to adapt their own tactics and playing styles according to the specific challenge they face on a given week and that can only be good for our rugby and it is nice to be playing different opposition,” concluded the Bok coach, who himself coached in what was then the PRO12 when he was at Munster with Rassie Erasmus.

“I can’t comment on the Bulls and their plans but what I can say is that this is a very good competition we going to be part of,” he said.

“It literally goes (Saturday against the Lions), Wednesday into the Pumas, then a weekend off, then straight into the Cheetahs, then the semi-finals (and then the final), all things being equal,” said White.
“And then I think it is a week off and then we go overseas and the way it looks now it might be four away games overseas and then eight home games … There are 12 consecutive weeks where we play (in the URC)."
The URC is scheduled to start on September 25 but doubts remain as to whether it will kick-off on that date, when the fixtures will be announced, and if teams will be forced to play locally first before moving into the greater tournament. The main concern is that South Africa remains on the United Kingdom’s red list due to Covid-19 restrictions, which means that anyone traveling from the country must quarantine for 10 days on arrival in that nation.

There have been suggestions by local media that in such an eventuality, the SA sides will have to play in Europe on neutral grounds.
The South African franchises – the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers – are set to play the clubs of Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the new look competition.

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Sat Aug 14, 2021 1:43 pm Sky Sports UK now let’s you pick and choose what to watch and pay for, HOWEVER it’s a con. If you only want to watch 1 sport eg. Golf or F1 then it’s reasonably priced.

If you want to watch 3 or more sports - or football - it’s full price anyway.

You DSTV guys should be thankful. Supersport shows waaay more variety of sport than Sky AND you lot don’t have to pay Sky for Rugby Tests, BT for Premiership Rugby and Premier for this new S16 series. 3 subscriptions separately.

Watching Rugby over here costs a fucking fortune!!

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Sat Aug 14, 2021 1:43 pm Sky Sports UK now let’s you pick and choose what to watch and pay for, HOWEVER it’s a con. If you only want to watch 1 sport eg. Golf or F1 then it’s reasonably priced.

If you want to watch 3 or more sports - or football - it’s full price anyway.

You DSTV guys should be thankful. Supersport shows waaay more variety of sport than Sky AND you lot don’t have to pay Sky for Rugby Tests, BT for Premiership Rugby and Premier for this new S16 series. 3 subscriptions separately.

Watching Rugby over here costs a fucking fortune!!

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Sun Aug 22, 2021 1:56 pm Month to go

assfly wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 5:43 am I've drastically reviewed my expectations of the South African sides, as I'm sure most fans have. Our first year will be tough.

Ideally I'd like the home fixtures at the beginning of the competition, to make up for not having our Springbok players. Then I hope we can push hard in early 2022 for some away wins.

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 6:10 am

assfly wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 5:43 am I've drastically reviewed my expectations of the South African sides, as I'm sure most fans have. Our first year will be tough.

Ideally I'd like the home fixtures at the beginning of the competition, to make up for not having our Springbok players. Then I hope we can push hard in early 2022 for some away wins.

Yeah, I think we're going to struggle. Lions to be close to bottom, WP and saarks mid table and the Bulls our only team likely to be in the hunt.

Sards wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:32 am

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 6:10 am

assfly wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 5:43 am I've drastically reviewed my expectations of the South African sides, as I'm sure most fans have. Our first year will be tough.

Ideally I'd like the home fixtures at the beginning of the competition, to make up for not having our Springbok players. Then I hope we can push hard in early 2022 for some away wins.

Yeah, I think we're going to struggle. Lions to be close to bottom, WP and saarks mid table and the Bulls our only team likely to be in the hunt.

Lions and WP struggling at the bottom....lets stop trying to add icing to a cake thats vrot.

Only Bulls and Sharks will be competitive

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:39 am

Sards wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:32 am

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 6:10 am

Yeah, I think we're going to struggle. Lions to be close to bottom, WP and saarks mid table and the Bulls our only team likely to be in the hunt.

Lions and WP struggling at the bottom....lets stop trying to add icing to a cake thats vrot.

Only Bulls and Sharks will be competitive

My friend, opinion's are like arseholes. We'll see

Sards wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:53 am

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:39 am

Sards wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:32 am

Lions and WP struggling at the bottom....lets stop trying to add icing to a cake thats vrot.

Only Bulls and Sharks will be competitive

My friend, opinion's are like arseholes. We'll see

Please dont tell me you are going to do a sig bet for this weekends match.........

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:55 am

Sards wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:53 am

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:39 am

My friend, opinion's are like arseholes. We'll see

Please dont tell me you are going to do a sig bet for this weekends match.........

Which match?

Sards wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:01 am

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:55 am

Sards wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:53 am

Please dont tell me you are going to do a sig bet for this weekends match.........

Which match?

Don't do it handy..........

WP vs Sharks.....

I warned you.....?

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:12 am

Sards wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:01 am

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 7:55 am

Which match?

Don't do it handy..........

WP vs Sharks.....

I warned you.....?

I'm up for a 2 week flounce bet. Will even lower it to a 1 week flounce bet for a hensopper like you.

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:14 am

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:12 am

Sards wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:01 am

Don't do it handy..........

WP vs Sharks.....

I warned you.....?

I'm up for a 2 week flounce bet. Will even lower it to a 1 week flounce bet for a hensopper like you.

Boet, if I'm not mistaken, you've lost 2 flounce bets against me, I've yet to lose against you. You don't want to make the same mistake again. If I were you, I would very quietly leave this fred.

I won't hold it against you.

assfly wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:15 am I get uncomfortable when Handyman starts getting this confident.

Sards wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:25 am

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:14 am

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:12 am

I'm up for a 2 week flounce bet. Will even lower it to a 1 week flounce bet for a hensopper like you.

Boet, if I'm not mistaken, you've lost 2 flounce bets against me, I've yet to lose against you. You don't want to make the same mistake again. If I were you, I would very quietly leave this fred.

I won't hold it against you.

Wow....You are actually wanting to do it.......nooooooooooooooooooo......lets see the Sharks team sheet...I hear they are looking at playing a second string side against WP.......

Sards wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:25 am

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:14 am

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:12 am

I'm up for a 2 week flounce bet. Will even lower it to a 1 week flounce bet for a hensopper like you.

Boet, if I'm not mistaken, you've lost 2 flounce bets against me, I've yet to lose against you. You don't want to make the same mistake again. If I were you, I would very quietly leave this fred.

I won't hold it against you.

Wow....You are actually wanting to do it.......nooooooooooooooooooo......lets see the Sharks team sheet...I hear they are looking at playing a second string side against WP.......

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:43 am

Sards wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:25 am

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 8:14 am

Boet, if I'm not mistaken, you've lost 2 flounce bets against me, I've yet to lose against you. You don't want to make the same mistake again. If I were you, I would very quietly leave this fred.

I won't hold it against you.

Wow....You are actually wanting to do it.......nooooooooooooooooooo......lets see the Sharks team sheet...I hear they are looking at playing a second string side against WP.......

For someone who works with steel, you have absolutely none of it.