THE Guinness PRO14 will rebrand as the United Rugby Championship when the South Africans join next season – with the new arrivals in contention for the European Champions Cup.
The 16-team tournament will start on the weekend of September 24 with the Sharks, Stormers, Lions and Bulls joining the existing contingent.
The conference format has been ditched and the Dragons will now play six home and away fixtures against their Welsh rivals and 12 fixtures, either at Rodney Parade or on the road, against those from other countries.
There are no fixture clashes with international fixtures, a move that tournament bosses hope will increase the standard of competition.
This is the United Rugby Championship 🏉
— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) June 15, 2021
Welcome. Failte. Benvenuto. Croeso. Welkom. Wamkelekile!#URC pic.twitter.com/O5pURUloGR
There will be one league table with the top eight qualifying for the play-offs with quarter-finals, and home advantage, determined by seeding.
South African representation in the 2022/23 Champions Cup is guaranteed as four of the eight spots will go to the winners of regional pools – Ireland, Wales, South Africa and Italy/Scotland.
The remaining four spots in Europe’s premier tournament will be decided by league placings.
"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," read a statement.
Here's how the new 16-team United Rugby Championship will work 👀 #URC
— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) June 15, 2021
FIXTURES
The regular season of the United Rugby Championship will take place across 18 rounds with each team’s fixtures comprising of six (6) Home AND away fixtures against their regional pool opponents and12 Home OR away fixtures against the remaining teams in the league
REGIONAL POOLS
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
FINAL SERIES/PLAY-OFFS
One league table will be used to rank teams and after 18 rounds the top eight sides will qualify for the Play-Offs. Teams will be seeded from 1 to 8 and will receive home advantage according to their seeding.
DATES
R1: Weekend 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 February
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
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