(previously Pro 14)
|
The Guinness PRO 14 rugby competition was a third tier rugby competition in Europe. It was played among teams from Wales, Ireland, Scotland Italy and South Africa. It started in 2001 as the Celtic League, was known as the Magners League for a period, then the RaboDirect Pro 12 and then the Guinness PRO 14. It started as a league for the Celtic nations but was then called the PRO 12 to reflect that teams from outside those nations were involved. In 2017 two South African teams were added to the competition (Pro 14). In 2021 the competition was changed to include four South African teams and the name was changed to the United Rugby Championship to reflect that. |
There are 16 teams in the competition. They were split into 4 regional pools, 1 for the Welsh teams, 1 for the Irish teams, 1 for the South African teams and a 4th for the Scottish and Italian teams.
Teams will play the other teams in their pool twice, home and away, and each team form the other pools once.
At the end of pool play, the top 8 teams will enter knock-out playoffs with the top 4 having home advantage.
All teams will be eligible for European qualification (including the South African teams). The top team in each regional pool and then the next 4 best placed teams in the table will qualify for the Champions Cup. The remaining teams will qualify for the Challenge Cup. This was changed in 2023 to having the top eight teams in the main league table qualifying for the Champions Cup.
|
|
|
2024/25 United Rugby Championship Results Click on the link above for the United Rugby Championship results and competition table. |
|
Click on the link above for results and information about the PRO 14 competition. |
Previous Years Results |
The United Rugby Championship started in 2021 when four South African teams were included into what was then the Pro 14 competition. The teams were set up in regional pools(shields) and a main 16 team league. The top 8 teams after the regular season matches went on to a knock-out finals system, with the top 4 teams having home advantage. The regional pools were used for European qualification.
In 2023, this was changed so that the regional pools were contested only in matches between the teams in each pool, as part of the main draw, and the winner of each pool was awarded the Regional Shield.
The United Rugby Championship is used to determine qualification for European rugby. All teams will be eligible for European qualification (including the South African teams).
The top team in each regional pool will qualify for the European Rugby Champions Cup. The next 4 best placed teams in the main table, that have not already qualified, will also qualify for the European Rugby Champions Cup.
The remaining teams will qualify for the European Rugby Challenge Cup.
In 2023, qualification was changed. The regional pools were no longer used and the top eight teams on the full league table qualified for the European Rugby Champions Cup.