Questions & Answers: Guinness PRO14 and Rainbow Cup
What is happening?
The format of the 2020/21 Guinness PRO14 season has been confirmed and an end of season cup competition (Rainbow Cup) will take place to introduce the Vodacom Bulls; Emirates Lions; Cell C Sharks and DHL Stormers from South Africa following their withdrawal from Super Rugby. The current PRO14 campaign will total 16 rounds and a final will take place at the end of March between the two conference winners.
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.
Who was involved in this decision-making process?
Prior to September, scenario-planning for various outcomes and future formats were considered for the short and long-term future of the competition. Once it was clear that South African teams (Southern Kings and Toyota Cheetahs) would not be able to travel internationally in 2020, a 12-team competition began and fixtures provided up to Round 11.
During this time, the senior management of PRO14 Rugby, the Sports and Regulatory Committee and a working group of club CEOs have consulted with each other and reviewed various proposals to create pathways that would ensure a fair outcome for our current teams in a range of scenarios.
The final option was then recommended to the board of Pro Rugby Championship DAC for approval. This process ensured our key PRO14 stakeholders were involved in the process.
What impact has the Covid-19 pandemic had on this situation?
The main impact of the pandemic on the 2020/21 season was the curtailment to international travel which prevented the Toyota Cheetahs and Southern Kings from taking part as planned.
In September, the Kings ceased operations and at a Special General Meeting of the South African Rugby Union council, SA Rugby were mandated to explore the viability of entering their four Super Rugby franchises into the Guinness PRO14.
How is the current Guinness PRO14 season going to conclude?
Teams will complete a total of 16 games in the regular season. The aim is play all in-Conference games (10) and all cross-Conference games (6), but to accommodate the Scottish and Italian derbies it is likely that those teams will play 9 in-Conference games and 7 cross-Conference games. Based upon the final tables after Round 16 the two Conference winners will play in a final.
When will these games take place?
Round 12 is scheduled to begin on February 19/20 and play will continue across five consecutive weeks to March 19/20 with the final played on March 27.
R12: February 20
R13: February 27
R14: March 6
R15: March 13
R16: March 20
Final: March 27
During this six-weekend span Guinness PRO14 fixtures will clash with three rounds of the Guinness Six Nations which is unavoidable.
Does this mean that Sunday and Monday fixtures will return?
Fixtures on these days will be considered by PRO14 Rugby given the success of the schedule between October and November, when fixtures were played on Sundays and Mondays in order to avoid direct clashes with international games. However, such a schedule may be more challenging to put into place with the final following directly after Round 16. PRO14 Rugby will consult with all key stakeholders in setting the schedule for this period.
How will European qualification for the 2021/22 Heineken Champions Cup work?
Once Round 16 has been completed, those conference tables will be used to rank teams in order to qualify for the 2021/22 Heineken Champions Cup. The exact number of teams will be confirmed once European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) has announced its competition formats for the 2021/22 season. Play-offs may be required and this situation will be clarified as soon as possible.
Where will the final take place?
The Conference winner with the highest total of match-day points won will earn the right to host the game. If both Conference winners have the same number of points then the deciding factor will be number of games won. There is a long list of further criteria that can used to separate the winner in the competition rules if required.
What will happen if games get postponed between Rounds 12 and 16?
After Round 16 there are five available weekends in which rescheduled games can take place. This includes the weekend of the Guinness PRO14 Final on March 27, in addition, all four weekends designated for EPCR knock-out games; April 3-10, May 1 and May 22 can also be used if there is no clash with European fixtures. However, depending on team availability it may not be possible to reschedule all fixtures.
Will the Welsh and Irish teams play their full set of eight derby games?
Once the Rainbow Cup has been completed the Irish and Welsh teams will have played seven derbies of their expected eight between September 2020 and June 2021.
Why is the PRO14 finishing in March to accommodate a cup competition with the South African teams?
Since 2017, SA Rugby has been a valued partner and participant in the Guinness PRO14. PRO14 Rugby is keen to support a key stakeholder ahead of the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour as they face the prospect of no international club fixtures to prepare for this hugely significant Test series.
The Rainbow Cup will offer British and Irish players a unique opportunity to measure themselves against the Springboks ahead of the series while broadcasters and fans will enjoy build-up to a Lions tour like they have never experienced before.
What format will the Rainbow Cup take?
The 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.
Across 57 matches, the Rainbow Cup will feature the best of the Springbok talent going toe-to-toe with some of the British & Irish Lions’ headline acts – every one of them keen to lay down a marker to their respective selectors ahead of what will prove to an historic tour.
Are the Toyota Cheetahs and Southern Kings going to return?
Since September 2020, the Southern Kings have ceased operations and the decision of the South African Rugby Union’s general council was to put forward the four teams mentioned above as their potential entrants to an expanded Guinness PRO14 competition. The Toyota Cheetahs have retained their professional franchise status with SA Rugby who continue to explore other opportunities for the Free State side to play in international competition.
For Rainbow Cup fixtures, when will teams from South Africa travel to Europe and how many games will the UK, Ireland and Italian teams play in South Africa?
Each South African team will be required to play three away games in Europe and these fixtures will occur in blocks, meaning one trip of two-and-a-half weeks.
European teams will all play one away game in South Africa.
How will teams protect their Covid-19 ‘bubbles’ while travelling across hemispheres?
PRO14 Rugby is in continuous discussion about Covid-19 protocols with our Medical Advisory Group, made up from our chief medical officers across the Irish, Italian, Scottish, South African and Welsh rugby unions. The information and resources available to protect our teams is always improving and the group will continue to provide direction based on the latest guidance available at the time.
Will the Rainbow Cup Final take place in a pre-determined venue?
The decision about where to host the game has not yet been finalised and PRO14 Rugby will update in due course.
How many games will have been played in the Guinness PRO14 and the Rainbow Cup once the season has ended?
The final number of games played will be 154. This Guinness PRO14 campaign will account for 97 games (including final) and the Rainbow Cup will have accounted for 57 games (including final).