CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB’S home ground at Parkhead could be set to stage next season’s Guinness Pro14 final as organisers seek to spread the appeal of the competition.
It’s expected that Celtic Park might be confirmed as the venue for next year’s decider in the coming weeks, amid reports that the Pro14 final could also be staged in South Africa in the next few seasons.
Sources in South Africa say that Pro14 organisers have suggested to SARU officials — whose permission would be required to stage the match there — that they are keen to look at bringing their showpiece there, with Cape Town the likely venue if that happens.
But with the final having not yet taken place in either Wales or Italy, bringing it to South Africa might still be some way off.
Eight finals have taken place since the play-off system was introduced in 2009-10 and seven of them have taken place in Ireland, with another one due later this month when the Aviva Stadium stages it for the second year in a row.
The venue was selected for the opening five seasons of the play-off system based on the highest seeded team, with the RDS hosting it four times and Thomond Park staging it once.
In 2014-15, a venue was selected in advance for the first time, with Kingspan Stadium in Belfast being awarded the final, while a year later Connacht and Leinster headed to Murrayfield in Edinburgh for the only final to take place outside Ireland since the introduction of the current system.
But that looks set to change next year with the 60,000-capacity Celtic Park poised to host the event in a season where both the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals will also be staged at a football stadium, when St James’ Park, home of Newcastle United FC, will be the venue this time next year.
By then, Celtic will be hoping to celebrate an eighth Scottish Premier League title in a row before their stadium hosts the Pro14 showdown.
What on earth is he doing over there?
Ron there is this place that exists beyond the premier league, and its called the rest of the world, Turkey is one of the biggest growing economies in the world and their top clubs are not short of a few bob
He will be like a god over there best of playing there than some mid to low EPL team..
Don’t be so sanctimonious, I am well aware that turkey is a half decent league but a player like RVP shouldn’t be playing there. Not for another few years anyway, I’m sure he won’t be there long to be honest.
Well no other top club wanted him.. Only big team linked was Juventus and that was more likely paper talk..
I’m sure he’s got a hand release clause in his contract and he will be out of there by Christmas and if not next summer. He only just turned 32 and there will be some top team who will take a punt in him. The deal to sell him seemed to go through very quickly and I get the impression United wanted to send him somewhere far away.
He’s obviously still not fit
Deal took 2 weeks + to go through wasn’t like a few hours. He is not the same player mentally as he was , to me his drive and motivation is gone.
Didn’t Van Gaal tell him at end season he would be selling him the deal took as long as any other deal..
let me rephrase, if he was fot he would have started
*fit
Ron I just think we’re too obsessed with the premier league, and I can understand to an extent seeing as how close it is to us, but I’d think we’d benefit if we broadened our soccer horizons beyond the physical pressure cooker of English football, we should be sending some of our best young players to the likes of the Netherlands and Spain to build a more technical culture, it’s a big wide world, imagine if the likes of duff or even Wes hoolihan went to Spain at a young age
anyway I don’t think the Turkish league is all that hectic to be hon, but it’s a damn sight more technical than say English championship and the top 2 or 3 clubs have massive support, loads of money and go far in Europe every year, why shouldn’t rvp play there?
The 15% tax rate for footballers in Turkey also makes it attractive for those in the last few years of their careers.
Lads, you can talk up the Turkish league all you want, but this guy is still good enough to play for a champions leagues club in one of the top 4 leagues. A team with a chance of winning it
nah I really don’t think the likes of Barcelona, Bayern, either of the Madrids would have bought him to be hon, he’ll be a legend in fenerbahce if he stays fit
or gets fit
although as Ferguson used to say to Giggs – you’ll get those injury years back at the end of your career, Keane admits himself he messed his body up by playing through injuries
Ah sour still throwing in you sly sh!t stirring digs hoping your can get a response you Sad little boy.
Jolly, the grown ups are talking.
You better go back to your Lego so
Can’t believe he fell out with Van Gal who though he was God at the World Cup. Robin is amazing player and I’m also surprised he is not playing for a top team. Rooney is still at home! Hmm!
Don’t act so surprised Ron I’m sure you
posted about 20 comments at least when the story broke …
class is permanent
That is some push in the back on the opposing defender!!! He literally ends up on the floor