THE GUINNESS PRO14 has targeted 22 August as the restart date for the interrupted 2019/20 season, with the competition to be completed in an abbreviated format.
The altered format will feature two rounds of derby games in the final two weeks of August, which will help determine the identity of semi-finalists.
The semi-finals are set to take place on Saturday, 5 September, with the final a week later.
The new format cuts the season from 21 rounds of games to 15, with games postponed prior to the competition’s suspension in March declared as 0-0 draws.
This means Ulster’s away tie with Benetton has been declared a draw, as has Zebre vs Ospreys. All four sides will have two points added to their points totals.
The league say the derby fixtures in Ireland have yet to be confirmed, although the IRFU have pencilled in games for the Aviva Stadium on 22 and 23 August.
The derby fixtures in Italy, Scotland and South Africa will see the two teams from each territory play back-to-back fixtures.
The top two sides in each conference will qualify for the semi-finals, with Leinster, Ulster, Edinburgh and Munster the four sides occupying those positions at the moment.
A venue for the final has yet to be announced, and the league have also yet to finalise kick-off times for the final rounds of games.
The league have provisionally set 3 October as the start date for the 2020/21 season.
European places for next season, meanwhile, will be decided by the table as it stands at the moment.
Pro14 Proposed Game Rounds
Round 14: Saturday, 22 August
Round 15: Saturday, 29 August
Semi-Finals: Saturday, 5 September
Final: Saturday, 12 September
Great news, can’t wait. My one hope once it returns with the Interpros is that the IRFU don’t meddle with team selections. Let the teams go full bore with who plays and have a proper rattle off each other.
@Jim Demps: well that still wouldn’t help minsters case tbh
@ollie: who knows, leinster will be heavy favourites either way but it’d be good to see two full teams go at it.
@Jim Demps: Surely after not having a game for 5 months the irfu will let them at it however they want.
@Gareth Ward: that’s the hope anyway. I think after 2 seasons ago when Leinster came down locked and loaded and intent on hurting guys that the IRFU started pulling frontliners. Leave em at it is what I say, would be great to see the two sides tearing into eachother.
@Jim Demps: intent on hurting???
@Stephen Duffy: leave him he’s fishing.
@Jim Demps: Having the A teams competing over the two days at RDS would be an idea to ensure most of the provinces players get some action.
@Ian Frizzell: yeah that’s a great idea
@Stephen Duffy: He’s privy to their deepest darkest thoughts doncha know. Like some sorta rugby Santa.
He knows when you didn’t mean it, he knows when there’s intent. He winds up so many here, will he ever relent. Jimmy Demps is trolling around
@Jim Demps: we haven’t sent a full team to Thomond in a decade, the kids usually go down and hockey you.
Are Munster fans still rating Wycherleys ability based on his tangle with Sexton?
Good day for you though Jim, another trophyless Munster season that was over has been revived and you’ve hope again! Nice of the IRFU to make the accommodation to make sure there’s a semi and not go straight to a final, almost seems pointless and deliberate to give Munster a chance. On paper at least.
@Sean Fahey: You are humiliating us here by displaying what a powerhouse Leinster is within Irish, Welsh, Scottish and Italian provincial rugby.
@Jim Demps: I seem to remember a nasty late hit on Sexton early on that started bad blood.
@Jim Demps: Jim did you not bring the big guns up for last seasons semi final?
Hopefully now with Batman and Robin you’ll put up a bit more of a fight.
@Chris Mc: congratulations guys. Year 10 of being a Leinster supporter.. your banter needs work but you’re really getting the hang of it.
@Jim Demps: you’re better than that Jim!
@Jim Demps: Fully agreed
@PScald: it’s Peter I feel sorry for, the thoughts of another semi final defeat must really haunt him. Ah well at least reggie might give him a hug and a shoulder to cry on.
@Jim Demps: Cant see Leinster, Ulster or Connacht using their strongest teams. Leinster and Ulster have first and 2nd all bit secured and will use these two games to get the squads match fit for Europe and the knock out game, expect to see plenty of players given gametime over the two games. Connacht have nothing to play for having secured HCup for next season so will be best giving the younger players gametime, and not using anyone that will not be there next season. Only Munster have anything to play for over these two games, for the other 3 its about squads for the knockouts or next season.
@Sean Fahey: You think the IRFU run the pro14? I’ve always said a little information is a dangerous thing.
@Chris Mc: tackle looked fine to me Chris. When you play up at the line you’ll always take nudges like that.
@Kingshu: yes that’s fair logic although I’d say with impending knockouts after these two rounds it’s probably more worthwhile for the teams to get their frontliners up to speed. That’d be my thinking on it anyway.
@Jim Demps: well they’re part owners and 3 of the 4 teams in the semi are Irish, so I’d say they had some influence on the decision, Jim. On what grounds would anyone object other than Edinburgh?
Don’t forget, a little information is better than being in a permanent state of delusion.
@Kingshu: leinster will want to get Cronin, Conan and Leavy back on the pitch, otherwise it will be a conditioning exercise for the squad they expect to play the knock out games. Ulster will have a new player or two they’ll want to integrate like madigan for example.
@Jim Demps: as see no evil, I guess it’s the blinkers. Banter aside it’s going to be very exciting all 3 Irish sides will really push for the league and both leinster and ulster will give Europe a real craic
@Chris Mc: yeah looking forward to it alright. Great way to start into it with two rounds of interpros. Like I said above, hopefully they are full bore affairs
@Chris Mc: forgive me, what is the story with Europe?
@Jim Demps: they’ll be as strong as allowed, munster ulster and leinster have knockout rugby very soon, the only thing will be the risk of going full on after such a long break without contact.
@Jim Demps: I cerrtainly think the frontliners will get the most gametime to get them up to speed, but I can see the replacements for each game being a mix of 2nd and 3rds, with the replacements coming on early, it’ll be about getting the whole squad minutes, rather than playing their strongest team, with the frontliners getting most minutes over the 2 games. Connacht should be playing next seasons team and getting young players gametime. Munster should be playing their strongest team every game after all they have 4 games max and have a home knockout to play for, so won’t need to give squad players gametime which the others will.
@PScald: they want to go ahead with the quarter finals. I guess there’s to much money involved not to try.
@Kingshu: I wonder will the home knockout really make a difference? There’ll be no crowd at it anyway and isn’t it likely that all the matches will be played at the aviva in either case?
@JimDemps:If Edinburgh top Conf B, the game will be in Murrayfield. Home advantage is much more than just having the crowd motive the team and maybe influence the ref. For example Edinburgh will be much more familiar with the dimensions of Murrayfield (teams do change pitch demensions depending if they want width for wings or keep it narrow, depending on their gameplay) they will be used to the way the wind effects different areas of the ground. Then there are the physiology advantages, waking up at home, going to the ground being a familar routine whereas the opposition are out of their comfort zone. I think Munster would prefer Ulster and if win Leinster/Edinburgh in the final, rather than Leinster and if win then Ulster/Edinburgh.
Whatever happens, Connacht are already qualified for the HC. Great news.
‘European places decided by the table as it stands’, to me that says Connacht have qualified?
Happy days, perfect warm up for Leinster to rotate their squad & prepare for the knockout stages of Europe and league. Munster and Edinburgh have all to play for to set up either away to Leinster or home to Ulster. Scarlets and Glasgow just have too much needed. Can’t wait for it all to start back up again. Connacht have a good target to set up a playoff with dragons or Ospreys.
@mrbryanrussell: looks like they won’t need the 7th place play off as 8 teams are set to qualify for a 24 team Heineken Cup
@Joe O: even better.
Yes. Rugby at last
There is a God. C’mon Leinster
Conference A Leinster are uncatachable at top, and Glasgow would need two bonus point wins and Ulster to not pick up a single point to overtake them, very unlikely. Which really just leaves Conference B, Scarlets and Connacht unlikely to get 2nd, which really means all these games will decide is who finishes top of Conference B Edinburgh or Munster. Munster play Leinster and Connacht, Edinburgh play Glasgow twice and have a two point advantage, which would make them favourites to top Conference B, which would leave Leinster v Munster and Edinburgh V Ulster. As an Ulster fan it would be a great opportunity to make the final, of the 4 teams Edinburgh would be the weakest, but would have home advantage.
@Kingshu: depending on when the Champions cup games are set, I can’t see Leinster or Ulster being to fussed about these two fixtures as 1st and 2nd are as good as secured, same for Connacht with Champions cup place secured and no chance of making the playoffs. Munster are the only ones with something to play for. Connacht would be best, not using any players that are leaving and using the recently upgraded players from the academy to get them experience and focus on next season. Leinster and Ulster its about getting the squad match fit for Europe, so I expect most players will get a run out, to get up to speed, and not be playing the strongest 23 twice. Edinburgh have it all to olay for, while Glasgow are in Connachts position where they will be using players to build for next season.
‘Great!’ I thought, ‘I’ll get to see Ulster play at Murrayfield’….
Leinster and Munster will probably end up meeting in the final, I can see a bit of shadow boxing when they meet in the league at Lansdowne Road in August. Weakened teams, players rested etc.
@Robb Stark: Munster can’t afford to rest players as it’s likely that 2 wins will be needed to have any chance of topping the group.
Don’t see much merit to these 2 rounds as too few teams have anything to play for. Would be far better if Champions Cup positions decided at end of the 2 rounds rather that current position.
@Robb Stark: Leinster v Munster prob unlikely, Munster would need to earn 2 more points than Edinburgh and beat Ulster at home, for that to happen. Most likely Munster will finish 2nd and play Leinster away in semi, most likely final is Leinster v Ulster.
@Robb Stark: Rob you have the right idea but I somehow doubt they’ll be “resting” players seeing as they’ve been off for a few months! More like they wont risk star players on the first game back seeing as it’ll be an intense season ahead.
Any word regarding spectators? Will the games have no spectators at all or will they maybe let people in as long as every second or third seat is kept empty? Maybe allowing folks from the same household to sit together but maintaining gaps between each of these small groups?
@Patrick FitzGerald: No spectators. Even if numbers were reduced low enough so that people could socially distance in their seats, it’s not practically possible to manage such crowds getting to and from their seats.
@Patrick FitzGerald: What’s the problem with filling the stands with blow-up dolls as spectators? Throw in a bit of digital crowd noise/ cheering and Bob’s your uncle!