Guinness Pro14 Reveals August Restart Plans

The Guinness PRO14 has announced plans to return to competition on Saturday 22nd August, following lockdown.

The target date will be for a restart across all five of its competing territories – Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Italy and South Africa – and organisers say the timeline is based upon information from each of the jurisdictions.

Safety protocols and logistics have been outlined for training and matchday logistics as well as match play itself, and the PRO14 says discussions around the proposals will continue on an ongoing basis between each union and their respective governments.

“Safety has been, and will continue to be, the highest priority as we look to activate our plans to restart the 2019/20 season. We are very fortunate to be in a position where everyone involved is confident that we can conclude the season on the field of play,” said David Jordan, Tournament Director, Guinness PRO14.

“The work and diligence of our leading medical personnel at our unions, our clubs, World Rugby and key stakeholders to get us to this point has been immense. Operating across five territories often brings different complexities to the Guinness PRO14 but our unions have worked hard to bring proposals to their governments so we may put plans into action.”

The restart will see an ‘abbreviated format’ in use, pitting teams against local rivals with two rounds of derby games finishing the pool stages.

PRO14 says this shorter format – which will keep teams in their respective territories until the play-offs – will ensure that the league returns with ‘attractive’ matches, and will shorten the regular season from 21 games to 15. The two round 13 matches which were not completed before the lockdown – Ospreys’ trip to Zebre and Ulster’s match against Benetton – will be deemed as 0-0 draws, with two points added to each team’s totals. 

The season will be concluded across four consecutive weekends, with a final envisaged to take place on Saturday, 12th September. The top two teams in each conference will qualify for the semi-final stage, scheduled to take place a week earlier. 

Meanwhile, the 2020/21 Guinness PRO14 season has been provisionally scheduled to start on 3rd October.