Guinness PRO14 fixtures released for the 2019/20 season
South Africa will raise the curtain on the new Guinness PRO14 campaign when the Cheetahs host 2015 champions Glasgow Warriors in Bloemfontein on September 27.
All five unions within the PRO14 will host a game in round one with Ulster facing Ospreys in Belfast also on opening night.
Munster v Dragons, Kings v Cardiff, Benetton v Leinster, Scarlets v Connacht and Edinburgh v Zebre complete the slate of opening-round fixtures on Saturday.
For the first time ever, fans can plan their weekends right up until round 20 with all kick-off times and dates laid out right to the penultimate weekend of the regular season.
The Cheetahs-Glasgow fixture kicks off a mammoth 152 games schedule that will culminate in a run-in where rivals will set their sights on lifting the PRO14 trophy won by Leinster last May.
Presenting to you the #GuinnessPRO14 Season Fixtures for 2019/20https://t.co/OtmxXW5sW2 pic.twitter.com/suvaZH4Ak9
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) July 17, 2019
The derby games that sit at the heart of PRO14’s rivalries are spread across eight rounds. This season, the calendar has allowed for the Welsh derby games to return to their traditional Boxing Day slot with Cardiff facing Dragons and Scarlets hosting Ospreys.
Kick-off times for round 21 will be set in early 2020 with a full round of derby matches providing added intrigue to the final day of the regular season.
The first five rounds of the campaign will take place during the World Cup to help avoid a clash with the Guinness Six Nations which has led to only one weekend in a direct overlap with Test matches throughout the season (round 12).
Confirmed! ?
The 2019/20 #GuinnessPRO14 schedule has been announced: https://t.co/AO3ZKcsvuy
The title defence starts now. ??#LeinsterRugby #JoinTheRoar pic.twitter.com/fiUHf9pr2P
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) July 17, 2019
The number of traditional 15:00 kick-off times in the UK and Ireland has increased by 75 per cent from the 2018/19 season and sees 30 games scheduled for that time slot in the new campaign.
The location, date and kick-off time of the 2020 Guinness PRO14 final will also be confirmed in the near future.
Tournament director David Jordan said: “After two years the Cheetahs and Southern Kings have begun to establish themselves in the Guinness PRO14 and with each side starting with three home games there is a real opportunity for both of them to become a greater threat.
They’ve landed! Here are our Guinness @PRO14Official 2019/20 fixtures. We host our first home game on Saturday 12th October against @BenettonRugby and will close out the regular season against old rivals @scarlets_rugby at the Liberty Stadium at the end of May. pic.twitter.com/CYgl0AFJFi
— Ospreys (@ospreys) July 17, 2019
“We’re also pleased to have increased the number of 3pm kick-off times on Saturdays which works well for fans with families and for the broadcast audience.
“It’s also going to be one of the toughest schedules we have put together and thanks to the new global season we have a run-in that barely pauses for breath over the final nine weeks of the regular season.”
WATCH: RugbyPass goes behind the scenes at the 2018 Guinness PRO14 final between Leinster and Scarlets in Dublin
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
40 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
40 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
40 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
40 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
40 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
40 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
40 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments