The 2018–19 Pro14 (also known as the Guinness Pro14 for sponsorship reasons) is the eighteenth season of the professional rugby union competition originally known as the Celtic League. It was the second season to be referred to as the Pro14 (the competition was named the Pro12 immediately prior to the addition of two South African teams).[1][2]
Leinster were the defending champions, having won the 2017–18 final at the Aviva Stadium to take their fifth title in the competition's various iterations and seal a domestic league and European Cup double, becoming only the sixth team to do so and the first from the Pro14.[3]
The fourteen teams are split into two conferences of seven teams, with each conference featuring two teams from Ireland and Wales plus one team from Italy, Scotland and South Africa.[7] To ensure a competitive balance, the teams are distributed approximately evenly between the conferences based upon their performance in the previous season.[8]
The regular season is made up of 21 rounds –
6 home and 6 away games against each team in their own conference
7 games, either home or away, against the teams in the other conference
2 additional regional derbies[9][10]
Each Irish team plays the two Irish teams in the other conference, one at home and one away
Each Welsh team plays the two Welsh teams in the other conference, one at home and one away
The two Italian teams play each other twice, home and away
The two Scottish teams play each other twice, home and away
The two South African teams play each other twice, home and away
League Play-Offs
The first-placed teams in each conference are given a bye to the semi-finals with the second and third placed teams in each conference meeting in two quarter-finals for the two remaining semi-final places.[11]
Qualification For Champions Cup
The South African teams cannot compete in the European Rugby Champions Cup. The top three eligible European teams in each conference automatically qualify for following year's Champions Cup. The fourth ranked eligible team in each conference meet in a play-off match with the winner taking the seventh Champions Cup place.
Connacht came into the new season with a new head coach, after removing Kieran Keane from his position one year into a three-year deal.[12][13] Former Australia sevens coach Andy Friend was named as his replacement in May 2018, joining on a three-year contract.[14] The team also had a new captain for the season, following the retirement of John Muldoon, record-holder for appearances both for Connacht and in the league.[15] In August 2018, Jarrad Butler was named as his replacement.[16]
Like Connacht, Leinster had a new captain for the season. Isa Nacewa retired at the end of the 2017–18 season, after leading the province to an unprecedented Pro14-Champions Cup double.[17][18] The team's all-time leading scorer Johnny Sexton was named as captain in August 2018, with Rhys Ruddock as his vice-captain.[19] The team also had a new backs coach following the departure of Girvan Dempsey, who signed with English Premiership side Bath in May 2018.[20] Former player Felipe Contepomi was announced as his replacement in June 2018. He joined from the Argentine Rugby Union where he had been serving both as part of the coaching staff of Super Rugby side, the Jaguares, and as head coach of Argentina XV, the country's second tier international side.[21]
Munster came into the league without their all-time leading try scorer Simon Zebo. It was announced in October 2017 that he would leave the province at the end of the 2017–18 season,[22] with French Top 14 side Racing 92 later being confirmed as his next club.[23]
Following the departure of Les Kiss as the province's director of rugby in January 2018,[24]Ulster confirmed in March 2018 that then-head coach Jono Gibbes would leave the province at the end of the season.[25] In April 2018, the province announced that Scotland forwards coach Dan McFarland would be their new head coach, with the former Connacht and Glasgow assistant signing a three-year contract.[26] However the Scottish Rugby Union insisted that McFarland must serve the nine-month notice period in his contract before joining Ulster, which would have left the province without a head coach until January 2019.[27] In July 2018, it was announced that Ireland forwards coach Simon Easterby would work with the Ulster coaches on an interim basis ahead of McFarland's arrival.[28] After a four-month standoff, an agreement was reached in August 2018 to allow McFarland to take up his position with Ulster with immediate effect.[29] Another addition to the coaching staff was long-serving squad member and Ireland international Jared Payne, who was forced to retire in May 2018 due to a head injury suffered on the 2017 Lions tour. The province announced that he would serve as their new defence coach.[30]Banbridge head coach Daniel Soper was confirmed as Ulster's skills coach in June 2018.[31]
Italy
Having served as one of the team's co-captain's, Italy centre Tommaso Castello was named as the Zebre skipper for the season.[32] He had previously shared the captaincy with George Biagi.[33]
Scotland
After spending much of the previous two seasons playing in the 5,500-capacity Myreside Stadium, Edinburgh announced in February 2018 that they would be returning permanently to Murrayfield, their previous home.[34] Due to the stadium's larger size making it inappropriate for permanent use, the Scottish Rugby Union also announced plans to develop another, smaller ground with a capacity of 7,800 in the grounds of Murrayfield, on what were previously training pitches.[35] It was estimated that the development would cost the Union in the region of £5 million.[36]
South Africa
The Cheetahs had a new captain for the 2018–19 season. It was announced in March 2018 that incumbent captain Francois Venter would leave the team at the end of the season, joining English side Worcester Warriors.[37]
Wales
Cardiff Blues confirmed in September 2017 that then-head coach Danny Wilson would leave the club at the end of the 2017–18 season,[38] with John Mulvihill being announced as their new head coach on a three-year contract in March 2018.[39] Also departing the club was the team's most-capped player, Taufaʻao Filise. The Tongan international prop made his last appearance for the region in the final of the 2017–18 Challenge Cup, before retiring.[40] In July 2018, Ellis Jenkins was named as the new team captain, replacing previous season's skipper Gethin Jenkins. Both players were also named as part of a 10-man "leadership group" within the squad.[41]
In December 2018, Dragons parted company with head coach Bernard Jackman 18 months into a three-year deal.[42] The team's forwards coach Ceri Jones was named as caretaker following Jackman's departure.[43] In January 2019, it was announced that Jones would remain in the role until the end of the season.[44]
The Ospreys were coached by Allen Clarke. He had started the previous season as the team's forwards coach, before being promoted to head coach on an interim basis in January 2018 following the sacking of Steve Tandy. In April 2018, it was announced that Clarke would take the job on a permanent basis and had signed a three-year contract.[45] For the first time in eight seasons, the side came into the campaign with a new captain, with Justin Tipuric replacing Alun Wyn Jones in the role.[46]
This was Wayne Pivac's final season in charge of the Scarlets, as it was announced in July 2018 that he would succeed Warren Gatland as Wales head coach. The agreement meant Pivac would take up the role following the 2019 World Cup.[47]
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order -[48]
number of matches won
the difference between points for and points against
the number of tries scored
the most points scored
the difference between tries for and tries against
the fewest red cards received
the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams that compete in the Pro14 play-offs, and also earn a place in the 2019–20 European Champions Cup (excluding South African teams who are ineligible) Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places that earn a place in the 2019–20 European Champions Cup Yellow background indicates the loser of the play-off between the two fourth-ranked European teams in each conference, that earned a place in the 2019–20 European Rugby Challenge Cup. Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2019–20 European Rugby Challenge Cup.
(CH) Champions. (RU) Runners-up. (SF) Losing semi-finalists. (QF) Losing quarter-finalists. (PO) Champions Cup play-off winners.
The top side from each of the two conferences are given a bye to the semi-finals and have home advantage. Teams placed second and third in opposite conferences meet in the two quarter-finals to determine the other two semi-finalists with the teams ranked second having home advantage.
The play-offs are scheduled in the four weeks after the regular season has been completed.
South African teams cannot compete in the European Rugby Champions Cup as it is restricted to European teams. The top three eligible teams in the two conferences automatically qualify for the following year's Champions Cup. The seventh Champions Cup place is allocated to the winners of the playoff match between the fourth ranked eligible teams in each conference played at the home of the team with the most regular league points.
As Leinster lost the Champions Cup final on 11 May 2019, Ospreys hosted Scarlets in the play-off on 18 May 2019.[131]
Includes quarter-finals and semi-finals – the final is not included as it is held at a neutral venue. Due to the Conference A & B structure of 21 rounds in the Pro14, some teams were allotted 10 league home games during the league stage, while others received 11. Cardiff Blues and Dragons each gave up a home game in the final round of fixtures for Judgement Day, leaving them with nine home games. These figures do not include the final (at a neutral venue) or the European Champions Cup play-off game.
Note: Flags to the left of player names indicate national team as has been defined under World Rugby eligibility rules, or primary nationality for players who have not yet earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.
^Dragons started the season with Bernard Jackman as head coach but he was dismissed from the role in December 2018, with Ceri Jones taking over for the remainder of the season.[4]
^Although Murrayfield's full capacity is 67,144, only the lower section of the East Stand, with a capacity of 12,464, is generally opened for Edinburgh fixtures.
^Scotstoun's capacity can be expanded up to 10,000 with temporary seating.
^Thomond Park's official capacity is 25,600 but can be expanded up to 26,276 with temporary seating.
^On 17 September 2018, it was announced that due to a clash of fixtures between the Ospreys and Swansea City, and a potential short-turn around, Ospreys moved their fixture from the Liberty Stadium to Bridgend's Brewery Field.[5]
^Cardiff Blues attendance figures does not include the Judgement Day game at the Principality Stadium.
^Dragons attendance figures does not include the Judgement Day game at the Principality Stadium.
^"Cardiff Blues v Gloucester team news: Gethin Jenkins misses out on European Challenge Cup final". South Wales Argus. 10 May 2018. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018. "The one other change sees the 40-year-old Taufa’ao Filise getting the nod at tight-head prop. It had been presumed that the stalwart Tongan, who is retiring at the end of this season, had bowed out on Judgement Day. But he has been handed one more huge game as he makes his 255th and final appearance for the region in the final."