The 2019–20 PRO14 (also known as the Guinness PRO14 for sponsorship reasons) was the nineteenth season of the professional rugby union competition originally known as the Celtic League. It was the third 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]
On 12 March 2020, the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] It restarted on 22 August in a truncated format.
It was won by Leinster, their third consecutive Pro14 title, and the second occasion on which they had achieved a Perfect season by winning every match - a feat achieved by no other team in the competition's history.[4][5]
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.[6] To ensure a competitive balance, the teams are distributed approximately evenly between the conferences based upon their performance in the previous season.[7]
The regular season was due to be made up of 21 rounds. The original schedule was planned as follows –
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[8][9]
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
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic
All teams played their normal schedule until round 13 after which an additional two rounds of derby matches were played by the 12 European teams.[10] The Southern Kings announced in August 2020 that they had voluntarily withdrawn from the league for the remainder of 2020 and therefore there will not be South African derbies.[11]
League Play-Offs
The first and second placed teams in each conferences will meet in the semi-finals. The winners of the semi-finals will then meet in the grand final.[12]
Champions Cup Qualification
The top four eligible European teams in both conferences automatically qualify for the 2020–21 European Rugby Champions Cup. (The South African teams do not compete in the Champions Cup.) Qualification is based on league position after round 13.
Connacht underwent a rebranding during the off-season, updating their team crest in the process.[13] During the course of the season, the planned redevelopment of the Sportsground was boosted by the commitment of €20 million from the Irish government.[14]
Leinster's highest profile departure in the off-season was Seán O'Brien, who made over 100 appearances and was the side's former vice-captain.[15] With captain Johnny Sexton and vice-captain Rhys Ruddock missing the start of the season due to the World Cup,[16]Scott Fardy served as team captain in the opening rounds.[17]
Munster's backs coach Felix Jones and forwards coach Jerry Flannery left the province when their contracts expired in June 2019.[18] Former attack coach for the Australian national team, Stephen Larkham, was signed by the province as a senior coach ahead of the season,[19] while Graham Rowntree joined as their new forwards coach after the completion of his duties with Georgia at the World Cup.[20] The team's regular captain, Peter O'Mahony, missed the opening rounds of the tournament due to the World Cup,[16] during which time Billy Holland captained the side.[21]
Long-serving Ulster captain Rory Best announced in April 2019 that he would retire from rugby after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[22]Iain Henderson replaced Best as captain.[23] With Henderson unavailable in the opening rounds due to the World Cup,[16] the side was captained by Rob Herring.[24] Herring was later called up to the World Cup as an injury replacement,[25] and the captaincy went to Billy Burns.[26]
Dragons announced the departure of head coach Bernard Jackman in December 2018, with Ceri Jones replacing Jackman on an interim basis for the remainder of the 2018–19 season, before the region confirmed in May 2019 that Dean Ryan would join in the newly created director of rugby position.[30]
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order -[32]
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 2020–21 European Champions Cup
Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places that earn a place in the 2020–21 European Champions Cup Red background indicates teams ineligible for European cup tournaments Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2020–21 European Rugby Challenge Cup.
(CH) Champions. (RU) Runners-up. (SF) Losing semi-finalists. (Q) Qualified for Pro14 play-off semi-finals. (e) Cannot reach play-offs.
^Cardiff Blues will also play a home game at Rodney Parade.
^Connacht will also play a home game at the Aviva Stadium
^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.
^Glasgow Warriors will also play a home game at Murrayfield.
^Munster will also play a home game at the Aviva Stadium
^Thomond Park's official capacity is 25,600 but can be expanded up to 26,276 with temporary seating.
^Osprey's would also play several games at the 6,000 capacity The Gnoll in Neath.
^Ulster will also play a home game at the Aviva Stadium
In a change to the normal format, the top two sides from each of the two conferences met in the two semi-finals to determine the finalists. The quarter-finals featuring the second and third teams in each conference were scrapped for the 2019–20 season.
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 played 10 league home games during the league stage, while others played 11. Does not include 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.