2023–24 United Rugby Championship
The 2023–24 United Rugby Championship will be the 23rd season of the professional rugby union competition known as the United Rugby Championship, and the third season under that name. It will begin on 21 October 2023 and end on 22 June 2024.[1]
| 2023–24 United Rugby Championship | |
|---|---|
| Countries |  Ireland Italy  Scotland  South Africa  Wales |
| Date | 21 October 2023 – 22 June 2024 |
| Official website | |
| unitedrugby | |
Format
The tournament consists of 21 rounds; 18 rounds of regular season play, followed by three rounds of play-offs.
There are four regional pools: The Irish Shield pool (featuring the four Irish teams), the Welsh Shield pool (featuring the four Welsh teams), the South African Shield pool (featuring the four South African teams) and the Scottish/Italian 'Azzurri/Blue' Shield pool (featuring the two Italian and two Scottish sides). The pools serve two functions; they guarantee a full slate of derby matches for each team, and they award a minor Regional Shield trophy to the top team in each pool, which thereby functions as a national championship in three of the four pools, and a cross-border regional championship in the Scottish-Italian pool. They will no longer be used to determine qualification for the European Rugby Champions Cup. Instead, the top eight teams will qualify.[2]
Teams play six matches against their regional pool rivals home and away. The remaining twelve matches are made up by a single round robin, consisting of an even number of six home and six away matches against all the sides from the other pools. [3]
For the Championship itself, there is one main league table. The top eight sides in the table will qualify for the quarter finals, followed by semi-finals and a grand final, with teams seeded 1 to 4 with home advantage for the lowest seeded side. The Regional Shield pools have no direct link to the play-offs and by extension the Championship itself, and it is technically possible to win a Regional Shield but not contest the play-offs, as the Welsh sides showed in 2023.[3]
Teams
United Rugby Championship
Locations
|
Location of United Rugby Championship teams in Italy |
Regional Pools and European qualification
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| Irish Shield | |||||||||||||||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TBP | LBP | Pts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connacht | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2 | Leinster | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 3 | Munster | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 4 | Ulster | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Scottish/Italian Shield | |||||||||||||||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TBP | LBP | Pts | |||||
| 1 | Benetton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2 | Edinburgh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 3 | Glasgow Warriors | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 4 | Zebre Parma | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| South African Shield | |||||||||||||||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TBP | LBP | Pts | |||||
| 1 | Stormers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 33 | +2 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||||
| 2 | Lions | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 33 | 35 | –2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Bulls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 4 | Sharks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Welsh Shield | |||||||||||||||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TBP | LBP | Pts | |||||
| 1 | Cardiff | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2 | Dragons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 3 | Ospreys | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 4 | Scarlets | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[5]
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| Green background indicates teams currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields.
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URC league standings
| |||||||||||||||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | Try bonus | Losing bonus | Pts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bulls | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 21 | +42 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||||
| 2 | Glasgow Warriors | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 25 | +18 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||||
| 3 | Munster | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 21 | +13 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||||
| 4 | Connacht | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 26 | +8 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||||
| 5 | Ulster | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 36 | +4 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Stormers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 33 | +2 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||||
| 7 | Edinburgh | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 17 | +5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||||
| 8 | Benetton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 22 | +1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||||
| 9 | Lions | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 33 | 35 | –2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| 10 | Zebre Parma | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 36 | 40 | –4 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| 11 | Cardiff | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 23 | –1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| 12 | Dragons | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 22 | –5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| 13 | Ospreys | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 34 | –8 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||
| 14 | Sharks | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 34 | –13 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 15 | Leinster | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 25 | 43 | –18 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 16 | Scarlets | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 63 | –42 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[6]
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| Green background indicates teams that are play-off places and earn a place in the 2024–25 European Champions Cup Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2024–25 European Challenge Cup.
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Regular season
Round 1
| 21 October 2023 13:00 |
| (2 BP) Zebre Parma | 36–40 | Ulster (1 BP) |
| Try: Licata (2) 4' 13' Pani 22' Gregory 40' Gesi (2) 41' 70' Con: Prisciantelli (3) 5' 14' 23' | Report[7] | Try: Flannery 9' Lowry 16' Stockdale (2) 28' 60' Stewart (2) 52' 66' Con: Doak (5) 11' 17' 29' 53' 68' |
| Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Referee: Adam Jones |
| 21 October 2023 16:00 |
| (1 BP) Connacht | 34–26 | Ospreys |
| Try: Blade (3) 11' 23' 33' Forde 56' Con: Hanrahan (4) 12' 24' 33' 57' Pen: Hanrahan (2) 2' 5' | Report[8] | Try: Giles 40' Morgan-Williams 48' Ratti 52' R. Davies 74' Con: Walsh (3) 49' 53' 75' |
| Galway Sportsgrounds Referee: Federico Vedovelli |
| 21 October 2023 16:05 |
| (2 BP) Lions | 33–35 | Stormers (1 BP) |
| Try: Botha 5' Van Wyk 45' Venter 61' Van den Berg 71' F. Horn 78' Con: Hendrikse (2) 5' 46' Nohamba (2) 72' 79' | Report[9] | Try: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2) 8' 41' Dweba 33' Jantjies 37' Con: Blommetjies (3) 9' 34' 38' Pen: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2) 17' 54' Blommetjies19' |
| Ellis Park Stadium Referee: Morné Ferreira |
| 21 October 2023 15:05 |
| (1 BP) Dragons | 17–22 | Edinburgh |
| Try: Tomkinson 1' Baldwin 16' Con: Evans (2) 2' 18' Pen: Evans 45' | Report[10] | Try: Vellacott 65' Con: Healy 65' Pen: Healy (5) 29' 42' 55' 72' 80' |
| Rodney Parade Referee: Eoghan Cross |
| 21 October 2023 17:15 |
| (1 BP) Cardiff | 22–23 | Benetton |
| Try: Belcher 17' Carré 26' Bevan 31' Con: De Beer (2) 19' 27' Pen: De Beer 60' | Report[11] | Try: Lucchesi 36' Albornoz Con: Umaga (2) 37' 66' Pen: Umaga (3) 10' 47' 79' |
| Cardiff Arms Park Referee: Frank Murphy |
| 21 October 2023 17:15 |
| (1 BP) Munster | 34–21 | Sharks |
| Try: Edogbo 20' Barron 25' Frisch 40' Conway 66' Coughlan 77' Con: Carbery (3) 21' 26' 41' Pen: Carbery 44' | Report[12] | Try: Kok 37' Janse van Rensburg 47' Fassi 81' Con: Bosch (3) 38' 48' 81' |
| Thomond Park Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi |
| 22 October 2023 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Bulls | 63–21 | Scarlets |
| Try: Nortjé 2' Hanekom (2) 5' 14' Grobbelaar 24' Kriel 44' Gans (2) 51' 57' Van der Merwe 62' Simelane 65' Con: Goosen (9) 3' 6' 15' 25' 45' 51' 58' 63' 66' | Report[13] | Try: McNicholl 30' Plumtree (2) 38' 68' Con: Lloyd (3) 31' 39' 68' |
| Loftus Versfeld Stadium Referee: Mike Adamson |
| 22 October 2023 16:00 |
| (1 BP) Glasgow Warriors | 43–25 | Leinster |
| Try: McKay 12' Cancelliere 20' Jones 32' Fraser 37' Horne 52' Matthews 74' Con: Jordan (2) 13' 33' Horne 75' | Report[14] | Try: Boyle 28' Barron 44' T. O'Brien 71' Con: H. Byrne (2) 29' 45' Pen: H. Byrne (2) 15' 18' |
| Scotstoun Stadium Referee: Craig Evans |
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Round 18
Knockout stage
Bracket
| Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||||
| 1 | ||||||||||||||
| 8 | ||||||||||||||
| 4 | ||||||||||||||
| 5 | ||||||||||||||
| 2 | ||||||||||||||
| 7 | ||||||||||||||
| 3 | ||||||||||||||
| 6 | ||||||||||||||
The play-off draw is seeded based on final positions in the regular season league table.
The higher-ranked teams will have home advantage in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
Quarter-finals
| 7 June 2024 15:00 |
| v | ||
| 7 June 2024 15:00 |
| v | ||
| 7 June 2024 15:00 |
| v | ||
| 7 June 2024 15:00 |
| v | ||
Semi-finals
| 15 June 2024 15:00 |
| v | ||
| 15 June 2024 15:00 |
| v | ||
Final
| 22 June 2024 15:00 |
| v | ||
References
- "URC Releases Fixtures 102 Days Ahead of Kick-Off". www.unitedrugby.com.
- "United Rugby Championship: ‘Meritocracy’ Champions Cup qualification returns while the final venue format is maintained", Planet Rugby, 12 May 2023
- "United Rugby Championship Format Explained". Pro14. 15 June 2021. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- "DHL Stormers to face Edinburgh at DHL Stadium". The Stormers. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
- League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- "Ulster edge Zebre Parma in 12-try thriller", United Rugby, 21 October 2023
- "Caolin Blade treble helps Connacht cut down Ospreys", United Rugby, 21 October 2023
- "DHL Stormers survive Emirates Lions comeback to prevail in Johannesburg", United Rugby, 21 October 2023
- "Ben Healy inspires Edinburgh comeback win at Dragons", United Rugby, 21 October 2023
- "Benetton snatch late victory over Cardiff", United Rugby, 21 October 2023
- "Joey Carbery on song as Munster beat Hollywoodbets Sharks", United Rugby, 21 October 2023
- "Vodacom Bulls open United Rugby Championship campaign with big win", United Rugby, 22 October 2023
- "Glasgow Warriors power to opening victory over Leinster at Scotstoun", United Rugby, 22 October 2023
- "Ospreys to host first BKT URC fixture in London against Hollywoodbets Sharks". Ospreys Rugby. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.