Pro14 Rainbow Cup

Last updated

Pro14 Rainbow Cup
Pro14 Rainbow Cup.png
Countries IRFU flag.svg Ireland
Flag of Italy.svg Italy
Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales
Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
Date23 April 2021 – 19 June 2021
Champions Flag of Italy.svg Benetton
Runners-up Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls
Matches played40
Official website
www.pro14.rugby
←  2020–21
2021–22  →
Finale Rainbow Cup 2021 Benetton Treviso WINS Finale Rainbow Cup 2021 Benetton Treviso WINS.jpg
Finale Rainbow Cup 2021 Benetton Treviso WINS
Finale Rainbow Cup 2021- Benetton Treviso vs Vodacom Blue Bulls-233 (51262041404) Finale Rainbow Cup 2021- Benetton Treviso vs Vodacom Blue Bulls-233 (51262041404).jpg
Finale Rainbow Cup 2021- Benetton Treviso vs Vodacom Blue Bulls-233 (51262041404)

The Pro14 Rainbow Cup (also known as the Guinness Pro14 Rainbow Cup for sponsorship reasons) was a professional rugby union end-of-season cup competition played in 2021 that consisted of two separate tournaments: the Rainbow Cup for twelve European clubs and the Rainbow Cup SA for four South African clubs. The winners of each competition then played a final match to determine the overall winner. The tournament operated as a shortened 'Spring season' to allow for the integration of the four new South African teams into the United Rugby Championship ahead of the 2021–22 season.

Contents

In winning the play-off final against the Bulls of South Africa, Benetton Treviso became the first Italian side ever to win any of the successor championships to the Celtic League.

Background

The 2020–21 Pro14 was reduced to twelve teams as the two South African teams - the Cheetahs and Southern Kings - were not allowed to travel internationally in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In September 2020, the Southern Kings ceased operations and the South African Rugby Union council began exploring the possibility of the four South African former Super Rugby teams - the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers - joining an expanded Pro14. [1]

PRO14 Rugby announced in December 2020 that the 2020–21 Pro14 regular season would conclude after 16 rounds, and the top team from each conference would advance to a final in March 2021. The Pro14 Rainbow Cup then commenced in April and introduced the four new South African teams. [2]

With South Africa hosting the British & Irish Lions tour in July–August 2021, the tournament also served as a warm-up event for the British, Irish and South African players hoping to be involved in the tour. [2]

Between February and March eight South African franchises played in a "preparation series" also known as the Preparation Series to get valuable game time before the Rainbow Cup. [3]

Due to several issues surrounding travel restrictions as a result of the pandemic, it was announced in April 2021 that the Rainbow Cup would adopt a dual tournament format and there would be no cross-hemisphere fixtures. [4]

Format

The competition format changed several times but eventually consisted of two separate tournaments running side by side. In the northern hemisphere's Rainbow Cup, the 12 Pro14 teams in Europe competed from 23 April until 12 June 2021. There were 6 match weekends over an 8-week period with each team receiving one additional bye week.

In the southern hemisphere's Rainbow Cup SA, each of the four teams played each other twice, a total of six rounds were played between 1 May and 12 June 2021. There was one fallow week in which each team received a bye week. [4] [5]

A final between the best placed Northern and Southern Hemisphere teams followed both tournaments on 19 June. [6]

Law variations

The Rainbow Cup saw three law variations trialled: Replacement for a red carded player after 20 minutes, Captain's Challenge and Goal-line dropouts. The replacement for a red carded player after 20 minutes allowed a side who has had a player sent-off to replace them with one of their named substitutes after a period of 20 minutes. A captain's challenge, similar to appeals used successfully in cricket and tennis, allowed each team to request a television match official review an offence in the build up to a try being scored or an act of foul play, or any referee's decision after the clock passes 75 minutes; where the referee's on-field decision was not changed, that team would no longer be able to challenge a decision thereafter. Goal-line dropouts were used if the ball is held-up over the line, knock-ons that occur in goal or when the ball is grounded by the defending team in the in-goal area after a kick through. All these law variations have previously been trialled in both Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU. [7]

The captain's challenge law attracted widespread criticism, particularly after an incident in Munster's game against Cardiff where Munster's CJ Stander called for a captain's challenge on a Cardiff player returning the ball into a ruck, a minor technical offence. It was not adopted in subsequent tournaments. [8] [9] [10]

World Rugby adopted the goal-line drop-out law more widely in the 2021–22 season and it has since become permanent. [11]

Teams

class=notpageimage|
Location of Pro14 Rainbow Cup teams in Great Britain and Ireland.
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Location of Pro14 Rainbow Cup teams in Italy.
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Location of PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA teams.

PRO14 Rainbow Cup

TeamCountryCoach /
Director of Rugby		CaptainStadiumCapacity
Benetton Flag of Italy.svg Italy Flag of New Zealand.svg Kieran Crowley Flag of South Africa.svg Dewaldt Duvenage Stadio Comunale di Monigo 6,700
Cardiff Blues Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dai Young Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ellis Jenkins Cardiff Arms Park 12,125
Connacht IRFU flag.svg Ireland Flag of Australia (converted).svg Andy Friend Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jarrad Butler Galway Sportsgrounds 8,129
Dragons Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales Flag of England.svg Dean Ryan Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Rhodri Williams Rodney Parade 8,700
Edinburgh Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland Flag of England.svg Richard Cockerill Flag of Scotland.svg Stuart McInally Murrayfield Stadium 67,144
Glasgow Warriors Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland Flag of England.svg Danny Wilson Flag of Scotland.svg Fraser Brown
Flag of Scotland.svg Ryan Wilson 		Scotstoun Stadium 7,351
Leinster IRFU flag.svg Ireland IRFU flag.svg Leo Cullen IRFU flag.svg Johnny Sexton RDS Arena 18,500
Munster IRFU flag.svg Ireland Flag of South Africa.svg Johann van Graan IRFU flag.svg Peter O'Mahony Thomond Park 25,600
Ospreys Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales Flag of England.svg Toby Booth Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Justin Tipuric Liberty Stadium 20,827
Scarlets Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales Flag of New Zealand.svg Glenn Delaney Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ken Owens Parc y Scarlets 14,870
Ulster IRFU flag.svg Ireland Flag of England.svg Dan McFarland IRFU flag.svg Iain Henderson Ravenhill Stadium 18,196
Zebre Flag of Italy.svg Italy IRFU flag.svg Michael Bradley Flag of Italy.svg Tommaso Castello Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi 5,000

PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA

TeamCountryCoach /
Director of Rugby		CaptainStadiumCapacity
Bulls Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa Flag of South Africa.svg Jake White Flag of South Africa.svg Duane Vermeulen Loftus Versfeld 51,762
Lions Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa Flag of South Africa.svg Ivan van Rooyen Flag of South Africa.svg Dan Kriel Ellis Park Stadium 62,567
Sharks Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa Flag of South Africa.svg Sean Everitt Flag of South Africa.svg Lukhanyo Am Kings Park Stadium 52,000
Stormers Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa Flag of South Africa.svg John Dobson Flag of South Africa.svg Steven Kitshoff Cape Town Stadium 55,000

Tables

Pro14 Rainbow Cup watch · edit · discuss
TeamPWDLPFPAPDTFTATry bonusLosing bonusPts
1 Flag of Italy.svg Benetton 541012578+4714102022**
2 IRFU flag.svg Munster 540117075+952383120
3 Flag of Scotland.svg Glasgow Warriors 5401121117+417153019
4 IRFU flag.svg Leinster 530212487+3719102115
5 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff Blues 5302124123+116162115
6 IRFU flag.svg Connacht 5302109133–2415182014
7 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Scarlets 5122110115–513152113*
8 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys 521210388+1514112111**
9 Flag of Scotland.svg Edinburgh 5113126140–1418192210
10 IRFU flag.svg Ulster 511385116–311218228*
11 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dragons 5104117156–391422217
12 Flag of Italy.svg Zebre 500588174-861023033
* Cancelled fixture: Scarlets awarded four match points.
** Cancelled fixture: Benetton awarded four match points.
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: [12]
  1. number of matches won;
  2. the difference between points for and points against;
  3. the number of tries scored;
  4. the most points scored;
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against;
  6. the fewest red cards received;
  7. the fewest yellow cards received.
Green background (row 1) is the play-off places and earn a place in the final against the 1st placed Rainbow Cup SA team.
    Pro14 Rainbow Cup SA watch · edit · discuss
    TeamPWDLPFPAPDTFTATry bonusLosing bonusPts
    1 Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls 6501183117+6622124125
    2 Flag of South Africa.svg Stormers 6213137143–616192317*
    3 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks 6303153179–2630223116
    4 Flag of South Africa.svg Lions 6114127161–341622318*
    * Cancelled fixture: Stormers awarded four match points.
    If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: [13]
    1. number of matches won;
    2. the difference between points for and points against;
    3. the number of tries scored;
    4. the most points scored;
    5. the difference between tries for and tries against;
    6. the fewest red cards received;
    7. the fewest yellow cards received.
    Green background (row 1) is the play-off places and earn a place in the final against the 1st placed Rainbow Cup team from Europe.

      PRO14 Rainbow Cup

      All kickoff times are local.
      League stage

      Round 1

      23 April 2021
      20:15
      (2 BP) Ulster IRFU flag.svg 24–26 IRFU flag.svg Connacht (1 BP)
      Try: Stockdale 23'
      Herring 29' c
      Burns 44'
      Shanahan 72' c
      Con: Cooney 30'
      Lowry 73'      		 Report
      Highlights       		Try: Boyle 7' c
      Blade (2) 50' c 63 c
      Sullivan 80+3'
      Con: Carty 8'
      Daly (2) 52' 64'
      Ravenhill Stadium
      Referee: Andrew Brace
      23 April 2021
      20:15
      Edinburgh Flag of Scotland.svg 24–18 Flag of Italy.svg Zebre (1 BP)
      Murrayfield
      Referee: Ben Whitehouse
      24 April 2021
      14:00
      (1 BP) Benetton Flag of Italy.svg 46–19 Flag of Scotland.svg Glasgow Warriors
      Stadio Comunale di Monigo
      Referee: Marius Mitrea
      24 April 2021
      17:15
      (1 BP) Ospreys Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 36–14 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff Blues
      Liberty Stadium
      Referee: Sam Grove-White
      24 April 2021
      19:35
      Leinster IRFU flag.svg 3–27 IRFU flag.svg Munster
      RDS Arena
      Referee: Chris Busby
      25 April 2021
      13:00
      (1 BP) Dragons Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 52–32 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Scarlets (1 BP)
      Rodney Parade
      Referee: Craig Evans

      Round 2

      7 May 2021
      19:00
      (1 BP) Zebre Flag of Italy.svg 20–25 Flag of Italy.svg Benetton
      Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
      7 May 2021
      20:15
      (1 BP) Munster IRFU flag.svg 38–10 IRFU flag.svg Ulster
      Try: Scannell (2) 10' c 54' c
      Murray 26'
      Haley c
      Hanrahan 57' c
      Conway 78'
      Con: Hanrahan (4) 11' 40+1' 55' 59'      		 Report
      Highlights
      Full game       		Try: Henderson 43'
      Con: Lowry 45'
      Pen: Lowry 2'
      Thomond Park
      7 May 2021
      20:15
      (1 BP) Glasgow Warriors Flag of Scotland.svg 29–19 Flag of Scotland.svg Edinburgh
      Scotstoun Stadium
      8 May 2021
      19:35
      Connacht IRFU flag.svg 21–50 IRFU flag.svg Leinster (1 BP)
      Galway Sportsgrounds
      8 May 2021
      19:35
      Scarlets Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 22–6 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys
      Parc y Scarlets
      9 May 2021
      13:00
      Cardiff Blues Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 17–16 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dragons (1 BP)
      Cardiff Arms Park

      Round 3

      14 May 2021
      18:00
      (1 BP) Munster IRFU flag.svg 20–24 IRFU flag.svg Connacht
      Thomond Park
      14 May 2021
      20:15
      Leinster IRFU flag.svg 21–17 IRFU flag.svg Ulster (1 BP)
      Try: Healy 25' c
      Conan 53' c
      Henshaw 61' c
      Con: Ringrose (3) 25' 54' 62'      		 Report
      Highlights       		Try: Baloucoune 18' c
      Gilroy 79' c
      Con: Burns 19'
      Madigan 79'
      Pen: Burns 51'
      RDS Arena
      15 May 2021
      15:00
      (1 BP) Scarlets Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 28–29 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff Blues (1 BP)
      Parc y Scarlets
      15 May 2021
      18:15
      (1 BP) Benetton Flag of Italy.svg 34–27 Flag of Italy.svg Zebre (1 BP)
      Stadio Comunale di Monigo
      15 May 2021
      19:35
      (1 BP) Edinburgh Flag of Scotland.svg 24–31 Flag of Scotland.svg Glasgow Warriors (1 BP)
      Murrayfield
      16 May 2021
      13:00
      (1 BP) Dragons Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 26–42 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys (1 BP)
      Rodney Parade

      Round 4

      28 May 2021
      19:35
      (1 BP) Munster IRFU flag.svg 31–27 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff Blues (1 BP)
      Thomond Park
      29 May 2021
      15:00
      Ulster IRFU flag.svg Cancelled
      0–0 [a]       		Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Scarlets
      Ravenhill Stadium

      Round 5

      4 June 2021
      18:00
      (1 BP) Connacht IRFU flag.svg 26–19 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ospreys (1 BP)
      The Sportsground
      4 June 2021
      20:15
      Glasgow Warriors Flag of Scotland.svg 15–12 IRFU flag.svg Leinster (1 BP)
      Scotstoun Stadium
      5 June 2021
      17:15
      (2 BP) Edinburgh Flag of Scotland.svg 31–34 IRFU flag.svg Ulster (1 BP)
      Try: Van der Merwe 3'
      Kinghorn 7' c
      Schoeman 67' c
      Hutchison 73' c
      Sau 76'
      Con: Kinghorn (3) 8' 67' 74'      		 Report
      Highlights       		Try: Hume 12' c
      Henderson 19' c
      McCloskey 27' c
      McBurney 38'
      Lyttle 47'
      Con: Madigan (3) 13' 19' 28'
      Pen: Madigan 80+1'
      Murrayfield

      Round 6

      11 June 2021
      19:00
      Zebre Flag of Italy.svg 11–54 IRFU flag.svg Munster (1 BP)
      Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
      11 June 2021
      20:15
      (1 BP) Leinster IRFU flag.svg 38–7 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dragons
      RDS Arena
      12 June 2021
      19:35
      Ospreys Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cancelled
      0–0 [b]       		Flag of Italy.svg Benetton
      Brewery Field

      PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA

      All kickoff times are local.
      League stage

      Round 1

      1 May 2021
      14:00
      (1 BP) Stormers Flag of South Africa.svg 30–33 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks (1 BP)
      Cape Town Stadium
      1 May 2021
      19:00
      Bulls Flag of South Africa.svg 22–9 Flag of South Africa.svg Lions
      Loftus Versfeld

      Round 2

      8 May 2021
      16:00
      (1 BP) Sharks Flag of South Africa.svg 34–26 Flag of South Africa.svg Lions (1 BP)
      Kings Park Stadium
      8 May 2021
      18:15
      (1 BP) Stormers Flag of South Africa.svg 16–20 Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls
      Cape Town Stadium

      Round 3

      15 May 2021
      13:30
      (2 BP) Lions Flag of South Africa.svg 37–39 Flag of South Africa.svg Stormers (1 BP)
      Ellis Park Stadium
      15 May 2021
      18:15
      (1 BP) Bulls Flag of South Africa.svg 43-9 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks
      Loftus Versfeld

      Round 4

      22 May 2021
      13:00
      (1 BP) Sharks Flag of South Africa.svg 22–25 Flag of South Africa.svg Stormers
      Kings Park Stadium
      22 May 2021
      15:30
      (1 BP) Lions Flag of South Africa.svg 34–33 Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls (2 BP)
      Ellis Park Stadium

      Round 5

      4 June 2021
      19:00
      (1 BP) Bulls Flag of South Africa.svg 31–27 Flag of South Africa.svg Stormers (2 BP)
      Loftus Versfeld
      5 June 2021
      16:00
      Lions Flag of South Africa.svg 21–33 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks (1 BP)
      Ellis Park Stadium

      Round 6

      12 June 2021
      16:00
      Stormers Flag of South Africa.svg Cancelled
      0–0 [c]       		Flag of South Africa.svg Lions
      Cape Town Stadium
      12 June 2021
      18:15
      Sharks Flag of South Africa.svg 22–34 Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls (1 BP)
      Kings Park Stadium

      Final

      The first-placed teams from each tournament, Benetton and Bulls, played in the final in Treviso. [14] Benetton won 35–8 in front of their home crowd for a historic first win of an international competition for any Italian club. [15] [16]

      19 June 2021
      18:30 CEST (UTC+2)
      Benetton Flag of Italy.svg 35–8 Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls
      Try: Ioane 5' m
      Els 31' m
      Penalty try 40'
      Lamaro 42' c
      Padovani 57' m
      Con: Garbisi (1/4) 43'
      Pen: Garbisi (2/3) 20', 47'      		 Report Try: Tambwe 26' m
      Con: Smith (0/1)
      Pen: Smith (1/1) 30'
      Stadio Comunale di Monigo
      Attendance: 1250 [15]
      Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

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      References

      1. ↑ "Guinness PRO14 & Rainbow Cup - Questions & Answers". GuinnessPro14. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
      2. 1 2 "Guinness PRO14 to Conclude in March Ahead of Rainbow Cup with South Africa's Super Teams". GuinnessPro14. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
      3. ↑ "Franchise Cup back to just that – a contest between franchises". www.news24.com. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
      4. 1 2 "Dual Tournament Approach to Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup". www.pro14.rugby. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
      5. ↑ "Revised PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA schedule confirmed".
      6. ↑ "Europe to host Pro14 Rainbow Cup final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
      7. ↑ "Law Trials confirmed for Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup". Pro14. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
      8. ↑ "Uproar as CJ Stander's Captain Challenge Ends Game".
      9. ↑ "Munster v Cardiff Blues proved Captain's Challenge needs to be scrapped". 29 May 2021.
      10. ↑ "'The trial hasn't worked. I don't think it's going to feature beyond the Rainbow Cup'".
      11. ↑ "World Rugby confirms adoption of welfare-driven laws | World Rugby".
      12. ↑ Competition Rule 3.1.4 "Summary of Key Rules". Pro14. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
      13. ↑ Competition Rule 3.1.4 "Summary of Key Rules". Pro14. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
      14. ↑ "Italy to Host Historic 'North v South' Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup Final in Treviso". www.pro14.rugby. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
      15. 1 2 "Capolavoro Treviso! 35-8 ai Bulls, la Rainbow Cup è italiana". gazzetta.it (in Italian). Retrieved 19 June 2021.
      16. ↑ "Pro14 Rainbow Cup final: Benetton 35-8 Bulls - hosts win first major title". BBC Sport. 19 June 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.

      Notes

      1. ↑ Ulster Rugby returned several positive COVID-19 tests and were therefore unable to field a team.
        Scarlets awarded four match points.
      2. ↑ Ospreys returned several positive COVID-19 tests and were therefore unable to field a team.
        Benetton awarded four match points.
      3. ↑ Lions returned several positive COVID-19 tests and were therefore unable to field a team.
        Stormers awarded four match points.
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