2021–22 United Rugby Championship


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The 2021–22 United Rugby Championship was the twenty-first season of the professional rugby union competition originally known as the Celtic League. It was the first season that the competition is referred to as the United Rugby Championship, having previously been known as the Pro14.[1]

2021–22 United Rugby Championship
CountriesIreland Ireland
Italy Italy
Scotland Scotland
South Africa South Africa
Wales Wales
Date24 September 2021 – 18 June 2022
ChampionsSouth Africa Stormers (1st title)
Runners-upSouth Africa Bulls
Matches played151
Highest attendance32,411 Leinster vs. Munster (21 May 2022)
Tries scored906
(average 6 per match)
Top point scorerSouth Africa Chris Smith (Bulls) 153
Top try scorerSouth Africa Leolin Zas (Stormers)
South Africa Marcell Coetzee (Bulls) 11
Official website
unitedrugby.com

Sixteen teams competed in this season – four Irish teams: Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster; two Italian teams: Benetton and Zebre Parma; two Scottish teams: Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors (with Scottish and Italian teams in a shared regional pool); four South African teams: Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers; and four Welsh teams: Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets. It is the first season in which URC Regional Shields (Irish, Welsh, South African and Scottish-Italian) will be awarded as separate trophies to the leading sides in each nation or region.

The tournament consisted of 18 rounds. 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). 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.[2] There is only one main league table (the conference system used in previous Pro14 years has been dropped). 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.[2]

A total of eight sides qualified for the following season's European Rugby Champions Cup, while the remaining eight sides will play in the EPCR Challenge Cup. All points won in the competition contributed to rankings in the regional pools, with the top side in each regional pool automatically qualifying for the European Rugby Champions Cup. The remaining four places went then go to the highest ranked teams in the main table (who haven't already qualified). A similar format was used to determine playoff contenders in the Super Rugby competition. This will see the South African sides in the competition qualifying for a European competition for the first time (subject to finalisation of contract terms), as previous South African participants – the Cheetahs and Southern Kings – were ineligible for European competitions.[3]

United Rugby Championship

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Team Country Coach /
Director of Rugby 		Captain Stadium Capacity
Benetton   Italy   Marco Bortolami   Dewaldt Duvenage
  Michele Lamaro 		Stadio Comunale di Monigo 5,000
Bulls   South Africa   Jake White   Marcell Coetzee Loftus Versfeld 51,762
Cardiff   Wales   Dai Young   Josh Turnbull Cardiff Arms Park 12,125
Connacht   Ireland   Andy Friend   Jack Carty Galway Sportsgrounds 8,129
Dragons   Wales   Dean Ryan   Rhodri Williams Rodney Parade 8,700
Edinburgh   Scotland   Mike Blair   Grant Gilchrist
  Stuart McInally 		Edinburgh Rugby Stadium
Murrayfield Stadium 		7,800
67,144
Glasgow Warriors   Scotland   Danny Wilson   Fraser Brown
  Ryan Wilson 		Scotstoun Stadium 7,351
Leinster   Ireland   Leo Cullen   Johnny Sexton RDS Arena 18,500
Lions   South Africa   Ivan van Rooyen   Burger Odendaal Ellis Park Stadium 62,567
Munster   Ireland   Johann van Graan   Peter O'Mahony Thomond Park
Musgrave Park 		25,600
8,008
Ospreys   Wales   Toby Booth   Justin Tipuric Swansea.com Stadium 20,827
Scarlets   Wales   Dwayne Peel   Jonathan Davies Parc y Scarlets 14,870
Sharks   South Africa   Sean Everitt   Lukhanyo Am
  Phepsi Buthelezi 		Kings Park Stadium 52,000
Stormers   South Africa   John Dobson   Salmaan Moerat
  Ernst van Rhyn 		Cape Town Stadium 55,000
Ulster   Ireland   Dan McFarland   Iain Henderson Ravenhill Stadium 18,196
Zebre Parma   Italy   Fabio Roselli[4]   Giulio Bisegni Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi 5,000

URC – Regional Shields Pools Tables

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The Regional Shield pools of the regular season are the primary mechanism by which teams qualify for European competition, with the 'Shield winner' of each regional pool guaranteed qualification for the European Rugby Champions Cup, ensuring at least one South African, one Welsh and one Irish side qualify for the premier European competition. As Scotland and Italy are sharing a single regional pool, at least one team from those two countries combined is also guaranteed entry, but neither country individually is so guaranteed.

The remaining four places will be awarded to those with the four best overall regular season records, regardless of which pool they take part in. As such, it is possible that a team will qualify for the ERCC without reaching the URC play-offs by topping its pool, but finishing ninth or lower overall; conversely, it is also possible that a team could win the entire URC championship from seventh or eighth seed in the overall championship table, but fail to qualify for the ERCC because teams below them topped their respective pools. Since each pool has only four teams, this means in effect that the top 6 in the overall table are guaranteed entry into the Champions Cup, with the final two places dependent on the placement of the two lowest ranked pool shield winners.[5]

2021–22 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield Pools view · watch · edit · discuss
Irish Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts
1   Leinster 18 13 0 5 546 276 +270 73 31 11 4 67
2   Ulster 18 12 0 6 412 297 +115 52 34 7 4 59
3   Munster 18 11 0 7 524 341 +183 66 34 8 4 56
4   Connacht 18 9 0 9 399 502 –103 51 67 4 1 41
Scottish/Italian Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts
1   Edinburgh 18 10 1 7 421 318 +103 55 37 8 4 54
2   Glasgow Warriors 18 10 0 8 409 376 +33 53 44 7 3 50
3   Benetton 18 6 1 11 425 501 –76 53 67 6 3 35
4   Zebre Parma 18 1 0 17 261 630 –369 32 90 2 3 9
South African Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts
1   Stormers 18 12 2 4 464 311 +153 60 36 7 2 61
2   Bulls 18 11 0 7 518 388 +130 67 42 10 4 58
3   Sharks 18 11 1 6 510 365 +145 60 43 9 2 57
4   Lions 18 8 0 10 408 450 –42 48 55 7 2 41
Welsh Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts
1   Ospreys 18 10 0 8 422 474 –52 46 62 4 2 46
2   Scarlets 18 8 0 10 494 534 –40 65 73 10 3 45
3   Cardiff 18 7 0 11 369 577 –208 41 72 3 1 32
4   Dragons 18 2 1 15 305 547 –242 36 71 3 6 19
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[6]
  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 indicates Shield winner teams guaranteed a place in the 2022–23 European Champions Cup
Bold : Regional Shield winner.

United Rugby Championship table

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The overall United Rugby Championship table is the central pillar of the regular season, and the mechanism by which the teams qualifying for the Championship play-off bracket are decided. The top eight teams in the table at the end of the regular season, regardless of regional pool, qualify for the play-off quarter-finals, seeded in the order they finished the regular season.

The overall table also provides the secondary path to qualification for the European Rugby Champions Cup, with the four highest-ranked teams not already qualified as Shield winners gaining qualification.

2021–22 United Rugby Championship Table watch · edit · discuss
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
1   Leinster 18 13 0 5 546 276 +270 73 31 11 4 67
2   Stormers (CH) 18 12 2 4 464 311 +153 60 36 7 2 61
3   Ulster 18 12 0 6 412 297 +115 52 34 7 4 59
4   Bulls (RU) 18 11 0 7 518 388 +130 67 42 10 4 58
5   Sharks 18 11 1 6 510 365 +145 60 43 9 2 57
6   Munster 18 11 0 7 524 341 +183 66 34 8 4 56
7   Edinburgh 18 10 1 7 421 318 +103 56 37 8 4 54
8   Glasgow Warriors 18 10 0 8 409 376 +33 53 44 7 3 50
9   Ospreys 18 10 0 8 422 474 –52 46 62 4 2 46
10   Scarlets 18 8 0 10 494 534 –40 65 73 10 3 45
11   Connacht 18 9 0 9 399 502 –103 51 67 4 1 41
12   Lions 18 8 0 10 408 450 –42 48 55 7 2 41
13   Benetton 18 6 1 11 425 501 –76 53 67 6 3 35
14   Cardiff 18 7 0 11 369 577 –208 41 72 3 1 32
15   Dragons 18 2 1 15 305 547 –242 36 71 3 6 19
16   Zebre Parma 18 1 0 17 261 630 –369 32 90 2 3 9
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[7]
  1. number of matches won;
  2. number of matches drawn;
  3. the difference between points for and points against;
  4. the number of tries scored;
  5. the most points scored;
  6. the difference between tries for and tries against;
  7. the fewest red cards received;
  8. the fewest yellow cards received.
Green background indicates teams that are playoff places that top their regional pools and earn a place in the 2022–23 European Champions Cup

Blue background indicates teams that did not top their regional pool but are in play-off places and earn a place in the 2022–23 European Champions Cup
Pink background indicates teams that did not top their regional pool or earn a place in the 2022–23 European Champions Cup, but are in play-off places.
Yellow background indicates teams that top their regional pool and earn a place in the 2022–23 European Champions Cup, but are not in a play-off place
Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2022–23 European Challenge Cup.

(q) : qualified for the play-offs;

(S) : winner of the Regional Shield and qualified for the 2022–23 European Rugby Champions Cup;

(e) : qualified for the 2022–23 European Challenge Cup

(1 BP) Ospreys  50–31  Dragons (1 BP)
Try: Smith 18' m
Morris (3) 27' c, 38' c, 54' c
Morgan-Williams (2) 32' c, 67' c
Parry 70' c
Con: Anscombe (6) 29', 33', 39', 54', 68', 71'
Pen: Anscombe 2'		ReportTry: Rosser 6' c
Warren 9' c
Doge 23' c
L. Jones 80' c
Con: Reed (3) 7', 10', 25'
S. Davies 80'
Pen: Reed 21'
Benetton  17–61  Leinster (1 BP)
Try: Piantella 51' c
L. Cannone 77' c
Con: Smith (2) 52', 77'
Pen: Smith 12'		ReportTry: Deegan 6' c
Cronin (2) 23' c, 48' c
Larmour 29' c
R. Byrne 36' c
Tracy (2) 55' c, 72' m
J. O'Brien (2) 65' c, 80+1' c
Con: R. Byrne (7) 7', 24', 29', 37', 49', 56', 64'
J. O'Brien 80+2'
(1 BP) Bulls  46–29  Benetton
Try: Brink 25' m
Arendse (2) 40+1' c, 49' c
Coetzee 60' c
Moodie 75' c
Matanzima 80' c
Con: Smith (3) 40+2', 50', 61'
Steyn (2) 75', 80+1'
Pen: Smith (2) 48', 69'		ReportTry: Menoncello (2) 11' c, 77' c
Con: Smith (2) 12', 77'
Pen: Smith (5) 7', 19', 32', 45', 65'
(1 BP) Ospreys  54–36  Scarlets (1 BP)
Try: Smith 16' c
Morris 27' c
Giles 45' c
Lake (2) 50' m, 54' c
Collins 58' c
Watkin 69' c
Parry 80' c
Con: Anscombe (7) 18', 28', 47', 56', 59', 70', 80'		ReportTry: G. Davies 20' c
Conbeer (3) 24' c, 34' c, 76' m
Hardy 72' c
Con: Costelow (3) 21', 25', 35'
Patchell 72'
Pen: Costelow 8'
(1 BP) Benetton  69–21  Cardiff
Try: L. Cannone 13' c
Albornoz (2) 16' c, 50' m
Lamaro 20' c
Braley (2) 32' c, 55' c
Smith (2) 68' c, 77' c
Ruzza 70' m
Pettinelli 73' c
Con: Smith (8) 14', 18', 20', 33', 57', 70', 74', 78'
Pen: Smith 25'		ReportTry: Carré (2) 37' c, 45' c
Llewellyn 61' c
Con: Priestland (3) 38', 46', 61'
Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
         
1   Leinster 76
8   Glasgow Warriors 14
1   Leinster 26
4   Bulls 27
4   Bulls 30
5   Sharks 27
4   Bulls 13
2   Stormers 18
2   Stormers 28
7   Edinburgh 17
2   Stormers 17
3   Ulster 15
3   Ulster 36
6   Munster 17

The play-off draw was seeded by final finishing position in the regular season table

Leinster  76–14  Glasgow Warriors
Try: Sheehan (2) 16' c, 39' m
Larmour (2) 20' c, 64' m
N. McCarthy 24' c
Doris 43' c
Alaalatoa 48' c
Gibson-Park 54' c
Ringrose 57' m
Frawley 69' c
McGrath 71' c
J. O'Brien 77' m
Con: R. Byrne (8) 17', 20', 26', 44', 49', 55', 70', 71'		ReportTry: Z. Fagerson 5' c
Horne 60' c
Con: Thompson (2) 5', 60'

The first United Rugby Championship Final was an all-South African derby, ensuring the first ever South African winner of the tournament, the Bulls having narrowly missed out on winning the transitional Pro14 Rainbow Cup competition. It also marked the first time in the history of the competition that a Grand final play-off match has not included at least one Irish province, a run of 14 finals.[108]

Club Home
games 		Total Average Highest Lowest % Capacity
  Benetton 0 0 0 0 0 0%
  Bulls 9 35,782 5,112 19,436 2,000 9.88%
  Cardiff 4 29,372 7,343 8,194 5,292 60.56%
  Connacht 8[b] 40,140 5,018 9,875 3,007 48.93%
  Dragons 4 22,671 5,668 6,398 5,043 65.15%
  Edinburgh 5 46,852 5,666 24,187 5,330 72.64%
  Glasgow Warriors 0 0 0 0 0 0%
  Leinster 11 155,512 14,138 32,411 8,559 60.32%[c]
  Lions 0 0 0 0 0 0%
  Munster 9 102,101 11,345 20,657 5,000 66.09%[d]
  Ospreys 4 22,426 5,607 5,767 5,286 26.92%
  Scarlets 3 20,234 6,745 7,824 6,074 45.36%
  Sharks 0 0 0 21,832 0 0%
  Stormers 0 0 0 0 0 0%
  Ulster 8[e] 91,752 11,469 16,274 9,542 63.03%
  Zebre Parma 5 7,700 1,540 2,000 1,300 30.80%
Date Game Stadium Attendance
21 May 2022 Leinster (H) v Munster Aviva Stadium 32,411[103]
18 June 2022 Stormers (H) v Bulls Cape Town Stadium 31,000
11 June 2022 Stormers (H) v Ulster Cape Town Stadium 30,000
21 May 2022 Edinburgh (H) v Glasgow Murrayfield Stadium 24,187
23 April 2022 Sharks (H) v Leinster Kings Park Stadium 21,832[110][92]
2 April 2022 Munster (H) v Leinster Thomond Park 20,657[86]
2 April 2022 Bulls (H) v Ulster Loftus Versfeld Stadium 19,436[84]

End of Season Awards

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The 2021–22 United Rugby Championship Dream team is:[111]

Pos Player Team
FB 15   Warrick Gelant   Stormers
RW 14   Seabelo Senatla   Stormers
OC 13   James Hume   Ulster
IC 12   Damian Willemse   Stormers
LW 11   Leolin Zas   Stormers
FH 10   Ross Byrne   Leinster
SH 9   Craig Casey   Munster
N8 8   Evan Roos   Stormers
OF 7   Nick Timoney   Ulster
BF 6   Marcell Coetzee   Bulls
RL 5   Ruan Nortjé   Bulls
LL 4   Jean Kleyn   Munster
TP 3   Thomas du Toit   Sharks
HK 2   Johan Grobbelaar   Bulls
LP 1   Ox Nché   Sharks

The 2021–22 URC award winners were:[112]

Award Winner
Players' Player of the Season   Evan Roos (Stormers)
Next-Gen Player of the Season   Evan Roos (Stormers)
Fans' Player of the Season   Evan Roos (Stormers)
Golden Boot   Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys)
Top Try Scorer   Leolin Zas (Stormers)
Tackle Machine   Alan O'Connor (Ulster)
Turnover King   Jac Morgan (Ospreys)
Ironman Award   Ruan Nortjé (Bulls)
Coach of the Season   Leo Cullen (Leinster)

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.

The following referees have officiated at least one match during the 2021–22 season. Numbers in brackets denote the number of matches officiated during 2021–22. Correct as on fixtures played on 18 June 2022.

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  1. ^ a b c d Reduced stadium capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions.
  2. ^ Excludes one match in which an official attendance was not reported.
  3. ^ Includes two matches at 51,700 cap Aviva Stadium.
  4. ^ Includes one match in which Thomond Park attendance was limited to 5000 and two matches at 8,008 capacity Musgrave Park.
  5. ^ Excludes two matches in which an official attendance was not reported.