About

VODACOM UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

Irish side Munster dethroned the DHL Stormers in a pulsating Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final in Cape Town on 27 May 2023, almost a year after the Capetonians became the first holders of the title by beating fellow-SA team the Vodacom Bulls in the 2022 final. Two other teams from South Africa, the Emirates Lions and Hollywoodbets Sharks, were joined by 12 clubs from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales this competition that first kicked off in September 2021. Previously, it was called the PRO12 and later PRO14. The 2022/23 season ran from September 2022, with all the teams again split into four conferences.

The history

The Championship originated in 1999 when the Welsh and Scottish unions created a competition for their teams, and in 2001 four Irish provinces were added to create the Celtic League. The ambition amongst the three unions in 2001 was to create a vibrant and competitive professional club competition that would provide their players with the best preparation for Test level rugby. In 2010, two Italian teams were welcomed as the competition began to look boldly towards a more diverse future – this was reflected in the name change to PRO12 in later seasons. In a historic move in 2017, the Championship expanded to South Africa and, in keeping with its cross-border DNA, added the Cheetahs and the Southern Kings to become a cross-hemisphere club rugby tournament known as the PRO14.

TOP SCORERS

FIXTURES

Zebre Parma

21 Oct | Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma

14:00

Ulster

Connacht

21 Oct | The Sportsground, Galway

16:00

Ospreys

Dragons RFC

21 Oct | Rodney Parade, Newport

16:05

Edinburgh

Emirates Lions

21 Oct | Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg

16:05

DHL Stormers

Cardiff Rugby

21 Oct | Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff

18:15

Benetton

RESULTS

27 May|DHL Stadium, Cape Town

DHL Stormers

14 - 19

Munster

13 May|Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Leinster

15 - 16

Munster

13 May|DHL Stadium, Cape Town

DHL Stormers

43 - 25

Connacht

06 May|Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow

Glasgow Warriors

5 - 14

Munster

06 May|Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Leinster

35 - 5

Hollywoodbets Sharks