2020 Pro14 Grand Final

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox football match

| title = 2020 Pro14 Grand Final

| image =

| event = 2019–20 Pro14

| team1 = Leinster

| team1association = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union|size=30px}}

| team1score = 27

| team2 = Ulster

| team2association = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union|size=30px}}

| team2score = 5

| details =

| date = 12 September 2020

| stadium = Aviva Stadium

| city = Dublin

| man_of_the_match1a = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Josh van der Flier

| referee = Andrew Brace (IRFU)

| Result =

| attendance = 0{{efn|group=Covid|name=Behind closed doors|This game was played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions.}}

| weather =

| previous = 2019

| next = 2021

}}

The 2020 Pro14 Grand Final was the final match of the 2019–20 Pro14 season. The 2019–20 season was the sixth with Guinness as the title sponsor, the eleventh with a grand final and the third season with 14 teams, following the admission of two Italian teams. The match was planned to be held at Cardiff City Stadium,{{cite news|url=https://www.pro14rugby.org/2019/08/22/pro14-cardiff-2020/|title=Warburton: Cardiff Will Be 'Electric' For 2020 Guinness PRO14 Final|date=22 August 2019|work=GuinnessPro14|access-date=22 August 2019}} however, on 19 March 2020, Celtic Rugby DAC cancelled the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51858815|title=Coronavirus: Pro14 final cancelled due to coronavirus|date=19 March 2020|work=BBC Sport|access-date=19 March 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/52979084|title=Pro14 to return in August with derbies|date=18 June 2020|work=BBC Sport|access-date=19 June 2020}} The re-arranged match took place on 12 September 2020 at the Aviva Stadium between defending champions Leinster and Ulster.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/54010757|title=Pro14 semi-final: Leinster 13-3 Munster - reigning champions book final place|date=4 September 2020|work=BBC Sport|access-date=10 September 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/54044900|title=Edinburgh 19-22 Ulster: Richard Cockerill says hosts 'got what we deserved'|date= 5 September 2020|work=BBC Sport|access-date=10 September 2020}} Leinster won the match 27–5 to defend their title and complete a hat-trick of title wins.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/ulster-leinster-2-5203284-Sep2020/|title=Leinster recover from slow start to land their third PRO14 title in a row|date=12 September 2020|work=The42|access-date=13 September 2020}}

Route to the final

{{main|2019–20 Pro14}}

The top two sides from each of the two conferences met in the semi-finals, with the higher placed team having home advantage. Teams placed second and third in opposite conferences would have met in the two quarter-finals, but this was scrapped this year. The play-offs took place immediately following the final round of derby fixtures.

{{Round4

|4 September 2020|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster (A1)|13|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Munster (B2)|3

|5 September 2020|{{flagicon|SCO}} Edinburgh (B1)|19|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ulster (A2)|22

|12 September 2020|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster|27|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ulster|5

}}

=Semi-finals=

{{Rugbybox

|date = 4 September 2020

|time = 19:35

|home = Leinster {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}}

|score = 13–3

|report = [https://www.the42.ie/leinster-munster-5195954-Sep2020/ Report]

|away = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Munster

|try1 = R. Kelleher 27' c

|con1 = Sexton (1/1) 28'

|pen1 = Sexton (2/3) 40', 67'

|pen2 = Hanrahan (1/3) 5'

|stadium = Aviva Stadium

|attendance = 0{{efn|group="Covid"|name="Behind closed doors"}}

|referee = Andrew Brace (IRFU)

}}

{{Rugbybox

|date = 5 September 2020

|time = 19:35

|home = Edinburgh {{flagicon|SCO}}

|score = 19–22

|report = [https://www.the42.ie/edinburgh-ulster-5196724-Sep2020/ Report]

|away = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ulster

|try1 = McInally 14' m
Graham 46' c
Dean 57' c

|con1 = Van der Walt (2/3) 47', 59'

|try2 = Lyttle 54' c
Herring 62' m
Andrew 75' c

|con2 = Burns (1/2) 55'
Madigan (1/1) 76'

|pen2 = Madigan (1/1) 80'

|stadium = Murrayfield Stadium

|attendance = 0{{efn|group="Covid"|name="Behind closed doors"}}

|referee = Frank Murphy (IRFU)

}}

Pre-match

The match was televised free-to-air by TG4 in the Republic of Ireland, and on BBC in Northern Ireland. It was also shown on Eir Sport.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro14/leinster-v-ulster-kick-off-time-tv-details-team-news-and-more-1.4351434|title=Leinster v Ulster: Kick-off time, TV details, team news and more|date=10 September 2020|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=10 September 2020}}

Final

=Summary=

=Details=

{{Rugbybox

|date = 12 September 2020

|time = 19:35

|home = Leinster {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}}

|score = 27–5

|report = [https://www.pro14.rugby/match-centre/2020/guinness-pro14/leinster-vs-ulster-2020-09-12/420241 Report]

|away = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ulster

|try1 = Lowe 12' c
Henshaw 45' c
Doris 71' c

|con1 = R. Byrne (2/2) 14', 47'
Sexton (1/1) 72'

|pen1 = R. Byrne (2/2) 26', 44'

|try2 = Hume 3' m

|stadium = Aviva Stadium

|attendance = 0{{efn|group="Covid"|name="Behind closed doors"}}

|referee = Andrew Brace (IRFU)

}}

width=92%
{{Football kit

| pattern_la = _leinster_home_18-19

| pattern_b = _leinster_home_18-19

| pattern_ra = _leinster_home_18-19

| pattern_sh = _leinster_home_18-19

| pattern_so =

| leftarm = 013c73

| body = 013c73

| rightarm = 013c73

| shorts = 013c73

| socks = 013c73

| title = Leinster

}}

|{{Football kit

| pattern_la = _ulster_home_19-20

| pattern_b = _ulster_home_19-20

| pattern_ra = _ulster_home_19-20

| pattern_sh = _ulster_home_19-20

| pattern_so = _ulster_home_19-20

| leftarm = fcfcfc

| body = fcfcfc

| rightarm = fcfcfc

| shorts = fcfcfc

| socks = fcfcfc

| title = Ulster

}}

style="width:100%;"
style="vertical-align:top; width:50%"|

{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"

width="25"|width="25"|
FB15{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Jordan Larmour
RW14{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Hugo Keenan
OC13{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Garry Ringrose (c){{suboff|67}}
IC12{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Robbie Henshaw
LW11{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} James Lowe
FH10{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ross Byrne{{suboff|59}}
SH9{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Jamison Gibson-Park{{suboff|59}}
N88{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Jack Conan
OF7{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Josh van der Flier{{suboff|72}}
BF6{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Caelan Doris
RL5{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} James Ryan{{suboff|62}}
LL4{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Devin Toner
TP3{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Andrew Porter{{suboff|62}}
HK2{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Rónan Kelleher{{suboff|59}}
LP1{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Cian Healy{{suboff|52}}
colspan=3|Substitutions:
HK16{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} James Tracy{{subon|59}}
PR17{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ed Byrne{{subon|52}}
PR18{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Michael Bent{{subon|62}}
LK19{{flagicon|AUS}} Scott Fardy{{subon|62}}
FL20{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Will Connors{{subon|72}}
SH21{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Luke McGrath{{subon|59}}
FH22{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Johnny Sexton{{subon|59}}
CE23{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Rory O'Loughlin{{subon|67}}
colspan=3|Coach:
colspan="4"|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leo Cullen

|valign="top"|

|style="vertical-align:top; width:50%"|

cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin:auto"
width="25"|width="25"|
FB15{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Michael Lowry
RW14{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Rob Lyttle
OC13{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} James Hume
IC12{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Stuart McCloskey
LW11{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Jacob Stockdale
FH10{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Billy Burns{{suboff|54}}
SH9{{flagicon|NZL}} Alby Mathewson{{suboff|47}}
N88{{flagicon|RSA}} Marcell Coetzee{{suboff|47}}
OF7{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Sean Reidy
BF6{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Matty Rea{{suboff|55}}
RL5{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Iain Henderson (c){{suboff|47}}
LL4{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Alan O'Connor
TP3{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Tom O'Toole{{suboff|55}}
HK2{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Rob Herring{{suboff|20}}{{subon|34}}{{suboff|72}}
LP1{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Eric O'Sullivan{{suboff|47}}
colspan=3|Substitutions:
HK16{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} John Andrew{{subon|20}}{{suboff|34}}{{subon|72}}
PR17{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Jack McGrath{{subon|47}}
PR18{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Marty Moore{{subon|55}}
LK19{{flagicon|AUS}} Sam Carter{{subon|47}}
BR20{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Jordi Murphy{{subon|55}}
SH21{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} John Cooney{{subon|47}}
FH22{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ian Madigan{{subon|54}}
BR23{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Nick Timoney{{subon|47}}
colspan=3|Coach:
colspan="4"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Dan McFarland

|}

width=100% style="font-size: 90%"

|

Man of the Match:


{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Josh van der Flier

Assistant referees:


George Clancy (IRFU)


Frank Murphy (IRFU)


Television match official:


Brian MacNiece (IRFU)

Notes

{{notelist|group=Covid}}

References

{{reflist}}

{{United Rugby Championship}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grand Final}}

2020

Category:2019–20 Pro14

Pro14 Grand Final

Category:Leinster Rugby matches

Category:Ulster Rugby matches