Pro14 Rainbow Cup
{{Short description|Professional rugby union end-of-season cup competition}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox rugby union season
| image = Pro14 Rainbow Cup.png
| countries = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ireland
{{flagicon|ITA}} Italy
{{flagicon|SCO}} Scotland
{{flagicon|WAL}} Wales
{{flagicon|RSA}} South Africa
| date = 23 April 2021 – 19 June 2021
| champions = {{flagicon|ITA}} Benetton
| runnersup = {{flagicon|RSA}} Bulls
| matches = 40
| attendance =
| highest attendance =
| lowest attendance =
| top point scorer =
| top try scorer =
| website = www.pro14.rugby
| prevseason = 2020–21
| nextseason = 2021–22
}}
File:Finale Rainbow Cup 2021 Benetton Treviso WINS.jpg
File:Finale Rainbow Cup 2021- Benetton Treviso vs Vodacom Blue Bulls-233 (51262041404).jpg
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.
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.{{cite news|url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/pro14/guinness-pro14-rainbow-cup-questions-answers|title=Guinness PRO14 & Rainbow Cup - Questions & Answers|date=23 December 2020|work=GuinnessPro14|access-date=4 April 2021}}
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.{{cite news|url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/pro14/guinness-pro14-to-conclude-in-march-ahead-of-rainbow-cup-with-south-africa-super-teams|title=Guinness PRO14 to Conclude in March Ahead of Rainbow Cup with South Africa's Super Teams|date=23 December 2020|work=GuinnessPro14|access-date=21 February 2021}}
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.
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.{{Cite web|title=Franchise Cup back to just that – a contest between franchises|url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/sport/franchise-cup-back-to-just-that-a-contest-between-franchises-20210206|access-date=2021-10-08|website=www.news24.com|language=en}}
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.{{Cite web|title=Dual Tournament Approach to Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup|url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/news/dual-tournament-approach|access-date=2021-04-21|website=www.pro14.rugby|language=en}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/news/revised-pro14-rainbow-cup-sa-schedule-confirmed|title=Revised PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA schedule confirmed}}
A final between the best placed Northern and Southern Hemisphere teams followed both tournaments on 19 June.{{Cite news|title=Europe to host Pro14 Rainbow Cup final|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/57120372|access-date=2021-05-14}}
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.{{cite news|url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/news/law-trials-confirmed-for-guinness-pro14-rainbow-cup|title=Law Trials confirmed for Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup|work=Pro14|date=15 April 2021|access-date=15 April 2021}}
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.{{cite web | url=https://www.balls.ie/rugby/captains-challenge-munster-cardiff-471056 | title=Uproar as CJ Stander's Captain Challenge Ends Game }}{{cite web | url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/rugby-union-captains-challenge-farcical-20704880 | title=Munster v Cardiff Blues proved Captain's Challenge needs to be scrapped | date=29 May 2021 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.the42.ie/the42-rugby-weekly-extra-2-5453164-May2021/ | title='The trial hasn't worked. I don't think it's going to feature beyond the Rainbow Cup' }}
World Rugby adopted the goal-line drop-out law more widely in the 2021–22 season and it has since become permanent.{{cite web | url=https://www.world.rugby/news/714829/world-rugby-confirms-adoption-of-welfare-driven-laws | title=World Rugby confirms adoption of welfare-driven laws | World Rugby }}
Teams
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin: 1em auto;" | |
| {{Location map+ |United Kingdom and Ireland|width=350|float=center|caption=Location of Pro14 Rainbow Cup teams in Great Britain and Ireland.|places=
{{Location map~ |United Kingdom and Ireland|lat=53.279 |long=-9.0397 |label=Connacht|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=right}} {{Location map~ |United Kingdom and Ireland|lat=53.325556|long=-6.229444|label=Leinster|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=bottom}} {{Location map~ |United Kingdom and Ireland|lat=52.674167|long=-8.6425 |label=Munster|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=right}} {{Location map~ |United Kingdom and Ireland|lat=54.576389|long=-5.904444|label_size=80|label=Ulster|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=left}} {{Location map~ |United Kingdom and Ireland|lat=55.927792|long=-3.223548|label_size=80|label=Edinburgh|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=right}} {{Location map~ |United Kingdom and Ireland|lat=55.881137|long=-4.34181 |label_size=80|label=Glasgow Warriors|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=top}} {{Location map~ |United Kingdom and Ireland|lat=51.479722|long=-3.183611|label_size=80|label=Blues|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=bottom}} {{Location map~ |United Kingdom and Ireland|lat=51.588333|long=-2.987778|label_size=80|label=Dragons|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=top}} {{Location map~ |United Kingdom and Ireland|lat=51.6422 |long=-3.9351 |label_size=80|label=Ospreys|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=bottom}} {{Location map~ |United Kingdom and Ireland|lat=51.679167|long=-4.129167|label_size=80|label=Scarlets|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=top}} }} | {{Location map+ |Italy North|AlternativeMap=Italy North location map.svg|width=350|float=center|caption=Location of Pro14 Rainbow Cup teams in Italy.|places=
{{location map~ |Italy North|lat=45.680278|long=12.213333|label=Benetton|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=left}} {{location map~ |Italy North|lat=44.826111|long=10.328889|label=Zebre|mark=Blue pog.svg|position=right}} }} {{Location map+ |South Africa |AlternativeMap=South Africa location map.svg|width=350|float=center|caption=Location of PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA teams.|places= {{location map~ |South Africa |lat=-25.753333|long=28.222778|label=Bulls|mark=Red pog.svg|position=right}} {{location map~ |South Africa |lat=-29.828 |long=31.031 |label=Sharks|mark=Red pog.svg|position=right}} {{location map~ |South Africa |lat=-26.1975 |long=28.060833|label=Lions|mark=Red pog.svg|position=left}} {{location map~ |South Africa |lat=-33.970556|long=18.468333|label=Stormers|mark=Red pog.svg|position=left}} }} |
=PRO14 Rainbow Cup=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Team
! Country ! Coach / ! Captain ! Stadium ! Capacity |
|---|
| Benetton
| {{sort|Italy|{{flagicon|ITA}} Italy}} | {{sort|Crowley, Kieran|{{flagicon|NZL}} Kieran Crowley}} | {{sort|Sgarbi, Alberto|{{flagicon|RSA}} Dewaldt Duvenage}} | style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|06,700|6,700}} |
| {{sort|Cardiff Blues|Cardiff Blues}}
| {{sort|Wales|{{flagicon|WAL}} Wales}} | {{sort|Young, Dai|{{flagicon|WAL}} Dai Young}} | {{sort|Jenkins, Ellis|{{flagicon|WAL}} Ellis Jenkins}} | style="text-align:center;"| 12,125 |
| {{sort|Connacht|Connacht}}
| {{sort|Ireland|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ireland}} | {{sort|Friend, Andy|{{flagicon|AUS}} Andy Friend}} | {{sort|Butler, Jarrad|{{flagicon|AUS}} Jarrad Butler}} | style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|08,129|8,129}} |
| {{sort|Dragons (rugby union)|Dragons}}
| {{sort|Wales|{{flagicon|WAL}} Wales}} | {{sort|Ryan, Dean|{{flagicon|ENG}} Dean Ryan}} | {{sort|Williams, Rhodri|{{flagicon|WAL}} Rhodri Williams}} | style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|08,700|8,700}} |
| {{sort|Edinburgh|Edinburgh}}
| {{sort|Scotland|{{flagicon|SCO}} Scotland}} | {{sort|Cockerill, Richard|{{flagicon|ENG}} Richard Cockerill}} | {{sort|McInally, Stuart|{{flagicon|SCO|rugby union}} Stuart McInally}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|67,144|67,144}} |
| {{sort|Glasgow Warriors|Glasgow Warriors}}
| {{sort|Scotland|{{flagicon|SCO}} Scotland}} | {{sort|Wilson, Danny|{{flagicon|ENG}} Danny Wilson}} | {{sort|Brown, Fraser|{{flagicon|SCO|rugby union}} Fraser Brown}} | style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|07,7351|7,351}} |
| {{sort|Leinster|Leinster}}
| {{sort|Ireland|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ireland}} | {{sort|Cullen, Leo|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leo Cullen}} | {{sort|Sexton, Johnny|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Johnny Sexton}} | style="text-align:center;"| 18,500 |
| {{sort|Munster|Munster}}
| {{sort|Ireland|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ireland}} | {{sort|Van Graan, Johann|{{flagicon|RSA}} Johann van Graan}} | {{sort|O'Mahony, Peter|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Peter O'Mahony}} | style="text-align:center;"| 25,600 |
| {{sort|Ospreys|Ospreys}}
| {{sort|Wales|{{flagicon|WAL}} Wales}} | {{sort|Booth, Toby|{{flagicon|ENG|rugby union}} Toby Booth}} | {{sort|Tipuric, Justin|{{flagicon|WAL}} Justin Tipuric}} | style="text-align:center;"| 20,827 |
| {{sort|Scarlets|Scarlets}}
| {{sort|Wales|{{flagicon|WAL}} Wales}} | {{sort|Delaney, Glenn|{{flagicon|NZL}} Glenn Delaney}} | {{sort|Owens, Ken|{{flagicon|WAL}} Ken Owens}} | style="text-align:center;"| 14,870 |
| {{sort|Ulster|Ulster}}
| {{sort|Ireland|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ireland}} | {{sort|McFarland, Dan|{{flagicon|ENG}} Dan McFarland}} | {{sort|Henderson, Iain|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Iain Henderson}} | style="text-align:center;"| 18,196 |
| {{sort|Zebre|Zebre}}
| {{sort|Italy|{{flagicon|ITA}} Italy}} | {{sort|Bradley, Michael|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Michael Bradley}} | {{sort|Castello, Tommaso|{{flagicon|ITA}} Tommaso Castello}} | style="text-align:center;"| 5,000 |
=PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Team
! Country ! Coach / ! Captain ! Stadium ! Capacity |
|---|
| Bulls
| {{sort|South Africa|{{flagicon|RSA}} South Africa}} | {{sort|White, Jake|{{flagicon|RSA}} Jake White}} | {{sort|Vermeulen, Duane|{{flagicon|RSA}} Duane Vermeulen}} | style="text-align:center;"| 51,762 |
| {{sort|Lions (Super Rugby)|Lions}}
| {{sort|South Africa|{{flagicon|RSA}} South Africa}} | {{sort|Van Rooyen, Ivan|{{flagicon|RSA}} Ivan van Rooyen}} | {{sort|Kriel, Dan|{{flagicon|RSA}} Dan Kriel}} | style="text-align:center;"| 62,567 |
| {{sort|Sharks|Sharks}}
| {{sort|South Africa|{{flagicon|RSA}} South Africa}} | {{sort|Everitt, Sean|{{flagicon|RSA}} Sean Everitt}} | {{sort|Am, Lukhanyo|{{flagicon|RSA}} Lukhanyo Am}} | style="text-align:center;"| 52,000 |
| {{sort|Stormers|Stormers}}
| {{sort|South Africa|{{flagicon|RSA}} South Africa}} | {{sort|Dobson, John|{{flagicon|RSA}} John Dobson}} | {{sort|Kitshoff, Steven|{{flagicon|RSA}} Steven Kitshoff}} | style="text-align:center;"| 55,000 |
Tables
{{Pro14 Rainbow Cup table}}
{{Pro14 Rainbow Cup SA table}}
PRO14 Rainbow Cup
All kickoff times are local.
League stage
=Round 1=
{{Rugbybox
|date = 23 April 2021
|time = 20:15
|home = (2 BP) Ulster {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}}
|score = 24–26
|report = [https://www.unitedrugby.com/match-centre/12021/rainbow-cup/ulster-vs-connacht-2021-04-23/367011 Report]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4kQGv00qgs&t=25s Highlights]
|away = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Connacht (1 BP)
|try1 = Stockdale 23'
Herring 29' c
Burns 44'
Shanahan 72' c
|try2 = Boyle 7' c
Blade (2) 50' c 63 c
Sullivan 80+3'
|con2 = Carty 8'
Daly (2) 52' 64'
|stadium = Ravenhill Stadium
|attendance =
|referee = Andrew Brace
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 23 April 2021
|time = 20:15
|home = Edinburgh {{flagicon|SCO}}
|score = 24–18
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|ITA}} Zebre (1 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Murrayfield
|attendance =
|referee = Ben Whitehouse
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 24 April 2021
|time = 14:00
|home = (1 BP) Benetton {{flagicon|ITA}}
|score = 46–19
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|SCO}} Glasgow Warriors
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Stadio Comunale di Monigo
|attendance =
|referee = Marius Mitrea
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 24 April 2021
|time = 17:15
|home = (1 BP) Ospreys {{flagicon|WAL}}
|score = 36–14
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|WAL}} Cardiff Blues
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Liberty Stadium
|attendance =
|referee = Sam Grove-White
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 24 April 2021
|time = 19:35
|home = Leinster {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}}
|score = 3–27
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Munster
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = RDS Arena
|attendance =
|referee = Chris Busby
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 25 April 2021
|time = 13:00
|home = (1 BP) Dragons {{flagicon|WAL}}
|score = 52–32
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|WAL}} Scarlets (1 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Rodney Parade
|attendance =
|referee = Craig Evans
}}
=Round 2=
{{Rugbybox
|date = 7 May 2021
|time = 19:00
|home = (1 BP) Zebre {{flagicon|ITA}}
|score = 20–25
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|ITA}} Benetton
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 7 May 2021
|time = 20:15
|home = (1 BP) Munster {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}}
|score = 38–10
|report = [https://www.unitedrugby.com/match-centre/12021/rainbow-cup/munster-vs-ulster-2021-05-07/367024 Report]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wAzmTj9NZk Highlights]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyKzKaHRp7o Full game]
|away = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ulster
|try1 = Scannell (2) 10' c 54' c
Murray 26'
Haley c
Hanrahan 57' c
Conway 78'
|con1 = Hanrahan (4) 11' 40+1' 55' 59'
|try2 = Henderson 43'
|con2 = Lowry 45'
|pen2 = Lowry 2'
|stadium = Thomond Park
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 7 May 2021
|time = 20:15
|home = (1 BP) Glasgow Warriors {{flagicon|SCO}}
|score = 29–19
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|SCO}} Edinburgh
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Scotstoun Stadium
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 8 May 2021
|time = 19:35
|home = Connacht {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}}
|score = 21–50
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster (1 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Galway Sportsgrounds
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 8 May 2021
|time = 19:35
|home = Scarlets {{flagicon|WAL}}
|score = 22–6
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|WAL}} Ospreys
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Parc y Scarlets
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 9 May 2021
|time = 13:00
|home = Cardiff Blues {{flagicon|WAL}}
|score = 17–16
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|WAL}} Dragons (1 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Cardiff Arms Park
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
=Round 3=
{{Rugbybox
|date = 14 May 2021
|time = 18:00
|home = (1 BP) Munster {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}}
|score = 20–24
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Connacht
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Thomond Park
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 14 May 2021
|time = 20:15
|home = Leinster {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}}
|score = 21–17
|report = [https://www.unitedrugby.com/match-centre/12021/rainbow-cup/leinster-vs-ulster-2021-05-14/367034 Report]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuRWwQpU2-I Highlights]
|away = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ulster (1 BP)
|try1 = Healy 25' c
Conan 53' c
Henshaw 61' c
|con1 = Ringrose (3) 25' 54' 62'
|try2 = Baloucoune 18' c
Gilroy 79' c
|pen2 = Burns 51'
|stadium = RDS Arena
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 15 May 2021
|time = 15:00
|home = (1 BP) Scarlets {{flagicon|WAL}}
|score = 28–29
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|WAL}} Cardiff Blues (1 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Parc y Scarlets
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 15 May 2021
|time = 18:15
|home = (1 BP) Benetton {{flagicon|ITA}}
|score = 34–27
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|ITA}} Zebre (1 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Stadio Comunale di Monigo
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 15 May 2021
|time = 19:35
|home = (1 BP) Edinburgh {{flagicon|SCO}}
|score = 24–31
|report =
|away = {{nobreak|{{flagicon|SCO}} Glasgow Warriors}} (1 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Murrayfield
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 16 May 2021
|time = 13:00
|home = (1 BP) Dragons {{flagicon|WAL}}
|score = 26–42
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|WAL}} Ospreys (1 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Rodney Parade
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
=Round 4=
{{Rugbybox
|date = 28 May 2021
|time = 19:35
|home = (1 BP) Munster {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}}
|score = 31–27
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|WAL}} Cardiff Blues (1 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Thomond Park
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 29 May 2021
|time = 15:00
|home = Ulster {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}}
|score =Cancelled
0–0{{efn|Ulster Rugby returned several positive COVID-19 tests and were therefore unable to field a team.
Scarlets awarded four match points.}}
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|WAL}} Scarlets
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Ravenhill Stadium
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 29 May 2021
|time = 18:15
|home = Benetton {{flagicon|ITA}}
|score = 20–12
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Connacht
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Stadio Comunale di Monigo
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 29 May 2021
|time = 19:35
|home = Dragons {{flagicon|WAL}}
|score = 16–27
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|SCO}} Glasgow Warriors (1 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium =Cardiff City Stadium
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{rubye|{{flagicon|SCO}} Edinburgh, {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster, {{flagicon|WAL}} Ospreys, {{flagicon|ITA}} Zebre}}
=Round 5=
{{Rugbybox
|date = 4 June 2021
|time = 18:00
|home = (1 BP) Connacht {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}}
|score = 26–19
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|WAL}} Ospreys (1 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = The Sportsground
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 4 June 2021
|time = 20:15
|home = Glasgow Warriors {{flagicon|SCO}}
|score = 15–12
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Leinster (1 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Scotstoun Stadium
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 5 June 2021
|time =17:15
|home = (2 BP) Edinburgh {{flagicon|SCO}}
|score = 31–34
|report = [https://www.unitedrugby.com/match-centre/12021/rainbow-cup/edinburgh-vs-ulster-2021-06-05/367051 Report]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cycxfqLm45A Highlights]
|away = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ulster (1 BP)
|try1 = Van der Merwe 3'
Kinghorn 7' c
Schoeman 67' c
Hutchison 73' c
Sau 76'
|con1 = Kinghorn (3) 8' 67' 74'
|try2 = Hume 12' c
Henderson 19' c
McCloskey 27' c
McBurney 38'
Lyttle 47'
|con2 = Madigan (3) 13' 19' 28'
|pen2 = Madigan 80+1'
|stadium = Murrayfield
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 5 June 2021
|time =19:35
|home = (1 BP) Cardiff Blues {{flagicon|WAL}}
|score = 37–12
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|ITA}} Zebre
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Cardiff Arms Park
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{rubye|{{flagicon|ITA}} Benetton, {{flagicon|WAL}} Dragons, {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Munster, {{flagicon|WAL}} Scarlets}}
=Round 6=
{{Rugbybox
|date = 11 June 2021
|time = 19:00
|home = Zebre {{flagicon|ITA}}
|score = 11–54
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Munster (1 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 11 June 2021
|time = 20:15
|home = (1 BP) Leinster {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}}
|score = 38–7
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|WAL}} Dragons
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = RDS Arena
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 12 June 2021
|time = 19:35
|home = Ospreys {{flagicon|WAL}}
|score = Cancelled
0–0{{efn|Ospreys returned several positive COVID-19 tests and were therefore unable to field a team.
Benetton awarded four match points.}}
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|ITA}} Benetton
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium =Brewery Field
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 13 June 2021
|time = 13:00
|home = (1 BP) Scarlets {{flagicon|WAL}}
|score = 28–28
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|SCO}} Edinburgh (1 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Parc y Scarlets
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{rubye|{{flagicon|WAL}} Cardiff Blues, {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Connacht, {{flagicon|SCO}} Glasgow Warriors, {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ulster}}
PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA
All kickoff times are local.
League stage
=Round 1=
{{Rugbybox
|date = 1 May 2021
|time = 14:00
|home = {{nobreak|(1 BP) Stormers {{flagicon|RSA}}}}
|score = {{nobreak|30–33}}
|report =
|away = {{nobreak|{{flagicon|RSA}} Sharks (1 BP)}}
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Cape Town Stadium
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 1 May 2021
|time = 19:00
|home = Bulls {{flagicon|RSA}}
|score = 22–9
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|RSA}} Lions
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Loftus Versfeld
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
=Round 2=
{{Rugbybox
|date = 8 May 2021
|time = 16:00
|home = {{nobreak|(1 BP) Sharks {{flagicon|RSA}}}}
|score = 34–26
|report =
|away = {{nobreak|{{flagicon|RSA}} Lions}} (1 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Kings Park Stadium
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 8 May 2021
|time = 18:15
|home = {{nobreak|(1 BP) Stormers {{flagicon|RSA}}}}
|score = 16–20
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|RSA}} Bulls
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Cape Town Stadium
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
=Round 3=
{{Rugbybox
|date = 15 May 2021
|time = 13:30
|home = (2 BP) Lions {{flagicon|RSA}}
|score = 37–39
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|RSA}} Stormers (1 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Ellis Park Stadium
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 15 May 2021
|time = 18:15
|home = (1 BP) Bulls {{flagicon|RSA}}
|score = 43-9
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|RSA}} Sharks
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Loftus Versfeld
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
=Round 4=
{{Rugbybox
|date = 22 May 2021
|time = 13:00
|home = (1 BP) Sharks {{flagicon|RSA}}
|score = 22–25
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|RSA}} Stormers
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Kings Park Stadium
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 22 May 2021
|time = 15:30
|home = (1 BP) Lions {{flagicon|RSA}}
|score = 34–33
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|RSA}} Bulls (2 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Ellis Park Stadium
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
=Round 5=
{{Rugbybox
|date = 4 June 2021
|time = 19:00
|home = (1 BP) Bulls {{flagicon|RSA}}
|score = 31–27
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|RSA}} Stormers (2 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Loftus Versfeld
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 5 June 2021
|time = 16:00
|home = Lions {{flagicon|RSA}}
|score = 21–33
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|RSA}} Sharks (1 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Ellis Park Stadium
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
=Round 6=
{{Rugbybox
|date = 12 June 2021
|time = 16:00
|home = Stormers {{flagicon|RSA}}
|score = Cancelled
0–0{{efn|Lions returned several positive COVID-19 tests and were therefore unable to field a team.
Stormers awarded four match points.}}
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|RSA}} Lions
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Cape Town Stadium
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 12 June 2021
|time = 18:15
|home = Sharks {{flagicon|RSA}}
|score = 22–34
|report =
|away = {{flagicon|RSA}} Bulls (1 BP)
|try1 =
|con1 =
|pen1 =
|try2 =
|con2 =
|pen2 =
|stadium = Kings Park Stadium
|attendance =
|referee =
}}
Final
The first-placed teams from each tournament, Benetton and Bulls, played in the final in Treviso.{{Cite web|title=Italy to Host Historic 'North v South' Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup Final in Treviso|url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/news/italy-to-host-historic-north-v-south-guinness-pro14-rainbow-cup-final-in-treviso|access-date=2021-05-28|website=www.pro14.rugby|language=en}} Benetton won 35–8 in front of their home crowd for a historic first win of an international competition for any Italian club.{{Cite web|title=Capolavoro Treviso! 35-8 ai Bulls, la Rainbow Cup è italiana|url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Rugby/19-06-2021/capolavoro-treviso-35-8-bulls-rainbow-cup-italiana-4102121537483.shtml|access-date=2021-06-19|website=gazzetta.it|language=it}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/57530513|title=Pro14 Rainbow Cup final: Benetton 35-8 Bulls - hosts win first major title|date=19 June 2021|work=BBC Sport|accessdate= 2 July 2021}}
{{Rugbybox
|date = 19 June 2021
|home = Benetton {{flagicon|ITA}}
|score = 35–8
|report = [https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/match-report/benetton-stun-bulls-to-win-rainbow-cup-final Report]
|away = {{flagicon|RSA}} Bulls
|try1 = Ioane 5' m
Els 31' m
Penalty try 40'
Lamaro 42' c
Padovani 57' m
|con1 = Garbisi (1/4) 43'
|pen1 = Garbisi (2/3) 20', 47'
|try2 = Tambwe 26' m
|con2 = Smith (0/1)
|pen2 = Smith (1/1) 30'
|stadium = Stadio Comunale di Monigo
|referee = Frank Murphy (IRFU)
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Notes
{{noteslist}}
External links
- [http://www.pro14rugby.org Official website]
{{United Rugby Championship}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pro12}}
Category:2020–21 in European rugby union leagues
Category:2020–21 in Irish rugby union
Category:2020–21 in Italian rugby union
Category:2020–21 in Scottish rugby union
Category:2020–21 in Welsh rugby union