United Rugby Championship

The tournament has had a number of names as it has grown, both organisationally and because of sponsors. The current name for the tournament was adopted in 2021, when the league expanded to include four South African teams previously from the SANZAR Super Rugby competition and both sets of naming rights, BKT and Vodacom, were added in the 2022-23 season.

Beginning with the creation of the Welsh–Scottish League in 1999, the league became known as the Celtic League(Irish: An tSraith Cheilteach; Italian: La Lega Celtica; Scots Gaelic: An Lìog Cheilteach; Welsh: Y Gynghrair Geltaidd) {{cite web |title=Y Gynghrair Geltaidd |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/chwaraeon/safle/rygbi_rhanbarthol/pages/canlyniadau_celtaidd.shtml |language=cy |publisher=BBC Chwaraeon |date=28 September 2005 |access-date=7 February 2009}} when it grew to include teams from Ireland, as well as Scotland and Wales. The league was sponsored by Irish cider makers Magners from the 2006–07 season until 2010–11, and was referred to as the Magner's League (or in the Republic of Ireland the Bulmer's League as the same sponsor traded under a different name there). At the start of the 2010–11 season, the league expanded from 10 to 12 teams, by adding two Italian teams.

Following the end of Magners' sponsorship, the league was sponsored by RaboDirect from 2011–12 through to 2013–14.{{cite news|url=http://www.thescore.ie/pro12-fixtures-201415-sponsor-1563532-Jul2014/ |title=Guinness Confirmed as pro12 sponsor |publisher=The Score |date=10 July 2014 |access-date=10 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714222431/http://www.thescore.ie/pro12-fixtures-201415-sponsor-1563532-Jul2014/ |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/13127244.stm |title=Magners to end six-year Celtic League backing |work=BBC News |date=19 April 2011 |access-date=20 June 2013}} The Pro12 name for the league itself was adopted in 2011 to reflect that the league now included teams from outside the Celtic nations.{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/swansea-ospreys/2011/06/08/celtic-league-to-be-called-pro-12-as-new-sponsor-unveiled-91466-28843270/ |title=Celtic League to be called PRO 12 as new sponsor unveiled |publisher=WalesOnline |date=8 June 2011 |access-date=12 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814172119/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/swansea-ospreys/2011/06/08/celtic-league-to-be-called-pro-12-as-new-sponsor-unveiled-91466-28843270/ |archive-date=14 August 2011 }} A further expansion to 14 teams (and the subsequent renaming to Pro14) took place from the 2017–18 season, with two South African teams joining the Championship until the 2019–20 season. The sponsorship deal with Guinness began at the beginning of the 2014–15 season as the Guinness Pro14 , and concluded after the Guinness Pro14 Rainbow Cup in July 2021.{{cite web |title=PRO14 Rugby thanks Guinness for seven years of unparalleled support |url=https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/pro14/thankyou-guinness |website=www.unitedrugby.com |access-date=3 August 2021 |language=en |date=11 July 2021}} Following the rebranding to the United Rugby Championship or the URC for short, the league formed a new partnership with Roc Nation.{{cite web |title=Roc Nation and the United Rugby Championship announce a revolutionary partnership |url=https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news/roc-nation-and-the-united-rugby-championship-announce-a-revolutionary-partnership |website=www.unitedrugby.com |access-date=3 August 2021 |language=en |date=14 July 2021}} BKT and Vodacom secured naming rights the following season.

As of 2021–22, the championship season takes place between September and May, with teams split into four regional pools: The Irish Shield pool, the Welsh Shield pool, the South African Shield pool and the Scottish and Italian Shield pool for the purpose of fixture setting.

Teams play each of the other teams in their pool twice (home and away) and each team from the other pools once (either home or away). This ensures that Irish, South African and Welsh teams each play six derby matches. For Italy and Scotland, their respective clubs play their own nations' sides only twice. All teams are sorted in a single league table.

This creates an 18-match regular season before the play-offs, essentially a full single round robin with three additional 'derby ties' (or one extra derby and two extra Scottish-Italians ties in that pool). The play-offs are made up of the top eight teams, and consist of a straight knockout tournament. Teams are seeded 1–8 and the highest-seeded teams receive home advantage, including in the final. Prior to 2022, the finals had been held in pre-arranged venues

Championship points are awarded using the bonus points system; 4 points for a win and 2 for a draw. Bonus points can be earned so long as teams either score four or more tries in a game or lose by seven points or fewer – should a team do both, two bonus points are gained.

As for European qualification, the South African teams are eligible for European competition. As of 2023, the top eight teams qualify for the Champions Cup, with the remaining teams qualifying for the Challenge Cup.

With three fewer regular season fixtures than in the Pro14, but with an extra round of playoffs, the season is truncated slightly to 21 match weeks and thus can still be scheduled to the same time period as previous models of the competition. Clashes between league matches and international weekends in November and during the Six Nations Championship have been reduced.

Due to the travelling distance between Europe and South Africa, home South African games are always played on a Saturday, allowing visiting teams to have a seven-day turnaround between fixtures, including five "clean days" that do not involve any travel. Should the draw see European teams play both South African teams away, the schedule will see the away team play the two matches back-to-back across two weeks, acting as a "mini-tour".

On 24 September 2021, URC confirmed that the top side in each regional pool after the end of the 18-game regular season would be awarded a trophy, a regional Shield. In Ireland, Wales and South Africa, this shield (the URC Irish Shield, URC Welsh Shield and URC South African Shield respectively) functions as an informal national championship title for the main professional sides, while in Scotland and Italy's shared pool, it will be a joint regional trophy. The concept is comparable to the Divisional Championships in the NFL which are also loosely geographically based. For the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons, the winners of each Shield were decided on the basis of all 18 regular season games played, and also guaranteed qualification for the European Rugby Champions Cup, regardless of their overall league position.{{cite web |url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2021/09/24/urc-confirms-shield-trophies-for-winners/ |title=Irish Rugby {{pipe}} URC Confirms Shield Trophies For Winners |publisher=Irishrugby.ie |date=24 September 2021 |accessdate=18 March 2022 }} However, since the start of the 2023-2024 season, this was no longer the case and the top eight teams in the league would qualify for Europe regardless of Shield position. In addition, the winners of the each Shield would be determined by the games played amongst the teams within their regional group, reaffirming its status as a specifically national championship.{{Cite web |date=12 May 2023 |title=United Rugby Championship: 'Meritocracy' Champions Cup qualification returns while the final venue format is maintained |url=https://www.planetrugby.com/news/united-rugby-championship-urc-merit-based-champions-cup-qualification-to-return-but-destination-final-wont |access-date=1 November 2023 |website=Planet Rugby}}{{Cite web |date=17 October 2023 |title=Meritocracy Qualification Will Make URC Stronger |url=https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news/meritocracy-qualification-will-make-urc-stronger |access-date=19 November 2023 |website=United Rugby Championship}} In Scotland, the 'national' trophy is considered to be the 1872 Cup played exclusively between the two Scottish clubs, usually as a double header over the Christmas and New Year periods. Derby games have become a tradition in all five member nations over this holiday period, with most home teams achieving bumper crowds for the matches.

The league has used a play-off structure since the 2009–10 season to determine the champions, similar to that used in the English Premiership.{{cite news |title=Magners set to bring in play-offs |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7341673.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 April 2008 |access-date=7 February 2009}} For the first two seasons there were two groups and a knockout to determine a winner. Starting from the 2003–04 season until the 2008–09 season, the champions were determined from league performance, with all the teams in one league. From the 2017–18 season, the regular season employed a conference structure rather than a single round robin league, with 'derby games' between teams from the same nation being protected, and an expanded playoff structure. This allowed the competition to control the calendar, and control the number of games per team.

League points are awarded using the bonus points system. Until and including the 2008–09 season, the champions were decided solely on the basis of who finished top of the league table, but since the 2009–10 season, the league champion has been decided by a play-off series, in line with other rugby club competitions such as Super Rugby, Top 14, and the English Premiership: at the conclusion of the regular season, the top four placed teams enter the semi-final stage, with the winner of the first vs fourth and second vs third play-offs entering the final (known as the "grand final" in 2010 and 2011).

Two Italian teams – the former National Championship of Excellence team Benetton Treviso, and a new team, Aironi – joined the league starting with the 2010–11 season. Aironi was replaced by Zebre from the 2012–13 season. Through the 2012–13 season, the Welsh, Irish, Scottish and Italian rugby unions used the league as the sole determinant for Heineken Cup qualification, and from 2013–14 they use it as the sole means of qualification for the successor to the Heineken Cup, the European Rugby Champions Cup.

Two South African teams - Southern Kings and Cheetahs joined the competition in 2017 to create Pro14, while the four remaining professional franchises stayed in Super Rugby. The competition adopted a modified two-conference format rather than a full round-robin single table, with extra fixtures to maintain national derby matches. As weaker provinces, both struggled in the three years in which they took part, and were ineligible for European competition. The terminal financial difficulties at Southern Kings, and the COVID-19 pandemic effectively ended their participation in 2020, and there was no South African participation in the 2020 season, although the competition retained the Pro14 name.

Despite the difficulties, however, the competition proved attractive to the South African Rugby Football Union, due to shared time zones and reduced travelling, and the four major Super Rugby franchises - Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions joined the renamed United Rugby Championship the following year, firstly through the transitional Pro14 Rainbow Cup, held in a split tournament format across Europe and South Africa, and then the United Rugby Championship, this time eligible for European competition. Ironically, Cheetahs, no longer in the URC, were invited to join the European competition as well, along with Georgian side, Black Lion. South African team, Stormers, won the first edition of URC in an all South African final, before being runner-up in the second season to Irish side, Munster.

The legal name of the body running the competition is PRO Rugby Championship DAC, a private company limited by shares based in Ireland. The organisation is responsible for running and operating the URC and is currently owned equally by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). The Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) may become a shareholder subject to it meeting certain conditions.

The board of Celtic Rugby DAC is made up of representatives from the IRFU, SRU, WRU, ProRugby Wales, the FIR and the South African Rugby Union. The chief executive is Martin Anayi.{{cite web |url=https://www.pro14rugby.org/2018/10/09/italian-rugby-federation-set-to-become-a-shareholder-of-celtic-rugby/ |title = Italian Rugby Federation set to Become a Shareholder of Celtic Rugby|date = 9 October 2018}}

In 2020 the championship received an investment from CVC Capital Partners who acquired a 28% share in the championship.{{cite web |title=CVC acquire stake in Guinness Pro14 |url=https://www.ultimaterugby.com/news/cvc-acquire-stake-in-guinness-pro14/627397 |website=www.ultimaterugby.com |date=22 May 2020 |access-date=5 October 2021 |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Ahmed |first1=Murad |last2=Wiggins |first2=Kaye |title=Pro14 to rebrand as United Rugby Championship under CVC investment |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a818f21c-10f3-444b-8f10-3b531e11352b |website=Financial Times |access-date=5 October 2021 |date=15 June 2021}}{{cite web |title=Pro14 confirms sale of 28% stake to CVC, August restart |website=RTÉ.ie |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2020/0522/1139980-cvc-pro14/ |access-date=5 October 2021 |language=en |date=22 May 2020}}

The organisation's headquarters are at Millbank House, Sandyford, Dublin 18.

Starting in the 2010–11 season, the League was broadcast live on BBC Two Wales, BBC Two Northern Ireland, RTÉ, the Irish language channel TG4, the Scottish Gaelic channel BBC Alba, the Welsh language channel S4C.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2010/0609/magnersleague_tv.html |title=RTÉ secures Magners League rights – RTÉ Sport |publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann |date=20 August 2010 |access-date=20 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024011837/http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2010/0609/magnersleague_tv.html |archive-date=24 October 2010 }} The BBC Two Wales matches were usually made available to the rest of the United Kingdom via BBC Red Button. Complete match replays were also available on the BBC iPlayer. Each broadcaster provided feeds to the others for matches in their home territory. While this meant that the league was now available free to air in the UK and Ireland, in Italy it was only available on a subscription basis in its first year.

Commencing from the 2014–15 season, Sky Sports became one of the league's broadcast partners, broadcasting 33 live games on a Saturday and also showing both the semi-finals and the final live. Its contract concluded at the end of 2017–18 season.

Also starting in the 2014–15 season, Italy's Nuvolari began broadcasting the games involving the two Italian clubs live on its digital free-to-view channel. Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh matches were also broadcast live on BBC Radio Scotland.

From the 2018–19 season, coverage of the tournament was taken over by Premier Sports in the UK, EirSport in Ireland, DAZN in Italy, and Supersport in South Africa.

Coverage of the tournament can be found in other territories – on beIN Sports in France, and on various Setanta Sports channels around the globe (including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South East Asia and the Middle East), as well as EuroSport.

Current broadcasters:

• URC TV (Ireland and other countries without broadcaster) (2021–present){{Cite web |title=URC TV Launched As League's Official OTT Service |url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2021/09/16/urc-tv-launched-as-leagues-official-ott-service/ |access-date=25 September 2022 }}
• TG4 (Ireland - Irish language) (2001–2004, 2010–present)
• Television New Zealand{{cite web |last=New Zealand |first=Television |date=1 July 2023 |title=Here is what's on offer as free-to-air sport returns to TVNZ |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/07/01/here-is-whats-on-offer-as-free-to-air-sport-returns-to-tvnz/ }}{{Cite web |last=Dine |first=Jonny |date=29 June 2023 |title=Sports to benefit from a return to free-to-air TV |url=https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/300917473/sports-to-benefit-from-a-return-to-freetoair-tv }}(2023–present)
• RTÉ Sport (Ireland) (2010–2014, 2021–present)
• S4C (Wales - Welsh language) (2001–present)
• BBC Wales (2001–2018, 2021–present)
• BBC Northern Ireland (2001–2004, 2010–2018, 2021–present)
• Eurosport (non-Core markets) (2016–present)
• DAZN (Germany) (2018–present)
• FloSports{{cite web|url=https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news/flo-sports-to-broadcast-urc-ecpr-top-14-in-innovative-broadcast-deal |title=Flo Sports to broadcast URC, EPCR & Top 14 in 'Innovative' Broadcast Deal - United Rugby Championship|date=22 March 2023}} (USA) (2022–Present)
• Disney+ (Latin America) (2022–Present)
• SuperSport (South Africa) (2017–present)
• Viaplay Sports (UK and Ireland) (UK: 2018–present){{cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/premier-sports-player-free-trial-14594878 |title=How to watch the PRO14 on Premier Sports, get a free trial and cast Premier Player to your TV|date=8 September 2018}} (Ireland: 2021–present)
• Premier Sports Asia (2020−)
• SKY Sport Italy (2003, 2023−)

Past broadcasters:

• Sky Sports (2014–2018)
• eir sport (Ireland) (2018–2021){{cite web |url=https://www.pro14rugby.org/2018/07/24/new-era-for-guinness-pro14-will-kick-off-in-wales-live-on-%E2%80%8Bpremier-sport-eir-sport/ |title=New Era for Guinness PRO14 will kick off in Wales live on Premier Sports & eir sport}}
• Setanta Sports (Live 2004–2010, Highlights 2010–2018)
• [http://www.therugbychannel.tv/ The Rugby Channel] (2016–2018)
• beIN Sports (2014–2018)
• BBC Alba (2010–2018)
• BBC Scotland (UK){{cite web |title=BBC Scotland - Pro14 Highlights - Scotland |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000bsxk}}
• STV (Live 2009–2010, Highlights 2010–2013)
• Dahlia TV (2010–2011)
• Sportitalia (2012–2013){{cite web |url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/new_broadcast_partner_for_rabodirect_pro12 |title=New broadcast partner for RaboDirect Pro12 |publisher=Sportspromedia.com |date=30 June 2012}}
• Nuvolari (2014–2015)
• RAI Sport (2011–2012, 2015–2016)
• DAZN (Italy, Canada) (2018–2021)
• Mediaset (Italy) (2013–2014, 2021−2022)
• Eurosport Italia: (2016–2018; 2022–2023){{Cite web |title=Warner Bros. Discovery to broadcast BKT United Rugby Championship games in Italy |url=https://comms.unitedrugby.com/5GVN-N5F9-7B06D2B7DE56273E3ISQRREE4B18A6B648A29B/cr.aspx |access-date=25 September 2022 |website=comms.unitedrugby.com}}
• Setanta Sports (Asia) (2011–2020)
• ESPN (USA) (2018–2021){{cite web |title=PRO14 |url=https://www.pro14rugby.org/2018/08/31/espn-espn-networks-to-bring-guinness-pro14-rugby-to-us-fans-in-multi-year-agreement/}}
• Spark Sport (2021-2023){{cite web |last=New Zealand |first=Spark |date=22 September 2021 |title=Spark Sport secures broadcast rights to United Rugby Championship |url=https://www.sparknz.co.nz/news/SS_URC/}}{{cite web |last=Long |first=David |date=17 December 2022 |title=End of Spark Sport bad news for sports in NZ, as Sky TV regains monopoly |url=https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/130790908/end-of-spark-sport-bad-news-for-sports-in-nz-as-sky-tv-regains-monopoly}}

From 2004 to 2009, the Scottish and Irish rights were owned by Setanta Sports. Setanta closed down in Scotland in 2009, but Setanta Ireland and Setanta Sports 1 remained available to Irish subscribers. In 2010, RTÉ Sport, BBC Northern Ireland, TG4, BBC Wales, BBC Alba and SKY Italia came together to buy the Celtic League broadcasting rights.{{cite news |first=Graham |last=Clutton |title=Celtic Rugby secure improved broadcast deal for Magners League coverage |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/7813469/Celtic-Rugby-secure-improved-broadcast-deal-for-Magners-League-coverage.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=9 June 2010 |access-date=9 June 2010 |location=London}}

On 2 May 2013, Sky Sports announced that it had agreed a four-year deal to broadcast 33 live matches each season. This deal commenced at the start of season 2014–15, Sky have 30 exclusive matches but are only allowed to cover one set of fixtures; for instance, only one Leinster v Munster match was live on Sky with the other on TG4.{{cite news |title=RaboDirect Pro12 games to be shown on Sky Sports from 2014 |url=http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/15180/8684039/RaboDirect-Pro12-games-to-be-shown-on-Sky-Sports-from-2014 |work=Sky Sports |publisher=skysports.com |date=2 May 2013 |access-date=25 May 2013}} Regional screening of matches continued, BBC Wales show Scrum V Live on Friday Night with S4C covering a match now on Sunday afternoons. BBC Alba also screened matches, with some also available in English on BBC Scotland, although BBC Alba did offer English language commentary via their Red Button service when the match was not shown on BBC Scotland. BBC Northern Ireland screened all Ulster matches not available on Sky Sports. RTÉ Sport dropped their coverage after the 2014 final due to budget cuts, making TG4 the only broadcasters of the competition in the Republic of Ireland. The semi-finals and finals are available to all broadcasters.

On 31 August 2017, SuperSport announced that it had acquired the rights to broadcast matches within South Africa.

On 30 April 2018, PRO14 Rugby signed a partnership with Premier Sports and FreeSports to broadcast every Pro14 game live in high definition across the UK for at least the next three years. The agreement, which came into effect for the 2018–19 season, also saw at least one match per round shown live free-to-air on FreeSports.{{cite web|url=http://www.premiersports.com/pro-14/pro-14/|title=Every game for only £9.99 per month! |website=www.premiersports.com|access-date=8 May 2018}}

The league is based on regionalised, provincial and franchise representation of the participating nations, except for Benetton which represents the city of Treviso itself. Benetton was selected for its long history after the project of a second Italian regional team, Praetorians Roma, failed.{{cite news |title=Treviso in Celtic League Praetorians Roma bocciati |url=http://www.repubblica.it/2009/10/sport/vari/celtic-league/celtic-league/celtic-league.html |work=la Repubblica |date=2 October 2009 |access-date=12 November 2011 }} Zebre Parma replaced an earlier franchise Aironi in Italy. South Africa and Ireland use explicitly provincial structures, the former operating on a franchise system. Both countries have long organised domestic and representative rugby on a provincial basis going back decades. Wales employs a more recent regional structure, but built on an original club foundation where regions originally represented a combination of local premiership clubs, while Scotland employs the opposite, a 'two city club' system where each of the clubs maps over a previous regional team. A third Scottish regional team, Border Reivers and a fifth Welsh regional-club team Celtic Warriors, were wound down by the respective unions early in the competition's history, while Cheetahs and Southern Kings left prior to the URC rebranding, with Cheetahs surviving to compete as an invitee team in the European Rugby Challenge Cup and Kings being wound down for insolvency.

• In 2021, Benetton Rugby won the Pro14 Rainbow Cup, a transitional 'spring league' conference-based tournament that took place between the Pro14 and URC incarnations of the competition. The victory is recognised as an official URC title for the Italians, the first ever won by a team from that country, but is not recognised as part of the annual continuity of the main tournament league.

The Celtic League board met in November 2008 to explore the possibility of Italian participation; the chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, Roger Lewis, stated that the league was looking "favourably" on Italian participation.

Following a 19 December 2008 board meeting of the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) to discuss proposals to improve Italian rugby,{{cite news |title=Italians may join Magners League |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7766990.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 December 2008 |access-date=20 December 2008 }} FIR announced that it would submit a proposal to join the Celtic League.

FIR had two possibilities – either entering four existing Italian clubs from the National Championship of Excellence into the league; or creating two teams of Italy-qualified players exclusively for the competition.{{cite news |title=Italy confirm Magners League move |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7793092.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 December 2008 |access-date=20 December 2008 }}

On 18 July 2009, the FIR announced that Aironi and Praetorians Roma would compete in the Celtic League from the start of the 2010–11 season – beating bids from Benetton Treviso and Duchi Nord-Ovest. Praetorians would be based in Rome at the Stadio Flaminio, while Aironi would be based in Viadana but would play some matches in the city of Reggio Emilia.{{cite news |title=Italians pick Celtic League teams |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8157723.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 July 2009 |access-date=18 July 2009 }}

On 2 October 2009, the FIR proposed Benetton Treviso in place of Praetorians Roma.{{cite news |title=Il Veneto in Celtic League, Roma fuori |url=http://www.rugbyveneto.org/wordpress/il-veneto-in-celtic-league-roma-fuori.html |language=it |publisher=Rugby Veneto |date=2 September 2009 |access-date=6 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329021719/http://www.rugbyveneto.org/wordpress/il-veneto-in-celtic-league-roma-fuori.html |archive-date=29 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}

On 28 January 2010, the FIR declared that they had withdrawn from negotiations with the Celtic League regarding two Italian teams joining the tournament, with the main issue being a €3 million warranty asked for by the league,{{cite news |title=COMUNICATO STAMPA FIR SULLA CELTIC LEAGUE |url=http://www.federugby.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=964:comunicato-stampa-fir-sulla-celtic-league&catid=25:news-dalla-fir&Itemid=120 |language=it |publisher=FIR |date=28 January 2010 |access-date=29 January 2010 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2010/0129/1224263356274.html|title=Italian entry to competition now unlikely|date=29 January 2010|newspaper=The Irish Times}}{{cite news |title=Italians will not join Magners League |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2010/0129/1224263419850.html |access-date=8 February 2010 |newspaper=The Irish Times }} but by 7 February, the Italian clubs had come up with the required funding.{{cite news |title=Italians up offer to join Magners party |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/italians-up-offer-to-join-magners-party-2052138.html |access-date=8 February 2010 |work=Irish Independent |first=Brendan |last=Fanning |date=7 February 2010}} By 8 March 2010, a deal had been finalised for Aironi and Benetton Treviso to enter the Celtic League from the 2010–11 season, with each team guaranteed a place in the Heineken Cup.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2010/0308/1224265854499.html |title=Italians added to Magners League |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=8 March 2011 |access-date=20 June 2013}}

At the end of the 2011–12 season, however, Aironi were no longer available to compete in future competitions as a regional club, as, on 6 April 2012, they were refused a licence to continue on financial grounds.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17640035 |title=Italian side Aironi to pull out of Pro12 after their licence is revoked |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 April 2012}} They were replaced by another Italian side, Zebre (now Zebre Parma).{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/26111/7799184/ |title=Zebras join RaboDirect herd |publisher=Sky Sports News |date=5 July 2012}}

Thirty separate teams have taken part in the various versions of the Championship. Of the fourteen teams no longer involved, nine were Welsh premiership clubs, replaced by five new regions. One of those Welsh regions, two South African franchises, One Scottish region and one Italian franchise make up the rest of the historic teams. Only the four Irish provinces and the original Scottish regions have been ever present (Cardiff Rugby, Scarlets, Ospreys and Dragons have changed their names). Of the fourteen, the nine Welsh clubs and Cheetahs continue to compete in other competitions.

Notes:

• Before regionalisation, Wales was represented by nine Welsh Premiership clubs from 2001 to 2003. Following this they were replaced with five regional clubs, of which Celtic Warriors only lasted a single season.
• The Border Reivers, added in 2002, were disbanded by the Scottish Rugby Union in 2007 as part of cost-cutting measures.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/6498449.stm |title=Scottish union axes Borders team |work=BBC News |date=27 March 2007}}
• Aironi was replaced by Zebre in 2012, meaning that the number of Italian teams remained at two.
• The two South African clubs Cheetahs and Southern Kings exited the league in 2020 as a result of travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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1. > JOINED IN 2000 <#

bar:EDI color:Fullscot from:01/07/2001 till:end text:Edinburgh Rugby

bar:GLA color:Fullscot from:01/07/2001 till:end text:Glasgow Warriors

bar:CON color:Fullirish from:01/07/2001 till:end text:Connacht Rugby

bar:LEI color:Fullirish from:01/07/2001 till:end text:Leinster Rugby

bar:MUN color:Fullirish from:01/07/2001 till:end text:Munster Rugby

bar:ULS color:Fullirish from:01/07/2001 till:end text:Ulster Rugby

bar:BRI color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2003 text:Bridgend Ravens

bar:CRC color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2003 text:Cardiff RFC

bar:CAE color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2003 text:Caerphilly RFC

bar:EBV color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2003 text:Ebbw Vale RFC

bar:LLA color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2003 text:Llanelli RFC

bar:NEA color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2003 text:Neath RFC

bar:NEW color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2003 text:Newport RFC

bar:PON color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2003 text:Pontypridd RFC

bar:SWA color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2003 text:Swansea RFC

bar:BRI color:Nonleague from:01/07/2003 till:end text: transferred to WRU leagues

bar:CRC color:Nonleague from:01/07/2003 till:end text: transferred to WRU leagues

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bar:NEA color:Nonleague from:01/07/2003 till:end text: transferred to WRU leagues

bar:NEW color:Nonleague from:01/07/2003 till:end text: transferred to WRU leagues

bar:PON color:Nonleague from:01/07/2003 till:end text: transferred to WRU leagues

bar:SWA color:Nonleague from:01/07/2003 till:end text: transferred to WRU leagues

1. > JOINED IN 2002 <#

bar:BOR color:Formerscot from:01/07/2002 till:30/06/2007 text:Border Reivers

bar:BOR color:Nonleague from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2002 text:SIDC

1. > JOINED IN 2003 <#

bar:CAR color:Fullwelsh from:01/07/2003 till:end text:Cardiff Rugby

bar:CWA color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2003 till:30/06/2004 text:Celtic Warriors

bar:DRA color:Fullwelsh from:01/07/2003 till:end text:Dragons

bar:OSP color:Fullwelsh from:01/07/2003 till:end text:Ospreys

bar:SCA color:Fullwelsh from:01/07/2003 till:end text:Scarlets

1. > JOINED IN 2010 <#

bar:AIR color:Formeritalian from:01/07/2010 till:30/06/2012 text:Aironi

bar:BEN color:Fullitalian from:01/07/2010 till:end text:Benetton Treviso

bar:BEN color:Nonleague from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2010 text:Italian Top10

1. > JOINED IN 2012 <#

bar:ZEB color:Fullitalian from:01/07/2012 till:end text:Zebre Parma

1. > JOINED IN 2017 <#

bar:CHE color:Fullsa from:01/07/2017 till:30/06/2020 text:Cheetahs

bar:CHE color:Nonleague from:01/07/2020 till:end text:Currie Cup & ECHR

bar:CHE color:Nonleague from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2017 text:Currie Cup

bar:CHE color:Nonleague from:01/01/2006 till:30/06/2017 text:Super Rugby & Currie Cup

bar:STK color:Formersa from:01/07/2017 till:30/06/2020 text:Southern Kings

bar:STK color:Nonleague from:01/01/2013 till:31/12/2013 text:Super Rugby

bar:STK color:Nonleague from:01/01/2016 till:30/06/2017

1. > JOINED IN 2021 <#

bar:BUL color:Nonleague from:01/07/2001 till:31/12/2020 text:Super Rugby

bar:BUL color:Fullsa from:01/01/2021 till:end text:Bulls

bar:SHA color:Nonleague from:01/07/2001 till:31/12/2020 text:Super Rugby

bar:LIO color:Fullsa from:01/01/2021 till:end text:Lions

bar:STO color:Nonleague from:01/07/2001 till:31/12/2012 text:Super Rugby

bar:STO color:Nonleague from:01/01/2014 till:31/12/2020

bar:SHA color:Fullsa from:01/01/2021 till:end text:Sharks

bar:LIO color:Nonleague from:01/07/2001 till:31/12/2020 text:Super Rugby

bar:STO color:Fullsa from:01/01/2021 till:end text:Stormers

After the successful negotiations with Italy,{{cite web|first=Jonny |last=Kirkup |title=Italian Celts – Non Starter |url=http://blogs.walesonline.co.uk/rugby/2008/02/italian-celts-non-starter.html |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |date=5 February 2008 |access-date=7 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121033122/http://blogs.walesonline.co.uk/rugby/2008/02/italian-celts-non-starter.html |archive-date=21 November 2008 }}{{cite news |first=Tim |last=Glover |title=How Italy became Europe's fall guys |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/tim-glover-how-italy-became-europes-fall-guys-428794.html |work=The Independent on Sunday |date=17 December 2006 |access-date=7 February 2009 |location=London}} talks were held intermittently with South Africa about the possible expansion of the Pro12.{{cite web |title=Rugby Union: Major Organisations |url=http://www.talkrugbyunion.co.uk/guides/rugby_union_organisations.html |publisher=Talkrugbyunion.co.uk |access-date=7 February 2009 |archive-date=9 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009125936/http://www.talkrugbyunion.co.uk/guides/rugby_union_organisations.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |first=Wayne |last=Smith |title=South Africa threatens to quit Super 14 |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25064310-5015655,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121215171633/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25064310-5015655,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 December 2012 |work=The Australian |date=17 February 2009 |access-date=17 February 2009 }} A 24-team Rainbow Cup involving 11 Celtic, 9 South African and 4 Italian teams was announced in 2005,{{cite news |title=Celtic nations in new Rainbow Cup |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/4533261.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 May 2005 |access-date=7 February 2009 }} but the idea was abandoned because of financial issues on the European end of the deal and changes in the leadership of the South African Rugby Union (SARU).

London Welsh expressed interest in 2006 in joining the Celtic League if promotion and relegation were to be removed from the English Premiership.{{cite news |title=London Welsh keen on Celtic move |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/6199419.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 December 2006 |access-date=7 February 2009 }}

In February 2009, South Africa was rumoured to be negotiating entry of its current Super Rugby teams into the Celtic League, to take effect when the media contract between SANZAR and News Corporation expires after the 2010 season; these rumours were immediately denied by SA Rugby, the commercial arm of SARU.{{cite press release|title=SA Rugby denies Magners League link |url=http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/6845?view=news |publisher=South African Rugby Union |date=17 February 2009 |access-date=20 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108080607/http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/6845?view=news |archive-date=8 January 2016 }} In the end, nothing came of these rumours, and the competition remained a strictly European affair.

In a 2016 interview with The Irish Times, IRFU CEO Philip Browne indicated that the Pro12 was seriously considering establishing a US franchise on the country's Atlantic coast in the near future, seeing the recent growth of the sport in the US as an opportunity to help close some of the financial gap between Pro12 and Europe's two major domestic leagues, the English Premiership and France's Top 14. Browne added that Pro12 was also looking to expand further into Continental Europe by teaming with major association football clubs, some of which already have rugby sections.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro-12-looking-at-north-america-franchise-as-part-of-expansion-1.2723886 |title=Pro 12 looking at North America franchise as part of expansion |first=Gavin |last=Cummiskey |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=16 July 2016 |access-date=22 July 2016}}

In August 2016, Pro12 officials began talks with the unions of both Canada and the United States about expansion before the end of the decade, with interest in putting teams on the east coasts of both countries.{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Rees |title=Pro12 in talks over North American teams joining expanded league |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/23/pro-12-north-american-teams-expanded-league |newspaper=The Guardian |date=23 August 2016 |access-date=25 August 2016 }} In September 2016, it emerged that Vancouver and Houston may be target cities, primarily due to weather considerations, though the distance from the other teams may make that more of a challenge.{{cite news |first=Martin |last=Pengelly|title=Pro12 North American plan could jeopardise US PRO Rugby league |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/sep/02/pro12-north-america-us-pro-rugby-league |newspaper=The Guardian|date=2 September 2016 |access-date=10 September 2016 }}

While the North American plan remains active, media attention turned in 2017 toward a new possibility of South African teams entering the competition. Following the decision of Super Rugby organiser SANZAAR to drop three teams from the competition (two from South Africa), multiple media reports indicated that the two likeliest South African sides to be axed, the Cheetahs and Southern Kings, could be added to Pro12 as early as the 2017–18 season.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/rugby-union/south-africa-explores-sending-axed-super-teams-to-europes-pro12/news-story/e4f213ae0bd67b2a3b37d5ff821f688c |title=South Africa explores sending axed Super teams to Europe's Pro12 |first=Wayne |last=Smith |newspaper=The Australian |date=21 April 2017 |access-date=20 June 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/40122015 |title=Pro12: South African side Cheetahs receive invitation to join league |first=Jamie |last=Lyall |publisher=BBC Scotland |date=1 June 2017 |access-date=20 June 2017}} A later BBC report indicated that the Cheetahs and Kings would be added once their removal from Super Rugby was formally announced on 7 July, though neither Celtic Rugby Limited, the South African Rugby Union, nor the two teams would comment on the report.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/40448854 |title=South African sides Cheetahs and Southern Kings set to join Pro12 |first1=Matt |last1=Lloyd |first2=Gareth |last2=Griffiths |publisher=BBC Sport Wales |date=30 June 2017 |access-date=5 July 2017}} A week after the Cheetahs and Kings' departure from Super Rugby was confirmed, the BBC reported that Celtic Rugby Limited was expected to officially add those teams at the organisation's next board meeting on 18 July.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/40583145 |title=Pro12: Cheetahs and Southern Kings' entry to be confirmed next week |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 July 2017 |access-date=15 July 2017}} While no announcement came on that date, media in both South Africa and Britain reported that SARU's chief executive was at Celtic Rugby's headquarters in Dublin to finalise the addition of the Cheetahs and Kings, with Reuters calling the expansion "the worst kept secret in rugby".{{cite news|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/07/19/cheetahs-kings-set-be-unveiled-pro-12-reports |title=Cheetahs, Kings set to be unveiled in Pro 12 - reports |agency=Reuters |publisher=SBS |date=18 July 2017 |access-date=19 July 2017}} The addition of the two South African teams was officially confirmed on 1 August 2017.{{cite press release|url=https://www.pro14rugby.org/2017/08/01/statement-expansion-guinness-pro14-championship/ |title=Statement: Expansion to Guinness PRO14 Championship |publisher=Celtic Rugby Limited |date=1 August 2017 |access-date=11 April 2018}} The Southern Kings entered liquidation in September 2020 and therefore withdrew from the league.{{cite web|title=Guinness PRO14 Statement Regarding South African Participation|url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/news/guinness-pro14-statement-regarding-south-african-participation|access-date=23 September 2020|website=www.pro14.rugby|language=en}}

In September 2020, the league confirmed they were looking for a replacement team for Southern Kings and possible expansion to more teams in South Africa to enter the league in 2021. Later that month, SA rugby voted that their Super Rugby sides (Lions, Stormers, Sharks, Bulls) would enter the Pro 14 to replace the liquidated Kings and the Cheetahs, who were withdrawn before the 2021 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2020/0929/1168300-sa-rugby-votes-four-leading-sides-into-expanded-pro16/ |title=SA Rugby votes four leading sides into expanded Pro16 from 2021 |date=29 September 2020 |access-date=10 October 2020}}

The most recent regular season began on 20 September 2024.

{{#section:2024–25 United Rugby Championship|URC league standings}}

{{main|Welsh–Scottish League}}

Pan-Celtic tournaments were proposed throughout the early professional era, with the creation of the Heineken Cup in 1995 demonstrating that inter-domestic competitions were financially viable. From 1995 onwards, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) and Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) discussed a number of Celtic league and cup competitions, discussions were also held with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to form a British & Irish league. These discussions would eventually lead the WRU and the RFU to establish the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2005, and all four unions to establish the British and Irish Cup in 2009.

The first material steps toward a Celtic league were taken before the 1999–2000 season, when the Scottish districts Edinburgh and Glasgow were formally invited to join the fully professional Welsh Premier Division, creating the Welsh–Scottish League. By 2001, an agreement was made with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) to bring in the four Irish provinces. The 2001–02 season saw additional matches and a new league structure played alongside the continuing Welsh–Scottish League and the Inter-Provincial Championship in Ireland. The new format was named the Celtic League. The Celtic League had developed by 2005, and the tournament became the sole professional league in Ireland and Scotland (the Anglo-Welsh Cup and semi-pro Welsh Premiership continued in Wales) and had entirely replaced both the Welsh–Scottish League, and the Inter-Provincial Championship.{{cite web |title=Y Gynghrair Geltaidd |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/chwaraeon/safle/rygbi_rhanbarthol/pages/canlyniadau_celtaidd.shtml |language=cy |work=BBC Chwaraeon |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=28 September 2005 |access-date=8 August 2011}}

{{main|2001–02 Celtic League}}

File:Celticleague.png

The first full season of a pan-Celtic competition saw 15 teams compete: the four Irish provinces (Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster), two Scottish teams (Edinburgh Reivers and Glasgow) and all nine Welsh professional teams (Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff RFC, Ebbw Vale, Llanelli, Neath, Newport, Pontypridd and Swansea).

Played alongside each country's own domestic competitions, the teams were split into two groups (of eight and seven) and played a series of round-robin matches with each team playing the other only once. The top four teams from each group proceeded into the knock-out phase until a champion was found. Clashes between teams in the Welsh–Scottish League also counted towards the new competition.

The 2001–02 competition was dominated by the Irish teams with all four sides reaching the last eight, three progressing to the semi-finals, and the thrilling final played at Lansdowne Road contested between Leinster and Munster with Leinster running out 24–20 winners.{{cite news |title=Leinster win Irish battle |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/1712921.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 December 2001 |access-date=31 May 2010 }}

{{main|2002–03 Celtic League}}

Champions Leinster failed to make the quarter-final stage in 2003. In their absence, Munster went on to win the competition by beating Connacht 33–3 in the quarter-finals, Ulster 42–10 in the semi-finals, and Neath 37–17 in the final played in Cardiff.{{cite news |title=Munster seize Celtic crown |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/celtic/2707375.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 February 2003 |access-date=31 May 2010 }}

The format of the Celtic League remained the same for the second season, but saw the addition of a third Scottish district, the newly re-established Scottish Borders. However, the Welsh-Scottish league structure ended permanently in 2002, allowing for the expansion of the Celtic league format in the following season.

{{main|2003–04 Celtic League}}

A major change in Celtic League came before the start of the 2003–04 season. The Welsh Rugby Union voted to create five new regional sides (Cardiff Blues, Celtic Warriors, Llanelli Scarlets, Neath–Swansea Ospreys and Newport Gwent Dragons). It was agreed that the Celtic League would become the sole professional league of the three countries, incorporating the four Irish, three Scottish and five new Welsh professional teams.

Reformatted into a traditional league competition (double round-robin style, all clubs play each other twice, once home, once away), which meant that a season long 22-round match program was launched, and with a new strength in depth due to the amalgamation of Welsh teams and the continuing strengthening of Irish and Scottish teams through the re-signing and retention of star players, the league has been in rugby terms a success. Also introduced for the 2003–04 season was the Celtic Cup, a straight knock-out cup competition between the 12 Celtic League teams.

However, the unfortunate timing of the league's launch and poor organisation of a working calendar meant that first the 2003 Rugby World Cup and later the Six Nations Championship prevented many of the league's top stars from playing in over half the games. This caused the league to struggle commercially, especially regarding the newly adopted regions in Wales where the game has always traditionally been played on a club basis, not having the regional histories of Ireland or Scotland. The season ended with the Llanelli Scarlets running out as eventual winners, four points ahead of Ulster.{{cite news |title=Scarlets 23–16 Ulster |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/3701431.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 May 2004 |access-date=31 May 2010 }}

{{main|2004–05 Celtic League}}

The Welsh Rugby Union controversially purchased and liquidated the Celtic Warriors so that the 2004–05 season saw eleven teams compete in the Celtic League.{{cite news |title=WRU a laughing stock |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wru-a-laughing-stock-2438020 |publisher=Walesonline |date=24 May 2004}} The new format took the league into what many saw as a make-or-break season,{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} clear of massive distractions such as the Rugby World Cup. With the Welsh regions partly embedded, the signs were that the Celtic League would be a competition that could continue. It was suggested that Italian sides might join an expanded Celtic League, an idea that eventually happened in 2010.

The league format was further refined at the end of the 2003–04 season, with the participants better managing the dates of the matches so as to not interfere with the national squad set-ups and to make the league more commercially viable. The league was played until April, and then the Celtic Cup was contested among the top eight teams.

The 2004–05 season was the first season that Ireland agreed to use the Celtic League standings to determine which provinces would enter the Heineken Cup. The IRFU had previously classed Connacht as a "development" team and so nominated Leinster, Munster and Ulster over Connacht.

The IRFU also insisted on International squad training sessions taking precedence over Celtic League matches, with Irish provinces (especially Munster and Leinster) occasionally fielding virtual second teams for Celtic League games. Some claimed this had the effect of devaluing the competition. However, despite this approach, Munster finished second and Leinster third, with Munster winning the Celtic Cup. The Ospreys topped the league table, making it two in a row for Welsh regional sides.{{cite news |title=Ospreys 29–12 Edinburgh |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/4373873.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 March 2005 |access-date=31 May 2010 }}

{{main|2005–06 Celtic League}}

In 2005, there were discussions over a potential Anglo-Welsh Cup competition which some saw as undermining the Celtic League. Despite Welsh assurances that the proposed Anglo-Welsh tournament would not interfere with their commitments to either the Celtic League in its present format or an expanded 'Rainbow League', the WRU made arrangements to play games on five weekends that clashed with Celtic League fixtures. The SRU and IRFU then threatened to expel the Welsh sides from the Celtic League in June 2005. It was proposed that the competition would continue as a Scottish and Irish affair for the 2005–06 season, with the possible addition of four Italian sides and the re-admittance of Welsh sides for the 2006–07 season. However a deal was reached that allowed for the Celtic League to continue with the Anglo-Welsh cup fixtures involving Welsh clubs rescheduled.

Despite these problems, the league enjoyed its most successful season, with the record attendance at a Celtic League match being broken four times, from 12,436 at the match between the Cardiff Blues and the Newport Gwent Dragons in December to 15,327 for the match between the Cardiff Blues and Leinster at the Millennium Stadium. The total attendances for the season were up nearly 50,000 at 571,331 compared to 521,449 for the previous season.

The league went down to the last round with Ulster and Leinster both in contention. Following Leinster's victory over Edinburgh and with Ulster losing against the Ospreys, it looked like the cup would go to Dublin but David Humphreys kicked a last-minute drop goal from 40 metres to clinch the game and the league for Ulster.{{cite news |title=Ospreys 17–19 Ulster |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/irish/5022088.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 May 2006 |access-date=31 May 2010 }}

{{Main|2006–07 Celtic League}}

In May 2006, Magners Irish Cider were named as the competition sponsors for the next five seasons, and the league was renamed as the Magners League. Although known as Bulmers Irish Cider in the Republic of Ireland, the Magners brand name was used there for the league.{{cite news |title=Magners ends drought by sponsoring Celtic League |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/magners-ends-drought-by-sponsoring-celtic-league-c635qmjv75f |work=The Times |date=20 July 2006 |access-date=23 April 2007 |location=London |first=Greg |last=Hurst}} The sponsorship followed on from Magners' previous sponsorship deals with Edinburgh and the London Wasps.

The Scottish Rugby Union announced that the Borders territory would be disbanded from the end of the 2006–07 season. It may be revived when the Scottish Rugby Union debt decreases enough to make it financially viable along with a possible fourth Scottish territory (four professional teams being the original plan for the SRU) with Falkirk, Stirling or a London-based team being possible locations; or even the Caledonia Reds, the forgotten Scottish region. In the meantime Scotland would have only two professional teams based in Edinburgh and Glasgow.{{cite news |title=Edinburgh hit out at Borders loss |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/edinburgh/6501103.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 March 2007 |access-date=23 April 2007 }}

The league's record attendance was smashed in this season with a full house at Lansdowne Road (48,000) for Leinster v Ulster. This was the last game in the stadium prior to its demolition, and was billed as "The Last Stand".

The league was won by the Ospreys on the final day of fixtures. The Blues' home win over Leinster allowed the Ospreys to top the league by a single point and take the title with an away win at Borders.{{cite news |title=Border Reivers 16–24 Ospreys |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/my_club/borders/6646299.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 May 2007 |access-date=31 May 2010 }}

{{Main|2007–08 Celtic League}}

Only ten teams competed in the 2007–08 season, after the Borders were disbanded at the end of the 2006–07 season. Glasgow Warriors moved their home games to Firhill.{{cite news |title=Warriors look to create fortress at Firhill |url=http://www.magnersleague.com/570_2033.php |publisher=magnersleague.com |date=12 June 2007 |access-date=12 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707133804/http://www.magnersleague.com/570_2033.php |archive-date=7 July 2007}} After missing out on the title on the last day for the previous two seasons, Leinster finally won the 2007–08 title with one game remaining. They had been runaway leaders for much of the season.{{cite news|title=Six of the Best As Leinster Secure Magners League Title |url=http://www.magnersleague.com/2056_2639.php |publisher=magnersleague.com |date=3 May 2008 |access-date=7 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724185610/http://www.magnersleague.com/2056_2639.php |archive-date=24 July 2008 }}

In April 2008 it was announced that the Celtic League was to introduce a play-off system commencing in the 2009–10 season to determine the winner, thus generating a greater climax to the season and bringing it in line with other major leagues such as the English Premiership and French Top 14.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7341673.stm Magners set to bring in play-offs] BBC Sport, 11 April 2008

{{Main|2008–09 Celtic League}}

The 2008–09 season was decided quite early in the season as Munster claimed the title without playing, as they were preparing for their Heineken Cup semi-final against Leinster. The final challenge from Ospreys was snuffed out when the Dragons denied them a bonus point win on 30 April. Munster had led pretty much from the start of the season with a team largely captained by Mick O'Driscoll showing Munster's squad depth. Munster lost only four games, three to the other Irish teams, including a double loss to Ulster. Felipe Contepomi finished as league top scorer for Leinster, the year they went on to win the Heineken Cup.

{{Main|2009–10 Celtic League}}

The 2009–10 season was the last 10-team league as the Italian teams joined in 2010–11. The league was one of the most competitive in years with perennial wooden-spooners Connacht challenging Ulster all the way for the third Irish Heineken Cup spot. Ulster needed a superb away bonus point win at Edinburgh to seal it, ending Edinburgh's own play-off hopes. Scarlets had a disappointing campaign as typical Welsh underdogs the Dragons had a great season, eventually finishing mid table and comfortably qualifying for the Heineken Cup. Luckily for the Scarlets, Cardiff Blues won the Amlin Cup and thereby earned Wales an extra Heineken Cup place. 2009–10 was also the first time a play-off was used to decide the champion, previously the top team at the end of the season was champion. The Scottish teams and particularly Glasgow came of age and had a fine season, finishing third in the end.

The four qualifiers for the play-offs were Leinster, Ospreys, Glasgow and Munster in that order, each country having at least one team. In the semi-finals Leinster defeated Munster at the RDS,{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2010/0515/leinster_munster.html |title=Leinster 16–6 Munster: As it happened – RTÉ Sport 2011 |publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann |date=15 May 2010 |access-date=20 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100518073243/http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2010/0515/leinster_munster.html |archive-date=18 May 2010 }} after Ospreys overcame Glasgow in Swansea. In the 2010 Celtic League Grand Final at the RDS in Dublin the Ospreys shocked Leinster, winning the title 17–12 with their first win in Dublin in five years.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/magners-league/byrne-makes-leinster-pay-price-for-sloppy-showing-2200578.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802131023/http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/magners-league/byrne-makes-leinster-pay-price-for-sloppy-showing-2200578.html|url-status=dead|title=Byrne makes Leinster pay price for sloppy showing - Magners League, Rugby - Independent.ie|archive-date=2 August 2012|access-date=18 September 2020}}

{{Main|2010–11 Celtic League}}

The 2010–11 saw the introduction of the two Italian sides, Aironi and Benetton Treviso. In the new 12 team format, the play-offs came down to Munster hosting the Ospreys in one semi-final, and Leinster hosting Ulster in the other.

The two home sides went on to win their respective matches and the final was held in Thomond Park, home of Munster rugby, where they defeated Leinster (who had just been crowned champions of Europe a week earlier).

{{Main|2011–12 Pro12}}

The 2011–12 season saw a re-branding of the competition as the RaboDirect Pro12. Leinster were the runaway winners of the regular season, with a 10-point cushion over the Ospreys in second.{{cite web |url=http://www.planetrugby.com/tables/0,25806,3825,00.html#3825 |title=Rugby Union Tournaments {{pipe}} Tables |publisher=Planet Rugby |access-date=20 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606072624/http://www.planetrugby.com/tables/0,25806,3825,00.html#3825 |archive-date=6 June 2013 }} The top four were Leinster, Ospreys, Munster and Warriors in that order.

Ospreys easily overcame Munster at home in the first semi-final in Swansea{{cite news |title=Munster hammered by Ospreys |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2012/0511/1224315976888.html |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=11 May 2012 |access-date=20 May 2013 }} while Leinster beat the Glasgow Warriors in the RDS after giving up a strong lead.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0514/1224316064297.html|title=Leinster injuries cast cloud over victory|date=14 May 2012|newspaper=The Irish Times}} In the final, also held at the RDS, Leinster were aiming to become the first Celtic League team to complete a domestic and European double, after beating Ulster the previous week in the Heineken Cup final. After trailing for most of the game, Ospreys took a late lead through a try by Shane Williams. Dan Biggar then landed a difficult conversion to give Ospreys their fourth title by a single point, 31–30.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/williams-try-sets-up-last-gasp-one-point-ospreys-win-over-leinster-553119.html |title=Williams try sets up last-gasp, one-point Ospreys win over Leinster |publisher=Irish Examiner |date=27 May 2012 |access-date=20 June 2013}}

After two years in the competition Aironi played their final match, as their licence to compete was revoked by the FIR for financial reasons.{{cite web|url=http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,19077_7655347,00.html |title=Tournaments {{pipe}} Aironi |publisher=Planet Rugby |access-date=20 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002094310/http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0%2C25883%2C19077_7655347%2C00.html |archive-date= 2 October 2013 }}

{{Main|2012–13 Pro12}}

With the demise of Aironi they were replaced with a new FIR controlled team to be based in Parma called Zebre, near the Aironi base in Viadana.{{cite web|url=http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,19077_7790039,00.html |title=Tournaments {{pipe}} Aironi |publisher=Planet Rugby |access-date=20 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109234812/http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0%2C25883%2C19077_7790039%2C00.html |archive-date= 9 November 2013 }} The Welsh clubs chose to operate under a new self-imposed salary cap, which led to a number of departures from the Welsh teams as they strove to balance their books.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17320489 |title=Ins & outs at the Welsh regions |publisher=BBC |date=28 September 2012 |access-date=20 June 2013}} Some high-profile Welsh players moved to the French Top 14, but other Pro12 teams also benefited with the likes of Casey Laulala going to Munster from Cardiff Blues, Sean Lamont to Glasgow from Scarlets, Dan Parks from Cardiff Blues to Connacht and Tommy Bowe from Ospreys back to Ulster.

Ulster topped the table in the regular season, with Leinster, Glasgow and Scarlets completing the top 4 in that order. They then went on to comfortably beat Scarlets 28–17 in Belfast, while Leinster were hard pressed by Glasgow in a tense 17–15 win for the hosts. In the final (held in the R.D.S. due to redevelopment of Ravenhill) Leinster prevailed 24–18 to win their 3rd title.

{{Main|2013–14 Pro12}}

Rabo Direct announced that this was to be their last season as sponsors. This, combined with the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of the European Cup, meant that there were concerns over the future commercial viability of the tournament. However, despite all off-field issues it was a successful season with a new high for both total attendance and for a single game (51,700 for Leinster v Munster).

In the end Leinster topped the table, having led for most of the season. Glasgow had a late surge to finish 2nd overtaking Munster and Ulster in the process. All four teams showed they were worthy contenders in the next round with Leinster needing to score a late try to beat Ulster 13–9 in Dublin while Glasgow just got past Munster in Scotstoun by one point to win 16–15. The final in the R.D.S. was also a close game for most of the match with Leinster forced to defend for long periods. However they eventually pulled clear, adding two late scores which made the final result look somewhat lopsided at 34–12.

{{Main|2014–15 Pro12}}

The RaboDirect title sponsor was replaced by Guinness.{{cite web|url=http://www.thescore.ie/pro-12-sponsorship-1050607-Aug2013/ |work=The Score |title=RaboDirect to pull sponsorship of Pro12 |access-date=5 June 2014 |date=23 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714123554/http://www.thescore.ie/pro-12-sponsorship-1050607-Aug2013/ |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/28244972 |work=BBC |title=Pro12: Guinness named as league's new sponsor |access-date=10 July 2014 |date=10 July 2014}} With the Heineken Cup being replaced by the 20-team European Rugby Champions Cup in the 2014–15 season, the Pro12 table had a greater impact on qualification. Under the previous format, the Pro12 provided a minimum of 10 teams, with Scotland and Italy providing two teams each, and Ireland and Wales both providing three. The new system saw a total of seven teams, with one place now being reserved for the highest-finishing Pro12 team from each of four participating countries and three other qualifiers based solely on league position. The other teams were entered in the new second-tier competition, the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Leinster were the defending champions having beaten Glasgow Warriors in the previous season's playoff final, to become the first team in the league to successfully retain the trophy.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/rabo-direct-pro-12/2014/0531/620851-leinster-v-glasgow/ |work=RTÉ Sport |title=Leinster retain Pro12 title in fine style |access-date=5 June 2014 |date=31 May 2014}} Leinster were unable to defend their title as they failed to qualify for the end-of-season playoffs for the top four teams after the regular season. Glasgow Warriors finished the regular season on top of the table, and were crowned champions for the first time, beating second seeded team Munster 31–13 in the final.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32929818|title=Glasgow Warriors 31-13 Munster|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=30 May 2015|access-date=30 May 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/9870379/glasgow-warriors-defeated-munster-31-13-to-claim-victory-in-the-pro12|title=Glasgow Warriors defeated Munster 31-13 to claim victory in the Pro12|work=Sky Sports|publisher=BSkyB|date=30 May 2015|access-date=30 May 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby/glasgow-warriors-clinch-first-pro12-title-with-31-13-victory-over-munster-at-kingspan-stadium-1-6772189|first=Richard|last=Mulligan|title=Glasgow Warriors clinch first PRO12 title with 31-13 victory over Munster at Kingspan Stadium|work=The News Letter|publisher=Johnston Publishing|date=30 May 2015|access-date=30 May 2015}} Thus, the Warriors became the first Scottish team to win a professional trophy, beating Edinburgh's appearance in the final of the 2014–15 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

{{Main|2015–16 Pro12}}

With the 2015 Rugby World Cup taking place during the opening months of the season, changes were made to the usual fixture schedule to minimise the effect on teams who released players to take part. The low number of games in the opening weeks of the season led to fixture congestion at the end of the tournament, with each team playing a game every weekend for 16 weeks straight from October 2015 to January 2016, including European matches.

As in the previous season, qualification to the European Champions Cup was guaranteed to the top team from each country participating in the league, with the three highest placed team's not already qualified also earning a berth. Unlike in the previous season where the 20th tournament spot was decided by a play-off involving teams from the Pro12, France's Top 14 and the English Premiership, due to fixture congestion from the World Cup, the final spot in the tournament was reserved for the winner of the 2015 European Challenge Cup if not already qualified.

The delayed start to the season, and absence of established international players during international Test and Six Nations windows, arguably gave some advantage to 'lesser' teams, and Connacht, coached by Pat Lam, duly led the league for much of the season. Despite not ultimately finishing top of the league, they converted their form into a maiden championship title in the post-league play-off matches, including a home semi-final victory over reigning champions Glasgow Warriors, and the Pro12 Final against league-topping Leinster at the neutral venue of Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh.

{{Main|2016–17 Pro12}}

Despite losing their first three matches, the Scarlets finished third in the league. They became the first team in the Pro 12's history to win an away semi-final, beating Leinster 27–15 at the RDS Arena, before beating league-topping Munster 46–22 at the Aviva Stadium. Scarlets wing Steff Evans ended up as the league's top try scorer with 11 tries.

{{Main|2017–18 Pro14}}

Big changes happened this season with the addition of two South African teams and a change from a league format of home and away to a conference structure championship. The 14 teams were split into two conferences of seven teams each. They play each team in their own conference twice (12 games) and each team in the other conference once (7 games), plus two derby games against the team(s) in the other conference from their own country, making 21 matches in total. The team that finishes top in each conference qualifies directly, one for each of the semi-finals, while the teams that finish second and third in each conference qualify as the four quarter-finalists to determine the other two semi-finalists.

Leinster would regain the title at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin and would become the first Pro14 side to ever win a European and Domestic double, they did so by beating previous holders Scarlets in a high scoring affair, 40-32. The two sides had already met in the European Semi-Final only a few weeks prior to the playoff final in very similar circumstances, at the same stadium and with much of the same lineup either side. It was Leinsters fifth domestic title.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pro14rugby.org/competition-rules|title=Competition Rules|date=1 July 2016|work=Guinness PRO14|access-date=15 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104103617/http://www.pro14rugby.org/competition-rules|archive-date=4 November 2017|url-status=dead}}

{{Main|2018–19 Pro14}}

The two conference format continued this season. The top three eligible European teams in each conference automatically qualified for following year's Champions Cup. The fourth ranked eligible team in each conference met in a play-off match with the winner taking the seventh Champions Cup place. As Leinster lost the Champions Cup final on 11 May 2019, Ospreys hosted Scarlets in the play-off on 18 May 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.pro14rugby.org/2019/05/03/clarification-on-european-play-off-game |title=Clarification on European Play-Off Game |publisher=Pro14 Rugby |date=3 May 2019}} Ospreys secured the sole Wales Champions Cup place for following season by defeating Scarlets 21-10.{{cite news |title=Pro14 European Champions Cup play-off: Ospreys 21-10 Scarlets |work=BBC Sport |date=17 May 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48306868 |access-date=21 November 2023}} The Pro14 final was played between Glasgow Warriors and Leinster and was played at Celtic Park in Glasgow.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/48292697|title=Glasgow Warriors 50-20 Ulster|date=17 May 2019|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=23 May 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/48322118|title=Leinster 24-9 Munster|date=18 May 2019|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=23 May 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/44008179|title=Pro14: Celtic Park to stage 2018-19 final|date=4 May 2018|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=27 May 2018}} Leinster won the game 18–15 to retain the title.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/may/25/leinster-glasgow-stuart-hogg-pro14-final|title=Leinster ruin Stuart Hogg's farewell to claim Pro14 title against Glasgow|date=25 May 2019|work=The Guardian|accessdate=27 May 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/48396208|title=Glasgow Warriors 15-18 Leinster: Holders win Pro14 final at Celtic Park|date=25 May 2019|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=27 May 2019}}

{{Main|2019–20 Pro14}}

All teams played their normal schedule until round 13 after which an additional two rounds of derby matches were played by the 12 European teams.{{Cite news|date=18 June 2020|title=Pro14 to return in August with derbies|language=en-gb|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/52979084|access-date=19 June 2020}} The Southern Kings announced in August 2020 that they had voluntarily withdrawn from the league for the remainder of 2020.{{Cite web|title=Statement: Southern Kings|url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/news/statement-southern-kings|access-date=26 August 2020|website=www.pro14.rugby|language=en|archive-date=12 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912205602/https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/news/statement-southern-kings|url-status=dead}} The top four eligible European teams in both conferences automatically qualify for the 2020–21 European Rugby Champions Cup. (The South African teams did not compete in the Champions Cup.) Qualification was based on league position after round 13. The grand final match was due 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|accessdate=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|accessdate=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|accessdate=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|accessdate=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|accessdate=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|accessdate=13 September 2020}}

{{Main|2020–21 Pro14}}

Twelve teams competed in this season — four Irish teams: Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster; two Italian teams: Benetton and Zebre; two Scottish teams: Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors; and four Welsh teams: Cardiff Blues, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets. Neither of the two South African teams competed this season, with the Cheetahs unable to compete due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Southern Kings having entered into voluntary liquidation due to heavy financial losses.{{Cite web|title=Southern Kings go into voluntary liquidation|url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/southern-kings-go-into-voluntary-liquidation/|access-date=24 December 2020|website=www.rugbypass.com|date=19 September 2020 |language=en}}

Due to the delays experienced during the 2019–20 season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season started later than usual on 2 October 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/pro14/guinness-pro14-restart-fixtures-kick-off-times-confirmed|title=Guinness PRO14 Restart Fixtures & Kick-Off Times Confirmed|date=22 July 2020|work=Pro14|access-date=4 September 2020|archive-date=12 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812135420/https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/pro14/guinness-pro14-restart-fixtures-kick-off-times-confirmed|url-status=dead}} Leinster won their fourth consecutive Pro14 title and 8th overall defeating Munster in the grand final on 27 March.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/56537008 |title=Leinster 16-6 Munster: Holders secure fourth straight Pro14 title by seeing off Irish rivals|date=27 March 2021|work=BBC Sport|accessdate= 1 April 2021}}{{cite web|url= https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-40252916.html|title=Leinster power to fourth PRO14 in row with dominant defeat of Munster|date=27 March 2021|work=Irish Examiner|accessdate= 1 April 2021}}

{{main|Pro14 Rainbow Cup}}

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}} 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=28 May 2021|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=19 June 2021|website=gazzetta.it|date=19 June 2021 |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}}

{{Main|2021–22 United Rugby Championship}}

The tournament consisted of 18 rounds of regular season play, and three rounds of play-offs. There were 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/news/united-rugby-championship-format-explained|title=United Rugby Championship Format Explained|work=Pro14|date=15 June 2021|access-date=15 June 2021|archive-date=15 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615152732/https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/news/united-rugby-championship-format-explained|url-status=dead}}

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.{{cite web|url= https://www.rte.ie/sport/united-rugby-championship/2022/0618/1305655-urc-grand-final-stormers-v-bulls-updates/|title= URC Grand Final: Stormers 18-13 Bulls - recap|date=18 June 2022|work=RTE Sport|accessdate=5 July 2022}} The Stormers defeated the Bulls 18–13 in Cape Town.{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/61844861|title= United Rugby Championship: Stormers beat Bulls 18-13 to win inaugural title|date=18 June 2022|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=5 July 2022}}{{cite web|url= https://www.the42.ie/stormers-bulls-5794296-Jun2022/|title= Stormers come from behind to beat their South African rivals and claim inaugural URC title|date=18 June 2022|work=The 42|accessdate=5 July 2022}}

{{Main|2022–23 United Rugby Championship}}

The tournament consisted of 21 rounds; 18 rounds of regular season play, followed by three rounds of play-offs. The final, held on 27 May 2023, saw Munster defeat defending champions the Stormers by a score of 19–14.{{cite web|url= https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/stormers-vs-munster/105572|title=Stormers 14-19 Munster: Irish province claim URC title vs Stormers in Cape Town for first silverware since 2011|date=27 May 2023|work=Sky Sports|accessdate=31 May 2023}}{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/65735178|title=United Rugby Championship Grand Final: Stormers 14-19 Munster - Late converted try seals win for Irish province|date=27 May 2023|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=31 May 2023}}

Since its inception, the competition has been dominated by Irish teams; in 23 years of the competition, Ireland has provided 14 of the champions, and 13 runners-up. The dominant team in this era has been Leinster, who have appeared in eleven out of 15 playoff finals, been both a winner and runner up in the 'round-robin' era, and have won 8 league titles in total, including 'four in a row' between 2017 and 2021. The two closest rivals to this dominance have been domestic and European rivals Munster with four titles and five runners-up spots, and Welsh flagship Ospreys with two titles in the round-robin era and two in the play-offs era. Ulster, Connacht, Scarlets (twice, once as Llanelli Scarlets, once as Scarlets), Glasgow Warriors and Stormers have also taken home the title. The 2021–22 tournament marked the first title won by a South African team: the Stormers. That year's competition also featured the first grand final not to contain a single Irish team as the losing finalists, the Bulls, were also South African.The 2006–07 Celtic League season ended with Welsh champions and runners-up, but the competition had no play-off stage in that season.

No Italian side has yet reached an ordinary league final. The best play-off performances from the nation have been two quarter-final appearances: in 2019 and 2024 for Benetton Rugby for Italy. Benetton did however emerge as champions of the Covid-affected transitional championship, the Pro14 Rainbow Cup, which was designed to introduce the former Super Rugby sides to European rugby competition. Although not treated as a championship in the ordinary lineal line, the 2021 Rainbow Cup is considered an official URC competition, along with the defunct Celtic Cup knockout tournament. As such, every country in the competition has at least once taken home league-wide silverware.

As of 2022, four Regional Shields will also be awarded annually. The inaugural winners of the Irish, Welsh, South African and Scottish-Italian URC Shields were Leinster, Ospreys, Stormers and Edinburgh respectively.

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Below are the list of champions, runners-up and table toppers each season.

* in progress

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The Celtic Cup was a short-lived single elimination knock-out competition, held alongside the Celtic League.

The Pro14 Rainbow Cup was a one-off 'transitional' or 'Spring Season' tournament created to facilitate the integration of the four South African sides into the United Rugby Championship. ahead of the 2021–22 season. For the first time, an Italian team and a South African team reached the final of an official Celtic League/Pro Rugby competition, with Benetton Treviso winning Italy's first-ever trophy at Pro Rugby level.

From the 2021–2022 season, a trophy will be awarded to each team that finishes top of its regional 'pool' (with Scottish and Italian teams sharing a trophy). the Irish Shield, Welsh Shield, South African Shield and Scottish-Italian Shield respectively. Prior to 2023, all matches counted, since then only matches with shield rivals are counted.

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Only one team has achieved the feat of winning every match during a season of the competition, Leinster Rugby, who have achieved the 'perfect season' twice; 2001-02 and 2019-20.

Leinster are also the only team from the competition to achieve a domestic and European double, winning a 'minor double' with the 2012–13 Pro12 title and the 2012–13 European Challenge Cup, before claiming the 'full double' of the 2017–18 Pro14 and the 2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup.{{Cite web |last=Skippers |first=David |date=29 August 2020 |title=Incredible Leinster complete perfect season in PRO14 |url=https://www.planetrugby.com/incredible-leinster-complete-perfect-season-in-pro14 |access-date=8 January 2023 |website=PlanetRugby |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Ryan |date=26 May 2018 |title=Leinster's perfect season, genius from Larmour and more Pro14 final talking points |url=https://www.the42.ie/leinster-scarlets-pro14-final-talking-points-4037644-May2018/ |access-date=8 January 2023 |website=The42 |language=en}}

URC clubs have won the Champions Cup on seven occasions, Leinster four times, Munster twice and Ulster once. The Challenge Cup has come back to the league four times, once with Leinster, twice with Cardiff Rugby and once with Sharks.

Bold indicates active player in United Rugby Championship

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Updated as of 15 December 2024
Statistics do not include those from Celtic Cup or Rainbow Cup matches.

• Most successful kicks: 397 – Dan Parks, Glasgow, Cardiff Blues and Connacht

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Updated as 29 May 2023{{cite web |title=PRO14 Awards: Three Players win Top-Try Scorer Title |url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/award/pro14-awards-three-players-win-top-try-scorer-title |website=pro 14 |access-date=4 April 2021}}

• Most successful kicks: 99 – Neil Jenkins, Celtic Warriors, 2003–04
• Most appearances: 24 – Rob Harley, Glasgow, 2013–14; Finlay Bealham, Connacht, 2015–16; Hadleigh Parkes, Scarlets, 2016–17{{cite web |title=Player Archive |url=http://site-celtic.soticcloud.net/statzone/index.php |website=Pro12 |access-date=15 December 2024}}

From 2002 to 2003 and from 2010 to 2014, the higher ranked team in the final were the hosting team. Between 2003 and 2010, no play-off was held and final standings determined the champion. However, from the 2014–15 Pro12 season onward, a pre-determined stadium was chosen at the start of the season that would host the final. In 2021–22, the inaugural United Rugby Championship season, the competition reverted to the highest seeded team hosting the final.

With 5 finals, RDS Arena, the home stadium of Leinster Rugby, has hosted the final most often. Of the five participating nations, only Italy have not yet hosted a linear final, although Benetton Rugby did host the transitional Pro14 Rainbow Cup final in their stadium, Stadio Comunale di Monigo.

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{{Portal|Sports}}

• 1872 Cup – Scottish derby
• Celtic Cup (2003), a short-lived knockout tournament for Celtic League teams
• Celtic Cup (2018), a tournament of the same name for Pro14 development teams from Ireland and Wales
• Anglo-Welsh Cup
• British and Irish Cup
• European Challenge Cup
• European Professional Club Rugby
• European Rugby Challenge Cup
• European Rugby Champions Cup
• Heineken Cup
• Judgement Day – Welsh derbies
• Sports league attendances
• Welsh Premier Division
• Major League Rugby
• Súper Liga Americana de Rugby
• List of professional sports teams in the United Kingdom

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• {{Official website}}

{{United Rugby Championship}}

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