August dates are in the diary as PRO14 announces restart plan
THE Guinness PRO14 have revealed their plans for resuming this season’s competition in August, with four weekends of matches culminating in the grand final.
They have also revealed how teams will qualify from the league for next season’s Champions Cup and it’s bad news for Cardiff Blues.
The aim is to re-start the PRO14 on the weekend of August 22, with the first of two rounds of derby matches in each country.
So, all being well, that’s when the Welsh regions will return to action.
It’s not yet been revealed which derby matches will be played, as there are three rounds of them left in the original schedule.
There is no indication either where the games will be staged.
One option would be having double headers in a single venue. That would simplify things in terms of preparing just one
Covid-approved ground.
But it would mean twice as many people on site.
It may be that teams play their matches at their regular venues, with the Blues moving their home fixture to one of the other three regional grounds, with the Arms Park out of commission due to it being part of the Dragon’s Heart Hospital.
It’s not confirmed yet, but it’s almost certain the game would be played behind closed doors.
The two rounds of derbies will then be followed by a semi-final and final, with venues to be announced and the final to be played on September 12.
As for Champions Cup qualification, that will be decided based on conference positions after Round 13 of the competition, so the August derbies won’t be factored in.
That rules the Blues out, whatever the shape of Europe’s top competition next season.
They will drop down to sixth spot in Conference B, as Treviso will receive two points from their previously postponed fixture with Ulster.
It does, however, mean the Scarlets will play in the premier European competition next season as they sit third in conference B.
If the Champions Cup is expanded to 24 teams, as has been mooted, then the top four eligible sides from each PRO14 conference will qualify.
That would see the Dragons taking a place at Europe’s top table even though they would have fewer league points than the Blues.
Planning for the 2020/21 Guinness PRO14 season has begun, with October 3 identified as the provisional date for Round 1.