United Rugby Championship

[curates_egg]

Is there anything to be said for a 'quickening'?

That used to be one of my favourite threads. I get that it has lost its usefulness for us over the past few seasons though.

[johng]

Yes. Conferences (and Leinster's early season dominance) have ruined the need for it OK.

Was considering it this weekend though.

[Serb]

Interesting that Stormers are sending a second string squad to face Glasgow next weekend (and London Irish in the champions cup the following weekend). Hopefully they can drop some points there.

[ronk]

They have 6 league matches and 2 HC ones in Europe. Before knockouts. Internationals have the November trip too.

I suppose they want to give lads a break from some of the travel.

Scotland in January is a really tough place to go to from a South African summer. Sending the stars might not get wins anyway. LI should be easier.

[blockhead]

Average attendance for the last 2 weeks was over 15K, nearly 1/4 mil turned up for the last 2 weekends, unprecedented in the URC.

[Theleinsterlad]

Average attendance for the last 2 weeks was over 15K, nearly 1/4 mil turned up for the last 2 weekends, unprecedented in the URC.

Great to see was even shocked to see the wales games be all close to full attendances

[neill_m]

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6
Munster v Emirates Lions
Musgrave Park, Cork – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU, 5th league game)
AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU) AR 2: Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Dragons RFC v Vodacom Bulls
Rodney Parade, Newport – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 66th league game)
AR 1: Mike English (WRU) AR 2: Tom Spurrier (WRU)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7
Benetton v Ulster
Stadio Monigo, Treviso – KO 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 87th league game)
AR 1: Filippo Russo (FIR) AR 2: Filippo Vinci (FIR)
TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)

Edinburgh Rugby v Zebre Parma
The DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh – KO 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU, 4th league game)
AR 1: David Sutherland (SRU) AR 2: Finlay Brown (SRU)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)

Cardiff Rugby v Scarlets
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff – KO 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA
Referee: Joy Neville (IRFU, 10th league game)
AR 1: Gareth Newman (WRU) AR 2: Gwyn Morris (WRU)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)

Connacht v Cell C Sharks
The Sportsground, Galway – KO 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU, 37th league game)
AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU) AR 2: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU)
TMO: Wayne Davies (WRU)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8
Glasgow Warriors v DHL Stormers
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – KO 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 85th league game)
AR 1: Jonny Perriam (SRU) AR 2: Ross Mabon (SRU)
TMO: Mark Patton (IRFU)

[ronk]

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6
Munster v Emirates Lions
Musgrave Park, Cork – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU, 5th league game)
AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU) AR 2: Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Dragons RFC v Vodacom Bulls
Rodney Parade, Newport – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 66th league game)
AR 1: Mike English (WRU) AR 2: Tom Spurrier (WRU)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7
Benetton v Ulster
Stadio Monigo, Treviso – KO 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 87th league game)
AR 1: Filippo Russo (FIR) AR 2: Filippo Vinci (FIR)
TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)

Edinburgh Rugby v Zebre Parma
The DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh – KO 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU, 4th league game)
AR 1: David Sutherland (SRU) AR 2: Finlay Brown (SRU)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)

Cardiff Rugby v Scarlets
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff – KO 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA
Referee: Joy Neville (IRFU, 10th league game)
AR 1: Gareth Newman (WRU) AR 2: Gwyn Morris (WRU)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)

Connacht v Cell C Sharks
The Sportsground, Galway – KO 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU, 37th league game)
AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU) AR 2: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU)
TMO: Wayne Davies (WRU)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8
Glasgow Warriors v DHL Stormers
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – KO 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 85th league game)
AR 1: Jonny Perriam (SRU) AR 2: Ross Mabon (SRU)
TMO: Mark Patton (IRFU)

Why the suspense? Who did we get?

[neill_m]

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6
Munster v Emirates Lions
Musgrave Park, Cork – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU, 5th league game)
AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU) AR 2: Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Dragons RFC v Vodacom Bulls
Rodney Parade, Newport – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 66th league game)
AR 1: Mike English (WRU) AR 2: Tom Spurrier (WRU)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7
Benetton v Ulster
Stadio Monigo, Treviso – KO 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA / 15.00 SA
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 87th league game)
AR 1: Filippo Russo (FIR) AR 2: Filippo Vinci (FIR)
TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)

Edinburgh Rugby v Zebre Parma
The DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh – KO 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU, 4th league game)
AR 1: David Sutherland (SRU) AR 2: Finlay Brown (SRU)
TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)

Cardiff Rugby v Scarlets
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff – KO 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA
Referee: Joy Neville (IRFU, 10th league game)
AR 1: Gareth Newman (WRU) AR 2: Gwyn Morris (WRU)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)

Connacht v Cell C Sharks
The Sportsground, Galway – KO 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA / 19.15 SA
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU, 37th league game)
AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU) AR 2: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU)
TMO: Wayne Davies (WRU)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8
Glasgow Warriors v DHL Stormers
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – KO 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 85th league game)
AR 1: Jonny Perriam (SRU) AR 2: Ross Mabon (SRU)
TMO: Mark Patton (IRFU)

Why the suspense? Who did we get?

In match thread.

[ronk]

Ospreys v Leinster
Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 30th league game)
AR 1: Dewi Phillips (WRU) AR 2: Jason Bessant (WRU)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Cheers

[Xanthippe]

How fantastic to see that three of the eight games will have female referees

[desperado]

How fantastic to see that three of the eight games will have female referees

Yes indeed. Are there any female refs in the Gallagher Premiership? I don't think I've ever seen one.

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[Barry]

How fantastic to see that three of the eight games will have female referees

Assume its something to do with Nollaig na mBan

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[blockhead]

The last round's attendance was 123,307, an all-time Celtic League record for a single round!
The previous week was the 3rd highest on record (including 8,582 at a Dragons home game, I didn't know Rodney parade was that big!)
Ave attendance this season is 9,250.
Things looking up.

[FLIP]

The last round's attendance was 123,307, an all-time Celtic League record for a single round!
The previous week was the 3rd highest on record (including 8,582 at a Dragons home game, I didn't know Rodney parade was that big!)
Ave attendance this season is 9,250.
Things looking up.

RP has a capacity of 8,700 (7,850 for football) so they were almost at capacity.

[Xanthippe]

How fantastic to see that three of the eight games will have female referees

Assume its something to do with Nollaig na mBan

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Or maybe it’s something to do with them being very good at their jobs and deserving to be selected on that basis

[the spoofer]

How fantastic to see that three of the eight games will have female referees

Assume its something to do with Nollaig na mBan

Sent from my VOG-L09 using Tapatalk

Or maybe it’s something to do with them being very good at their jobs and deserving to be selected on that basis

Davidson and Barrett are top quality refs from what I've seen of them. I'm not convinced by JN. HD should be doing far more games than her her fellow Scottish ref.

[wixfjord]

Glasgow v Stormers could be a good watch on Sunday.

Stormers not doing what Sharks have done and are bringing their big guns.

[ronk]

Glasgow v Stormers could be a good watch on Sunday.

Stormers not doing what Sharks have done and are bringing their big guns.

This is their last 2 week trip to the NH of the season (pending knockouts).

Might be an indicator of the strength of the teams they'll send for Ulster and/or Leinster.

[Ruckedtobits]

The current Table for the URC is fairly unsatisfactory with the extreme example being the case of Sharks, one point behind Munster in 6th Place but with three games in hand.

It looks like Sharks are in a really strong position as they will play three successive games against their South African opponents in successive games (3rd Feb v Stormers, 18th Feb v Lions, 4th Mar v Stormers) and then a visit to Scarlets and hosting Benetton before they finish their regular season against Munster at home at the end of April.

The current Table presents many anomalies, not least being the position of the four teams immediate below Munster - Sharks, Glasgow, Benetton & Cardiff - all of whom are in a position to bypass the southern Province, if they win their outstanding fixtures. Ninth would look very different to fifth for even-eyed Munster fans.

Looking through the various fixtures from week 13 onwards, it appears that Benetton could be a key team in determining the top four placings and they cannot be ruled out of contention themselves, although they are outsiders at this point, in 8th place with six victories from their eleven games to date, but a very poor points difference of -39. If Italy have a good 6N and Benetton get a lift from their Italian internationals, they could climb to 6th before their last three games against SA sides.

Albeit that the disparity between games played by different teams at this stage is less than ideal, it seems very likely that the URC play-off placings will provide huge excitement in the last 5 rounds of the competition.