LAST UPDATE | 21 Apr 2022
THE FIRST UNITED Rugby Championship Grand Final will be hosted by the highest-ranked team, organisers announced today.
Taking place on 18 June, the venue for the decider will be determined by a merit-based format used by the Pro14/Pro12 in the two most recent campaigns and from 2010-2014.
Between 2015 and 2020, the final was played at a stadium chosen from a consultation and bidding process and there were reports that a South African ground could potentially be awarded it this season.
That won’t be the case, however, and with three rounds to go before the play-offs, Leinster currently sit top of the table – 10 points ahead of Ulster and the Glasgow Warriors.
“With some thrilling rugby ahead of us the time is right to confirm our plans for the first-ever United Rugby Championship Grand Final,” said Martin Anayi, United Rugby Championship CEO.
“For this campaign, it is important to understand how our teams and their fans are returning to normality after so long away from stadia and that our job is to deliver the best URC Grand Final we can in these circumstances.
The reward of the highest-ranked team hosting the URC Grand Final adds even more to the competitive edge over the closing rounds of the league that will set us up for an incredible Play-Offs which now showcases our best eight teams in a battle to reach the URC Grand Final.”
Meanwhile, the new URC trophy has also been unveiled today.
The trophy, which has been called the Array, is in the final stages of production and fans have been treated to a digitally created 3D visual of the silverware today.
A statement released from organisers of the URC reads that, “Thisaway, who led the URC re-brand, steered the design brief for a contemporary re-style of a traditional cup that represents the boldness and diversity of the United Rugby Championship.
“Early in the process, the URC reached out to former coaches and players who had won the league to get their opinions about what makes a great trophy. The points of emphasis from those who had earn the silverware were: weight, size and the ability to drink from it.”
The new cup contains eight robust handles, meaning that the trophy can be held by a group. It also features logo designs to represent the Irish, Welsh, South African and Scottish-Italian Shields while the word Champions is engraved in different languages.
The Array is capped at the top by a crown which appears to levitate above the rim of the trophy and will have a bespoke design that changes each season.
You can watch a video of the digital unveiling here
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