News from the touchline United Rugby Championship gets set for kick-off
Trimsaran RFC enjoys star turnout at event In September, South Wales side Trimsaran RFC marked the club’s centenary in style with a number of famous faces attending a specially arranged game against the illustrious Llanelli RFC. Former international referee Nigel Owens made a return to the pitch just six months after his retirement to take charge of the club’s fixture against local senior side Llanelli. Another big name in attendance was Jonathan Davies, the former dual League and Union international turned TV pundit. Davies, who began his rugby career at the club, handed out the new centenary jerseys to the home players before the match. “I was very proud to be asked to do that,” said Davies. “You have got to remember where you came from. “Most international players come from places like Trimsaran and their dream is to play for Wales. “Maybe, in a few years' time, I will see one of the players I presented with a jersey playing for Wales. “That would be nice. That’s what rugby is all about. The kids have got to dream and see their heroes.” The match ended in a 12-78 win for Llanelli but that did not dampen any celebrations with the singing and fun continuing for many hours in the clubhouse. Trimsaran had actually been due to celebrate their centenary last season, but the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdown had led to the event having to be rescheduled by 12 months. 4 CLUB RUGBY
The United Rugby Championship (URC) – formerly known as the PRO14 – begins on September 21 and sees the top clubs from South Africa competing against sides from Scotland, Ireland, Italy and Wales across 18 rounds. In the UK, the 2021-2022 season will be showing on Premier Sports with 151 games set to be broadcast. “We believe these fixtures will ensure that the URC could deliver on its promise of a new era for our league where the very best from South Africa go head-to-head with our Celtic and Italian teams,” said Martin Anayi, CEO of United Rugby Championship. “As we carefully manoeuvre out of the pandemic, the URC will take its place as one of the leading leagues in global rugby and this fixture list should ignite our competition and take it to the next level." Round 1 of the competition sees defending title holders and eight-times
champions, Leinster, taking on three-time Super Rugby champions Vodacom Bulls. Munster, another multiple-time champion will welcome the Cell C Sharks to Ireland while the DHL Stormers face Rainbow Cup winners Benetton in Treviso and the Emirates Lions travel to Parma to take on Zebre. Edinburgh will host Scarlets in their new stadium in the Scottish capital. The first Welsh derby of the season takes place between the Dragons and Ospreys, Cardiff Rugby entertain Connacht while a battle of former champions will take place between Ulster and Glasgow Warriors. “This schedule is the most complex we have ever produced and the efforts of every one of our stakeholders to help us piece it together in the current climate have been monumental," added Anayi. "We now have a format that will heighten competition, showcase our clubs,
elevate our athletes and bring great excitement to fans and TV audiences right across our territories and beyond.” For the last four seasons, the championship was divided into two conferences but the inaugural URC will see a single league table, with 18 regular-season games (down from 21) to decide the standings. The top eight after all games are played will enter the play-offs (quarter-finals, semifinals and final). For play-off seedings, the top team will play the side that finishes in eighth place, second v seventh and so on. Each season the URC Grand Final will be held at what organisers call a 'destination venue’. There are also no rounds scheduled during the international windows, making it more likely that teams will be able to call on their top stars more often.
