Get Newsletter

New Pro14 conferences infuriates fans

REACTION: The new conferences for the Pro14 have been announced, and they have already left some fans bemused on social media.

ADVERTISEMENT

The conferences will be in place for the next two seasons, and the main problem is that last season’s finalists, Leinster and Glasgow Warriors, have been drawn in the same group. This is because the seeding was based on points at the end of the regular season, in which Munster had more than their rivals Leinster, despite losing to them comfortably in the semifinal.

Although they reached the Champions Cup final and won the Pro14, Leinster may have paid the price for resting players during the latter stages of the competition, as it affected their seeding. They have not only been matched with last season’s best team in terms of points, Glasgow, but Wales’ best team as well last term, the Ospreys.

While the seeding does make logistical sense, some fans are still infuriated by the outcome, as Munster seem to be in quite a favourable position compared to Leinster. The competition as a whole has received quite a lot of criticism due to this.

Furthermore, while Leinster fans feel a bit aggrieved, Scottish fans, particularly from Glasgow, are perhaps the most incensed. For a long time, Welsh and Scottish fans have argued that the competition is weighted in the Irish teams’ favour, and this seeding only means that it is more likely that a Leinster vs Munster final will happen in 2020. This is despite Glasgow probably being the second best team in the competition over the past five years or so.

Of course, the Warriors could still make the final, but if they were to finish in second place in their conference (as opposed to first last season), they would face an away semi-final, probably against Munster.

A change to the conference structure was always going to cause controversy for some sections of fans, but the fact that the two finalists are in the same group has perhaps caused more than expected.

ADVERTISEMENT

This is what has been said:

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Write A Comment