The URC 2024 Play-Off Bracket is set after the end of the regular season, here’s the route to the final

Bracket:
Quarter-Finals
QF1: (1)Munster vs Ospreys(8)
QF2: (2)Vodacom Bulls vs Benetton(7)
QF3: (3)Leinster vs Ulster(6)
QF4: (4)Glasgow Warriors vs DHL Stormers(5)
Semi-Finals
SF1: Winner of QF1 vs Winner of QF4
SF2: Winner of QF2 vs Winner of QF3
Highest Ranked team gets home advantage
Final:
Winner of SF1 vs Winner of SF2
Highest Ranked team gets home advantage

Here’s some thoughts:

• Location, location, location
  • Munster are favourites for the league with the most winnable quarter-final. Topping the table has given them home advantage throughout.
  • Bulls finishing 2nd is interesting because it means their semi-final could be in South Africa. If either Leinster or Ulster have to travel the length of the globe that’s advantage Bulls who have already had their last few games there.
  • It’s further complicated by the final potentially being back in Europe since the winner of this one will have to travel a long distance.
  • If Bulls make the final and Munster don’t then Bulls are clear favourites by virtue of facing a side that’s had to make the cross hemisphere trip.
  • This is something the URC may have to look at in the long run. There was a time in which the predecessor to the league had destination finals. It may be an idea to have a destination play-off series.
    • One way this could work would be having the play-offs in one of the countries involved. Rotate between Ireland, Wales, Scotland, South Africa, and Italy. An issue with this would be expecting fans to travel for 3 games. It’s particularly an issue because there’s no guarantee any side will have 3 games, it could be 1 or 2. It would likely mean attendances wouldn’t be great.
    • Probably a better option would be rotating the final between Northern and Southern hemisphere. Have it in South Africa and in the European countries on alternating years. With this they could have a destination final, with the quarters and semi-finals being held with home advantage to the higher-ranked sides, or neutral venues if the higher ranked side is from the other hemisphere.
    • It might be a case of having a break week between the end of the season and the play-offs to accomodate for travel. That would mean an extra game round during an international break or starting the season a week earlier.
      • There’d have to be an out and out training week, without using the European Cup Final weekend as the break, as that disincentivize any URC team that makes the Champions Cup or Challenge Cup final and the URC play-offs to go full-force in the latter.
    • Regardless of travel issues that come with having teams across different ends of the world the league is stronger than ever. While a minor adjusted may be needed to ensure the play-offs are fully competitive. As well as this there’s the environmental concern of constant long-range travel over the course of a month.
      • With the Nations Cup final series announcement I think it’s important to make it clear the URC play-offs should be held in a participating country in the league and shouldn’t be turned into a sportswashing exercise.