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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.

Last week I had a rant ahead of the European Cup final. It was a thrilling game, and despite hoping for a Leinster win it’s clear that on the day Toulouse managed the game better. I referred to them as Rugby’s European Cup equivalent of Real Madrid, and they’ve extended their winning record. I’ll have a proper rant on Leinster’s short comings in European Cup finals in a little while, but this week I want to look ahead to the final round of URC game.

The URC has grown over 3 seasons into the best iteration of the competition that originated as the Celtic League and grew into the Pro(number). It’s become an increasingly competitive affair, evidenced by the fact that Leinster have gone from making the final most years and winning 4-in-a-row to not yet competing in the final of this version of the competition.

As a Leinster fan I enjoyed the lengthy unbeaten runs and long periods of league success which was at times a procession, but this kind of competitive league is better for the competition, the teams involved, the respective unions represented by the teams, and the sport as a whole.

Here’s some thoughts coming into the final round of games.

I’ve said it before, but for Munster, Glasgow, and Leinster they have to hope Bulls fail to finish above them. Bulls are guaranteed to finish at least 4th, but if they earn a home semi-final and final that suddenly drastically increases their odds of winning the league, considering their 3 knockout games will be South Africa while other teams will have to travel from Europe to South Africa during the play-offs.
- Unfortunately for the European based sides Bulls have a very good chance of taking a try bonus point from their final game. They face Sharks, who will be up for it but are travelling back from England having won (and probably celebrated) the Challenge Cup. Their season is over. They’ll do their utmost to hold off Bulls due to their rivalry but it’s going to be a huge ask.
- Munster vs Ulster is intriguing because both sides likely need something. If Bulls, Glasgow, or Leinster win their games they could overtake Munster, and if all 3 win then Munster could be out of home semi-final places. For all the good form Munster have been on they could find themselves with a difficult run in the play-offs if they slip up against a resurgent Ulster.
- Glasgow should have enough to pick 5 points up against Zebre. Then a home semi-final against Stormers will see them benefit from another case of opposition travelling across the hemisphere.
- Leinster host Connacht in the last game a the current RDS. Regardless of other results or who lines out Leinster need a BP win and a big display to make up for last week. This needs to be a statement win. That won’t be easy because Connacht could still make the play-offs.
The big game of the week in the other half of the top 8 s Edinburgh vs Benetton. After Sharks winning the Challenge Cup it’s basically a play-off for Champions Cup Rugby with the sides level on points. Whoever loses will have to go all the way and win the URC to qualify.
It would probably be good for the URC to have as many countries as possible represented in the play-offs and qualify for the Champions Cup.