View source for United Rugby Championship

{{Short description|Annual rugby union competition in Europe and South Africa}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby league cup
| title = United Rugby Championship (URC) 
| current_season = 2025–26 United Rugby Championship
| logo = United_Rugby_Championship_logo.svg 
| pixels = 160px
| sport = [[Rugby union]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2001}}
| teams = [[#Teams|16]]
| countrytag = Nations
| country = {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} Ireland (4 teams)<br />{{flagicon|Italy}} Italy (2 teams)<br />{{flagicon|Scotland}} Scotland (2 teams)<br />{{flagicon|South Africa}} South Africa (4 teams) <br />{{flagicon|Wales}} Wales (4 teams)
| champion = [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] (9th title)
| season = [[2024–25 United Rugby Championship|2024–25]]
| most_champs = [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]  (9 titles)
| website = {{URL|https://www.unitedrugby.com/|unitedrugby.com}}
| formerly2 = Pro12
| formerly = Pro14
| formerly3 = Celtic League
}}
The '''United Rugby Championship''' ('''URC''') is an annual [[rugby union]] competition involving professional teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales. For sponsorship reasons the league is known as the '''Vodacom United Rugby Championship''' in South Africa, and the '''BKT United Rugby Championship''' in the competition's other territories, the split branding mirroring the format previously adopted in [[Super Rugby]]. The Championship represents the highest level of domestic club or franchise rugby in each of its constituent countries.

The Championship is one of the three major professional leagues in Europe (along with the English [[Premiership Rugby|Premiership]] and the French [[Top 14]]), the most successful teams from which go forward to compete in the highest-level continental club competitions, the [[European Rugby Champions Cup]] and [[European Rugby Challenge Cup|Challenge Cup]]. Since 2022–23 South African teams have been eligible to qualify for European competitions.<ref>{{cite web |title=EPCR confirms inclusion of South African clubs for 2022/23 season and beyond |url=https://www.epcrugby.com/european-professional-club-rugby/content/epcr-confirms-inclusion-of-south-african-clubs-for-2022-23-season-and-beyond |website=European Professional Club Rugby |access-date=20 November 2023 |language=en |date=2 June 2022}}</ref>

{{toclimit|3}}

==Name==

The tournament has had a number of names as it has grown, both organisationally and because of sponsors. The current name for the tournament was adopted in 2021, when the league expanded to include four South African teams previously from the [[SANZAR]] [[Super Rugby]] competition and both sets of naming rights, '''BKT''' and '''Vodacom''', were added in the 2022–23 season.

The genesis of the League can be traced to 1999 when two Scottish districts joined the professional [[Welsh Premier Division]], creating the '''[[Welsh–Scottish League]]''', which does not form part of the continuity of the competition known as URC, but is the acknowledged precursor to it. When the Welsh-Scottish league was disbanded to create a similar competition with the provincial clubs from Ireland three years later, the new competition became known as the '''Celtic League'''<ref>(Irish: ''An tSraith Cheilteach''; Italian: ''La Lega Celtica''; [[Scottish Gaelic|Scots Gaelic]]: ''An Lìog Cheilteach''; [[Welsh language|Welsh]]: ''Y Gynghrair Geltaidd'') {{cite web |title=Y Gynghrair Geltaidd |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/chwaraeon/safle/rygbi_rhanbarthol/pages/canlyniadau_celtaidd.shtml |language=cy |publisher=BBC Chwaraeon |date=28 September 2005 |access-date=7 February 2009}}</ref> The league was sponsored by Irish [[cider]] makers [[Magners]] from the [[2006–07 Celtic League|2006–07]] season until [[2010–11 Celtic League|2010–11]], and was referred to as the '''Magners League''' (or in the Republic of Ireland the '''Bulmer's League''' as the same sponsor traded under a different name there). At the start of the 2010–11 season, the league expanded from 10 to 12 teams, by adding two Italian teams, the first step outside the Celtic nations who had formed the league.

Following the end of Magners' sponsorship, the league adopted a '''Pro12''' branding to acknowledge the move beyond the Celtic nations, with [[RaboDirect]] coming on board as naming sponsor of the Rabobank Pro12 from [[2011–12 Pro12|2011–12]] through to [[2013–14 Pro12|2013–14]].<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|url=http://www.thescore.ie/pro12-fixtures-201415-sponsor-1563532-Jul2014/ |title=Guinness Confirmed as pro12 sponsor |publisher=The Score |date=10 July 2014 |access-date=10 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714222431/http://www.thescore.ie/pro12-fixtures-201415-sponsor-1563532-Jul2014/ |archive-date=14 July 2014  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/13127244 |title=Magners to end six-year Celtic League backing |work=BBC News |date=19 April 2011 |access-date=20 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/swansea-ospreys/2011/06/08/celtic-league-to-be-called-pro-12-as-new-sponsor-unveiled-91466-28843270/ |title=Celtic League to be called PRO 12 as new sponsor unveiled |publisher=[[Media Wales|WalesOnline]] |date=8 June 2011 |access-date=12 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814172119/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/swansea-ospreys/2011/06/08/celtic-league-to-be-called-pro-12-as-new-sponsor-unveiled-91466-28843270/ |archive-date=14 August 2011 }}</ref> A further expansion to 14 teams (and the subsequent renaming to '''Pro14''') took place from the [[2017–18 Pro14|2017–18]] season, with two South African teams not competing in the [[Super rugby]] competition joining the Championship until the 2019–20 season. The sponsorship deal with [[Guinness]] began at the beginning of the 2014–15 season as the '''Guinness Pro14''', and concluded after the '''Guinness [[Pro14 Rainbow Cup]]''' in July 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=PRO14 Rugby thanks Guinness for seven years of unparalleled support |url=https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/pro14/thankyou-guinness |website=www.unitedrugby.com |access-date=3 August 2021 |language=en |date=11 July 2021}}</ref> Following the arrival of the four South African Super Rugby franchises (and the departure of the two existing South African teams) a further rebranding to the '''United Rugby Championship''' (or the '''URC''' for short) occurred, while the league formed a new partnership with [[Roc Nation]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Roc Nation and the United Rugby Championship announce a revolutionary partnership |url=https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news/roc-nation-and-the-united-rugby-championship-announce-a-revolutionary-partnership |website=www.unitedrugby.com |access-date=3 August 2021 |language=en |date=14 July 2021}}</ref> '''BKT''' and '''Vodacom''' secured naming rights the following season.

== Trophy ==
The URC trophy is named 'The Array', and was made in collaboration between British silversmiths [[Thomas Lyte]], and design agency, Matter, in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-21 |title=Unique Vodacom URC trophy revealed |url=https://stormers.co.za/unique-vodacom-urc-trophy-revealed/ |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=The Official Website for the DHL Stormers |language=en-US}}</ref> While the trophy's official name is 'The Array', it is also affectionately nicknamed 'the Beast' as it weighs around {{Cvt|20|kg}}, making it the heaviest trophy in club rugby. It stands 68&nbsp;cm tall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Makers of the United Rugby Championship Trophy |url=https://thomaslyte.com/united-rugby-championship-urc-trophy-makers-the-array/ |access-date=2025-08-13 |website=Thomas Lyte |language=en}}</ref>

==Tournament format==
===Current format===
As of the introduction of the United Rugby Championship in [[2021–22 United Rugby Championship|2021–22]], the championship season has broadly had a consistent format. It takes place between September and May, with teams split into four regional pools: The '''Irish Shield''' pool, the '''Welsh Shield''' pool, the '''South African Shield''' pool and the '''Scottish and Italian Shield''' pool for the purpose of fixture setting.

Teams play each of the other teams in their pool twice (home and away) and each team from the other pools once (either home or away, alternating annually). This ensures that Irish, South African and Welsh teams each play six derby matches. For Italy and Scotland, their respective clubs play their own nations' sides only twice. All teams are sorted in a single league table. Championship points are awarded using the [[rugby union bonus points system|bonus points system]]; 4 points for a win and 2 for a draw. Bonus points can be earned so long as teams either score four or more tries in a game or lose by seven points or fewer – should a team do both, two bonus points are gained.

This creates an 18-match regular season before the play-offs, essentially a full single round robin with three additional 'derby ties' (or one extra derby and two extra Scottish-Italians ties in that pool).

The play-offs are made up of a seeded three round single-elimination tournament for the top eight teams. Teams are seeded 1–8 and the highest-seeded teams receive home advantage in every tie, including in the final. Prior to 2022, in common with the English [[Premiership Rugby|Gallagher Premiership]] competition, the finals had been held in pre-arranged venues, although unlike the Premiership -where the final was fixed at [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]], the event still travelled between hosts.

As for European qualification, As of 2022 the South African teams are eligible for European competition. As of 2023, the top eight teams qualify for the [[European Rugby Champions Cup|Champions Cup]], with the remaining teams qualifying for the [[EPCR Challenge Cup|Challenge Cup]], subject to lower ranked URC teams claiming qualification for the Champions Cup by winning a European trophy.

With three fewer regular season fixtures than in the Pro14, but with an extra round of playoffs, the season is truncated slightly to 21 match weeks and thus can still be scheduled to the same time period as previous models of the competition. Clashes between league matches and international weekends in November and during the [[Six Nations Championship]] have been reduced.

Due to the travelling distance between Europe and South Africa, home South African games are always played on a Saturday, allowing visiting teams to have a seven-day turnaround between fixtures, including five "clean days" that do not involve any travel. Should the draw see European teams play both South African teams away, the schedule will see the away team play the two matches back-to-back across two weeks, acting as a "mini-tour" and reducing air travel and freight.

====URC Regional Shields====

On 24 September 2021, URC confirmed that the top side in each regional pool after the end of the 18-game regular season would be awarded a subsidiary trophy, a regional '''Shield'''. In Ireland, Wales and South Africa, this shield (the '''URC''' '''Irish Shield''', '''URC''' '''Welsh Shield''' and '''URC''' '''South African Shield''' respectively) functions as an informal national championship title for the main professional sides, while in Scotland and Italy's shared pool, it will be a joint regional trophy. The concept is comparable to the Divisional Championships in the [[National Football League|NFL]] which are also loosely geographically based. For the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 seasons, the winners of each Shield were decided on the basis of all 18 regular season games played, and also guaranteed qualification for the European Rugby Champions Cup, regardless of their overall league position.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2021/09/24/urc-confirms-shield-trophies-for-winners/ |title=Irish Rugby {{pipe}} URC Confirms Shield Trophies For Winners |publisher=Irishrugby.ie |date=24 September 2021 |accessdate=18 March 2022 }}</ref> However, since the start of the 2023–2024 season, this was no longer the case and the top eight teams in the league would qualify for Europe regardless of Shield position. In addition, the winners of the each Shield would be determined by the games played amongst the teams within their regional group, reaffirming its status as a specifically national and separate championship.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 May 2023 |title=United Rugby Championship: 'Meritocracy' Champions Cup qualification returns while the final venue format is maintained |url=https://www.planetrugby.com/news/united-rugby-championship-urc-merit-based-champions-cup-qualification-to-return-but-destination-final-wont |access-date=1 November 2023 |website=Planet Rugby}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 October 2023 |title=Meritocracy Qualification Will Make URC Stronger |url=https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news/meritocracy-qualification-will-make-urc-stronger |access-date=19 November 2023 |website=United Rugby Championship |archive-date=12 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212081328/https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news/meritocracy-qualification-will-make-urc-stronger |url-status=dead }}</ref> In Scotland, the 'national' trophy is considered to be the '''[[1872 Cup]]''' played exclusively between the two Scottish clubs, usually as a double header over the Christmas and New Year periods.

Derby games have become a tradition in all five member nations over this holiday period, with most home teams achieving bumper crowds for the matches. In Wales, a tradition has also arisen for a double-header '''Judgment Day''' event, involving all four Welsh clubs in two Welsh derbies back-to-back at the [[Millennium Stadium|Principality Stadium]]. In Ireland and Scotland, certain derby games have been moved very successfully to the larger national stadia, or in the case of Connacht and Munster, to much larger local [[Gaelic Athletic Association|GAA]] grounds.

===Format history===
The league has used a play-off structure for most of its history, from its beginnings in 2001 until to 2003, and again every year since the 2009–10 season to determine the champions, similar to that used in the English Premiership.<ref>{{cite news |title=Magners set to bring in play-offs |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7341673.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 April 2008 |access-date=7 February 2009}}</ref> For the first two seasons there were two groups and a knockout to determine a winner. Starting from the 2003–04 season until the 2008–09 season, the champions were determined from league performance, with all the teams in one league table. From 2009, the single league table was retained, but play-offs were reintroduced to crown a champion. From the 2017–18 season, when the competition expanded to fourteen teams, the regular season employed a conference structure rather than a single round robin league, with 'derby games' between teams from the same nation being protected, and an expanded playoff structure. This allowed the expanded competition to control the calendar, and control the number of games per team.

League points are awarded using the bonus points system. Until and including the 2008–09 season, the champions were decided solely on the basis of who finished top of the league table, but since the 2009–10 season, the league champion has been decided by a play-off series, in line with other rugby club competitions such as [[Super Rugby]], [[Top 14]], and the [[Premiership Rugby|English Premiership]]: at the conclusion of the regular season, the top four placed teams enter the semi-final stage, with the winner of the first vs fourth and second vs third play-offs entering the final (known as the "grand final" in [[2010 Celtic League Grand Final|2010]] and [[2011 Celtic League Grand Final|2011]]).

Two Italian teams – the former [[Top12|National Championship of Excellence]] team [[Benetton Rugby|Benetton Treviso]], and a new team, [[Aironi]] – joined the league starting with the [[2010–11 Celtic League|2010–11]] season. Aironi was replaced by [[Zebre]] from the [[2012–13 Pro12|2012–13]] season. Through the 2012–13 season, the Welsh, Irish, Scottish and Italian rugby unions used the league as the sole determinant for [[Heineken Cup]] qualification, and from [[2013–14 Pro12|2013–14]] they use it as the sole means of qualification for the successor to the Heineken Cup, the [[European Rugby Champions Cup]].

Two South African teams – [[Southern Kings]] and [[Cheetahs (rugby union)|Cheetahs]] joined the competition in 2017 to create Pro14, while the four remaining professional franchises stayed in [[Super Rugby]]. The competition adopted a modified two-conference format rather than a full round-robin single table, with extra fixtures to maintain national derby matches. As weaker provinces, both South African teams struggled in the three years in which they took part, and were ineligible for European competition. The terminal financial difficulties at Southern Kings, and the COVID-19 pandemic effectively ended their participation in 2020, and there was no South African participation in the 2020 season, although the competition retained the Pro14 name.

Despite the difficulties, however, the competition proved attractive to the South African Rugby Football Union, due to shared time zones and reduced travelling, and the four major Super Rugby franchises – [[Stormers]], [[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]], [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]] and [[Lions (United Rugby Championship)|Lions]] joined the renamed United Rugby Championship the following year, firstly through the transitional [[Pro14 Rainbow Cup]], held in a split tournament format across Europe and South Africa, and then the United Rugby Championship, this time eligible for European competition. Ironically, Cheetahs, no longer in the URC, were invited to join the second-tier European competition, the EPCR Challenge Cup, as well, along with Georgian side, [[Black Lion (rugby union)|Black Lion]] from the [[Rugby Europe Super Cup]]. South African team, Stormers, won the first edition of URC in an all South African final, before being runner-up in the second season to Irish side, Munster.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:center"
|-
!Period
!Sponsor
!Name
!Teams
!Countries
|-
|{{nowrap|2001–2002}}
|rowspan="4"|no sponsor
|rowspan="4"|Celtic League
|15
|rowspan="6"|Ireland, Scotland, Wales
|-
|2002–2003
|16
|-
|2003–2004
|12
|-
|2004–2006
|rowspan="2"|11
|-
|2006–2007
|rowspan="3"|[[Magners]]
|rowspan="3"|Magners League
|-
|2007–2010
|10
|-
|2010–2011
|rowspan="3"|12
|rowspan="3"|Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales
|-
|2011–2014
|[[RaboDirect]]
|RaboDirect Pro12
|-
|2014–2017
|rowspan="4"|[[Guinness]]
|Guinness Pro12
|-
|2017–2020
|rowspan="2"|Guinness PRO14
|14
|Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa, Wales
|-
|2020–2021
|12
|Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales
|-
|2021
|Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup
|rowspan="3"|16
|rowspan="3"|Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa, Wales
|-
|2021–2022
|[[Vodacom]] (South Africa only)<ref>{{cite web |date=15 September 2021 |title=Vodacom secure SA title sponsorship for URC |url=https://www.treblegroup.co.uk/2021/09/15/vodacom-secure-sa-title-sponsorship-for-urc/}}</ref>
no sponsor (all other nations)
|(Vodacom) United Rugby Championship
|-
|2022–
|[[Vodacom]] (South Africa only)<br />[[BKT Tires|BKT]] (all other nations)<ref>{{Cite web |title=BKT Becomes United Rugby Championship Northern-Hemisphere Title Sponsor |url=https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news/bkt-becomes-united-rugby-championship-northern-hemisphere-title-sponsor |access-date=25 September 2022 |website=unitedrugby.com }}</ref>
|Vodacom United Rugby Championship
BKT United Rugby Championship
|}

==Corporate organisation==
The legal name of the body running the competition is ''PRO Rugby Championship [[Designated activity company|DAC]]'', a [[private company limited by shares]] based in Ireland. The organisation is responsible for running and operating the URC and is currently owned equally by the [[Irish Rugby Football Union]] (IRFU), the [[Scottish Rugby Union]] (SRU) and the [[Welsh Rugby Union]] (WRU). The [[Italian Rugby Federation]] (FIR) may become a shareholder subject to it meeting certain conditions.

The board of Celtic Rugby DAC is made up of representatives from the IRFU, SRU, WRU, ProRugby Wales, the FIR and the South African Rugby Union. The chief executive is Martin Anayi.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pro14rugby.org/2018/10/09/italian-rugby-federation-set-to-become-a-shareholder-of-celtic-rugby/ |title = Italian Rugby Federation set to Become a Shareholder of Celtic Rugby|date = 9 October 2018}}</ref>

In 2020 the championship received an investment from [[CVC Capital Partners]] who acquired a 28% share in the championship.<ref>{{cite web |title=CVC acquire stake in Guinness Pro14 |url=https://www.ultimaterugby.com/news/cvc-acquire-stake-in-guinness-pro14/627397 |website=www.ultimaterugby.com |date=22 May 2020 |access-date=5 October 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ahmed |first1=Murad |last2=Wiggins |first2=Kaye |title=Pro14 to rebrand as United Rugby Championship under CVC investment |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a818f21c-10f3-444b-8f10-3b531e11352b |website=Financial Times |access-date=5 October 2021 |date=15 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pro14 confirms sale of 28% stake to CVC, August restart |website=[[RTÉ.ie]] |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2020/0522/1139980-cvc-pro14/ |access-date=5 October 2021 |language=en |date=22 May 2020}}</ref>

The organisation's headquarters are at Millbank House, [[Sandyford]], [[Dublin]] 18.

==Media coverage==
Starting in the [[2010–11 Celtic League|2010–11]] season, the League was broadcast live on [[BBC Two Wales]], [[BBC Two Northern Ireland]], [[RTÉ]], the [[Irish language]] channel [[TG4]], the [[Scottish Gaelic]] channel [[BBC Alba]], the [[Welsh language]] channel [[S4C]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2010/0609/magnersleague_tv.html |title=RTÉ secures Magners League rights – RTÉ Sport |publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann |date=20 August 2010 |access-date=20 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024011837/http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2010/0609/magnersleague_tv.html |archive-date=24 October 2010 }}</ref> The [[BBC Two Wales]] matches were usually made available to the rest of the United Kingdom via [[BBC Red Button]]. Complete match replays were also available on the [[BBC iPlayer]]. Each broadcaster provided feeds to the others for matches in their home territory. While this meant that the league was now available free to air in the UK and Ireland, in Italy it was only available on a subscription basis in its first year.

Commencing from the [[2014–15 Pro12|2014–15]] season, [[Sky Sports]] became one of the league's broadcast partners, broadcasting 33 live games on a Saturday and also showing both the semi-finals and the final live. Its contract concluded at the end of 2017–18 season.

Also starting in the [[2014–15 Pro12|2014–15]] season, Italy's [[Nuvolari (TV channel)|Nuvolari]] began broadcasting the games involving the two Italian clubs live on its digital free-to-view channel. [[Glasgow Warriors]] and [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]] matches were also broadcast live on [[BBC Radio Scotland]].

From the 2018–19 season, coverage of the tournament was taken over by Premier Sports in the UK, EirSport in Ireland, DAZN in Italy, and Supersport in South Africa.

Coverage of the tournament can be found in other territories – on [[beIN Sports]] in France, and on various [[Setanta Sports]] channels around the globe (including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South East Asia and the Middle East), as well as EuroSport.

===Broadcast coverage history===

Current broadcasters:
* URC TV (Ireland and other countries without broadcaster) (2021–present)<ref>{{Cite web |title=URC TV Launched As League's Official OTT Service |url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2021/09/16/urc-tv-launched-as-leagues-official-ott-service/ |access-date=25 September 2022 }}</ref>
* [[TG4]] (Ireland – Irish language) (2001–2004, 2010–present)
* [[TELEVISION NEW ZEALAND|Television New Zealand]]<ref>{{cite web |last=New Zealand |first=Television |date=1 July 2023 |title=Here is what's on offer as free-to-air sport returns to TVNZ |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/07/01/here-is-whats-on-offer-as-free-to-air-sport-returns-to-tvnz/ }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dine |first=Jonny |date=29 June 2023 |title=Sports to benefit from a return to free-to-air TV |url=https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/300917473/sports-to-benefit-from-a-return-to-freetoair-tv }}</ref>(2023–present)
* [[RTÉ Sport]] (Ireland) (2010–2014, 2021–2025)
* [[S4C]] (Wales – Welsh language) (2001–present)
* [[BBC Wales]] (2001–2018, 2021–2025)
* [[BBC Northern Ireland]] (2001–2004, 2010–2018, 2021–present)
* [[Eurosport]] (non-Core markets) (2016–present)
* [[DAZN]] (Germany) (2018–present)
* [[FloSports]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news/flo-sports-to-broadcast-urc-ecpr-top-14-in-innovative-broadcast-deal |title=Flo Sports to broadcast URC, EPCR & Top 14 in 'Innovative' Broadcast Deal – United Rugby Championship|date=22 March 2023}}</ref> (USA) (2022–Present)
* [[Disney+]] (Latin America) (2022–2025)
* [[SuperSport (South African TV channel)|SuperSport]] (South Africa) (2017–present)
* [[Viaplay Sports]] (UK and Ireland) (UK: 2018–present)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/premier-sports-player-free-trial-14594878 |title=How to watch the PRO14 on Premier Sports, get a free trial and cast Premier Player to your TV|date=8 September 2018}}</ref> (Ireland: 2021–present)
* [[Premier Sports Asia]] (2020–)
* [[SKY Italia|SKY Sport Italy]] (2003, 2023–)

Past broadcasters:
* [[Sky Sports]] (2014–2018) 
* [[eir sport]] (Ireland) (2018–2021)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pro14rugby.org/2018/07/24/new-era-for-guinness-pro14-will-kick-off-in-wales-live-on-%E2%80%8Bpremier-sport-eir-sport/ |title=New Era for Guinness PRO14 will kick off in Wales live on Premier Sports & eir sport}}</ref>
* [[Setanta Sports]] (Live 2004–2010, Highlights 2010–2018)
* [http://www.therugbychannel.tv/ The Rugby Channel] (2016–2018)
* [[beIN Sports]] (2014–2018)
* [[BBC Alba]] (2010–2018)
* [[BBC Scotland (TV channel)|BBC Scotland]] (UK)<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC Scotland – Pro14 Highlights – Scotland |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000bsxk}}</ref>
* [[STV (TV network)|STV]] (Live 2009–2010, Highlights 2010–2013)
* [[Dahlia TV]] (2010–2011)
* [[Sportitalia]] (2012–2013)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/new_broadcast_partner_for_rabodirect_pro12 |title=New broadcast partner for RaboDirect Pro12 |publisher=Sportspromedia.com |date=30 June 2012}}</ref>
* [[Nuvolari (TV channel)|Nuvolari]] (2014–2015)
* [[Rai Sport 1|RAI Sport]] (2011–2012, 2015–2016)
* [[DAZN]] (Italy, Canada) (2018–2021)
* [[Mediaset]] (Italy) (2013–2014, 2021–2022)
* [[:it: Eurosport|Eurosport Italia]]: (2016–2018; 2022–2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Warner Bros. Discovery to broadcast BKT United Rugby Championship games in Italy |url=https://comms.unitedrugby.com/5GVN-N5F9-7B06D2B7DE56273E3ISQRREE4B18A6B648A29B/cr.aspx |access-date=25 September 2022 |website=comms.unitedrugby.com}}</ref>
*[[Setanta Sports Asia|Setanta Sports]] (Asia) (2011–2020)
* [[ESPN]] (USA) (2018–2021)<ref>{{cite web |title=PRO14 |url=https://www.pro14rugby.org/2018/08/31/espn-espn-networks-to-bring-guinness-pro14-rugby-to-us-fans-in-multi-year-agreement/}}</ref>
* [[Spark Sport]] (2021–2023)<ref>{{cite web |last=New Zealand |first=Spark |date=22 September 2021 |title=Spark Sport secures broadcast rights to United Rugby Championship |url=https://www.sparknz.co.nz/news/SS_URC/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Long |first=David |date=17 December 2022 |title=End of Spark Sport bad news for sports in NZ, as Sky TV regains monopoly |url=https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/130790908/end-of-spark-sport-bad-news-for-sports-in-nz-as-sky-tv-regains-monopoly}}</ref>

From 2004 to 2009, the Scottish and Irish rights were owned by [[Setanta Sports]]. Setanta closed down in Scotland in 2009, but [[Setanta Ireland]] and [[Setanta Sports 1]] remained available to Irish subscribers. In 2010, [[RTÉ Sport]], [[BBC Northern Ireland]], [[TG4]], [[BBC Wales]], [[BBC Alba]] and [[SKY Italia]] came together to buy the Celtic League broadcasting rights.<ref>{{cite news |first=Graham |last=Clutton |title=Celtic Rugby secure improved broadcast deal for Magners League coverage |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/7813469/Celtic-Rugby-secure-improved-broadcast-deal-for-Magners-League-coverage.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=9 June 2010 |access-date=9 June 2010 |location=London}}</ref>

On 2 May 2013, Sky Sports announced that it had agreed a four-year deal to broadcast 33 live matches each season. This deal commenced at the start of season 2014–15, Sky have 30 exclusive matches but are only allowed to cover one set of fixtures; for instance, only one Leinster v Munster match was live on Sky with the other on TG4.<ref>{{cite news |title=RaboDirect Pro12 games to be shown on Sky Sports from 2014 |url=http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/15180/8684039/RaboDirect-Pro12-games-to-be-shown-on-Sky-Sports-from-2014 |work=Sky Sports |publisher=skysports.com |date=2 May 2013 |access-date=25 May 2013}}</ref> Regional screening of matches continued, BBC Wales show Scrum V Live on Friday Night with S4C covering a match now on Sunday afternoons. BBC Alba also screened matches, with some also available in English on BBC Scotland, although BBC Alba did offer English language commentary via their Red Button service when the match was not shown on BBC Scotland. BBC Northern Ireland screened all Ulster matches not available on Sky Sports. RTÉ Sport dropped their coverage after the 2014 final due to budget cuts, making TG4 the only broadcasters of the competition in the Republic of Ireland. The semi-finals and finals are available to all broadcasters.

On 31 August 2017, SuperSport announced that it had acquired the rights to broadcast matches within South Africa.

On 30 April 2018, PRO14 Rugby signed a partnership with [[Premier Sports]] and [[FreeSports]] to broadcast every Pro14 game live in high definition across the UK for at least the next three years. The agreement, which came into effect for the 2018–19 season, also saw at least one match per round shown live free-to-air on FreeSports.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.premiersports.com/pro-14/pro-14/|title=Every game for only £9.99 per month!|website=www.premiersports.com|access-date=8 May 2018|archive-date=3 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503112627/http://www.premiersports.com/pro-14/pro-14|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Teams==
The league is based on regionalised, provincial and franchise representation of the participating nations, except for [[Benetton Rugby|Benetton]] which represents the city of Treviso itself. Benetton was selected for its long history after the project of a second Italian regional team, Praetorians Roma, failed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Treviso in Celtic League Praetorians Roma bocciati |url=http://www.repubblica.it/2009/10/sport/vari/celtic-league/celtic-league/celtic-league.html |work=la Repubblica |date=2 October 2009 |access-date=12 November 2011 }}</ref> [[Zebre Parma]] replaced an earlier franchise [[Aironi]] in Italy. South Africa and Ireland use explicitly provincial structures, the former operating on a franchise system. Both countries have long organised domestic and representative rugby on a provincial basis going back decades. Wales employs a more recent regional structure, but built on an original club foundation where regions originally represented a combination of local premiership clubs, while Scotland employs the opposite, a 'two city club' system where each of the clubs maps over a previous regional team. A third Scottish regional team, [[Border Reivers (rugby union)|Border Reivers]] and a fifth Welsh regional-club team [[Celtic Warriors]], were wound down by the respective unions early in the competition's history, while [[Cheetahs (rugby union)|Cheetahs]] and [[Southern Kings]] left prior to the URC rebranding, with Cheetahs surviving to compete as an invitee team in the [[EPCR Challenge Cup|European Rugby Challenge Cup]] and Kings being wound down for insolvency.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin:1em auto"
|-
|
{{Location map+ |United Kingdom crop|width=400|float=center|caption=Location of United Rugby Championship teams in the United Kingdom:<br>[[File:Gold pog.svg|8px]] Northern Ireland [[File:Blue 000080 pog.svg|8px]] Scotland [[File:Dark Red 800000 pog.svg|8px]] Wales|places=
{{Location map~ |United Kingdom crop|lat=54.576389|long=-5.904444|label_size=80|mark=Gold pog.svg |label=[[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]|position=bottom}}
{{Location map~ |United Kingdom crop|lat=55.927792|long=-3.223548|label_size=80|mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg|label=[[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]]|position=right}}
{{Location map~ |United Kingdom crop|lat=55.881137|long=-4.34181|label_size=80|mark=Blue 000080 pog.svg|label=[[Glasgow Warriors]]|position=bottom}}
{{Location map~ |United Kingdom crop|lat=51.479722|long=-3.183611|label_size=80|mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg|label=[[Cardiff Rugby|Cardiff]]|position=bottom}}
{{Location map~ |United Kingdom crop|lat=51.588333|long=-2.987778|label_size=80|mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg|label=[[Dragons (rugby union)|Dragons]]|position=right}}
{{Location map~ |United Kingdom crop|lat=51.6422|long=-3.9351|label_size=80|mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg|label=[[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]]|position=bottom}}
{{Location map~ |United Kingdom crop|lat=51.679167|long=-4.129167|label_size=80|mark=Dark Red 800000 pog.svg|label=[[Scarlets]]|position=left}} }}
{{Location map+ |Italy North|AlternativeMap=Italy North location map.svg|width=400|float=center|caption=Location of United Rugby Championship teams in Italy|places=
{{location map~ |Italy North|lat=45.680278|long=12.213333|label=<small>[[Benetton Rugby|Benetton]]</small>|position=left}}
{{location map~ |Italy North|lat=44.826111|long=10.328889|label=<small>[[Zebre Parma]]</small>|position=right}} 
}}
||
{{Location map+ |Ireland|AlternativeMap=Provinces of Ireland location map.svg|width=405|float=center|caption=Location of United Rugby Championship teams on the island of Ireland, in the [[Irish Rugby Football Union|IRFU]] jurisdiction:<br>
[[File:Green 008000 pog.svg|8px]] Republic of Ireland [[File:Gold pog.svg|8px]] Northern Ireland|places=
{{Location map~ |Ireland|lat=54.576389|long=-5.904444|label_size=80|mark=Gold pog.svg|label=[[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]|position=right}}
{{Location map~ |Ireland|lat=53.279|long=-9.0397|label=<small>[[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]]</small>|mark=Green 008000 pog.svg|position=right}}
{{Location map~ |Ireland|lat=53.325556|long=-6.229444|label=<small>[[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]</small>|mark=Green 008000 pog.svg|position=right}}
{{Location map~ |Ireland|lat=52.674167|long=-8.6425|label=<small>[[Munster Rugby|Munster]]</small>|mark=Green 008000 pog.svg|position=bottom}} }}
{{Location map+ |South Africa |AlternativeMap=South Africa location map.svg|width=405|float=center|caption=Location of United Rugby Championship teams in South Africa|places=
{{location map~ |South Africa |lat=-25.753333|long=28.222778|label=<small>[[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]]</small>|position=right}}
{{location map~ |South Africa |lat=-29.828|long=31.031|label=<small>[[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]]</small>|position=right}}
{{location map~ |South Africa |lat=-26.1975|long=28.060833|label=<small>[[Lions (United Rugby Championship)|Lions]]</small>|position=left}}
{{location map~ |South Africa |lat=-33.970556|long=18.468333|label=<small>[[Stormers]]</small>|position=left}}}}
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 99%"
|-
|+ United Rugby Championship clubs
|-
!style="width:15%"| Club
!style="width:8%"| Established 
!style="width:8%"| Joined
!style="width:20%"| Location
!style="width:20%"| Stadium(s)
!style="width:15%"| Surface
! style="width:8%" | Capacity
!style="width:15%"| Titles (last)
|-
|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Benetton Rugby|Benetton]]
|1932
|2010
|[[Treviso]], [[Italy]]
|[[Stadio Comunale di Monigo]]
|Grass
|6,700
|0*
|-
|{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]]
|1997
|2021
|[[Pretoria]], [[South Africa]]
|[[Loftus Versfeld Stadium]]
|Grass
|51,762
|0 
|-
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Cardiff Rugby]]
|2003
|2003
|[[Cardiff]], [[Wales]]
|[[Cardiff Arms Park]]
|3G Artificial
|12,125
|0 
|-
|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]]
|1885
|2001
|[[Galway]], [[Ireland]]
|[[Dexcom Stadium]]
|3G Artificial
|12,000
|1 ([[2016 Pro12 Grand Final|2016]])
|-
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Dragons (rugby union)|Dragons]]}}
|2003
|2003
|[[Newport, Wales|Newport]], [[Wales]]
|[[Rodney Parade]]
|Hybrid
|8,700
|0
|-
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]]}}
|1872
|2001
|[[Edinburgh]], [[Scotland]]
|[[Edinburgh Rugby Stadium]]
|3G Artificial
|7,800
|0
|-
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Glasgow Warriors]] 
|1872
|2001
|[[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]]
|[[Scotstoun Stadium]]
|3G Artificial
|9,708
|2 ([[2024 United Rugby Championship final|2024]])
|-
|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]
|1879
|2001
|[[Dublin]], [[Ireland]]
|[[Aviva Stadium]]<br />[[RDS Arena]]
|Grass
|51,700<br />20,600
|9 ([[2025 United Rugby Championship final|2025]])
|-
|{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Lions (United Rugby Championship)|Lions]]
|1996
|2021
|[[Johannesburg]], [[South Africa]]
|[[Ellis Park Stadium]]
|Grass
|62,567
|0
|-
|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Munster Rugby|Munster]]
|1879
|2001
|[[Cork (city)|Cork]], [[Ireland]]<br />[[Limerick]], [[Ireland]]
|[[Musgrave Park, Cork|Musgrave Park]]<br />[[Thomond Park]]
|3G Artificial<br />Grass
|8,008<br />25,600
|4 ([[2023 United Rugby Championship final|2023]])
|-
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]]
|2003
|2003
|[[Swansea]], [[Wales]]
|[[St Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground|St Helen's]]
|3G Artificial
|8,000
|4 ([[2012 Pro12 Grand Final|2012]])
|-
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Scarlets]]}} 
|2003
|2003
|[[Llanelli]], [[Wales]]
|[[Parc y Scarlets]]
|Hybrid
|14,870
|2 ([[2017 Pro12 Grand Final|2017]])
|-
|{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]]
|1995
|2021
|[[Durban]], [[South Africa]]
|[[Kings Park Stadium]]
|Grass
|52,000
|0 
|- 
|{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Stormers]]
|1997
|2021
|[[Cape Town]], [[South Africa]]
|[[Cape Town Stadium]]
|Grass
|55,000
|1 ([[2021–22 United Rugby Championship#Championship Final|2022]])
|-
|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]] 
|1879
|2001
|[[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]]
|[[Ravenhill Stadium]]
|3G Artificial
|18,196
|1 ([[2005–06 Celtic League|2006]])
|-
|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Zebre Parma]] 
|1973
|2012
|[[Parma]], [[Italy]]
|[[Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi]]
|Grass
|5,000
|0 
|}

*In 2021, [[Benetton Rugby]] won the [[Pro14 Rainbow Cup]], a transitional 'spring league' conference-based tournament that took place between the Pro14 and URC incarnations of the competition. The victory is recognised as an official URC title for the Italians, the first ever won by a team from that country, but is not recognised as part of the annual continuity of the main tournament league.

===Italian participation since 2010–11===
The Celtic League board met in November 2008 to explore the possibility of Italian participation; the chief executive of the [[Welsh Rugby Union]], Roger Lewis, stated that the league was looking "favourably" on Italian participation.
Following a 19 December 2008 board meeting of the [[Italian Rugby Federation]] (FIR) to discuss proposals to improve Italian rugby,<ref>{{cite news |title=Italians may join Magners League |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7766990.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 December 2008 |access-date=20 December 2008 }}</ref> FIR announced that it would submit a proposal to join the Celtic League.

FIR had two possibilities – either entering four existing Italian clubs from the [[Top12|National Championship of Excellence]] into the league; or creating two teams of Italy-qualified players exclusively for the competition.<ref>{{cite news |title=Italy confirm Magners League move |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7793092.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 December 2008 |access-date=20 December 2008 }}</ref>
On 18 July 2009, the FIR announced that [[Aironi]] and Praetorians Roma would compete in the Celtic League from the start of the [[2010–11 Celtic League|2010–11]] season – beating bids from [[Benetton Rugby|Benetton Treviso]] and Duchi Nord-Ovest. Praetorians would be based in Rome at the [[Stadio Flaminio]], while Aironi would be based in Viadana but would play some matches in the city of [[Reggio Emilia]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Italians pick Celtic League teams |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8157723.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 July 2009 |access-date=18 July 2009 }}</ref>
On 2 October 2009, the FIR proposed Benetton Treviso in place of Praetorians Roma.<ref>{{cite news |title=Il Veneto in Celtic League, Roma fuori |url=http://www.rugbyveneto.org/wordpress/il-veneto-in-celtic-league-roma-fuori.html |language=it |publisher=Rugby Veneto |date=2 September 2009 |access-date=6 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329021719/http://www.rugbyveneto.org/wordpress/il-veneto-in-celtic-league-roma-fuori.html |archive-date=29 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 28 January 2010, the FIR declared that they had withdrawn from negotiations with the Celtic League regarding two Italian teams joining the tournament, with the main issue being a €3&nbsp;million warranty asked for by the league,<ref>{{cite news |title=COMUNICATO STAMPA FIR SULLA CELTIC LEAGUE |url=http://www.federugby.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=964:comunicato-stampa-fir-sulla-celtic-league&catid=25:news-dalla-fir&Itemid=120 |language=it |publisher=FIR |date=28 January 2010 |access-date=29 January 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2010/0129/1224263356274.html|title=Italian entry to competition now unlikely|date=29 January 2010|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Italians will not join Magners League |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2010/0129/1224263419850.html |access-date=8 February 2010 |newspaper=The Irish Times }}</ref> but by 7 February, the Italian clubs had come up with the required funding.<ref>{{cite news |title=Italians up offer to join Magners party |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/italians-up-offer-to-join-magners-party-2052138.html |access-date=8 February 2010 |work=Irish Independent |first=Brendan |last=Fanning |date=7 February 2010}}</ref> By 8 March 2010, a deal had been finalised for [[Aironi]] and [[Benetton Rugby|Benetton Treviso]] to enter the Celtic League from the 2010–11 season, with each team guaranteed a place in the Heineken Cup.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2010/0308/1224265854499.html |title=Italians added to Magners League |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=8 March 2011 |access-date=20 June 2013}}</ref>

At the end of the [[2011–12 Pro12|2011–12]] season, however, [[Aironi]] were no longer available to compete in future competitions as a regional club, as, on 6 April 2012, they were refused a licence to continue on financial grounds.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/17640035 |title=Italian side Aironi to pull out of Pro12 after their licence is revoked |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 April 2012}}</ref> They were replaced by another Italian side, [[Zebre]] (now Zebre Parma).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/26111/7799184/ |title=Zebras join RaboDirect herd |publisher=[[Sky Sports News]] |date=5 July 2012}}</ref>

===Former teams===

Thirty separate teams have taken part in the various versions of the Championship. Of the fourteen teams no longer involved, nine were Welsh premiership clubs, replaced by five new regions. One of those Welsh regions, two South African franchises, one Scottish region and one Italian franchise make up the rest of the historic teams. Only the four Irish provinces and the original Scottish regions have been ever present (Cardiff Rugby, Scarlets, Ospreys and Dragons have changed their names). Of the fourteen, eight of the nine Welsh clubs and Cheetahs continue to compete in other competitions. Ireland has never entered a new team nor withdrawn a team since their entry to the competition.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Team
!Years
!Location
!Stadium(s) (capacity)
|-
|{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Aironi]]
|2010–12
|[[Viadana, Lombardy|Viadana]], [[Italy]]
|[[Stadio Luigi Zaffanella]] (6,000)
|-
|{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Border Reivers (rugby union)|Border Reivers]]
|2002–07
|[[Galashiels]], [[Scotland]]
|[[Netherdale]] (6,000)
|-
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Bridgend Ravens]]
|2001–03
|[[Bridgend]], [[Wales]]
|[[Brewery Field]] (6,000)
|-
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Caerphilly RFC|Caerphilly]]
|2001–03
|[[Caerphilly]], [[Wales]]
|[[Virginia Park (Caerphilly)|Virginia Park]] (5,000)
|-
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Cardiff RFC]]
|2001–03
|[[Cardiff]], [[Wales]]
|[[Cardiff Arms Park]] (12,500)
|-
|{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Celtic Warriors]]
|2003–04
|[[Bridgend]], [[Wales]]<br />[[Pontypridd]], [[Wales]]
|[[Brewery Field]] (12,000)<br />[[Sardis Road]] (8,000)
|-
|{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Cheetahs (rugby union)|Cheetahs]] 
|2017–20
|[[Bloemfontein]], [[South Africa]]
|[[Free State Stadium]] (48,000)
|-
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Ebbw Vale RFC|Ebbw Vale]]
|2001–03
|[[Ebbw Vale]], [[Wales]]
|[[Eugene Cross Park]] (8,000)
|-
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Llanelli RFC|Llanelli]]
|2001–03
|[[Llanelli]], [[Wales]]
|[[Stradey Park]] (10,800)
|-
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Neath RFC|Neath]]
|2001–03
|[[Neath]], [[Wales]]
|[[The Gnoll]] (6,000)
|-
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Newport RFC|Newport]]
|2001–03
|[[Newport, Wales|Newport]], [[Wales]]
|[[Rodney Parade]] (11,676)
|-
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Pontypridd RFC|Pontypridd]]
|2001–03
|[[Pontypridd]], [[Wales]]
|[[Sardis Road]] (7,861)
|-
|{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Southern Kings]] 
|2017–20
|[[Port Elizabeth]], [[South Africa]]
|[[Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium]] (48,459)
|-
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Swansea RFC|Swansea]]
|2001–03
|[[Swansea]], [[Wales]]
|[[St. Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground|St Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground]] (4,500)
|}

Notes:

* Before [[Introduction of regional rugby union teams in Wales|regionalisation]], Wales was represented by nine [[Welsh Premier Division|Welsh Premiership]] clubs from 2001 to 2003. Following this they were replaced with five regional clubs, of which [[Celtic Warriors]] only lasted a single season.
* The [[Border Reivers (rugby union)|Border Reivers]], added in 2002, were disbanded by the Scottish Rugby Union in 2007 as part of cost-cutting measures.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/scottish/6498449.stm |title=Scottish union axes Borders team |work=[[BBC News]] |date=27 March 2007}}</ref>
* [[Aironi]] was replaced by [[Zebre Parma|Zebre]] in 2012, meaning that the number of Italian teams remained at two.
*The two South African clubs [[Cheetahs (rugby union)|Cheetahs]] and [[Southern Kings]] exited the league in 2020 as a result of travel restrictions due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].

<timeline>
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#> JOINED IN 2000 <#

   bar:EDI color:Fullscot from:01/07/2001 till:end text:[[Edinburgh Rugby]]
   bar:GLA color:Fullscot from:01/07/2001 till:end text:[[Glasgow Warriors]]
   bar:CON color:Fullirish from:01/07/2001 till:end text:[[Connacht Rugby]]
   bar:LEI color:Fullirish from:01/07/2001 till:end text:[[Leinster Rugby]]
   bar:MUN color:Fullirish from:01/07/2001 till:end text:[[Munster Rugby]]
   bar:ULS color:Fullirish from:01/07/2001 till:end text:[[Ulster Rugby]]
   bar:BRI color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2003 text:[[Bridgend Ravens]]
   bar:CRC color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2003 text:[[Cardiff RFC]]
   bar:CAE color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2003 text:[[Caerphilly RFC]] 
   bar:EBV color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2003 text:[[Ebbw Vale RFC]]
   bar:LLA color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2003 text:[[Llanelli RFC]]
   bar:NEA color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2003 text:[[Neath RFC]]
   bar:NEW color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2003 text:[[Newport RFC]]
   bar:PON color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2003 text:[[Pontypridd RFC]]
   bar:SWA color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2003 text:[[Swansea RFC]]
   bar:BRI color:Nonleague from:01/07/2003 till:end text:           transferred to WRU leagues
   bar:CRC color:Nonleague from:01/07/2003 till:end text:           transferred to WRU leagues
   bar:CAE color:Nonleague from:01/07/2003 till:end text:           transferred to WRU leagues 
   bar:EBV color:Nonleague from:01/07/2003 till:end text:           transferred to WRU leagues
   bar:LLA color:Nonleague from:01/07/2003 till:end text:           transferred to WRU leagues
   bar:NEA color:Nonleague from:01/07/2003 till:end text:           transferred to WRU leagues
   bar:NEW color:Nonleague from:01/07/2003 till:end text:           transferred to WRU leagues
   bar:PON color:Nonleague from:01/07/2003 till:end text:           transferred to WRU leagues
   bar:SWA color:Nonleague from:01/07/2003 till:end text:           transferred to WRU leagues

#> JOINED IN 2002 <#   
   bar:BOR color:Formerscot from:01/07/2002 till:30/06/2007 text:[[Border Reivers (rugby union)|Border Reivers]]
   bar:BOR color:Nonleague from:01/07/2001  till:30/06/2002 text:SIDC

#> JOINED IN 2003 <#   
    bar:CAR color:Fullwelsh from:01/07/2003 till:end text:[[Cardiff Rugby]]
    bar:CWA color:Formerwelsh from:01/07/2003 till:30/06/2004 text:[[Celtic Warriors]]
    bar:DRA color:Fullwelsh from:01/07/2003 till:end text:[[Dragons (rugby union)|Dragons]]
    bar:OSP color:Fullwelsh from:01/07/2003 till:end text:[[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]]
    bar:SCA color:Fullwelsh from:01/07/2003 till:end text:[[Scarlets]]

#> JOINED IN 2010 <#
    bar:AIR color:Formeritalian from:01/07/2010 till:30/06/2012 text:[[Aironi]]
    bar:BEN color:Fullitalian from:01/07/2010 till:end text:[[Benetton Rugby|Benetton Treviso]]
    bar:BEN color:Nonleague from:01/07/2001  till:30/06/2010 text:Italian Top10

#> JOINED IN 2012 <#
    bar:ZEB color:Fullitalian from:01/07/2012 till:end text:[[Zebre Parma]]

#> JOINED IN 2017 <#

  bar:CHE color:Fullsa from:01/07/2017 till:30/06/2020 text:[[Cheetahs (rugby union)|Cheetahs]]
  bar:CHE color:Nonleague from:01/07/2020 till:end text:Currie Cup & ECHR
  bar:CHE color:Nonleague from:01/07/2001 till:30/06/2017 text:Currie Cup
  bar:CHE color:Nonleague from:01/01/2006 till:30/06/2017 text:Super Rugby & Currie Cup
  bar:STK color:Formersa from:01/07/2017 till:30/06/2020 text:[[Southern Kings]]
  bar:STK color:Nonleague from:01/01/2013 till:31/12/2013 text:Super Rugby
  bar:STK color:Nonleague from:01/01/2016 till:30/06/2017

#> JOINED IN 2021 <#
   bar:BUL color:Nonleague from:01/07/2001 till:31/12/2020 text:Super Rugby
   bar:BUL color:Fullsa from:01/01/2021 till:end text:[[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]]
   bar:SHA color:Nonleague from:01/07/2001 till:31/12/2020 text:Super Rugby
   bar:LIO color:Fullsa from:01/01/2021 till:end text:[[Lions (United Rugby Championship)|Lions]]
   bar:STO color:Nonleague from:01/07/2001 till:31/12/2012 text:Super Rugby
   bar:STO color:Nonleague from:01/01/2014 till:31/12/2020
   bar:SHA color:Fullsa from:01/01/2021 till:end text:[[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]]
   bar:LIO color:Nonleague from:01/07/2001 till:31/12/2020 text:Super Rugby
   bar:STO color:Fullsa from:01/01/2021 till:end text:[[Stormers]]

</timeline>

===Other nations===
After the successful negotiations with Italy,<ref>{{cite web|first=Jonny |last=Kirkup |title=Italian Celts – Non Starter |url=http://blogs.walesonline.co.uk/rugby/2008/02/italian-celts-non-starter.html |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales |date=5 February 2008 |access-date=7 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121033122/http://blogs.walesonline.co.uk/rugby/2008/02/italian-celts-non-starter.html |archive-date=21 November 2008  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Tim |last=Glover |title=How Italy became Europe's fall guys |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/tim-glover-how-italy-became-europes-fall-guys-428794.html |work=The Independent on Sunday |date=17 December 2006 |access-date=7 February 2009 |location=London}}</ref> talks were held intermittently with South Africa about the possible expansion of the Pro12.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rugby Union: Major Organisations |url=http://www.talkrugbyunion.co.uk/guides/rugby_union_organisations.html |publisher=Talkrugbyunion.co.uk |access-date=7 February 2009 |archive-date=9 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009125936/http://www.talkrugbyunion.co.uk/guides/rugby_union_organisations.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="SA S14">{{cite news |first=Wayne |last=Smith |title=South Africa threatens to quit Super 14 |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25064310-5015655,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121215171633/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25064310-5015655,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 December 2012 |work=The Australian |date=17 February 2009 |access-date=17 February 2009 }}</ref> A 24-team Rainbow Cup involving 11 Celtic, 9 South African and 4 Italian teams was announced in 2005,<ref>{{cite news |title=Celtic nations in new Rainbow Cup |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/4533261.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 May 2005 |access-date=7 February 2009 }}</ref> but the idea was abandoned because of financial issues on the European end of the deal<ref name="SA S14"/> and changes in the leadership of the [[South African Rugby Union]] (SARU).

[[London Welsh]] expressed interest in 2006 in joining the Celtic League if promotion and relegation were to be removed from the [[Premiership Rugby|English Premiership]].<ref>{{cite news |title=London Welsh keen on Celtic move |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/6199419.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 December 2006 |access-date=7 February 2009 }}</ref>

In February 2009, South Africa was rumoured to be negotiating entry of its current [[Super Rugby]] teams into the Celtic League, to take effect when the media contract between [[SANZAAR|SANZAR]] and [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] expires after the 2010 season;<ref name="SA S14"/> these rumours were immediately denied by SA Rugby, the commercial arm of SARU.<ref>{{cite press release|title=SA Rugby denies Magners League link |url=http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/6845?view=news |publisher=[[South African Rugby Union]] |date=17 February 2009 |access-date=20 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108080607/http://www.sarugby.net/component/supersportcontent/6845?view=news |archive-date=8 January 2016  }}</ref> In the end, nothing came of these rumours, and the competition remained a strictly European affair.

In a 2016 interview with ''[[The Irish Times]]'', [[Irish Rugby Football Union|IRFU]] CEO Philip Browne indicated that the Pro12 was seriously considering establishing a [[United States|US]] franchise on [[East Coast of the United States|the country's Atlantic coast]] in the near future, seeing the recent growth of the sport in the US as an opportunity to help close some of the financial gap between Pro12 and Europe's two major domestic leagues, the English Premiership and France's [[Top 14]]. Browne added that Pro12 was also looking to expand further into Continental Europe by teaming with major [[association football]] clubs, some of which already have rugby sections.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro-12-looking-at-north-america-franchise-as-part-of-expansion-1.2723886 |title=Pro 12 looking at North America franchise as part of expansion |first=Gavin |last=Cummiskey |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=16 July 2016 |access-date=22 July 2016}}</ref>

In August 2016, Pro12 officials began talks with the unions of both Canada and the United States about expansion before the end of the decade, with interest in putting teams on the east coasts of both countries.<ref>{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Rees |title=Pro12 in talks over North American teams joining expanded league |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/23/pro-12-north-american-teams-expanded-league |newspaper=The Guardian |date=23 August 2016 |access-date=25 August 2016 }}</ref> In September 2016, it emerged that Vancouver and Houston may be target cities, primarily due to weather considerations, though the distance from the other teams may make that more of a challenge.<ref>{{cite news |first=Martin |last=Pengelly|title=Pro12 North American plan could jeopardise US PRO Rugby league |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/sep/02/pro12-north-america-us-pro-rugby-league |newspaper=The Guardian|date=2 September 2016 |access-date=10 September 2016 }}</ref>

While the North American plan remains active, media attention turned in 2017 toward a new possibility of South African teams entering the competition. Following the decision of [[Super Rugby]] organiser [[SANZAAR]] to drop three teams from the competition (two from South Africa), multiple media reports indicated that the two likeliest South African sides to be axed, the [[Cheetahs (rugby union)|Cheetahs]] and [[Southern Kings]], could be added to Pro12 as early as the 2017–18 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/rugby-union/south-africa-explores-sending-axed-super-teams-to-europes-pro12/news-story/e4f213ae0bd67b2a3b37d5ff821f688c |title=South Africa explores sending axed Super teams to Europe's Pro12 |first=Wayne |last=Smith |newspaper=[[The Australian]] |date=21 April 2017 |access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/40122015 |title=Pro12: South African side Cheetahs receive invitation to join league |first=Jamie |last=Lyall |publisher=[[BBC Scotland]] |date=1 June 2017 |access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref> A later [[BBC]] report indicated that the Cheetahs and Kings would be added once their removal from Super Rugby was formally announced on 7 July, though neither Celtic Rugby Limited, the [[South African Rugby Union]], nor the two teams would comment on the report.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/40448854 |title=South African sides Cheetahs and Southern Kings set to join Pro12 |first1=Matt |last1=Lloyd |first2=Gareth |last2=Griffiths |publisher=[[BBC Wales|BBC Sport Wales]] |date=30 June 2017 |access-date=5 July 2017}}</ref> A week after the Cheetahs and Kings' departure from Super Rugby was confirmed, the BBC reported that Celtic Rugby Limited was expected to officially add those teams at the organisation's next board meeting on 18 July.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/40583145 |title=Pro12: Cheetahs and Southern Kings' entry to be confirmed next week |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 July 2017 |access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref> While no announcement came on that date, media in both South Africa and Britain reported that SARU's chief executive was at Celtic Rugby's headquarters in Dublin to finalise the addition of the Cheetahs and Kings, with [[Reuters]] calling the expansion "the worst kept secret in rugby".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/07/19/cheetahs-kings-set-be-unveiled-pro-12-reports |title=Cheetahs, Kings set to be unveiled in Pro 12 – reports |agency=Reuters |publisher=[[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]] |date=18 July 2017 |access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref> The addition of the two South African teams was officially confirmed on 1 August 2017.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.pro14rugby.org/2017/08/01/statement-expansion-guinness-pro14-championship/ |title=Statement: Expansion to Guinness PRO14 Championship |publisher=Celtic Rugby Limited |date=1 August 2017 |access-date=11 April 2018}}</ref> The Southern Kings entered liquidation in September 2020 and therefore withdrew from the league.<ref name="SK liquid">{{cite web|title=Guinness PRO14 Statement Regarding South African Participation|url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/news/guinness-pro14-statement-regarding-south-african-participation|access-date=23 September 2020|website=www.pro14.rugby|language=en|archive-date=2 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002150307/https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/news/guinness-pro14-statement-regarding-south-african-participation|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In September 2020, the league confirmed they were looking for a replacement team for Southern Kings and possible expansion to more teams in South Africa to enter the league in 2021.<ref name="SK liquid"/> Later that month, SA rugby voted that their Super Rugby sides ([[Lions (Super Rugby)|Lions]], [[Stormers]], [[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]], [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]]) would enter the Pro 14 to replace the liquidated Kings and the Cheetahs, who were withdrawn before the 2021 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2020/0929/1168300-sa-rugby-votes-four-leading-sides-into-expanded-pro16/ |title=SA Rugby votes four leading sides into expanded Pro16 from 2021 |date=29 September 2020 |access-date=10 October 2020}}</ref>

==Current standings==

{{#section:2025–26 United Rugby Championship|URC league standings}}
<!-- {{2024–25 United Rugby Championship table}} -->

==History==
===Formative years and the Welsh-Scottish League===
{{main|Welsh–Scottish League}}
[[Pan-Celticism|Pan-Celtic]] tournaments were proposed throughout the early professional era, with the creation of the [[European Rugby Champions Cup|Heineken Cup]] in 1995 demonstrating that inter-domestic competitions were financially viable. From 1995 onwards, the [[Welsh Rugby Union]] (WRU), [[Scottish Rugby Union]] (SRU) and [[Irish Rugby Football Union]] (IRFU) discussed a number of Celtic league and cup competitions, discussions were also held with the [[Rugby Football Union]] (RFU) to form a British & Irish league. These discussions would eventually lead the WRU and the RFU to establish the [[Anglo-Welsh Cup]] in 2005, and all four unions to establish the [[British and Irish Cup]] in 2009.

The first material steps toward a Celtic league were taken before the 1999–2000 season, when the Scottish districts [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]] and [[Glasgow Warriors|Glasgow]] were formally invited to join the fully professional [[Welsh Premier Division]], creating the [[Welsh–Scottish League]]. By 2001, an agreement was made with the [[Irish Rugby Football Union]] (IRFU) to bring in the four Irish provinces. The 2001–02 season saw additional matches and a new league structure played alongside the continuing Welsh–Scottish League and the Inter-Provincial Championship in Ireland. The new format was named the '''Celtic League'''. The Celtic League had developed by 2005, and the tournament became the sole professional league in Ireland and Scotland (the Anglo-Welsh Cup and semi-pro [[Welsh Premiership]] continued in Wales) and had entirely replaced both the Welsh–Scottish League, and the Inter-Provincial Championship.<ref>{{cite web |title=Y Gynghrair Geltaidd |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/chwaraeon/safle/rygbi_rhanbarthol/pages/canlyniadau_celtaidd.shtml |language=cy |work=BBC Chwaraeon |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=28 September 2005 |access-date=8 August 2011}}</ref>

===Celtic League (2001–2011)===

====2001–02====
{{main|2001–02 Celtic League}}
[[File:Celticleague.png|thumb|The Celtic League Logo]]
The first full season of a pan-Celtic competition saw 15 teams compete: the four Irish provinces ([[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]], [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]], [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] and [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]), two Scottish teams ([[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh Reivers]] and [[Glasgow Warriors|Glasgow]]) and all nine Welsh professional teams ([[Bridgend Ravens|Bridgend]], [[Caerphilly RFC|Caerphilly]], [[Cardiff RFC]], [[Ebbw Vale RFC|Ebbw Vale]], [[Llanelli RFC|Llanelli]], [[Neath RFC|Neath]], [[Newport RFC|Newport]], [[Pontypridd RFC|Pontypridd]] and [[Swansea RFC|Swansea]]).

Played alongside each country's own domestic competitions, the teams were split into two groups (of eight and seven) and played a series of [[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]] matches with each team playing the other only once. The top four teams from each group proceeded into the [[Single-elimination tournament|knock-out]] phase until a champion was found. Clashes between teams in the Welsh–Scottish League also counted towards the new competition.

The 2001–02 competition was dominated by the Irish teams with all four sides reaching the last eight, three progressing to the semi-finals, and the thrilling final played at Lansdowne Road contested between Leinster and Munster with Leinster running out 24–20 winners.<ref>{{cite news |title=Leinster win Irish battle |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/1712921.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 December 2001 |access-date=31 May 2010 }}</ref>

====2002–03====
{{main|2002–03 Celtic League}}
Champions Leinster failed to make the quarter-final stage in 2003. In their absence, Munster went on to win the competition by beating Connacht 33–3 in the quarter-finals, Ulster 42–10 in the semi-finals, and Neath 37–17 in the final played in Cardiff.<ref>{{cite news |title=Munster seize Celtic crown |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/celtic/2707375.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 February 2003 |access-date=31 May 2010 }}</ref>

The format of the Celtic League remained the same for the second season, but saw the addition of a third Scottish district, the newly re-established [[Border Reivers (rugby)|Scottish Borders]]. However, the Welsh-Scottish league structure ended permanently in 2002, allowing for the expansion of the Celtic league format in the following season.

====2003–04====
{{main|2003–04 Celtic League}}
A major change in Celtic League came before the start of the 2003–04 season. The Welsh Rugby Union voted to create five new regional sides ([[Cardiff Rugby|Cardiff Blues]], [[Celtic Warriors]], [[Scarlets|Llanelli Scarlets]], [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Neath–Swansea Ospreys]] and [[Dragons (rugby union)|Newport Gwent Dragons]]). It was agreed that the Celtic League would become the sole professional league of the three countries, incorporating the four Irish, three Scottish and five new Welsh professional teams.

Reformatted into a traditional league competition ([[Round-robin tournament|double round-robin]] style, all clubs play each other twice, once home, once away), which meant that a season long 22-round match program was launched, and with a new strength in depth due to the amalgamation of Welsh teams and the continuing strengthening of Irish and Scottish teams through the re-signing and retention of star players, the league has been in rugby terms a success. Also introduced for the 2003–04 season was the Celtic Cup, a straight knock-out cup competition between the 12 Celtic League teams.

However, the unfortunate timing of the league's launch and poor organisation of a working calendar meant that first the [[2003 Rugby World Cup]] and later the [[Six Nations Championship]] prevented many of the league's top stars from playing in over half the games. This caused the league to struggle commercially, especially regarding the newly adopted regions in [[Wales]] where the game has always traditionally been played on a club basis, not having the regional histories of Ireland or [[Scotland]]. The season ended with the Llanelli Scarlets running out as eventual winners, four points ahead of Ulster.<ref>{{cite news |title=Scarlets 23–16 Ulster |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/3701431.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 May 2004 |access-date=31 May 2010 }}</ref>

====2004–05====
{{main|2004–05 Celtic League}}
The [[Welsh Rugby Union]] controversially purchased and liquidated the [[Celtic Warriors]] so that the 2004–05 season saw eleven teams compete in the Celtic League.<ref>{{cite news |title=WRU a laughing stock |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wru-a-laughing-stock-2438020 |publisher=Walesonline |date=24 May 2004}}</ref> The new format took the league into what many saw as a make-or-break season,{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} clear of massive distractions such as the [[Rugby World Cup]]. With the Welsh regions partly embedded, the signs were that the Celtic League would be a competition that could continue. It was suggested that Italian sides might join an expanded Celtic League, an idea that eventually happened in 2010.

The league format was further refined at the end of the 2003–04 season, with the participants better managing the dates of the matches so as to not interfere with the national squad set-ups and to make the league more commercially viable. The league was played until April, and then the Celtic Cup was contested among the top eight teams.

The 2004–05 season was the first season that Ireland agreed to use the Celtic League standings to determine which provinces would enter the [[Heineken Cup]]. The [[Irish Rugby Football Union|IRFU]] had previously classed Connacht as a "development" team and so nominated Leinster, Munster and Ulster over Connacht.
The IRFU also insisted on International squad training sessions taking precedence over Celtic League matches, with Irish provinces (especially Munster and Leinster) occasionally fielding virtual second teams for Celtic League games. Some claimed this had the effect of devaluing the competition. However, despite this approach, Munster finished second and Leinster third, with Munster winning the Celtic Cup. The Ospreys topped the league table, making it two in a row for Welsh regional sides.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ospreys 29–12 Edinburgh |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/4373873.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 March 2005 |access-date=31 May 2010 }}</ref>

====2005–06====
{{main|2005–06 Celtic League}}
In 2005, there were discussions over a potential [[Anglo-Welsh Cup]] competition which some saw as undermining the Celtic League. Despite Welsh assurances that the proposed Anglo-Welsh tournament would not interfere with their commitments to either the Celtic League in its present format or an expanded 'Rainbow League', the WRU made arrangements to play games on five weekends that clashed with Celtic League fixtures. The SRU and IRFU then threatened to expel the Welsh sides from the Celtic League in June 2005. It was proposed that the competition would continue as a Scottish and Irish affair for the 2005–06 season, with the possible addition of four Italian sides and the re-admittance of Welsh sides for the 2006–07 season. However a deal was reached that allowed for the Celtic League to continue with the Anglo-Welsh cup fixtures involving Welsh clubs rescheduled.

Despite these problems, the league enjoyed its most successful season, with the record attendance at a Celtic League match being broken four times, from 12,436 at the match between the Cardiff Blues and the Newport Gwent Dragons in December to 15,327 for the match between the Cardiff Blues and Leinster at the Millennium Stadium. The total attendances for the season were up nearly 50,000 at 571,331 compared to 521,449 for the previous season.

The league went down to the last round with Ulster and Leinster both in contention. Following Leinster's victory over Edinburgh and with Ulster losing against the Ospreys, it looked like the cup would go to Dublin but [[David Humphreys (rugby union)|David Humphreys]] kicked a last-minute drop goal from 40 metres to clinch the game and the league for Ulster.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ospreys 17–19 Ulster |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/irish/5022088.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 May 2006 |access-date=31 May 2010 }}</ref>

====2006–07====
{{Main|2006–07 Celtic League}}
In May 2006, ''[[Magners Irish Cider]]'' were named as the competition sponsors for the next five seasons, and the league was renamed as the ''Magners League''. Although known as Bulmers Irish Cider in the Republic of Ireland, the Magners brand name was used there for the league.<ref name=magners>{{cite news |title=Magners ends drought by sponsoring Celtic League |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/magners-ends-drought-by-sponsoring-celtic-league-c635qmjv75f |work=The Times |date=20 July 2006 |access-date=23 April 2007 |location=London |first=Greg |last=Hurst}}</ref> The sponsorship followed on from Magners' previous sponsorship deals with [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]] and the [[Wasps RFC|London Wasps]].

The [[Scottish Rugby Union]] announced that the Borders territory would be disbanded from the end of the 2006–07 season. It may be revived when the [[Scottish Rugby Union]] debt decreases enough to make it financially viable along with a possible fourth Scottish territory (four professional teams being the original plan for the SRU) with Falkirk, Stirling or a London-based team being possible locations; or even the [[Caledonia Reds]], the forgotten Scottish region. In the meantime Scotland would have only two professional teams based in Edinburgh and Glasgow.<ref name=borders>{{cite news |title=Edinburgh hit out at Borders loss |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/my_club/edinburgh/6501103.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 March 2007 |access-date=23 April 2007 }}</ref>

The league's record attendance was smashed in this season with a full house at [[Lansdowne Road]] (48,000) for Leinster v Ulster. This was the last game in the stadium prior to its demolition, and was billed as "The Last Stand".

The league was won by the Ospreys on the final day of fixtures. The Blues' home win over Leinster allowed the Ospreys to top the league by a single point and take the title with an away win at Borders.<ref>{{cite news |title=Border Reivers 16–24 Ospreys |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/borders/6646299.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 May 2007 |access-date=31 May 2010 }}</ref>

====2007–08====
{{Main|2007–08 Celtic League}}
Only ten teams competed in the 2007–08 season, after the Borders were disbanded at the end of the 2006–07 season. Glasgow Warriors moved their home games to [[Firhill Stadium|Firhill]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Warriors look to create fortress at Firhill |url=http://www.magnersleague.com/570_2033.php |publisher=magnersleague.com |date=12 June 2007 |access-date=12 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707133804/http://www.magnersleague.com/570_2033.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=7 July 2007}}</ref> After missing out on the title on the last day for the previous two seasons, Leinster finally won the 2007–08 title with one game remaining. They had been runaway leaders for much of the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Six of the Best As Leinster Secure Magners League Title |url=http://www.magnersleague.com/2056_2639.php |publisher=magnersleague.com |date=3 May 2008 |access-date=7 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724185610/http://www.magnersleague.com/2056_2639.php |archive-date=24 July 2008 }}</ref>

In April 2008 it was announced that the Celtic League was to introduce a play-off system commencing in the 2009–10 season to determine the winner, thus generating a greater climax to the season and bringing it in line with other major leagues such as the English Premiership and French Top 14.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7341673.stm Magners set to bring in play-offs] BBC Sport, 11 April 2008</ref>

====2008–09====
{{Main|2008–09 Celtic League}}
The 2008–09 season was decided quite early in the season as [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] claimed the title without playing, as they were preparing for their Heineken Cup semi-final against [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]. The final challenge from [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] was snuffed out when the Dragons denied them a bonus point win on 30 April. Munster had led pretty much from the start of the season with a team largely captained by [[Mick O'Driscoll]] showing Munster's squad depth. Munster lost only four games, three to the other Irish teams, including a double loss to [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]. [[Felipe Contepomi]] finished as league top scorer for Leinster, the year they went on to win the Heineken Cup.

====2009–10====
{{Main|2009–10 Celtic League}}
The 2009–10 season was the last 10-team league as the Italian teams joined in 2010–11. The league was one of the most competitive in years with perennial wooden-spooners [[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]] challenging [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]] all the way for the third Irish [[Heineken Cup]] spot. Ulster needed a superb away [[Rugby union bonus points system|bonus point]] win at [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]] to seal it, ending Edinburgh's own play-off hopes. [[Scarlets]] had a disappointing campaign as typical Welsh underdogs the Dragons had a great season, eventually finishing mid table and comfortably qualifying for the Heineken Cup. Luckily for the Scarlets, Cardiff Blues won the [[European Challenge Cup|Amlin Cup]] and thereby earned Wales an extra Heineken Cup place. 2009–10 was also the first time a play-off was used to decide the champion, previously the top team at the end of the season was champion. The Scottish teams and particularly Glasgow came of age and had a fine season, finishing third in the end.

The four qualifiers for the play-offs were [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]], [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]], [[Glasgow Warriors|Glasgow]] and [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] in that order, each country having at least one team. In the semi-finals Leinster defeated Munster at the RDS,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2010/0515/leinster_munster.html |title=Leinster 16–6 Munster: As it happened – RTÉ Sport 2011 |publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann |date=15 May 2010 |access-date=20 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100518073243/http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2010/0515/leinster_munster.html |archive-date=18 May 2010 }}</ref> after Ospreys overcame Glasgow in Swansea. In the [[2010 Celtic League Grand Final]] at the RDS in Dublin the Ospreys shocked Leinster, winning the title 17–12 with their first win in Dublin in five years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/magners-league/byrne-makes-leinster-pay-price-for-sloppy-showing-2200578.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802131023/http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/magners-league/byrne-makes-leinster-pay-price-for-sloppy-showing-2200578.html|url-status=dead|title=Byrne makes Leinster pay price for sloppy showing – Magners League, Rugby – Independent.ie|archive-date=2 August 2012|access-date=18 September 2020}}</ref>

====2010–11====
{{Main|2010–11 Celtic League}}

The 2010–11 saw the introduction of the two Italian sides, [[Aironi]] and [[Benetton Rugby|Benetton Treviso]]. In the new 12 team format, the play-offs came down to Munster hosting the Ospreys in one semi-final, and Leinster hosting Ulster in the other.

The two home sides went on to win their respective matches and the final was held in Thomond Park, home of Munster rugby, where they defeated Leinster (who had just been crowned champions of Europe a week earlier).

===The Pro12 (2011–2017)===

====2011–12====
{{Main|2011–12 Pro12}}
The 2011–12 season saw a re-branding of the competition as the [[Rabobank|RaboDirect]] Pro12. [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] were the runaway winners of the regular season, with a 10-point cushion over the [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] in second.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.planetrugby.com/tables/0,25806,3825,00.html#3825 |title=Rugby Union Tournaments {{pipe}} Tables |publisher=Planet Rugby |access-date=20 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606072624/http://www.planetrugby.com/tables/0,25806,3825,00.html#3825 |archive-date=6 June 2013  }}</ref> The top four were [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]], [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]], [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] and [[Glasgow Warriors|Warriors]] in that order.
Ospreys easily overcame Munster at home in the first semi-final in Swansea<ref>{{cite news |title=Munster hammered by Ospreys |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2012/0511/1224315976888.html |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=11 May 2012 |access-date=20 May 2013 }}</ref> while Leinster beat the Glasgow Warriors in the [[RDS Arena|RDS]] after giving up a strong lead.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0514/1224316064297.html|title=Leinster injuries cast cloud over victory|date=14 May 2012|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> In the final, also held at the RDS, Leinster were aiming to become the first Celtic League team to complete a domestic and European double, after beating Ulster the previous week in the Heineken Cup final. After trailing for most of the game, Ospreys took a late lead through a try by Shane Williams. Dan Biggar then landed a difficult conversion to give Ospreys their fourth title by a single point, 31–30.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/williams-try-sets-up-last-gasp-one-point-ospreys-win-over-leinster-553119.html |title=Williams try sets up last-gasp, one-point Ospreys win over Leinster |publisher=Irish Examiner |date=27 May 2012 |access-date=20 June 2013}}</ref>

After two years in the competition [[Aironi]] played their final match, as their licence to compete was revoked by the [[Italian Rugby Federation|FIR]] for financial reasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,19077_7655347,00.html |title=Tournaments {{pipe}} Aironi |publisher=Planet Rugby |access-date=20 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002094310/http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0%2C25883%2C19077_7655347%2C00.html |archive-date= 2 October 2013  }}</ref>

====2012–13====
{{Main|2012–13 Pro12}}
With the demise of Aironi they were replaced with a new FIR controlled team to be based in [[Parma]] called [[Zebre]], near the Aironi base in [[Viadana, Lombardy|Viadana]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,19077_7790039,00.html |title=Tournaments {{pipe}} Aironi |publisher=Planet Rugby |access-date=20 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109234812/http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0%2C25883%2C19077_7790039%2C00.html |archive-date= 9 November 2013 }}</ref> The Welsh clubs chose to operate under a new self-imposed salary cap, which led to a number of departures from the Welsh teams as they strove to balance their books.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/17320489 |title=Ins & outs at the Welsh regions |publisher=BBC |date=28 September 2012 |access-date=20 June 2013}}</ref> Some high-profile Welsh players moved to the French [[Top 14]], but other Pro12 teams also benefited with the likes of [[Casey Laulala]] going to [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] from [[Cardiff Rugby|Cardiff Blues]], [[Sean Lamont]] to [[Glasgow Warriors|Glasgow]] from [[Scarlets]], [[Dan Parks]] from [[Cardiff Rugby|Cardiff Blues]] to [[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]] and [[Tommy Bowe]] from [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] back to [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]].

Ulster topped the table in the regular season, with Leinster, Glasgow and Scarlets completing the top 4 in that order. They then went on to comfortably beat Scarlets 28–17 in Belfast, while Leinster were hard pressed by Glasgow in a tense 17–15 win for the hosts. In the final (held in the R.D.S. due to redevelopment of Ravenhill) Leinster prevailed 24–18 to win their 3rd title.

====2013–14====
{{Main|2013–14 Pro12}}
Rabo Direct announced that this was to be their last season as sponsors. This, combined with the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of the European Cup, meant that there were concerns over the future commercial viability of the tournament. However, despite all off-field issues it was a successful season with a new high for both total attendance and for a single game (51,700 for Leinster v Munster).

In the end Leinster topped the table, having led for most of the season. Glasgow had a late surge to finish 2nd overtaking Munster and Ulster in the process. All four teams showed they were worthy contenders in the next round with Leinster needing to score a late try to beat Ulster 13–9 in Dublin while Glasgow just got past Munster in Scotstoun by one point to win 16–15. The final in the R.D.S. was also a close game for most of the match with Leinster forced to defend for long periods. However they eventually pulled clear, adding two late scores which made the final result look somewhat lopsided at 34–12.

====2014–15====
{{Main|2014–15 Pro12}}
The [[Rabobank|RaboDirect]] title sponsor was replaced by [[Guinness Brewery|Guinness]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thescore.ie/pro-12-sponsorship-1050607-Aug2013/ |work=The Score |title=RaboDirect to pull sponsorship of Pro12 |access-date=5 June 2014 |date=23 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714123554/http://www.thescore.ie/pro-12-sponsorship-1050607-Aug2013/ |archive-date=14 July 2014  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/28244972 |work=BBC |title=Pro12: Guinness named as league's new sponsor |access-date=10 July 2014 |date=10 July 2014}}</ref> With the [[Heineken Cup]] being replaced by the 20-team [[European Rugby Champions Cup]] in the 2014–15 season, the Pro12 table had a greater impact on qualification. Under the previous format, the Pro12 provided a minimum of 10 teams, with Scotland and Italy providing two teams each, and Ireland and Wales both providing three. The new system saw a total of seven teams, with one place now being reserved for the highest-finishing Pro12 team from each of four participating countries and three other qualifiers based solely on league position. The other teams were entered in the new second-tier competition, the [[European Rugby Challenge Cup]].

[[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] were the defending champions having beaten [[Glasgow Warriors]] in the previous season's [[2014 Pro12 Grand Final|playoff final]], to become the first team in the league to successfully retain the trophy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/rabo-direct-pro-12/2014/0531/620851-leinster-v-glasgow/ |work=RTÉ Sport |title=Leinster retain Pro12 title in fine style |access-date=5 June 2014 |date=31 May 2014}}</ref> Leinster were unable to defend their title as they failed to qualify for the end-of-season playoffs for the top four teams after the regular season. Glasgow Warriors finished the regular season on top of the table, and were crowned champions for the first time, beating second seeded team [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] 31–13 in the final.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/32929818|title=Glasgow Warriors 31–13 Munster|work=[[BBC Sport]]|publisher=BBC|date=30 May 2015|access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/9870379/glasgow-warriors-defeated-munster-31-13-to-claim-victory-in-the-pro12|title=Glasgow Warriors defeated Munster 31–13 to claim victory in the Pro12|work=[[Sky Sports]]|publisher=[[Sky (United Kingdom)|BSkyB]]|date=30 May 2015|access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby/glasgow-warriors-clinch-first-pro12-title-with-31-13-victory-over-munster-at-kingspan-stadium-1-6772189|first=Richard|last=Mulligan|title=Glasgow Warriors clinch first PRO12 title with 31–13 victory over Munster at Kingspan Stadium|work=[[The News Letter]]|publisher=[[Johnston Publishing (NI)|Johnston Publishing]]|date=30 May 2015|access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref> Thus, the Warriors became the first Scottish team to win a professional trophy, beating [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]]'s appearance in the final of the [[2014–15 European Rugby Challenge Cup]].

====2015–16====
{{Main|2015–16 Pro12}}
With the [[2015 Rugby World Cup]] taking place during the opening months of the season, changes were made to the usual fixture schedule to minimise the effect on teams who released players to take part. The low number of games in the opening weeks of the season led to fixture congestion at the end of the tournament, with each team playing a game every weekend for 16 weeks straight from October 2015 to January 2016, including European matches.

As in the previous season, qualification to the [[European Rugby Champions Cup|European Champions Cup]] was guaranteed to the top team from each country participating in the league, with the three highest placed team's not already qualified also earning a berth. Unlike in the previous season where the 20th tournament spot was decided by a play-off involving teams from the Pro12, France's [[Top 14]] and the [[English Premiership (rugby union)|English Premiership]], due to fixture congestion from the World Cup, the final spot in the tournament was reserved for the winner of the [[2015–16 European Rugby Challenge Cup|2015 European Challenge Cup]] if not already qualified.

The delayed start to the season, and absence of established international players during international Test and [[Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]] windows, arguably gave some advantage to 'lesser' teams, and [[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]], coached by [[Pat Lam]], duly led the league for much of the season. Despite not ultimately finishing top of the league, they converted their form into a maiden championship title in the post-league play-off matches, including a home semi-final victory over reigning champions [[Glasgow Warriors]], and the Pro12 Final against league-topping [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] at the neutral venue of [[Murrayfield Stadium]] in [[Edinburgh]].

====2016–17====
{{Main|2016–17 Pro12}}
Despite losing their first three matches, the Scarlets finished third in the league. They became the first team in the Pro 12's history to win an away semi-final, beating Leinster 27–15 at the [[RDS Arena]], before beating league-topping Munster 46–22 at the [[Aviva Stadium]]. Scarlets wing [[Steff Evans]] ended up as the league's top try scorer with 11 tries.

===The Pro14 Championship (2017–2021)===
====2017–18====
{{Main|2017–18 Pro14}}
Big changes happened this season with the addition of two South African teams and a change from a league format of home and away to a conference structure championship. The 14 teams were split into two conferences of seven teams each. They play each team in their own conference twice (12 games) and each team in the other conference once (7 games), plus two derby games against the team(s) in the other conference from their own country, making 21 matches in total. The team that finishes top in each conference qualifies directly, one for each of the semi-finals, while the teams that finish second and third in each conference qualify as the four quarter-finalists to determine the other two semi-finalists.

Leinster would regain the title at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin and would become the first Pro14 side to ever win a European and Domestic double, they did so by beating previous holders Scarlets in a high scoring affair, 40–32. The two sides had already met in the European Semi-Final only a few weeks prior to the playoff final in very similar circumstances, at the same stadium and with much of the same lineup either side. It was Leinsters fifth domestic title.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pro14rugby.org/competition-rules|title=Competition Rules|date=1 July 2016|work=Guinness PRO14|access-date=15 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104103617/http://www.pro14rugby.org/competition-rules|archive-date=4 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====2018–19====
{{Main|2018–19 Pro14}}
The two conference format continued this season. The top three eligible European teams in each conference automatically qualified for following year's Champions Cup. The fourth ranked eligible team in each conference met in a play-off match with the winner taking the seventh Champions Cup place. As Leinster lost the Champions Cup final on 11 May 2019, Ospreys hosted Scarlets in the play-off on 18 May 2019.<ref name="Clarification on European Play-Off Game">{{cite web |url=https://www.pro14rugby.org/2019/05/03/clarification-on-european-play-off-game |title=Clarification on European Play-Off Game |publisher=Pro14 Rugby |date=3 May 2019}}</ref> Ospreys secured the sole Wales Champions Cup place for following season by defeating Scarlets 21–10.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pro14 European Champions Cup play-off: Ospreys 21–10 Scarlets |work=BBC Sport |date=17 May 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48306868 |access-date=21 November 2023}}</ref> The Pro14 final was played between [[Glasgow Warriors]] and [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] and was played at [[Celtic Park]] in Glasgow.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/48292697|title=Glasgow Warriors 50–20 Ulster|date=17 May 2019|work=[[BBC Sport]]|accessdate=23 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/48322118|title=Leinster 24–9 Munster|date=18 May 2019|work=[[BBC Sport]]|accessdate=23 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/44008179|title=Pro14: Celtic Park to stage 2018–19 final|date=4 May 2018|work=[[BBC Sport]]|accessdate=27 May 2018}}</ref> Leinster won the game 18–15 to retain the title.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/may/25/leinster-glasgow-stuart-hogg-pro14-final|title=Leinster ruin Stuart Hogg's farewell to claim Pro14 title against Glasgow|date=25 May 2019|work=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=27 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/48396208|title=Glasgow Warriors 15–18 Leinster: Holders win Pro14 final at Celtic Park|date=25 May 2019|work=[[BBC Sport]]|accessdate=27 May 2019}}</ref>

====2019–20====
{{Main|2019–20 Pro14}}
All teams played their normal schedule until round 13 after which an additional two rounds of derby matches were played by the 12 European teams.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|date=18 June 2020|title=Pro14 to return in August with derbies|language=en-gb|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/52979084|access-date=19 June 2020}}</ref> The Southern Kings announced in August 2020 that they had voluntarily withdrawn from the league for the remainder of 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Statement: Southern Kings|url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/news/statement-southern-kings|access-date=26 August 2020|website=www.pro14.rugby|language=en|archive-date=12 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912205602/https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/news/statement-southern-kings|url-status=dead}}</ref> The top four eligible European teams in both conferences automatically qualify for the 2020–21 European Rugby Champions Cup. (The South African teams did not compete in the Champions Cup.) Qualification was based on league position after round 13. The grand final match was due to be held at [[Cardiff City Stadium]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pro14rugby.org/2019/08/22/pro14-cardiff-2020/|title=Warburton: Cardiff Will Be 'Electric' For 2020 Guinness PRO14 Final|date=22 August 2019|work=GuinnessPro14|accessdate=22 August 2019}}</ref> however, on 19 March 2020, Celtic Rugby DAC cancelled the event due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51858815|title=Coronavirus: Pro14 final cancelled due to coronavirus|date=19 March 2020|work=[[BBC Sport]]|accessdate=19 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="Pro14 August Return">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/52979084|title=Pro14 to return in August with derbies|date=18 June 2020|work=[[BBC Sport]]|accessdate=19 June 2020}}</ref> The re-arranged match took place on 12 September 2020 at the [[Aviva Stadium]] between defending champions [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] and [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/54010757|title=Pro14 semi-final: Leinster 13–3 Munster – reigning champions book final place|date=4 September 2020|work=[[BBC Sport]]|accessdate=10 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/54044900|title=Edinburgh 19–22 Ulster: Richard Cockerill says hosts 'got what we deserved'|date= 5 September 2020|work=[[BBC Sport]]|accessdate=10 September 2020}}</ref> Leinster won the match 27–5 to defend their title and complete a hat-trick of title wins.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/ulster-leinster-2-5203284-Sep2020/|title=Leinster recover from slow start to land their third PRO14 title in a row|date=12 September 2020|work=[[TheJournal.ie#The42.ie|The42]]|accessdate=13 September 2020}}</ref>

====2020–21====
{{Main|2020–21 Pro14}}
Twelve teams competed in this season — four Irish teams: [[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]], [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]], [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] and [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]; two Italian teams: [[Benetton Rugby|Benetton]] and [[Zebre]]; two Scottish teams: [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]] and [[Glasgow Warriors]]; and four Welsh teams: [[Cardiff Blues]], [[Dragons (rugby union)|Dragons]], [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] and [[Scarlets]]. Neither of the two South African teams competed this season, with the [[Cheetahs (rugby union)|Cheetahs]] unable to compete due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], and the [[Southern Kings]] having entered into voluntary liquidation due to heavy financial losses.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Southern Kings go into voluntary liquidation|url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/southern-kings-go-into-voluntary-liquidation/|access-date=24 December 2020|website=www.rugbypass.com|date=19 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

Due to the delays experienced during the 2019–20 season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season started later than usual on 2 October 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/pro14/guinness-pro14-restart-fixtures-kick-off-times-confirmed|title=Guinness PRO14 Restart Fixtures & Kick-Off Times Confirmed|date=22 July 2020|work=Pro14|access-date=4 September 2020|archive-date=12 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812135420/https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/pro14/guinness-pro14-restart-fixtures-kick-off-times-confirmed|url-status=dead}}</ref> Leinster won their fourth consecutive Pro14 title and 8th overall defeating Munster in the grand final on 27 March.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/56537008 |title=Leinster 16–6 Munster: Holders secure fourth straight Pro14 title by seeing off Irish rivals|date=27 March 2021|work=BBC Sport|accessdate= 1 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-40252916.html|title=Leinster power to fourth PRO14 in row with dominant defeat of Munster|date=27 March 2021|work=Irish Examiner|accessdate= 1 April 2021}}</ref>

===Rainbow Cup===
{{main|Pro14 Rainbow Cup}}
The [[2020–21 Pro14]] was reduced to twelve teams as the two South African teams – the [[Cheetahs (rugby union)|Cheetahs]] and [[Southern Kings]] – were not allowed to travel internationally in 2020 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. In September 2020, the Southern Kings ceased operations and the [[South African Rugby Union]] council began exploring the possibility of the four South African former [[Super Rugby]] teams – the [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]], [[Lions (Super Rugby)|Lions]], [[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]] and [[Stormers]] – joining an expanded Pro14.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/pro14/guinness-pro14-rainbow-cup-questions-answers|title=Guinness PRO14 & Rainbow Cup – Questions & Answers|date=23 December 2020|work=GuinnessPro14|access-date=4 April 2021}}</ref> PRO14 Rugby announced in December 2020 that the 2020–21 Pro14 regular season would conclude after 16 rounds, and the top team from each conference would advance to a [[2021 Pro14 Grand Final|final]] in March 2021. The ''Pro14 Rainbow Cup'' then commenced in April and introduced the four new South African teams.<ref name="Pro14 Rainbow Cup">{{cite news|url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/pro14/guinness-pro14-to-conclude-in-march-ahead-of-rainbow-cup-with-south-africa-super-teams|title=Guinness PRO14 to Conclude in March Ahead of Rainbow Cup with South Africa's Super Teams|date=23 December 2020|work=GuinnessPro14|access-date=21 February 2021}}</ref> The first-placed teams from each tournament, [[Benetton Rugby|Benetton]] and [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]], played in the final in Treviso.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Italy to Host Historic 'North v South' Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup Final in Treviso|url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/news/italy-to-host-historic-north-v-south-guinness-pro14-rainbow-cup-final-in-treviso|access-date=28 May 2021|website=www.pro14.rugby|language=en}}</ref> Benetton won 35–8 in front of their home crowd for a historic first win of an international competition for any Italian club.<ref name = "gazzetta">{{Cite web|title=Capolavoro Treviso! 35–8 ai Bulls, la Rainbow Cup è italiana|url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Rugby/19-06-2021/capolavoro-treviso-35-8-bulls-rainbow-cup-italiana-4102121537483.shtml|access-date=19 June 2021|website=gazzetta.it|date=19 June 2021 |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/57530513|title=Pro14 Rainbow Cup final: Benetton 35–8 Bulls – hosts win first major title|date=19 June 2021|work=BBC Sport|accessdate= 2 July 2021}}</ref>

===United Rugby Championship===
====2021–22====
{{Main|2021–22 United Rugby Championship}}
The tournament consisted of 18 rounds of regular season play, and three rounds of play-offs. There were four regional pools: The Irish Shield pool (featuring the four Irish teams), the Welsh Shield pool (featuring the four Welsh teams), the South African Shield pool (featuring the four South African teams) and the Scottish/Italian 'Azzurri/Blue' Shield pool (featuring the two Italian and two Scottish sides). Teams play six matches against their regional pool rivals home and away. The remaining twelve matches are made up by a single round robin, consisting of an even number of six home and six away matches against all the sides from the other pools.<ref name="Format">{{cite news|url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/news/united-rugby-championship-format-explained|title=United Rugby Championship Format Explained|work=Pro14|date=15 June 2021|access-date=15 June 2021|archive-date=15 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615152732/https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/news/united-rugby-championship-format-explained|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The first United Rugby Championship Final was an all-South African derby, ensuring the first ever South African winner of the tournament, the [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]] having narrowly missed out on winning the transitional [[Pro14 Rainbow Cup]] competition. It also marked the first time in the history of the competition that a Grand final play-off match has not included at least one Irish province, a run of 14 finals.<ref name="RTE Sport">{{cite web|url= https://www.rte.ie/sport/united-rugby-championship/2022/0618/1305655-urc-grand-final-stormers-v-bulls-updates/|title= URC Grand Final: Stormers 18–13 Bulls – recap|date=18 June 2022|work=RTE Sport|accessdate=5 July 2022}}</ref> The [[Stormers]] defeated the [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]] 18–13 in [[Cape Town Stadium|Cape Town]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/61844861|title= United Rugby Championship: Stormers beat Bulls 18–13 to win inaugural title|date=18 June 2022|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=5 July 2022}}</ref><ref name="RTE Sport"/><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.the42.ie/stormers-bulls-5794296-Jun2022/|title= Stormers come from behind to beat their South African rivals and claim inaugural URC title|date=18 June 2022|work=The 42|accessdate=5 July 2022}}</ref>

====2022–23====
{{Main|2022–23 United Rugby Championship}}
The tournament consisted of 21 rounds; 18 rounds of regular season play, followed by three rounds of play-offs. The [[2023 United Rugby Championship final|final]], held on 27 May 2023, saw [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] defeat defending champions the [[Stormers]] by a score of 19–14.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/stormers-vs-munster/105572|title=Stormers 14–19 Munster: Irish province claim URC title vs Stormers in Cape Town for first silverware since 2011|date=27 May 2023|work=Sky Sports|accessdate=31 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/65735178|title=United Rugby Championship Grand Final: Stormers 14–19 Munster – Late converted try seals win for Irish province|date=27 May 2023|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=31 May 2023}}</ref>

==Results==

Since its inception, the competition has been dominated by Irish teams; in 24 years of the competition, Ireland has provided 15 of the champions, and 13 runners-up. The dominant team in this era has been [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]], who have appeared in eleven out of 15 playoff finals, been both a winner and runner up in the 'round-robin' era, and have won 9 league titles in total, including 'four in a row' between 2017 and 2021. The two closest rivals to this dominance have been domestic and European rivals [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] with four titles and five runners-up spots, and Welsh flagship [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] with two titles in the round-robin era and two in the play-offs era. [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]], [[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]], [[Scarlets]] (twice, once as Llanelli Scarlets, once as Scarlets), [[Glasgow Warriors]] and [[Stormers]] have also taken home the title. The [[2021–22 United Rugby Championship|2021–22 tournament]] marked the first title won by a South African team: the [[Stormers]]. That year's competition also featured the first grand final not to contain a single Irish team as the losing finalists, the [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]], were also South African.<ref>The 2006–07 Celtic League season ended with Welsh champions and runners-up, but the competition had no play-off stage in that season.</ref>

No Italian side has yet reached an ordinary league final. The best play-off performances from the nation have been two quarter-final appearances: in 2019 and 2024 for [[Benetton Rugby]] for Italy. Benetton did however emerge as champions of the Covid-affected transitional championship, the [[Pro14 Rainbow Cup]], which was designed to introduce the former Super Rugby sides to European rugby competition. Although not treated as a championship in the ordinary lineal line, the 2021 Rainbow Cup is considered an official URC competition, along with the defunct Celtic Cup knockout tournament. As such, every country in the competition has at least once taken home league-wide silverware.

As of 2022, four '''Regional Shields''' will also be awarded annually. The inaugural winners of the Irish, Welsh, South African and Scottish-Italian URC Shields were Leinster, Ospreys, Stormers and Edinburgh respectively.

===By year===

====League====

Below are the list of champions, runners-up and table toppers each season.

Of the 19 seasons to 2025 that included play-offs, the same team both topped the table and won the play-offs on only eight occasions; Leinster on five occasions, Munster two and Glasgow Warriors once. Leinster are the only team to have achieved the feat in the URC era in 2025. Leinster have topped the table twelve times, including once in the 'league' era when doing so automatically the title. No Italian or South African team has ever topped the table, while three Welsh teams topped the table in the era when doing so won the title, but never in a season with play-offs – despite which, Welsh teams have gone on to win three play-off finals.

{| class="wikitable" width="70%"
|-
!Season!!Teams!!Winner
!Final!!Runner-up!!Table Toppers
|-
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center" | Play-offs winner crowned champion
|-
|[[2001–02 Celtic League|2001–02]] ||align=center| 15 || '''{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] (1)'''
|'''24–20'''|| {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] (1) || {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]: 21 pts<ref name=pools>Competition took place in pools in this season; this team ended the regular season with the most points across the pools</ref>
|-
|[[2002–03 Celtic League|2002–03]] ||align=center| 16 ||''' {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] (1)'''
|'''37–17'''|| {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Neath RFC|Neath]] (1) || {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Munster Rugby|Munster]]: 28 pts<ref name=pools />
|-
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center" | Round-robin leader crowned champion
|-
|[[2003–04 Celtic League|2003–04]] ||align=center| 12 || colspan="2" | '''{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Scarlets|Llanelli Scarlets]] (1)''' || {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]] (1) ||rowspan=6 {{n/a}} 
|-
|[[2004–05 Celtic League|2004–05]] ||align=center| 11 || colspan="2" |''' {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] (1)'''|| {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] (2)
|-
|[[2005–06 Celtic League|2005–06]] ||align=center| 11 || colspan="2" | '''{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]] (1)'''|| {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] (1)
|-
|[[2006–07 Celtic League|2006–07]] ||align=center| 11 || colspan="2" | '''{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] (2)'''|| {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Cardiff Rugby|Cardiff Blues]] (1)
|-
|{{nowrap|[[2007–08 Celtic League|2007–08]]}} ||align=center| 10 || colspan="2" |''' {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] (2)'''|| {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Cardiff Rugby|Cardiff Blues]] (2)
|-
|[[2008–09 Celtic League|2008–09]] ||align=center| 10 || colspan="2" | '''{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] (2)'''|| {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]] (1)
|-
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center" | Play-offs winner crowned champion
|-
|[[2009–10 Celtic League|2009–10]] ||align=center| 10 || '''{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] (3)'''
|'''17–12'''|| {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] (2) || {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]: 55 pts
|-
|[[2010–11 Celtic League|2010–11]] ||align=center| 12 || '''{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] (3)'''
|'''19–9'''|| {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] (3) ||{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Munster Rugby|Munster]]: 83 pts
|-
|[[2011–12 Pro12|2011–12]] ||align=center| 12 || '''{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] (4)'''
|'''31–30'''|| {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] (4) || {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]: 81 pts
|-
|[[2012–13 Pro12|2012–13]] ||align=center| 12 || '''{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] (3)'''
|'''24–18'''|| {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]] (2) || {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]: 81 pts
|-
|[[2013–14 Pro12|2013–14]] ||align=center| 12 || '''{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster rugby|Leinster]] (4)'''
|'''34–12'''|| {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Glasgow Warriors|Glasgow]] (1) || {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]: 82 pts
|-
|[[2014–15 Pro12|2014–15]] ||align=center| 12 || '''{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Glasgow Warriors]] (1)'''
|'''31–13'''|| {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Munster rugby|Munster]] (3) || {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Glasgow Warriors|Glasgow]]: 75 pts
|-
|[[2015–16 Pro12|2015–16]] ||align=center| 12 || '''{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]] (1)'''
|'''20–10'''|| {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] (5) || {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]: 73 pts
|-
|[[2016–17 Pro12|2016–17]] ||align=center| 12 || '''{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Scarlets]] (2)'''
|'''46–22'''|| {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] (4) || {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Munster Rugby|Munster]]: 86 pts
|-
|[[2017–18 Pro14|2017–18]] ||align=center| 14 || '''{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] (5)'''
|'''40–32'''||{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Scarlets]] (1)|| {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Glasgow Warriors|Glasgow]]: 76 pts<ref name=pools />
|-
|[[2018–19 Pro14|2018–19]] ||align=center| 14 || '''{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] (6)'''
|'''18–15'''||{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Glasgow Warriors]] (2) || {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Glasgow Warriors|Glasgow]]: 81 pts<ref name=pools />
|-
|[[2019–20 Pro14|2019–20]] ||align=center| 14 || '''{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] (7)'''
|'''27–5'''||{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]] (3) || {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]: 69 pts<ref name=pools />
|-
|[[2020–21 Pro14|2020–21]] ||align=center| 12 || '''{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] (8)'''
|'''16–6'''||{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] (5) || {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]: 71 pts<ref name=pools />
|-
|[[2021–22 United Rugby Championship|2021–22]] ||align=center| 16 ||''' {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Stormers]] (1) '''
|'''18–13'''|| {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]] (1) || {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]: 67 pts
|-
|[[2022–23 United Rugby Championship|2022–23]] ||align=center| 16 ||''' {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] (4)''' 
|'''19–14'''|| {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Stormers]] (1) || {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]: 79 pts
|-
|[[2023–24 United Rugby Championship|2023–24]] ||align=center| 16 || '''{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Glasgow Warriors]] (2)'''  
|'''21–16'''|| {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]] (2) || {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Munster Rugby|Munster]]: 68 pts
|-
|[[2024–25 United Rugby Championship|2024–25]] ||align=center| 16 || '''{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] (9)'''  
|'''32–7'''|| {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]] (3) || {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]: 76 pts
|}

====Regional Shields====

From the 2021–2022 season, a trophy will be awarded to each team that finishes top of its regional 'pool' (with Scottish and Italian teams sharing a trophy). the '''Irish Shield''', '''Welsh Shield''', '''South African Shield''' and '''Scottish-Italian Shield''' respectively. Prior to 2023, all matches counted, since then only matches with shield rivals are counted.

{| class="wikitable" width="80%"
|-
!width="8%"|Season
! width="18%"|{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}}<br />Irish Shield
! width="18%"|{{flagicon|WAL}}<br />Welsh Shield
! width="18%"|{{flagicon|RSA}}<small><br />South African Shield</small>
! width="18%"|{{flagicon|SCO}}/{{flagicon|ITA}} <br /><small>Scottish-Italian Shield</small>
|-
|[[2021–22 United Rugby Championship|2021–22]] || [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] || [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] || [[Stormers]] || [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]]
|-
|[[2022–23 United Rugby Championship|2022–23]] || [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] (2) || [[Cardiff Rugby|Cardiff]] || [[Stormers]] (2) || [[Glasgow Warriors|Glasgow]]
|-
|[[2023–24 United Rugby Championship|2023–24]] ||  [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] (3) || [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] (2) || [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]] || [[Glasgow Warriors|Glasgow]] (2)
|-
|[[2024–25 United Rugby Championship|2024–25]] ||  [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] (4) || [[Cardiff Rugby|Cardiff]] (2) || [[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]] || [[Glasgow Warriors|Glasgow]] (3)
|}

====Celtic Cup====

The '''[[Celtic Cup (rugby union)|Celtic Cup]]''' was a short-lived [[single elimination]] knock-out competition, held alongside the League. It was cancelled after the Welsh teams left to join the [[Anglo-Welsh Cup]].

{| class="wikitable" width="50%"
|-
!Season!!Teams!!Winner
!Final!!Runner-up
|-
|[[Celtic Cup (rugby union)|2003–04]]||align=center| 12 || '''{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]'''
|'''37–21'''|| {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]]
|-
|[[Celtic Cup (rugby union)|2004–05]] ||align=center| 8 || '''{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Munster Rugby|Munster]]'''
|'''27–16'''|| {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Scarlets|Llanelli Scarlets]]
|}

====Rainbow Cup====

The '''[[Pro14 Rainbow Cup]]''' was a one-off 'transitional' or 'Spring Season' tournament created to facilitate the integration of the four South African sides into the United Rugby Championship. ahead of the 2021–22 season. Heavily truncated from its already short format by coronovirus regulations, for the first time, an Italian team and a South African team reached the final of an official Celtic League/Pro Rugby competition, with [[Benetton Rugby|Benetton Treviso]] beating [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]] for Italy's first-ever trophy at Pro Rugby level.

{| class="wikitable" width="50%"
|-
!Season!!Teams!!Winner
!Final!!Runner-up
|-
|[[Pro14 Rainbow Cup|2021]] ||align=center| 16 || '''{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Benetton Rugby|Benetton]]'''
|'''35–8'''|| {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]]
|}

===By championship wins===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" |<big>Team</big>
! colspan="4" |<big>Championships</big>
! colspan="2" |<big>Secondary titles</big>
! colspan="2" |<big>Regional Shields</big>
|-
!Titles
!Years
!RU
!Years
!Cups
!Years
!Shields
!Years
|-
|'''{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]''' <br />{{rating|9|9|size=10px}}
| align="center" | '''<big>9</big>'''
|<small>'''[[2001–02 Celtic League|2001–02]], [[2007–08 Celtic League|2007–08]], [[2012–13 Pro12|2012–13]], <br />[[2013–14 Pro12|2013–14]], [[2017–18 Pro14|2017–18]], [[2018–19 Pro14|2018–19]], <br />[[2019–20 Pro14|2019–20]], [[2020–21 Pro14|2020–21]], [[2024–25 United Rugby Championship|2024–25]]'''</small>
| align="center" | <big>5</big>
|<small>[[2005–06 Celtic League|2005–06]], [[2009–10 Celtic League|2009–10]], [[2010–11 Celtic League|2010–11]], <br />[[2011–12 Pro12|2011–12]], [[2015–16 Pro12|2015–16]]</small>
|
|
| align="center" | '''<big>4</big>'''
|<small>'''{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}}: [[2021–22 United Rugby Championship|2021–22]], [[2022–23 United Rugby Championship|2022–23]], [[2023–24 United Rugby Championship|2023–24]], [[2024–25 United Rugby Championship|2024–25]]'''</small>
|-
|'''{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Munster Rugby|Munster]]''' <br />{{rating|4|4|size=10px}}
| align="center" | '''<big>4</big>'''
|<small>'''[[2002–03 Celtic League|2002–03]], [[2008–09 Celtic League|2008–09]], [[2010–11 Celtic League|2010–11]],'''</small> 
[[2022–23 United Rugby Championship|<small>'''2022–23'''</small>]]
| align="center" | <big>5</big>
|<small>[[2001–02 Celtic League|2001–02]], [[2004–05 Celtic League|2004–05]], [[2014–15 Pro12|2014–15]], <br />[[2016–17 Pro12|2016–17]], [[2020–21 Pro14|2020–21]]</small>
| align="center" | '''<big>1</big>'''
|{{rating|1|1|size=10px}} [[Celtic Cup (rugby union)|<small>'''2004–05 Celtic Cup'''</small>]]
|
|
|-
| '''{{nowrap| {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]]<ref name="neath">The Ospreys team was originally formed by two major welsh clubs, [[Neath RFC|Neath]] and [[Swansea RFC|Swansea]]. Before Osprey's creation, Neath were runners-up in an early edition of the tournament in their own right.</ref>}}'''<br />{{rating|4|4|size=10px}}
| align="center" | '''<big>4</big>'''
|<small>'''[[2004–05 Celtic League|2004–05]], [[2006–07 Celtic League|2006–07]], [[2009–10 Celtic League|2009–10]], <br />[[2011–12 Pro12|2011–12]]'''</small>
| align="center" |
|
|
|
| align="center" | '''<big>2</big>'''
|<small>'''{{flagicon|Wales}}: [[2021–22 United Rugby Championship|2021–22]], [[2023–24 United Rugby Championship|2023–24]]'''</small>
|-
|'''{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Glasgow Warriors]]''' <br />{{rating|1|1|size=10px}}{{rating|1|1|size=10px}}
| align="center" | '''<big>2</big>'''
|'''[[2014–15 Pro12|<small>2014–15</small>]], [[2023-24 United Rugby Championship|<small>2023–24</small>]]'''
| align="center" | <big>2</big>
|<small>[[2013–14 Pro12|2013–14]], [[2018–19 Pro14|2018–19]]</small>
|
|
| align="center" | '''<big>3</big>'''
| <small>'''{{flagicon|Scotland}}/{{flagicon|Italy}}: [[2022–23 United Rugby Championship|2022–23]], [[2023–24 United Rugby Championship|2023–24]], [[2024–25 United Rugby Championship|2024–25]]'''</small>
|-
|'''{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Scarlets]]''' <br />{{rating|2|2|size=10px}}
| align="center" | '''<big>2</big>'''
|<small>'''[[2003–04 Celtic League|2003–04]], [[2016–17 Pro12|2016–17]]'''</small>
| align="center" | <big>1</big>
| [[2017–18 Pro14|<small>2017–18</small>]]
| align="center" |
|
|
|
|-
|'''{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]''' <br />{{rating|1|1|size=10px}}
| align="center" | '''<big>1</big>'''
|[[2005–06 Celtic League|<small>'''2005–06'''</small>]]
| align="center" | <big>3</big>
|<small>[[2003–04 Celtic League|2003–04]], [[2012–13 Pro12|2012–13]], [[2019–20 Pro14|2019–20]]</small>
| align="center" | '''<big>1</big>'''
|{{rating|1|1|size=10px}} [[Celtic Cup (rugby union)|<small>'''2003–04 Celtic Cup'''</small>]]
|
|
|-
|'''{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Stormers]]''' <br />{{rating|1|1|size=10px}}
| align="center" | '''<big>1</big>'''
|[[2021–22 United Rugby Championship|<small>'''2021–22'''</small>]]
| align="center" | <big>1</big>
|[[2022–23 United Rugby Championship|<small>2022–23</small>]]
|
|
| align="center" | '''<big>2</big>'''
|<small>'''{{flagicon|South Africa}}: [[2021–22 United Rugby Championship|2021–22]], [[2022–23 United Rugby Championship|2022–23]]'''</small>
|-
|'''{{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}} [[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]]''' <br />{{rating|1|1|size=10px}}
| align="center" | '''<big>1</big>'''
|[[2015–16 Pro12|<small>'''2015–16'''</small>]]
| align="center" |
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Cardiff Rugby]]'''
| align="center" |
|
| align="center" | <big>2</big>
|<small>[[2006–07 Celtic League|2006–07]], [[2007–08 Celtic League|2007–08]]</small>
|
|
| align="center" | '''<big>2</big>'''
|'''<small>{{flagicon|Wales}}: [[2022–23 United Rugby Championship|2022–23]], [[2024–25 United Rugby Championship|2024–25]]</small>'''
|-
| '''{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]]'''
| align="center" |
|
| align="center" | <big>3</big>
|[[2021–22 United Rugby Championship|<small>2021–22</small>]], [[2023-24 United Rugby Championship|<small>2023–24</small>]], [[2024-25 United Rugby Championship|<small>2024–25</small>]]
|
|
| align="center" | '''<big>1</big>'''
|<small>'''{{flagicon|South Africa}}: [[2023–24 United Rugby Championship|2023–24]]'''</small>
|-
| '''{{nowrap| {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]]}}'''
| align="center" |
|
| align="center" | <big>1</big>
|[[2008–09 Celtic League|<small>2008–09</small>]]
|
|
| align="center" | '''<big>1</big>'''
| <small>'''{{flagicon|Scotland}}/{{flagicon|Italy}}: [[2021–22 United Rugby Championship|2021–22]]'''</small>
|-
|'''''{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Neath RFC|Neath]]<ref name="neath" />'''''
| align="center" |
|
| align="center" | <big>1</big>
|[[2002–03 Celtic League|<small>2002–03</small>]]
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Benetton Rugby|Benetton]]'''
| align="center" |
|
| align="center" |
|
| align="center" | '''<big>1</big>'''
|[[File:Rainbow Emoji.png|15x15px]] [[Pro14 Rainbow Cup|<small>'''2021 Pro14 Rainbow Cup'''</small>]]
|
|
|-
|{{Flagicon|RSA}} '''[[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]]'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
| align="center" | '''<big>1</big>'''
| <small>'''{{flagicon|South Africa}}: [[2024–25 United Rugby Championship|2024–25]]'''</small>
|}

===By country===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Country
!Titles
!Teams
!Runners-up
!Teams
!Secondary Titles
!Teams
|-
|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ireland
|align=center| 15 || [[Leinster Rugby|'''Leinster''']] (9), [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] (4), [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]] (1), [[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]] (1)
|align=center| 13 || [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] (5), [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] (5), [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]] (3)
|align=center|2
|Celtic Cup – Ulster (1), Munster (1)
|-
|{{flagicon|WAL}} Wales
|align=center| 6 || [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] (4), [[Scarlets]] (2)
|align=center| 4 || [[Cardiff Rugby]] (2), [[Neath RFC|Neath]] (1), [[Scarlets]] (1)
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
|-
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|SCO}} Scotland}}
|align=center| 2 || [[Glasgow Warriors]] (2)
|align=center| 3 || [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]] (1), [[Glasgow Warriors]] (2)
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
|-
|{{flagicon|RSA}} South Africa
|align=center| 1 || [[Stormers]] (1)
|align=center| 4 || [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]] (3), [[Stormers]] (1)
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
|-
|{{Flagicon|ITA}} Italy
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
|align=center|1
|Pro14 Rainbow Cup – [[Benetton Rugby|Benetton]] 
|}

=== By season and team : URC era ===
In four seasons of the United Rugby Championship, twelve of the sixteen teams have reached the play-offs at least once, the exceptions being [[Zebre Parma]], [[Cardiff Rugby]], [[Dragons RFC|Dragons]] and [[Lions (United Rugby Championship)|Lions]]. In contrast, Bulls, Glasgow Warriors, Leinster, Munster and Stormers have yet to miss the knock-out rounds.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 99%"

|+
|-
!style="width:20%"| Club
!style="width:8%"| [[2021–22 United Rugby Championship|2021–22]]
!style="width:8%"| [[2022-23 United Rugby Championship|2022–23]]
!style="width:8%"| [[2023-24 United Rugby Championship|2023–24]]
!style="width:8%"| [[2024-25 United Rugby Championship|2024–25]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Benetton Rugby|Benetton]]
|bgcolor=ffdddd|13
|bgcolor=ffdddd|11
|bgcolor=ddffdd|QF
|bgcolor=ffdddd|10
|-
|{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]]
|bgcolor=silver|'''RU'''
|bgcolor=ddffdd|QF
|bgcolor=silver|'''RU'''
|bgcolor=silver|'''RU'''
|-
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Cardiff Rugby]]
|bgcolor=ffdddd|14
|bgcolor=ffdddd|10
|bgcolor=ffdddd|12
|bgcolor=ffdddd|9
|-
|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]]
|bgcolor=ffdddd|11
|bgcolor=ddddff|SF
|bgcolor=ffdddd|11
|bgcolor=ffdddd|13
|-
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Dragons (rugby union)|Dragons]]}}
|bgcolor=ffdddd|15
|bgcolor=ffdddd|15
|bgcolor=ffdddd|15
|bgcolor=ffdddd|16
|-
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]]}}
|bgcolor=ddffdd|QF
|bgcolor=ffdddd|12
|bgcolor=ffdddd|10
|bgcolor=ddffdd|QF
|-
|{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Glasgow Warriors]] 
|bgcolor=ddffdd|QF
|bgcolor=ddffdd|QF
|bgcolor=gold|'''CH'''
|bgcolor=ddddff|SF
|-
|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]
|bgcolor=ddddff|SF
|bgcolor=ddddff|SF
|bgcolor=ddddff|SF
|bgcolor=gold|'''CH'''
|-
|{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Lions (United Rugby Championship)|Lions]]
|bgcolor=ffdddd|12
|bgcolor=ffdddd|9
|bgcolor=ffdddd|9
|bgcolor=ffdddd|11
|-
|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Munster Rugby|Munster]]
|bgcolor=ddffdd|QF
|bgcolor=gold|'''CH'''
|bgcolor=ddddff|SF
|bgcolor=ddffdd|QF
|-
|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]]
|bgcolor=ffdddd|9
|bgcolor=ffdddd|13
|bgcolor=ddffdd|QF
|bgcolor=ffdddd|12
|-
|{{nowrap|{{flagicon|WAL}} [[Scarlets]]}} 
|bgcolor=ffdddd|10
|bgcolor=ffdddd|14
|bgcolor=ffdddd|13
|bgcolor=ddffdd|QF
|-
|{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]]
|bgcolor=ddffdd|QF
|bgcolor=ddffdd|QF
|bgcolor=ffdddd|14
|bgcolor=ddddff|SF
|- 
|{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Stormers]]
|bgcolor=gold|'''CH'''
|bgcolor=silver|'''RU'''
|bgcolor=ddffdd|QF
|bgcolor=ddffdd|QF
|-
|{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]] 
|bgcolor=ddddff|SF
|bgcolor=ddffdd|QF
|bgcolor=ddffdd|QF
|bgcolor=ffdddd|14
|-
|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Zebre Parma]] 
|bgcolor=ffdddd|16
|bgcolor=ffdddd|16
|bgcolor=ffdddd|16
|bgcolor=ffdddd|15
|}

=== 'Perfect Seasons' and League-Europe 'doubles' ===
Only one team has achieved the feat of winning every match during a season of the competition, [[Leinster Rugby]], who have achieved the ''''perfect season'''<nowiki/>' twice; [[2001–02 Celtic League|2001–02]] and [[2019–20 Pro14|2019–20]].

Leinster are also the only team from the competition to achieve a domestic and European '''double''', winning a 'minor double' with the [[2012–13 Pro12|2012–13 Pro12 title]] and the [[2012–13 European Challenge Cup]], before claiming the 'full double' of the [[2017–18 Pro14]] and the [[2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Skippers |first=David |date=29 August 2020 |title=Incredible Leinster complete perfect season in PRO14 |url=https://www.planetrugby.com/incredible-leinster-complete-perfect-season-in-pro14 |access-date=8 January 2023 |website=PlanetRugby |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Ryan |date=26 May 2018 |title=Leinster's perfect season, genius from Larmour and more Pro14 final talking points |url=https://www.the42.ie/leinster-scarlets-pro14-final-talking-points-4037644-May2018/ |access-date=8 January 2023 |website=The42 |language=en}}</ref>

URC clubs have won the Champions Cup on seven occasions, Leinster four times, [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] twice and [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster once.]] The Challenge Cup has come back to the league four times, once with Leinster, twice with [[Cardiff Rugby]] and once with [[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]].

==Player of the year==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Player of the Year
|-
! Year
! Player
! Team
|-
|align=center| 2009–10<ref name="2010 POY">{{cite web |title=Bowe And Bradley Win Magners Awards |url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2010/08/24/bowe-and-bradley-win-magners-awards/ |website=Irish Rugby |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref>
| {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Tommy Bowe]]
| [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]]
|-
|align=center| 2010–11<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/13358350 |title=Ruan Pienaar picks up Ulster Player of the Year award |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 May 2011 }}</ref>
| {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Ruan Pienaar]]
| [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]
|-
|align=center| 2011–12
| {{flagicon|Netherlands}}* [[Tim Visser]]
| [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]] 
|-
|align=center| 2012–13<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/rabo-direct-pro-12/2013/0506/390591-williams-named-pro12-player-of-the-year/ |title=Nick Williams named PRO12 Player of the Year |publisher=RTÉ Sport |date=6 May 2013 }}</ref>
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Nick Williams (rugby union)|Nick Williams]]
| [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]
|-
|align=center| 2013–14
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Dan Biggar]]
| [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]]
|-
|align=center| 2014–15
| {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Rhys Webb]]
| [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] 
|-
|align=center| 2015–16<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/36244148 |title=Connacht dominate Pro12 awards as Bundee Aki and Pat Lam win main honours |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2016 |access-date=21 May 2016}}</ref>
| {{flagicon|NZL}}† [[Bundee Aki]]
| [[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]]
|-
|align=center| 2016–17<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newstalk.com/Charles-Piutau-named-Players-Player-of-the-Year-at-PRO12-awards |title=Newstalk 7th May 2017 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Charles Piutau]]
| [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]
|-
|align=center| 2017–18<ref>{{cite web |title=Ireland international Tadhg Beirne voted Pro14 player of the season |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/45218805 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=19 September 2018 |date=20 August 2018}}</ref>
| {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Tadhg Beirne]]
| [[Scarlets]]
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2018–19<ref>{{Cite news|date=6 May 2019|title=Pro14: Edinburgh's Bill Mata and Glasgow Warriors' Adam Hastings lead annual awards|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/48174871|access-date=18 May 2020}}</ref>
| {{flagicon|FIJ}} [[Viliame Mata]]
| [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]] 
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2019–20<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/award/edinburgh-scoop-double-in-guinness-pro14-awards|title=Edinburgh Scoop Double in Guinness PRO14 Awards|date=10 September 2020|work=GuinnessPro14|access-date=13 September 2020|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418001020/https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/award/edinburgh-scoop-double-in-guinness-pro14-awards|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| {{flagicon|RSA}}‡ [[Duhan van der Merwe]]
| [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]] 
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2020–21<ref name="Coetzee POY">{{cite web |title=Ulster's Coetzee named Pro14 Players' Player of the Season |url=https://www.the42.ie/marcell-coetzee-ulster-pro14-players-player-of-the-season-5398548-Apr2021/ |website=the42 |date=April 2021 |access-date=1 April 2021}}</ref>
| {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Marcell Coetzee]]
| [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]] 
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2021–22<ref name="Roos POY">{{cite web |title=Stormers star Roos scoops URC Player of the Season award |url=https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/unitedrugbychampionship/stormers-star-roos-scoops-urc-player-of-the-season-award-20220624 |website=the42 |access-date=1 April 2021}}</ref>
| {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Evan Roos]]
| [[Stormers]] 
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2022–23<ref name="Sheehan POY">{{cite web |title=Dan Sheehan has been named the URC Players' Player of the Season |url=https://www.ultimaterugby.com/app/public/index.php/news/dan-sheehan-has-been-named-the-urc-players%E2%80%99-player-of-the-season/650972 |website=UltimateRugby |access-date=30 May 2023}}</ref>
| {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Dan Sheehan (rugby union)|Dan Sheehan]]
| [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] 
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 2023–24<ref name="Crowley POY">{{cite web|title=URC Awards: Jack Crowley named Players' Player of the Season|url=https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news/jack-crowley-named-players-player-of-the-season|website=United Rugby Championship|date=20 June 2024|access-date=20 June 2024|archive-date=20 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240620112438/https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest/news/jack-crowley-named-players-player-of-the-season|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Jack Crowley]]
| [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] 
|-
| style="text-align: center;" |2024–25<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-06 |title=RG Snyman wins URC Players' Player of the Season for 2024–25 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/articles/c753y65lpvyo |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref>
|{{Flagicon|RSA}} [[RG Snyman]]
|[[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]
|-
|colspan="6" style="font-size:80%"| &nbsp;<sup>*</sup> During the 2011–12, Visser had not yet qualified to represent Scotland. He became Scottish-qualified in June 2012.<ref name = "Visser residency">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/18306649|title=Scotland debut for Ryan Grant as David Pocock leads Wallabies|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=4 June 2012|access-date=16 June 2012}}</ref>
|-
|colspan="6" style="font-size:80%"| &nbsp;†During the 2015–16 season, Aki was not yet Irish-qualified. He debuted for Ireland in 2017.<ref name = "Aki residency">{{cite web|url=http://www.the42.ie/ireland-november-internationals-squad-talking-points-3665815-Oct2017/ |title=Schmidt's statement, Bundee's inclusion and more Ireland squad talking points|date=26 October 2017|work=The 42|access-date=27 October 2017}}</ref> 
|-
|colspan="6" style="font-size:80%"| &nbsp;‡During the 2019–20 season, Duhan van der Merwe was not yet Scottish-qualified. He qualified to play for Scotland in the summer of 2020.<ref name="Van der merwe residency">{{cite web |title=Richard Cockerill left disappointed as Duhan van der Merwe agrees Worcestor Warriors move |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/18986039.richard-cockerill-left-disappointed-duhan-van-der-merwe-agrees-worcestor-warriors-move/ |website=The Herald |date=4 January 2021 |access-date=9 June 2021}}</ref>
|}

==Player statistics==
===Career===
'''Bold''' indicates active player in United Rugby Championship
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Most tries
|-
! Rank
! Player
! Clubs
! Tries
|-
|align=center| 1
| [[Tommy Bowe]]
| [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]] <br /> [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]]
|align=center| 67
|-
|align=center| 2
| [[Craig Gilroy]]
| [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]
|align=center| 59
|-
|align=center rowspan="2"| 3
| [[Tim Visser]]
| [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]]
|align=center rowspan="2"| 58
|-
| [[D. T. H. van der Merwe]]
| [[Glasgow Warriors]] <br /> [[Scarlets]]
|-
|align=center | 5
|'''[[Gareth Davies (rugby union, born 1990)|Gareth Davies]]'''
|rowspan="2"| [[Scarlets]] 
|align=center | 55
|-
|align=center | 6
| '''[[Steff Evans]]'''
|align=center | 52
|-
|align=center| 7
| [[Andrew Trimble]]
| [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]
|align=center| 50
|-
|align=center rowspan="2"| 8
| [[Dan Evans (rugby union)|Dan Evans]]
| [[Scarlets]] <br /> [[Dragons (rugby union)|Dragons]] <br /> [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] 
|align=center rowspan="2"| 48
|-
| [[Dave Kearney]]
| [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]
|-
|align=center rowspan="3" | 10
| [[Tom James (rugby union, born 1987)|Tom James]]
| [[Cardiff Rugby|Cardiff Blues]] <br /> [[Scarlets]]
|align=center rowspan="3"| 45
|-
| [[Johnny McNicholl]]
| [[Scarlets]]
|-
| [[Simon Zebo]]
| [[Munster Rugby|Munster]]
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Most points
|-
! Rank
! Player
! Clubs
! Points
|-
|align=center| 1
| [[Dan Parks]]
| [[Glasgow Warriors]] <br /> [[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]] <br /> [[Cardiff Rugby|Cardiff Blues]]
|align=center| 1,582
|-
|align=center| 2
| [[Dan Biggar]]
| [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]]
|align=center| 1,573
|-
|align=center| 3
| [[Ian Keatley]]
| [[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]] <br /> [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] <br /> [[Benetton Rugby|Benetton]] <br /> [[Glasgow Warriors]] 
|align=center| 1,534
|-
|align=center| 4
| '''[[Duncan Weir]]'''
| [[Glasgow Warriors]] <br /> [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]]
|align=center| 1,021
|-
|align=center| 5
| '''[[Jack Carty (rugby union)|Jack Carty]]'''
| [[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]]
|align=center| 1,020
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 6
| [[Sam Davies (rugby union)|Sam Davies]]
| [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] <br /> [[Dragons (rugby union)|Dragons]]
|align=center| 1,003
|-
|align=center| 7
| [[Jason Tovey]]
| [[Dragons (rugby union)|Dragons]] <br /> [[Cardiff Rugby|Cardiff Blues]] <br /> [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]]
|align=center| 998
|-
|align=center| 8
| [[Ronan O'Gara]]
| [[Munster Rugby|Munster]]
|align=center| 940
|-
|align=center| 9
| [[John Cooney (rugby union)|John Conney]]
| [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]] <br> [[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]] <br> [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]
|align=center| 924
|-
|align=center| 10
| [[Rhys Priestland]]
| [[Scarlets]] <br> [[Cardiff Blues]]
|align=center| 887
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Most appearances
|-
! Rank
! Player
! Clubs
! {{tooltip|Apps|Appearances}}
|-
|align=center| 1
| [[John Muldoon (rugby union, born 1982)|John Muldoon]]
| [[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]]
|align=center| 254
|-
|align=center| 2
| [[Josh Turnbull]]
| [[Scarlets]] <br /> [[Cardiff Rugby|Cardiff Blues]]
|align=center| 239
|-
|align=center| 3
| '''[[Stephen Archer]]'''
| [[Munster Rugby|Munster]]
|align=center| 237
|-
|align=center| 4
| '''[[Denis Buckley]]'''
| [[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]]
|align=center| 220
|-
|style="text-align:center"| 5
| [[Ian Keatley]]
| [[Connacht Rugby|Connacht]] <br /> [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] <br /> [[Benetton Rugby|Benetton]] <br /> [[Glasgow Warriors]] 
|align=center| 215
|-
|align=center| 6
| [[Dan Evans (rugby union)|Dan Evans]]
| [[Scarlets]] <br /> [[Dragons (rugby union)|Dragons]] <br /> [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]] 
|align=center| 210
|-
|style="text-align:center" rowspan=2 | 7
| [[Ross Ford]]
| [[Border Reivers (rugby union)|Border Reivers]] <br /> [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]]
|align=center| 206
|-
| [[Rob Harley]]
| [[Glasgow Warriors]]
|align=center| 206
|-
|align=center| 9
| [[Matthew Rees]]
| [[Pontypridd RFC|Pontypridd]] <br /> [[Celtic Warriors]] <br /> [[Scarlets]] <br /> [[Cardiff Rugby|Cardiff Blues]]
|align=center| 202
|-
|align=center| 10
| [[John Barclay (rugby union)|John Barclay]]
| [[Scarlets]] <br /> [[Glasgow Warriors]] <br /> [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]]
|align=center| 199
|}
{{col-end}}
''Updated as of 14 June 2025''<ref name="Pro12 Stats" /> <br /> ''Statistics do not include those from Celtic Cup or Rainbow Cup matches.''

* Most successful kicks: 397 – [[Dan Parks]], Glasgow, Cardiff Blues and Connacht

===Season===
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break|width=50%}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Most tries
|-
! Rank
! Player
! Club
! Year
! Tries
|-
| 1
| [[Tom Stewart (rugby union)|Tom Stewart]]
| [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]
| 2022–23
|align=center| 16
|-
|rowspan=3| 2
| [[Tim Visser]]
| [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]]
| 2010–11
|align=center| 14
|-
| [[Rabz Maxwane]]
| [[Cheetahs (rugby union)|Cheetahs]]
| 2019–20
|align=center| 14
|-
| [[Johnny Matthews (rugby union)|Johnny Matthews]]
| [[Glasgow Warriors]]
| 2023–24
|align=center| 14
|-
|rowspan=2| 5
| [[Tim Visser]]
| [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]]
| 2011–12
|align=center| 13
|-
| [[Steff Evans]]
| [[Scarlets]]
| 2016–17
|align=center| 13
|-
|rowspan=7| 7
| [[Jamie Robinson (rugby union)|Jamie Robinson]]
| [[Cardiff Rugby|Cardiff Blues]]
| 2003–04
|align=center| 12
|-
| [[Kevin Morgan (rugby union)|Kevin Morgan]]
| [[Dragons (rugby union)|Newport Gwent Dragons]]
| 2004–05
|align=center| 12
|-
| [[Aled Brew]]
| [[Dragons (rugby union)|Newport Gwent Dragons]]
| 2010–11
|align=center| 12
|-
| [[Rhys Webb]]
| [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]]
| 2014–15
|align=center| 12
|-
| [[Barry Daly (rugby union)|Barry Daly]]
| [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]
| 2017–18
|align=center| 12
|-
| [[Darcy Graham]]
| [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]]
| 2022–23
|align=center| 12
|-
| [[Akker van der Merwe]]
| [[Bulls (rugby union)|Bulls]]
| 2023–24
|align=center| 12
|-
|}

{{Col-break|width=50%}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Most points
|-
! Rank
! Player
! Club
! Year
! Points
|-
| 1
| [[Felipe Contepomi]]
| [[Leinster Rugby|Leinster]]
| 2005–06
|align=center| 287
|-
| 2
| [[Neil Jenkins]]
| [[Celtic Warriors]]
| 2003–04
|align=center| 273
|-
| 3
| [[Gavin Henson]]
| [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Neath-Swansea Ospreys]]
| 2003–04
|align=center| 265
|-
| 4
| [[Dan Biggar]]
| [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]]
| 2011–12
|align=center| 257
|-
| 5
| [[Dan Biggar]]
| [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]]
| 2010–11
|align=center| 248
|-
| 6
| [[Gareth Bowen]]
| [[Scarlets|Llanelli Scarlets]]
| 2003–04
|align=center| 240
|-
| 7
| [[David Humphreys (rugby union)|David Humphreys]]
| [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]]
| 2005–06
|align=center| 229
|-
| 8
| [[Ian Keatley]]
| [[Munster Rugby|Munster]]
| 2010–11
|align=center| 224
|-
| 9
| [[Dan Biggar]]
| [[Ospreys (rugby union)|Ospreys]]
| 2013–14
|align=center| 219
|-
| 10
| [[Manie Libbok]]
| [[Stormers]]
| 2022–23
|align=center| 217
|}
{{Col-end}}
''Updated as 29 May 2023''<ref name="season try scorers">{{cite web |title=PRO14 Awards: Three Players win Top-Try Scorer Title |url=https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/award/pro14-awards-three-players-win-top-try-scorer-title |website=pro 14 |access-date=4 April 2021 |archive-date=21 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421052750/https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/award/pro14-awards-three-players-win-top-try-scorer-title |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Most successful kicks: 99 – [[Neil Jenkins]], Celtic Warriors, 2003–04
* Most appearances: 24 – [[Rob Harley]], Glasgow, 2013–14; [[Finlay Bealham]], Connacht, 2015–16; [[Hadleigh Parkes]], Scarlets, 2016–17<ref name="Pro12 Stats">{{cite web |title=Player Archive |url=http://site-celtic.soticcloud.net/statzone/index.php |website=Pro12 |access-date=15 December 2024}}</ref>

==Attendance==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!scope=col|Season
!scope=col|Total
!scope=col|Average
!scope=col|Highest
|-
| [[2001–02 Celtic League|2001–02]] || 252,213 || 4,504 ||align=left| 30,000 (Leinster v Munster, Final, 15 December 2001)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2001-2002 | title=RaboDirect PRO12 Fixtures & Results 2001–02 | publisher=RaboDirect PRO12 | access-date=31 May 2014 | archive-date=31 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531194529/http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2001-2002 | url-status=dead }}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Figures for 2001–02 are incomplete.
* |group=n |name=Figs2001}}
|-
| [[2002–03 Celtic League|2002–03]] || 308,374 || 4,895 ||align=left| 30,076 (Munster v Neath, Final, 1 February 2003)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2002-2003 | title=RaboDirect PRO12 Fixtures & Results 2002–03 | publisher=RaboDirect PRO12 | access-date=31 May 2014 | archive-date=17 January 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117063950/http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2002-2003 | url-status=dead }}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Figures for 2002–03 are incomplete.
* |group=n |name=Figs2002}}
|-
| [[2003–04 Celtic League|2003–04]] || 501,875 || 3,802 ||align=left| 12,000 (Ulster v Leinster, Round 21, 7 May 2004)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2003-2004 | title=RaboDirect PRO12 Fixtures & Results 2003–04 | publisher=RaboDirect PRO12 | access-date=31 May 2014 | archive-date=31 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531213429/http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2003-2004 | url-status=dead }}</ref>{{#tag:ref|The 2003–04 season was the first that did not include a knockout stage so no showpiece final and hence a decline in average attendance.
* |group=n |name=Decline1}}
|-
| [[2004–05 Celtic League|2004–05]] || 470,446 || 4,277 ||align=left| 10,500 (Dragons v Cardiff Blues, Round 13, 27 December 2004)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2004-2005 | title=RaboDirect PRO12 Fixtures & Results 2004–05 | publisher=RaboDirect PRO12 | access-date=31 May 2014 | archive-date=31 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531194527/http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2004-2005 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[2005–06 Celtic League|2005–06]] || 571,331 || 5,194 ||align=left| 15,327 (Cardiff Blues v Leinster, Round 16, 14 May 2006)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2005-2006 | title=RaboDirect PRO12 Fixtures & Results 2005–06 | publisher=RaboDirect PRO12 | access-date=31 May 2014 | archive-date=31 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531191519/http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2005-2006 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[2006–07 Celtic League|2006–07]] || 661,163 || 6,011 ||align=left| 48,000 (Leinster v Ulster, Round 12, 31 December 2006)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2006-2007 | title=RaboDirect PRO12 Fixtures & Results 2006–07 | publisher=RaboDirect PRO12 | access-date=31 May 2014 | archive-date=31 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531164445/http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2006-2007 | url-status=dead }}</ref>{{#tag:ref|This was the final rugby match at [[Lansdowne Road]] before it was redeveloped as the [[Aviva Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/2006/1231/sport/cwsnkfmhidsn/ | title=Leinster win The Last Stand at Lansdowne | publisher=breakingnews.ie | date=31 December 2006 | access-date=31 May 2014 | archive-date=16 January 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116182608/http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/2006/1231/sport/cwsnkfmhidsn/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>
* |group=n |name=LastStand}}
|-
| [[2007–08 Celtic League|2007–08]] || 609,015 || 6,767 ||align=left| 18,500 (Leinster v Munster, Round 15, 12 April 2008)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2007-2008 | title=RaboDirect PRO12 Fixtures & Results 2007–08 | publisher=RaboDirect PRO12 | access-date=31 May 2014 | archive-date=31 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531223443/http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2007-2008 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| {{nowrap|[[2008–09 Celtic League|2008–09]]}} || 731,328 || 8,126 ||align=left| 26,043 (Munster v Leinster, Connacht and Ospreys in Rounds 15, 16 and 18)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2008-2009 | title=RaboDirect PRO12 Fixtures & Results 2008–09 | publisher=RaboDirect PRO12 | access-date=31 May 2014 | archive-date=31 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531161434/http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2008-2009 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[2009–10 Celtic League|2009–10]] || 818,181 || 8,798 ||align=left| 25,623 (Munster v Leinster, Round 15, 2 April 2010)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2009-2010 | title=RaboDirect PRO12 Fixtures & Results 2009–10 | publisher=RaboDirect PRO12 | access-date=31 May 2014 | archive-date=31 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531165951/http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2009-2010 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[2010–11 Celtic League|2010–11]] || 1,019,634 || 7,553 ||align=left| 50,645 (Leinster v Munster, Round 5, 2 October 2010)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2010-2011 | title=RaboDirect PRO12 Fixtures & Results 2010–11 | publisher=RaboDirect PRO12 | access-date=31 May 2014 | archive-date=22 November 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131122231254/http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2010-2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref>{{#tag:ref|The first senior match to take place at the [[Aviva Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/2257.php | title=Leinster overcome Munster in front of record crowd | publisher=RaboDirect PRO12 | date=10 October 2010 | access-date=31 May 2014 | archive-date=5 November 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105123423/http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/2257.php | url-status=dead }}</ref>
* |group=n |name=First}}{{#tag:ref|The decline in average attendance following the 2009–10 season coincided with the entry of two Italian teams into the Pro12.
* |group=n |name=Decline2}}
|-
| [[2011–12 Pro12|2011–12]] || 1,042,374 || 7,721 ||align=left| 48,365 (Leinster v Munster, Round 8, 4 November 2011)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2011-2012 | title=RaboDirect PRO12 Fixtures & Results 2011–12 | publisher=RaboDirect PRO12 | access-date=31 May 2014 | archive-date=22 November 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131122231419/http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2011-2012 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[2012–13 Pro12|2012–13]] || 1,106,873 || 8,199 ||align=left| 46,280 (Leinster v Munster, Round 6, 6 October 2012)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2012-2013 | title=RaboDirect PRO12 Fixtures & Results 2012–13 | publisher=RaboDirect PRO12 | access-date=31 May 2014 | archive-date=22 November 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131122231552/http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2012-2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[2013–14 Pro12|2013–14]] || 1,107,707 || 8,205 ||align=left| 51,700 (Leinster v Munster, Round 18, 29 March 2014)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2013-2014 | title=RaboDirect PRO12 Fixtures & Results 2013–14 | publisher=RaboDirect PRO12 | access-date=31 May 2014 | archive-date=31 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531162939/http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2013-2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| [[2014–15 Pro12|2014–15]] || 1,159,127 || 8,586 ||align=left| 52,762 (Cardiff Blues v Ospreys / Dragons v Scarlets, Round 20, 25 April 2015)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2014-2015 | title=Guinness PRO12 Fixtures & Results 2014–15 | publisher=Guinness PRO12 | access-date=24 August 2015 | archive-date=6 August 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806112242/http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php?includeref=10808&season=2014-2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref>{{refn|These matches comprised the annual [[Judgement Day (rugby union)|Judgement Day]] double-header at the [[Millennium Stadium]].
* |group=n |name=Judgement}}
|-
| [[2015–16 Pro12|2015–16]] || 1,144,802 || 8,480 ||align=left| 68,262 (Cardiff Blues v Ospreys / Dragons v Scarlets, Round 21, 30 April 2016){{refn|group=n|name=Judgement}}
|-
| [[2016–17 Pro12|2016–17]] || 1,184,091 || 8,771 ||align=left| 60,642 (Cardiff Blues v Ospreys / Dragons v Scarlets, Round 20, 15 April 2017){{refn|group=n|name=Judgement}}
|-
| [[2017–18 Pro14|2017–18]] || 1,301,321 || 8,561 ||align=left| 62,338 (Cardiff Blues v Ospreys / Dragons v Scarlets, Round 21, 28 April 2018){{refn|group=n|name=Judgement}}
|-
| [[2018–19 Pro14|2018–19]] || 1,252,435 || 8,240 ||align=left| 51,297 (Dragons v Scarlets / Cardiff Blues v Ospreys, Round 21, 27 April 2019){{refn|group=n|name=Judgement}}
|-
| [[2019–20 Pro14|2019–20]] || 652,443 || 7,331 ||align=left| 27,437 (Edinburgh v Glasgow, Round 9, 28 December 2019){{#tag:ref|The season was suspended in March 2020 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. The league restarted in August 2020 in a truncated format, without fans in attendance. The only exception to this was Edinburgh vs Glasgow on 28 August 2020 which allowed 700 fans to attend.
* |group=n |name=Covid2020}}
|-
| [[2020–21 Pro14|2020–21]] || 0 || 0 ||align=left| N/A{{#tag:ref|The season was played behind closed doors due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].
* |group=n |name=Covid2021}}
|-
| [[2021–22 United Rugby Championship|2021–22]] || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} ||align=left| 32,411 (Leinster v Munster (Round 18, 21 May 2022)<ref name="LEI MUN 22">{{Cite web|url=https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/report/match-report-leinster-rugby-35-munster-rugby-25/?FixGuid=21LM4509|title = MATCH REPORT: LEINSTER RUGBY 35 MUNSTER RUGBY 25}}</ref>
|-
| [[2022–23 United Rugby Championship|2022–23]] || 1,632,114 || 10,809 ||align=left| 56,344 (Stormers v Munster, Grand Final, 27 May 2023)<ref name="final_stormers">{{Cite web |date=27 May 2023 |title=DHL Stormers just short in Vodacom URC Grand Final |url=https://thestormers.com/dhl-stormers-just-short-in-vodacom-urc-grand-final/ |access-date=27 May 2023 |website=The Stormers}}</ref>
|-
| [[2023–24 United Rugby Championship|2023–24]] || 1,690,000 || 11,200 ||align=left| 50,388 (Bulls v Glasgow Warriors, Grand Final, 22 June 2024)<ref>{{cite web |title=Broadcast and attendance records broken as URC's growth continues at pace |url=https://www.ultimaterugby.com/news/broadcast-and-attendance-records-broken-as-urc%27s-growth-continues-at-pace/656835 |website=Ultimate Rugby |access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref>
|-
|[[2024–25 United Rugby Championship|2024–25]]
|bgcolor=ddffdd|1,832,138
| bgcolor=ddffdd|12,133
| align="left" bgcolor=ddffdd|80,468 (Leinster v Munster, Round 4, 12 October 2024)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Simon |date=2024-10-12 |title=Leinster secure bonus point win over misfiring Munster in front of URC record attendance |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-41494601.html |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}</ref>{{refn|Record match attendance in league history.
* |group=n |name=Record}}
|-
|colspan="4" style="border:0"| {{reflist|group=n}}
|}

==List of final venues==
From 2002 to 2003 and from 2010 to 2014, the higher ranked team in the final were the hosting team. Between 2003 and 2010, no play-off was held and final standings determined the champion. However, from the 2014–15 Pro12 season onward, a pre-determined stadium was chosen at the start of the season that would host the final. In 2021–22, the inaugural United Rugby Championship season, the competition reverted to the highest seeded team hosting the final.

With 5 finals, [[RDS Arena]], the home stadium of [[Leinster Rugby]], has hosted the final most often. Of the five participating nations, only Italy have not yet hosted a linear final, although [[Benetton Rugby]] did host the transitional Pro14 Rainbow Cup final in their stadium, [[Stadio Comunale di Monigo]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Season!!Stadium!!Attendance!!City
|-
|[[2001–02 Celtic League|2001–02]] || [[Lansdowne Road]] ||align=center| 30,000 || {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Dublin]]
|-
|[[2002–03 Celtic League|2002–03]] || [[Millennium Stadium]] ||align=center| 30,076 || {{flagicon|WAL|rugby union}} [[Cardiff]]
|-
|2003–09
| colspan="3" align=center |''no playoffs''
|-
|[[2010 Celtic League Grand Final|2009–10]] || [[RDS Arena]] ||align=center| 19,500 || {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Dublin]]
|-
|[[2011 Celtic League Grand Final|2010–11]] || [[Thomond Park]] ||align=center| 26,100 || {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Limerick]]
|-
|[[2012 Pro12 Grand Final|2011–12]] || [[RDS Arena]] ||align=center| 18,500 || {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Dublin]]
|-
|[[2013 Pro12 Grand Final|2012–13]] || [[RDS Arena]] ||align=center| 19,200 || {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Dublin]]
|-
|[[2014 Pro12 Grand Final|2013–14]] || [[RDS Arena]] ||align=center| 19,200 || {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Dublin]]
|-
|[[2015 Pro12 Grand Final|2014–15]] || [[Ravenhill Stadium]] ||align=center| 17,057 || {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Belfast]]
|-
|[[2016 Pro12 Grand Final|2015–16]] || [[Murrayfield Stadium]] ||align=center| 34,550 || {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Edinburgh]]
|-
|[[2017 Pro12 Grand Final|2016–17]] || [[Aviva Stadium]] ||align=center| 44,558 || {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Dublin]]
|-
|[[2018 Pro14 Grand Final|2017–18]] || [[Aviva Stadium]] ||align=center| 46,092 || {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Dublin]]
|-
|[[2019 Pro14 Grand Final|2018–19]] || [[Celtic Park]] ||align=center| 47,125 || {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Glasgow]]
|-
|[[2020 Pro14 Grand Final|2019–20]] || [[Aviva Stadium]] ||align=center| 0{{efn|name=Covid|This final was played behind closed doors due to [[COVID-19 pandemic]] restrictions.}} || {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Dublin]]
|-
|[[2021 Pro14 Grand Final|2020–21]] || [[RDS Arena]] ||align=center| 0{{efn|name=Covid}} || {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Dublin]]
|-
|[[2022 United Rugby Championship Final|2021–22]] || [[Cape Town Stadium]] ||align=center| 31,000 || {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Cape Town]]
|-
|[[2023 United Rugby Championship Final|2022–23]] || [[Cape Town Stadium]] ||align=center| 56,334 || {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Cape Town]]
|-
|[[2024 United Rugby Championship final|2023–24]] || [[Loftus Versfeld Stadium]] ||align=center| 50,388 || {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Pretoria]]
|-
|[[2024–25 United Rugby Championship|2024–25]]
|[[Croke Park]]
| align="center" |46,127
|{{Flagicon|IRE|variant=rugby union}} [[Dublin]]
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Sports}}
*[[1872 Cup]] – Scottish derby
*[[Celtic Cup (rugby union)|Celtic Cup (2003)]], a short-lived knockout tournament for Celtic League teams
*[[Celtic Cup (2018 rugby union tournament)|Celtic Cup (2018)]], a tournament of the same name for Pro14 development teams from Ireland and Wales
*[[Anglo-Welsh Cup]]
*[[British and Irish Cup]]
*[[European Challenge Cup]]
*[[European Professional Club Rugby]]
*[[European Rugby Challenge Cup]]
*[[European Rugby Champions Cup]]
*[[Heineken Cup]]
*[[Judgement Day (rugby union)|Judgement Day]] – Welsh derbies
*[[Sports league attendances]]
*[[Welsh Premier Division]]
*[[Major League Rugby]]
*[[Súper Liga Americana de Rugby]]
*[[List of professional sports teams in the United Kingdom]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{United Rugby Championship}}
{{Rugby union in South Africa}}
{{Rugby Wales links}}
{{Rugby union in Ireland}}
{{Rugby union in Italy}}
{{Rugby union in Scotland}}
{{Top-level rugby union club competitions}}

[[Category:United Rugby Championship| ]]
[[Category:Rugby union leagues in Europe| ]]
[[Category:International organisations based in Ireland]]
[[Category:Inter-Celtic organisations]]
[[Category:Rugby union competitions in Europe for clubs and provinces]]
[[Category:Rugby union leagues in Ireland| ]]
[[Category:Rugby union leagues in Scotland| ]]
[[Category:Rugby union leagues in Wales| ]]
[[Category:Rugby union leagues in Italy| ]]
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in South Africa|Rugby union]]
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in Italy|Rugby union]]
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in Ireland|Rugby union]]
[[Category:Multi-national sports leagues in Europe]]
[[Category:Multi-national rugby union leagues]]
[[Category:Multi-national sports leagues]]
[[Category:CVC Capital Partners companies]]