South Africa can make league great

Paul Rees looks at the new URC League which starts next week and assesses the 16 teams

One of the new United Rugby Championship's aims is to raise the profile of a league which has been eclipsed by the Premiership, struggling for attention, outside Ireland at least, and nowhere near as commercially attractive. Enter South Africa's four leading professional sides which means the majority of the players involved in this summer's series between the Springboks and the Lions will be featuring in the league, including the two captains, Siya Kolisi and Alun Wyn Jones.

A tournament made up of teams from five countries is a challenge to organise on its own, never mind when a pandemic has induced a number of restrictions. The South African sides will all be on tour for the first month of the league, a time when the European weather should be at its kindest.

The tournament will be made up of 18 rounds with the play-offs starting with quarter-finals. The number of fixtures has been cut to ensure there are no clashes with the international windows: the only November round is at the end of the month and the only one during the Six Nations is on a fallow weekend at the beginning of March.

It means teams should be at full strength far more often than in the past. A criticism of the old PRO14 was that sides rarely fielded their current internationals in away matches outside their country, dragging down attendances and making the league harder to sell.

The organisers hope that less will turn out to be more and there is a twist on qualifying for the Champions Cup. Only the winners of the four groups, which will cover Ireland, South Africa and Wales with the fourth featuring the two Scottish and two Italian sides, will automatically qualify.

The other four will be the other sides which finish highest in the main league table. Teams will play six matches against their regional rivals, home and away, and the remaining 12 fixtures will be made up by an even number of home and away matches against sides from the other pools.

All of the points won in the competition will contribute to the rankings in the regional pool, so if a team wins all six matches against its regional rivals but loses the other 12, it will not be featuring in the Champions Cup. It means there will be at least one South African side in European club rugby's premier tournament with the Bulls, the Currie Cup champions, and the Sharks, Kolisi's new club, looking their most likely challengers.

A team could qualify for the Champions Cup without reaching the URC play-offs by topping its pool but finishing ninth or lower overall in the main table. And, which would not go down well with the marketing department, a side could win the play-off final having finished seventh or eighth but end up in the Challenge Cup because teams below them topped their pools: on last year's form, it would not take much to top the Wales or the Scotland/Italy groups.

“Fans have always asked more of our league and we are taking it to new heights,” said Martin Anayi, URC's chief executive.

“Since the origins of the Celtic league in 2001, the vision has been to innovate and evolve in order to create a compelling competition which would challenge our players and teams to be at their very best every single week.”

CARDIFF

Head of Rugby: Dai Young

Captain: Ellis Jenkins

Ground: Cardiff Arms Park

Capacity: 12,500

The Arms Park set-up became so used to feeling the blues they dropped the name they had adopted at birth in 2003 and became Cardiff Rugby. Director of rugby Dai Young is hoping it is not only the name that changes this season as, in his first full season back after returning at the start of the year following nearly a decade with Wasps, he looks to lift a side that has consistently underperformed in the league.

With finances tight at the regions, Young has made two main signings. Second row Matthew Screech returns from the Dragons and the Wales outside-half Rhys Priestland, who played in the 2011 and 2015 World Cups, joins from Bath to set up a tussle with Jarrod Evans for the 10 jersey. Cardiff 's strength lies behind the scrum, where they boast the likes of Josh Adams and Willis Halaholo, although five of their front rowers have been capped by Wales. Ellis Jenkins is fit to start the new season three years after suffering a knee injury playing for Wales against South Africa.

He did not play for the next 28 months, but is now back to compete for a back row place with James Botham, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Josh Navidi and Josh Turnbull.

DRAGONS

Head of Rugby: Dean Ryan

Captain: Ross Moriarty

Ground: Rodney Parade

Capacity: 8,700

Director of rugby Dean Ryan has assembled a squad that is a mixture of seasoned experience and potential. The former is provided by the likes of Jamie Roberts, Ross Moriarty and Richard Hibbard, Lions all, while the 20-year-old Ben Carter, who made his debut for Wales in the summer after just 18 appearances for the region, is among the latter.

Lock Will Rowlands has joined from Wasps in a bid to further his Test career, the former Highlanders prop Aki Seiuli arrives from Glasgow and Jordan Olowofela is on a season-long loan from Leicester where his light was blocked out by Nemani Nadolo.

Sam Davies may have slipped out of contention for Wales, but the outside-half is the side's creative hub.

The Dragons warmed up for the campaign with a victory at Wasps last weekend, having been 24-12 down with Wales' Jonah Holmes scoring two of their tries. Under Ryan, the region has turned from easybeats to a team that is organised and resilient, if reliant on its frontline players. It is now about taking the next step and shrugging off the underdog tag. At least they now have a pitch that does not cut up after the first drop of rain.

OSPREYS

Head of Rugby: Toby Booth

Captain: Justin Tipuric

Ground: LIberty Stadium

Capacity: 21,088

Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones is expected to feature in some of the opening rounds, but wing George North, who has signed a contract extension, is not expected back before the end of the year after rupturing an anterior crucial effort ligament in April. Head coach Toby Booth raided Premiership finalists Exeter for three players, prop Tomas Francis, veteran hooker Elvis Taione and wing Alex Cuthbert who spent seven years with Cardiff Blues before moving to Sandy Park in 2018.

Ospreys spent big in the 2000s, recruiting the likes of Justin Marshall and Jerry Collins, but the recession at the start of the next decade forced them to abandon their galacticos plan and, after winning the league in 2012, years of mediocrity followed: it is 11 years since they made the knock-out stage of the Champions Cup.

They look on their way back under Booth, the former London Irish and Bath coach, and development director Mike Ruddock. And they will have Gareth Anscombe at fly-half, more than two years after he joined from Cardiff. A knee injury in a World Cup warmup kept him out for 25 months until a friendly at Northampton last week.

SCARLETS

Head of Rugby: Dwayne Peel

Captain: Ken Owens

Ground: Parc y Scarlets

Capacity: 14,870

League winners in 2017 and beaten finalists a year later, the Scarlets have misfired since Wayne Pivac left for Wales in 2019. The region's former Wales and Lions scrum half Dwayne Peel is the new head coach, taking the job having agreed to join Cardiff. His decision caused a stir, but home was where his heart was.Their biggest signing is WillGriff John, the Wales prop who joins from Sale, while Scott Williams returns after an injury disrupted stint with the Ospreys, and Argentina flanker Tomas Lezana is a recruit from Western Force and wing Corey Baldwin, 22, arrives from Exeter.

The 15 departures include Wales lock Jake Ball, who is off to Japan, and South Africa No 8 Uzair Cassiem.

The Scarlets have four players who were involved in the Lions tour in the summer, Ken Owens, Wyn Jones, Gareth Davies and Liam Williams while centre Jonathan Davies captained Wales. The league success under Pivac was heralded as a victory for the Scarlets' traditional style of play, flair matched with daring. Peel wants the basics sorted out first, and with good reason.

BULLS

Head of Rugby: Jake White

Captain: TBC

Ground: Loftus Versfeld

Capacity: 51,762

The Bulls had a taste of their new life at the end of last season when they lost to Treviso in the final of the Rainbow Cup. The team that won the Super Rugby three times clinched the Currie Cup this month with a resounding victory over the Sharks and they are coached by Jake White, who was in charge of South Africa when they won the 2007 World Cup.

They were captained by Duane Vermeulen, but he's left for Ulster.

The Bulls summer signings were attached to clubs in France, including three Springboks: Bismarck du Plessis, Johan Goosen and Lionel Mapoe. They have lost three players to the Premiership, Marco van Staden, Nizaam Carr and Ivan van Zyl, but Morne Steyn, whose boot won the deciding Test between South Africa and the Lions, is playing on at the age of 37.

The Bulls are starting in the deep end at Leinster and then travel to Cardiff, Connacht and Edinburgh. White has told his players they will face a different type of rugby in Europe, a game in which playing catch-up is more hazardous, but they will relish the forward exchanges, if not the rain that usually decorates a winter in the north.

LIONS

Head of Rugby: Ivan van Rooyen

Captain: TBC

Ground: Ellis Park

Capacity: 62,567

The Lions will feature on the opening night when they are in Zebre and they look the weakest of the four South African sides. They reached three successive Super Rugby finals from 2016, losing the lot, but they have some experienced hands, including Jannie du Plessis, Jaco Kriel and the former Gloucester prop Ruman Dreyer, while outside-half Jordan Hendricks is regarded as a future Springbok and centre Wandisile Simelane was in the squad for the summer series against the Lions.

Head coach Ivan Rooyen has bolstered his coaching team with three former Springboks, including Jacque Fourie, the 2007 World Cup winner who is in charge of defence having been involved with the United States during the last World Cup. They have lost the Test wing Courtnall Skosan to Northampton, one of 23 players to be released at a time of upheaval with only seven coming in, most of them from the Currie Cup side the Pumas. They have named a squad of 33 for their block of four away matches, which takes in all four European countries taking part in the tournament, and they will need time to acclimatise.

SHARKS

Head of Rugby: Sean Everitt

Captain: Lukhanyo Am

Ground: King's Park Capacity: 52,000

The Sharks have significantly strengthened their squad with the signings of South Africa captain Siya Kolisi and hooker Bongi Mbonambi while centre Ben Tapuai has joined from Harlequins.

Two players who have joined on shortterm contracts, Ruan Pienaar and Tian Meyer, have PRO14 experience having played for Ulster and the Cheetahs respectively, and when the Rugby Championship is over they will be able to parade Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am, their captain.

The Sharks, along with the Bulls, look the most likely of the South African sides to challenge for the title and the strength in depth of both was shown by reaching the Currie Cup final. They will have to adapt to a competition that is long by their standards, starting at the end of September and stretching to the final week of June. It is why they have increased the size of their squad with four departures outnumbered by 12 arrivals. They regard the northern hemisphere season as “gruelling” and have added to the size of their squad in the interest of player welfare. When they are at full strength, they will be a match for most.

STORMERS

Head of Rugby: Robbie Fleck

Captain: Salmaan Moerat/Ernst van Rhyn

Ground: Cape Town Stadium

Capacity: 55,000

Storm has been the word in recent weeks with the South African Rugby Union threatening to throw the franchise out of the new league because of financial problems within the Western Province union. The Cheetahs, who were part of the old PRO14, were reported to be lined up to replace them, although they have entered a player exchange agreement with the Sharks and have loaned them players for the start of the competition.

The infighting in Cape Town proved too much for the Springboks' captain Siya Kolisi who decamped to the Sharks, but they still have Steven Kitshoff and Damian Willemse on their books and they were the runners-up to the Bulls in the Rainbow Cup SA. Their first match is in Treviso, where the Bulls were soundly beaten in the Rainbow Cup final and what might have seemed a relatively gentle introduction looks different with the Italian side boosting their management team as well as squad.

The Stormers have signed three players on loan to provide cover for their first block of matches in Europe, and while they are used to travelling in Super Rugby, the grind will not be so familiar.

EDINBURGH

Head of Rugby: Mike Blair

Captain: TBC

Ground: Edinburgh Rugby Stadium

Capacity: 7,800

Edinburgh are under new management with Richard Cockerill back in England and Michael Blair the new head coach. They have lost two Lions, Duhan van der Merwe and Rory Sutherland, to Worcester but they have recruited four players from the Premiership, including James Lang and Glen Young from Quins, and two Argentina internationals from France, Emiliano Boffelli and Ramiro Moyano.

Blair has been part of Gregor Townsend's Scotland management team and his style promises to be different to that of Cockerill, who brought some grunt to a team that had fallen behind Glasgow. They will also be playing at their new £5.7m ground and its 3G surface, the Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, which is adjacent to Murrayfield and holds 7,800 spectators who will generate atmosphere.

Edinburgh believe the new ground will be game-changing and it has to be after a disappointing season which saw them finish one off the bottom of Conference B with just five victories in 16 matches, although they won at Sale in the Heineken Champions Cup. “It is a massive, watershed moment for the club,” said Blair.

“We have a squad that can be good to watch and successful.”

GLASGOW

Head of Rugby: Danny Wilson

Captain: Jamie Ritchie 

Ground: Scotstoun 

Capacity: 7,335

Jack Dempsey is one of the Championship's headline signings. The 26-year old flanker, who has won 14 caps for Australia, featured in the 2019 World Cup and is returning to his roots: his grandfather emigrated to Australia from Glasgow. Another Australian, uncapped centre Sione Tuipulotu, joins from Yamaha Jubilo and qualifies for Scotland through his Glaswegian grandmother.

Two Scotland internationals have arrived from the Premiership, outsidehalf Duncan Weir, who left Edinburgh for Worcester in 2018, and prop Jamie Bhatti, who spent last season on loan at Bath having joined Edinburgh from Glasgow. The Scotland prop Simon Berghan has made the switch from Edinburgh.

Glasgow struggled in the league last season and head coach Danny Wilson is keen to recapture the free-spirited approach that took them to the final in 2019 under Gregor Townsend. Stuart Hogg was their fullback then and Wilson has signed a similarly attack-minded player in 23-year old Josh McKay, a Junior World Cup winner with New Zealand in 2017, from the Crusaders.

BENETTON

Head of Rugby: Marco Bortolami

Captain: Dewaldt Duvenage

Ground: Stadio Comunale di Monigo

Capacity: 5,000

Treviso were spared a whitewash in last season's PRO14 only through a Covid cancelled match at Edinburgh, but they rallied to win the Rainbow Cup, thrashing Glasgow on the way to defeating the Bulls in the final, and they have assembled a strong management team under head coach Marco Bortolami with Paul Gustard and Andrea Masi signing up.

Among their summer signings is Rhyno Smith, who played for the Cheetahs in the PRO14, a former South Africa Sevens player who plays at full-back or on the wing and replaces the longserving Jayden Hayward. Another former Cheetah, lock Carl Wagner who spent two years at Stade Francais in the 2010s, boosts the pack, along Argentina prop Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro who was signed by Bristol last season as injury cover.

Treviso expect to be taken seriously. “Marco is really impressive in terms of his organisation and forward thinking,” said Gustard. “The coaching group has a nice dynamic. I want to build belief and grow our defence and ensure that a team that showed it has the capability to beat big teams plays well consistently.”

ZEBRE

Head of Rugby: Michael Bradley

Captain: Giulio Bisegni

Ground: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

Capacity: 5,000

Under head coach Michael Bradley, Zebre's squad is made up largely of Italian players and the bulk of their recruitment in the close season was from clubs in the country's Top 12. Two exceptions were New Zealanders, the Highlanders centre Tim O'Malley and the Hurricanes second row Liam Mitchell while wing Asaeli Tuivuaka was in Fiji's Olympic gold medal squad.

Zebre showed glimpses last season winning four matches and reaching the last 16 of the European Challenge Cup when Bath were relieved to escape from Parma with victory in a high scoring match. Emiliano Bergamaschi, who had stints in his propplaying days with Bristol and Saracens and was Argentina's scrum coach in the 2015 World Cup, has taken charge of the forwards and believes he can mould a pack capable of taking on anyone.

Zebre had nine players in Italy's 23 for the final Six Nations match against Scotland, but the majority were on the bench. Bergamaschi said improvement needed was in awareness, making the right decisions under pressure while looking to retain possession. What also needs addressing is poor away form.

CONNACHT

Head of Rugby: Andy Friend

Captain: Jarrad Butler

  Ground: The Sportsground

Capacity: 8,129

They won the PRO12 under Pat Lam in 2016, an achievement to compare with Leicester City winning the Premier League the same year, and while they have not risen that high since they have continued to compete in a higher weight division. They were runners-up to Munster in Pool B of last season's PRO14 and without the resources of the other three Irish provinces, their recruitment has to be smart.

Among this season's signings is Mark Hansen, who has played at fullback and on the wing for the Brumbies with the occasional outing at outside-half. The 23-year old is qualified to play for Ireland through his Cork-born mother having represented Australia in the 2018 Junior World Cup. Alex Wootton, the league's joint top try scorer last season when he was on loan from Munster, has joined permanently.

A more seasoned recruit is the 32-year old Tonga second row Leva Fifita, who has joined from Grenoble. Andy Friend's side start with a trip to face Cardiff but six days later welcome the Currie Cup champions the Bulls to the Showground, a venue the South African sides have probably not seen the like of.

LEINSTER

Head of Rugby: Leo Cullen

Captain: Johnny Sexton

Ground: The RDS

Capacity: 18,500

Leinster have won the last four league titles, although they slipped up in the Rainbow Cup that appended the final PRO14 campaign, losing at home to Munster and at Glasgow. As usual, Leo Cullen has kept recruitment to a minimum, preferring to transfuse blood through the province's academy. An exception is the Samoa prop Michael Alaalatoa, who arrives from the Crusaders where he enjoyed three Super Rugby titles. Michael Bent has returned to New Zealand after ten years with the province.

Nick McCarthy, a product of Leinster's academy, adds to the scrum-half roster after a stint with Munster while the Australian international forward Scott Fardy has retired at the age of 37 after four seasons in Dublin. With Johnny Sexton refreshed after a rare summer off, and out to show the Lions made a mistake by leaving him out, they again look the team to beat. It is a different league with South Africa now fielding four strong sides.

Leinster have in the past been able to rest their players for away matches outside Ireland, but they will need to ask more of their Ireland internationals.

MUNSTER

Head of Rugby: Johann van Graan

Captain: Peter O'Mahony

Ground: Thomond Park

Capacity: 25,600

They have stood uncomfortably in Leinster's shadow in recent seasons, hinting at former glories without recapturing them. Their head coach is a South African, Johann van Graan, who started his coaching career at the Bulls, Munster's destination in November when both sides should be close to full strength because the league will not be played during the Autumn Internationals.

Munster lost three long-serving players at the end of last season, second row Billy Holland, who spent 15 seasons with the province, flanker Tommy O'Donnell who joined at the same time and the Ireland and Lions No. 8 CJ Stander, who has retired at 31. Simon Zebo returns after spending three years with Racing 92, four years after he won the last of his 35 Ireland caps and hooker Declan Moore arrives from the Melbourne Rebels.

Munster start with the Sharks at Thomond Park on Saturday. They warmed up with a 31-19 victory over Exeter at Sandy Park and having used 53 players last season, van Graan believes he has the depth to cope with a long campaign that will test resources. And Thomond Park will resound to the beat of the home support.

ULSTER

Head of Rugby: Dan McFarland

Captain: Iain Henderson

Ground: Kingspan Stadium

Capacity: 18,000

Until the announcement that Duane Vermeulen was joining from the Bulls, Ulster's recruitment had been confined to promoting players from the academy, including scrum-half Nathan Doak, son of the province's former 9 and coach, Neil.

Mick Kearney was the only arrival and the second row, who had stints with Connacht and Leinster before signing for Zebre, is only on a short-term contract. And then came South Africa's No.8!

Ulster finished second behind Leinster in the final PRO14 with their only two defeats coming against their rivals, but struggled in the Rainbow Cup having lost to Leicester in the semi-final of the European Challenge Cup. Scrumhalf John Cooney was the leading points scorer in the league last season and will be their spearhead again, with Ireland reckoning they can do without him.

Ulster's campaign starts with the visit of Glasgow and up to 15,000 spectators are allowed into Kingspan Stadium, up from the 10,000 who were allowed in to watch the preseason friendly against Saracens.

They were well beaten that day but won 33-3 in London the following week.