The four regional Shield trophies on offer in the BKT United Rugby Championship will carry greater reward this season with the league adding prizes for charities and foundations.
The BKT URC will share its platforms and a number of promotional rights with the chosen charity partners of each Shield winner from this season and into the future.
As part of the league’s commitment to purpose-led campaigns the BKT URC is eager to support the organisations that are so connected to our clubs and communities and add an extra layer of pride to the triumph of winning a regional shield.
Introduced in 2021, the regional Shields covering Ireland, Italy & Scotland, South Africa and Wales were used as a mechanism to award four of the league’s places in the Investec Champions Cup.
As of this season, the Shields no longer provide a qualifying place into the Champions Cup and as such only the games against a team’s Shield rivals (6) count towards their places in the mini tables.
This format allows the BKT URC’s closest competitors to trade blow for blow exclusively against each and now the four winners will have the added bonus of providing additional marketing assets to their chosen charity or foundation.
The lucky charities or foundations will be invited to become guardians of their respective Shield for the following season while also taking part in a presentation ceremony.
These organisations will receive match-day assets within the stadium for all of the derby games (12) connected to their respective Shield while league digital platforms will provide spotlight content to promote their causes.
Martin Anayi, CEO, United Rugby Championship, said: “Local rivalries have always brought about a fight for bragging rights and its very fulfilling for us to attach tangible rewards for organisations and causes that seek to better the communities of our clubs. Everyone across our league uses their responsibilities as role models to make a positive impact – now through ‘Shields for Good’ their actions on the pitch will have even more resonance off it.”
BKT URC Shield groups
Ireland: Connacht, Leinster, Munster, Ulster
Italian x Scottish: Benetton, Edinburgh Rugby, Glasgow Warriors, Zebre Parma
South Africa: DHL Stormers, Emirates Lions, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Vodacom Bulls
Wales: Cardiff Rugby, Dragons RFC, Ospreys, Scarlets
How the Shield format works
- Four teams per Shield
- Each team plays its three rivals home and away
- After all teams have completed their six Shield fixtures the team ranked No 1 will earn the ‘Shields for Good’ assets for their chosen charity partner or foundation
As it Stands – Shield Tables
Irish Shield
Leinster 14 pts
Ulster 13 pts
Connacht 10 pts
Munster 3 pts
All teams have played 4 of 6 games
Italian x Scottish Shield
Benetton 14 pts
Glasgow Warriors 14 pts
Edinburgh Rugby 9pts
Zebre Parma 2pts
Games played: Benetton 5, Glasgow Warriors 4, Edinburgh Rugby 4, Zebre Parma 3
South African Shield
Vodacom Bulls 20 pts
DHL Stormers 17 pts
Emirates Lions 12 pts
Hollywoodbets Sharks 3 pts
All teams have played 5 of 6 games
Welsh Shield
Ospreys 14 pts
Cardiff Rugby 12 pts
Scarlets 11 pts
Dragons RFC 9 pts
Games played: Ospreys 4, Cardiff Rugby 5, Scarlets 5, Dragons RFC 4
Remaining Fixtures – Irish
R16: Munster v Connacht
R17: Ulster v Leinster
R18: Leinster v Connacht
R18: Munster v Ulster
Remaining Fixtures – Italian x Scottish
R15: Zebre Parma v Glasgow Warriors
R16: Edinburgh Rugby v Zebre Parma
R18: Glasgow Warriors v Zebre Parma
R18: Benetton v Edinburgh Rugby
Remaining Fixtures – South Africa
R18: Hollywoodbets Sharks v Vodacom Bulls
R18: DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions
Remaining Fixtures – Welsh
R17: Ospreys v Dragons RFC
R18: Scarlets v Dragons RFC
R18: Cardiff Rugby v Ospreys