URC Announces ‘Shields For Good’

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