Ulster Rugby vs Scarlets

It is a welcome yet fleeting return to Guinness PRO14 action as precious points are on offer in midst of the European campaigns which have started positively for our clubs. Games take place across Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales this weekend as our teams run out in the Championship after two weeks of battle against European opposition before taking up the fight once more for the third and fourth rounds. All of this in the lead-up to the Christmas derbies and the task of integrating players who were in Japan for the World Cup with the pressure to deliver – who would be a head coach? If you put yourself in their shoes it’s hard to think of a more challenging environment to prove yourself. Innovative thinkers and sharp wits are the hallmark of coaches in the Guinness PRO14 and their year-long job of managing recruitment, the promotion of youth and the handling of some of international rugby’s top names is no easy balance.

One man who has consistently achieved that balance is Dave Rennie, head coach of the Glasgow Warriors. While we will be sad to see him depart the Guinness PRO14 scene at the end of the season, we wish him nothing but the very best as he takes up the post as head coach of Australia. Rennie follows a long line of coaches who have graduated from the Guinness PRO14 to lead at the very highest level of the game. Most recently, Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac has been appointed to succeed Warren Gatland at Wales, before him it was Gregor Townsend who left Glasgow to coach Scotland , Joe Schmidt’s success at Leinster earned him the Ireland job and we’ve also see former Munster chief Rassie Erasmus takeover at South Africa – and that didn’t turn out too badly. The main positive for Warriors fans will be the identity of Rennie’s successor, Danny Wilson, who did a really good job at Cardiff Blues before moving on. Wilson was very popular with the players in Cardiff and handpicked by Dai Young for a role at Wasps before taking up his current position as forwards coach for Scotland. Wilson knows the Guinness PRO14, he’ll know the current and future Scotland players – there’s no end of them in Glasgow – and he knows how to get the best from a team that plays on a fast track like Scotstoun. Speaking of the Warriors home, it may be the setting where Leinster’s unbeaten run comes to an end. The champions are six from six and may have an eye on breaking Ulster’s best start to a season (11 wins from 11 in 2012/13), but this is the first meeting between the two sides since the province’s triumph over Glasgow at Celtic Park in last season’s Guinness PRO14 Final. It promises to be one of the headline acts of Round 7 but there could be a host of big away performances with Edinburgh travelling to face Munster, Cheetahs off to Ospreys and Scarlets at Ulster – these are some key fixtures in both conferences. But if you think you can call ‘em right, then download the Guinness PRO14 App and play the predictor game where you can win prizes including a hospitality trip to this season’s Final. Cardiff City Stadium will host the Guinness PRO14 Final on June 20 and while we can’t predict which teams will run out at Cardiff City Stadium, you can book the best seats at the best prices right now. Last year saw yet another record attendance at the Guinness PRO14 Final in Glasgow, but with limited availability in 2020 be sure to visit www.pro14rugby.org/final to take advantage of early bird prices before they’re gone! Enjoy the game, Martin Anayi Chief Executive Officer

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