Ulster Rugby vs Connacht & Munster

In the Guinness PRO14 we are proud to be home to so many fierce, tribal rivalries between the biggest teams in the game, but when our hotly-contested derbies take place at this time of the season it creates an atmosphere that is just so hard to beat. The Festive Season is a time of giving and provides old friends and families the opportunity to catch up and while the latter may be true for our players, you can be sure none of them will be giving up an inch on the pitch. Once the whistle goes the colour on their back and the crest across their chest will be all that matters as they go toe-to-toe with their closest rivals, but the ramifications will spread far beyond these 80 minutes.

The Guinness PRO14 is the powerhouse that supports so many of international teams and every week someone is making national coaches sit up and take notice. Close to 300 Test-capped players take to the pitch every season in our Championship and it is a vibrant mix of young, established and superstar talent. Each season we witness Next-Gen talent emerge from our teams and make a big impression in the Guinness Six Nations and summer tours, but these guys have their work cut out to oust the star power that is already in situ. Surrounding our home-grown talent, we have players from around the Southern Hemisphere who add skill, leadership and the experience of Rugby Championship and Pacific Nations Cup to our dressing rooms. Following three testing weekends of derby action we’ll also see our teams continue to make their presence felt in Europe with Rounds 5 & 6 deciding who will earn a spot in the knock-out stages. But before all of that there are moments of great drama and exquisite rugby to play out across the UK, Ireland and Italy. Now that we’re a third of the way through the season there’s a lot at stake – can Scarlets keep up their form and pick up the right results to fly the flag for Wales in Cardiff on June 20? In Scotland, will Edinburgh continue their upward surge, or can Glasgow Warriors get title ambitions back on track? And with all four Irish provinces looking to return to the Guinness PRO14 Final Series. it sets the standard for some remarkable Festive fixtures. Don’t forget if you think you can call the result of any of our games then download the Guinness PRO14 App to play our predictor game and access lots of member only content. While you’re at it, check out the new Fantasy Game on www.pro14rugby.org – it’s had a revamp and it’s easier to play than ever before. Predicting who reaches the Guinness PRO14 Final on June 20 in Cardiff might be a tough task, but you can book the best seats at the best prices now to make sure you don’t miss out on a brilliant day of rugby in the Welsh capital. 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 and get booking. Enjoy the game, Martin Anayi Chief Executive Officer

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