Presumably the Pro 14 organisers also have contingency plans in place in the event of the Rainbow Cup biting the dust. Whereas a completed Pro 14 would contain 152 matches, the combination of this abbreviated Pro 12 plus Rainbow Cup will, in theory, result in 154 matches. Nonetheless, while the Rainbow Cup is due to start on April 17th, who’s to say travel will even be permitted by governments at that juncture? The Pro 14 final has been brought forward to March 27th. Viable interestAs it is, by accommodating a notional Rainbow Cup, the organisers of the Pro 14 have sacrificed two ‘quarter-final’ playoffs and both semi-finals.

Source: The Irish Times January 05, 2021 06:00 UTC