2019 Pro14 Grand Final Explained

2019 Pro14 Grand Final
Event:	2018–19 Pro14
Team1:	Glasgow Warriors
Team1score:	15
Team2:	Leinster
Team2score:	18
Date:	25 May 2019
Stadium:	Celtic Park
City:	Glasgow
Man Of The Match1a:	Cian Healy (Leinster)
Referee:	Nigel Owens (WRU)
Attendance:	47,128
Weather:	Rain
Previous:	2018
Next:	2020

The 2019 Pro14 Grand Final was the final match of the 2018–19 Pro14 season. The 2018–19 season is the fifth with Guinness as the title sponsor, the tenth with a Grand Final and the second season with 14 teams, following the admission of two South African teams. The final was played between Glasgow Warriors and Leinster and was played at the 60,000 seater, Celtic Park in Glasgow.^{[1] [2] [3]} Leinster won the game 18–15 to retain the title.^{[4] [5]}

Route to the final

See main article: 2018–19 Pro14.

The top side from each of the two conferences are given a bye to the semi-finals and have home advantage. Teams placed second and third in opposite conferences meet in the two quarter-finals to determine the other two semi-finalists with the teams ranked second having home advantage.

The play-offs are scheduled in the four weeks after the regular season has been completed.

Semi-finals

Pre-match

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen caused a media stir ahead of the final when he commented that all the Glasgow Warriors players were Rangers fans, and that Leinster would get support from Celtic fans as they (Leinster) were an Irish team. Some quarters reacted angrily to Cullen's comments, as they were seen as being provocative and sectarian, given the Catholic–Protestant history between Rangers and Celtic. Cullen appeared to make the remarks jokingly, but nonetheless he apologised for any offence given in a press conference held the day before the final.^[6]

Final

Details

FB 15 RW 14 Tommy Seymour OC 13 IC 12 LW 11 D. T. H. van der Merwe FH 10 Adam Hastings SH 9 N8 8 Matt Fagerson OF 7 Callum Gibbins (c) BF 6 RL 5 Jonny Gray LL 4 Scott Cummings TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Substitutions: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 FL 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 CE 23 Coach: Dave Rennie

FB 15 RW 14 Jordan Larmour OC 13 Garry Ringrose IC 12 Robbie Henshaw LW 11 James Lowe FH 10 Johnny Sexton (c) SH 9 N8 8 Jack Conan OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 James Ryan LL 4 Scott Fardy TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Substitutions: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 CE 22 WG 23 Rory O'Loughlin Coach: Leo Cullen

Man of the Match: Cian Healy Touch judges: Mike Adamson (SRU) John Lacey (IRFU) Television Match Official: Ian Davies (WRU)

Notes and References

1. News: Glasgow Warriors 50-20 Ulster. 17 May 2019. BBC Sport. 23 May 2019.
2. News: Leinster 24-9 Munster. 18 May 2019. BBC Sport. 23 May 2019.
3. News: Pro14: Celtic Park to stage 2018-19 final. 4 May 2018. BBC Sport. 27 May 2018.
4. News: Leinster ruin Stuart Hogg’s farewell to claim Pro14 title against Glasgow. 25 May 2019. The Guardian. 27 May 2019.
5. News: Glasgow Warriors 15-18 Leinster: Holders win Pro14 final at Celtic Park. 25 May 2019. BBC Sport. 27 May 2019.
6. News: 'For any individuals that I did offend, I apologise to them' - Cullen. 24 May 2019. The42. 27 May 2019.