Talk of Edinburgh-Leinster shoot-out for Pro14 title is ‘nonsense’

More likely that championship will be scrapped entirely

Edinburgh coach Richard Cockerill. Picture: Getty Images

The prospect of a one-off finale to the Guinness Pro14 between Edinburgh and Leinster has been dismissed.

It had been reported that this was an option for concluding the season, which is “indefinitely suspended” due to the coronavirus crisis.

The Pro14 final scheduled for 20 June in Cardiff has already been cancelled, with refunds offered to ticket holders.

Edinburgh are top of Conference B after 13 games but The Scotsman understands that will be all coach Richard Cockerill’s team will take from a season likely to be, at some point, scrapped entirely. Some reports suggested there may be an option to fast-forward the season, when the time is right, to a semi-finals/final stage based on current standings, or a straight Edinburgh-Leinster shoot-out for the Pro14 title. The Dublin-based side are top of Conference A.

However, a source dismissed this as “nonsense”.

The scale of the Covid-19 emergency also puts in doubt the start of next season and the whole concept of a cross-border competition which involves teams from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Italy and South Africa.

After a slow start, Glasgow Warriors had moved themselves back into play-off competition but are unlikely to play again under the coaching of New Zealander Davie Rennie, who is leaving after this season to be new head coach of Australia.