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. Leinster won the game 18–15 to retain the title.
Route to the final
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.
Quarter-finals
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.
Final Summary
Details
FB 15 Stuart Hogg RW 14 Tommy SeymourOC 13 Kyle Steyn IC 12 Sam Johnson LW 11 D. T. H. van der MerweFH 10 Adam HastingsSH 9 Ali Price N8 8 Matt FagersonOF 7 Callum Gibbins (c) BF 6 Rob Harley RL 5 Jonny GrayLL 4 Scott CummingsTP 3 Zander Fagerson HK 2 Fraser Brown LP 1 Jamie Bhatti Substitutions:HK 16 Grant Stewart PR 17 Oli Kebble PR 18 Siua Halanukonuka FL 19 Ryan Wilson FL 20 Tom Gordon SH 21 George Horne CE 22 Peter Horne CE 23 Huw Jones Coach: Dave Rennie FB 15 Rob Kearney RW 14 Jordan LarmourOC 13 Garry RingroseIC 12 Robbie HenshawLW 11 James LoweFH 10 Johnny Sexton (c) SH 9 Luke McGrath N8 8 Jack ConanOF 7 Josh van der Flier BF 6 Rhys Ruddock RL 5 James RyanLL 4 Scott FardyTP 3 Tadhg Furlong HK 2 Seán Cronin LP 1 Cian Healy Substitutions:HK 16 Bryan Byrne PR 17 Ed Byrne PR 18 Andrew Porter LK 19 Ross Molony FL 20 Max Deegan SH 21 Nick McCarthy CE 22 Ross Byrne WG 23 Rory O'LoughlinCoach: Leo Cullen Man of the Match: Cian Healy
Touch judges: Mike Adamson (SRU) John Lacey (IRFU) Television Match Official: Ian Davies (WRU)
References