The 2025/26 BKT United Rugby Championship season kicks off this evening for what will be the fifth iteration of the competition in its current guise.
That's the longest the tournament, which began in 2001, has gone without change in format or numbers, however, it looks likely that will change next season.
The Welsh Rugby Union has indicated that it will cut the number of professional regions for the 2026/27 season – how that plays out is unclear at the moment but it’s certainly a big move from one of the founder union members.
It’s a far cry from the inaugural season when Wales were represented by nine teams.
Since that Celtic League, won by Leinster, the competition expanded to include Italian teams and eight years on from the first involvement of South African teams, (remember the Kings and Cheetahs?), SARU became a full shareholder last month.
So while it has a settled look this season and fans will be familiar with who’s who, there are a number of changes.
Firstly, the 20-minute red card trial will be in action.
The amendment had been undergoing a global trial in various competitions, including the Six Nations, over the last year.
Players sent off for non-deliberate or 'always illegal’ fouls will be removed but can be replaced off the bench by another player after 20 minutes.
The permanent red card remains for offences such as biting or gouging or deliberate attempts to injure players.
This season will see the operation of a fully independent TMO process aimed at improving accuracy and speeding up the game.
"Backed by Hawk-Eye technology, the Television Match Officials (TMO) will have real-time access to every broadcast camera feed at their fingertips," said the organisers, the first of the five major club competitions to use the system.
"Previously, TMOs would need to communicate with a video operator in the broadcast truck to cycle through a number of camera angles to identify the key shot for decisions related to foul play and scoring.
"Now, TMOs will be able to use touchscreen monitors to immediately select the most relevant camera angles, reducing delays in finding critical footage."
On the field, it's Leinster who will set out as favourties to defend their crown, while last season’s beaten finalists Bulls, under new head coach Johan Ackermann, are second favourites.
Munster, alongside Sharks, are joint third.
Connacht and Ulster are tipped for eighth and ninth-place finishes, respectively.
Leo Cullen’s side, who won their first trophy since 2021 last June, have been boosted by renewed deals for coaches Jacques Niebaber, Tyler Bleyendall and Robin McBryde, while they will welcome All Black centre Rieko Ioane to the fold in November.
As well as topping the regular season table, Leinster scored most tries and conceded fewest.
While they have all the resources to battle on two fronts, it’s, once again, how they fare in Europe that will determine their mood at the end of the year.
The champions, minus their Lions contingent, start off against Stormers this evening at 6pm.
Munster, after another rollercoaster season in which they reached the quarter-finals, recruited head coach Clayton McMillan (above) from the Chiefs.
Added to the retirement of Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray and Stephen Archer, the new face gives a real sense of renewal at the club, who won the title in 2023.
They ranked second in ‘retained kicks’ in the URC last season and it will be interesting to see how McMillan’s philosophy translates to the playing pitch.
Training has been "old school", according to defence coach Denis Leamy.
Munster, with Alex Codling now in a full-time lineout coach role, and scrum specialist Sean Cronin on board, start their campaign away to Scarlets tomorrow (5.30pm).
Connacht hired the highly regarded Stuart Lancaster to go with their new stand in the Dexcom Stadium.
The former England, Leinster and Racing 92 coach is seen as the right man for the job of reviving the fortunes of the 2016 champions, who finished 13th last season.
He has new attack coach Rob Seib on his ticket, the Australian joining from Brumbies.
While they ended up low in the standings, the westerners actually had the top lineout return (91.4%) and the best maul defence (81%).
Getting the most out of their Ireland players Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham on the big days will be key, while utility back Sam Gilbert will join from Super Rugby outfit Highlanders later in the season.
They host Benetton Treviso in Galway tomorrow evening (7.45pm).
Ulster faded badly at the end of last season to finish 14th, with seven wins and 11 losses.
While their defence was poor – they conceded the second most number of tries - they ranked first in ‘collision dominance’ and second for ‘fewest turnovers lost’.
They’ve lost a lot of experience with the departures of John Cooney, Alan O’Connor and Kieran Treadwell, while Mark Sexton (attack) and Willie Faloon (defence) join Richie Murphy’s ticket as the successful former Ireland Under-20s coaching team get back together.
Dynamic back row Juarno Augustus (above) has joined from Northampton, while Australia prop Angue Bell will move north after the November internationals.
They welcome Dragons to the newly named Affidea Stadium in Ravenhill this evening (8.05pm).
Let the games begin.
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