URC final to be hosted by highest-ranked team as organisers rule out destination final

The United Rugby Championship have confirmed this season's final will be hosted by the highest-ranked team, ending speculation of a destination-final in South Africa.

There had been reports in recent weeks that the URC organisers were contemplating setting the final for South Africa, in the hope of driving interest in the competition in the rainbow nation.

And while this year's decider could still end up being played in one of the South African venues, it will be decided based on the league table.

With the league heading into the final three rounds before the playoffs, the URC have confirmed that the finalist with the higher regular season ranking will have home advantage, a continuation of the previous two seasons.

"For this campaign, it is important to understand how our teams and their fans are returning to normality after so long away from stadia and that our job is to deliver the best URC Grand Final we can in these circumstances,"said URC CEO Martin Anayi.

"The reward of the highest-ranked team hosting the URC Grand Final adds even more to the competitive edge over the closing rounds of the league that will set us up for an incredible Play-Offs which now showcases our best eight teams in a battle to reach the URC Grand Final."

As things stand, Leinster are 10 points clear at the top of the table, and would be on course to host the final for the third year in a row, should they get there. Their head coach Leo Cullen this week spoke out against the idea of a destination final.

The top two at the end of the regular season would also have home advantage in both the quarter and semi-finals.