BKT URC introduce Shields for Good

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - APRIL 22: Warriors' Kyle Steyn and Stafford McDowall with the Scottish-Italian shield during a BKT United Rugby Championship match between Glasgow Warriors and Connacht at Scotstoun Stadium, on April 22, 2023, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

The BKT URC will share its platforms and a number of promotional rights with the chosen charity partners of each Shield winner from this season and into the future.

As part of the league’s commitment to purpose-led campaigns the BKT URC is eager to support the organisations that are so connected to our clubs and communities and add an extra layer of pride to the triumph of winning a regional shield.

Introduced in 2021, the regional Shields covering Ireland, Italy & Scotland, South Africa and Wales were used as a mechanism to award four of the league’s places in the Investec Champions Cup.

Glasgow Warriors are the current holders of the Scottish-Italian Shield, and currently sit joint top of the 2023/24 Shield with a game in hand over Benetton.

As of this season, the Shields no longer provide a qualifying place into the Champions Cup and as such only the games against a team’s Shield rivals (six) count towards their places in the mini tables.

This format allows the BKT URC’s closest competitors to trade blow for blow exclusively against each and now the four winners will have the added bonus of providing additional marketing assets to their chosen charity or foundation.

The lucky charities or foundations will be invited to become guardians of their respective Shield for the following season while also taking part in a presentation ceremony.

These organisations will receive match-day assets within the stadium for all of the derby games (12) connected to their respective Shield while league digital platforms will provide spotlight content to promote their causes.