Pro 12 final-day matches will kick off simultaneously

Ulster’s trip to Glasgow could have major consequences for playoff places

Dissuaded from staggered kick-offs and having the potential for a final day laced with the possibilities that freighted last weekend’s Six Nations conclusion in Twickenham, the Pro12 has confirmed that all of the final round of matches on Saturday May 16th will kick off at the same time.

Munster and Connacht finish their schedule before the playoffs with home games against Dragons and Ospreys, while Leinster face a trip to Edinburgh.

Ulster have the most difficult task of all and have to travel to Scotstoun Stadium to play Glasgow. With Glasgow sitting top of the league and Ulster in second place, the season's final match, with the possibility of playoff places or home semi-finals on the table, is set to be a memorable meeting.

The last time the Warriors faced Ulster at Scotstoun, Glasgow triumphed 27-9 with Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour and Mark Bennett touching down. This season Ulster came out on top at the Kingspan Stadium in October.

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Elsewhere, Ospreys' Dan Biggar is poised to beat Johnny Sexton's Pro12 kicking record. The Rhino Golden Boot has in recent seasons been won by both Sexton and Ian Madigan at Leinster and JJ Hanrahan of Munster.

Sexton achieved a remarkable 90 per cent success rate in the 2011-12 competition, while this year Biggar leads the table with a remarkable 42 successful kicks out of 45. His 93.3 per cent success rate is the best seasonal rate there’s ever been for a regular kicker in any major league.

After the presentation of a replica Six Nations trophy to Paul O’Connell at Murrayfield, the IRFU received the real thing on Wednesday.

Johnny Watterson

Johnny Watterson

Johnny Watterson is a sports writer with The Irish Times