Cup, which was designed to introduce the former Super Rugby sides to European rugby competition. Although not treated as a championship in the ordinary lineal line, the 2021 Rainbow Cup is considered an official URC competition, along with the defunct Celtic Cup knockout tournament. As such, every country in the competition has at least once taken home league-wide silverware. As of 2022, four Regional Shields will also be awarded annually. The inaugural winners of the Irish, Welsh, South African and Scottish-Italian URC Shields were Leinster, Ospreys, Stormers and Edinburgh respectively. By year League Below are the list of champions, runners-up and table toppers each season. Celtic Cup The Celtic Cup was a short-lived single elimination knock-out competition, held alongside the Celtic League. Rainbow Cup The Pro14 Rainbow Cup was a one-off 'transitional' or 'Spring Season' tournament created to facilitate the integration of the four South African sides into the United Rugby Championship. ahead of the 2021–22 season. For the first time, an Italian team and a South African team reached the final of an official Celtic League/Pro Rugby competition, with Benetton Treviso winning Italy's first-ever trophy at Pro Rugby level. Regional Shields From the 2021–2022 season, a trophy will be awarded to each team that finishes top of its regional 'pool' (with Scottish and Italian teams sharing a trophy). The Irish Shield, Welsh Shield, South African Shield and Scottish-Italian Shield champions will also received guaranteed entry to the following season's European Rugby Champions Cup, regardless of position in the overall table. By championship wins By country 'Perfect Seasons' and League-Europe 'doubles' Only one team has achieved the feat of winning every match during a season of the competition, Leinster Rugby, who have achieved the 'perfect season' twice; 2001-02 and 2019-20. Leinster are also the only team from the competition to achieve a domestic and European double, winning a 'minor double' with the 2012–13 Pro12 title and the 2012–13 European Challenge Cup, before claiming the 'full double' of the 2017–18 Pro14 and the 2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup. The Champions Cup has been won by URC clubs on seven occasions, Leinster 4 times, Munster twice and Ulster once. The Challenge Cup has come back to the league three times, once with Leinster and twice with Cardiff Rugby. Player of the year Player statistics Career Bold indicates active player in United Rugby Championship Updated as of 21 August 2022 Statistics do not