Each team shall play every other team in two matches per season on a home and away basis.
In all matches in the league stage, four league points shall be awarded for a win and two league points shall be awarded for a draw. One bonus league point shall be awarded to a Team scoring four or more tries and one bonus league point shall be awarded to a Team losing by seven points or less.
The top four Teams in the league at the end of the season shall qualify for the play-offs which shall consist of the RaboDirect PRO12 Semi Finals and the RaboDirect PRO12 Final.
If two or more Teams finish with the same number of league points, their placings will be determined by the following criteria in descending order:
+ number of matches won; + the difference between points for and points against; + the number of tries scored; + the most points scored; + the difference between tries for and tries against; + the fewest number of red cards received; + the fewest number of yellow cards received.
In the RaboDirect PRO12 Semi-Finals, the Team placed first in the league shall play the Team placed fourth and the Team placed second shall play the Team placed third. The RaboDirect PRO12 Semi-Finals shall be held at the home grounds of the first and second placed Teams respectively. The winners shall meet in the RaboDirect PRO12 Final.