Ireland Connacht came into the new season with a new head coach, after removing
Kieran Keane from his position one year into a three-year deal. Former
Australia sevens coach
Andy Friend was named as his replacement in May 2018, joining on a three-year contract. The team also had a new captain for the season, following the retirement of
John Muldoon, record-holder for appearances both for Connacht and in the league. In August 2018,
Jarrad Butler was named as his replacement. Like Connacht,
Leinster had a new captain for the season.
Isa Nacewa retired at the end of the 2017–18 season, after leading the province to an unprecedented
Pro14-
Champions Cup double. The team's all-time leading scorer
Johnny Sexton was named as captain in August 2018, with
Rhys Ruddock as his vice-captain. The team also had a new backs coach following the departure of
Girvan Dempsey, who signed with
English Premiership side
Bath in May 2018. Former player
Felipe Contepomi was announced as his replacement in June 2018. He joined from the
Argentine Rugby Union where he had been serving both as part of the coaching staff of
Super Rugby side, the
Jaguares, and as head coach of
Argentina XV, the country's second tier international side.
Munster came into the league without their all-time leading try scorer
Simon Zebo. It was announced in October 2017 that he would leave the province at the end of the
2017–18 season, with French
Top 14 side
Racing 92 later being confirmed as his next club. Following the departure of
Les Kiss as the province's director of rugby in January 2018,
Ulster confirmed in March 2018 that then-head coach
Jono Gibbes would leave the province at the end of the season. In April 2018, the province announced that
Scotland forwards coach
Dan McFarland would be their new head coach, with the former Connacht and
Glasgow assistant signing a three-year contract. However the
Scottish Rugby Union insisted that McFarland must serve the nine-month notice period in his contract before joining Ulster, which would have left the province without a head coach until January 2019. In July 2018, it was announced that Ireland forwards coach
Simon Easterby would work with the Ulster coaches on an interim basis ahead of McFarland's arrival. After a four-month standoff, an agreement was reached in August 2018 to allow McFarland to take up his position with Ulster with immediate effect. Another addition to the coaching staff was long-serving squad member and international
Jared Payne, who was forced to retire in May 2018 due to a head injury suffered on the
2017 Lions tour. The province announced that he would serve as their new defence coach.
Banbridge head coach Daniel Soper was confirmed as Ulster's skills coach in June 2018.
Italy Having served as one of the team's co-captain's, centre
Tommaso Castello was named as the
Zebre skipper for the season. He had previously shared the captaincy with
George Biagi.
Scotland After spending much of the previous two seasons playing in the 5,500-capacity
Myreside Stadium, Edinburgh announced in February 2018 that they would be returning permanently to
Murrayfield, their previous home. Due to the stadium's larger size making it inappropriate for permanent use, the
Scottish Rugby Union also announced plans to develop another, smaller ground with a capacity of 7,800 in the grounds of Murrayfield, on what were previously training pitches. It was estimated that the development would cost the Union in the region of £5 million.
South Africa The
Cheetahs had a new captain for the 2018–19 season. It was announced in March 2018 that incumbent captain
Francois Venter would leave the team at the end of the season, joining English side
Worcester Warriors.
Wales Cardiff Blues confirmed in September 2017 that then-head coach
Danny Wilson would leave the club at the end of the 2017–18 season, with John Mulvihill being announced as their new head coach on a three-year contract in March 2018. Also departing the club was the team's most-capped player,
Taufaʻao Filise. The
Tongan international prop made his last appearance for the region in the final of the
2017–18 Challenge Cup, before retiring. In July 2018,
Ellis Jenkins was named as the new team captain, replacing previous season's skipper
Gethin Jenkins. Both players were also named as part of a 10-man "leadership group" within the squad. In December 2018,
Dragons parted company with head coach
Bernard Jackman 18 months into a three-year deal. The team's forwards coach
Ceri Jones was named as caretaker following Jackman's departure. In January 2019, it was announced that Jones would remain in the role until the end of the season. The
Ospreys were coached by
Allen Clarke. He had started the previous season as the team's forwards coach, before being promoted to head coach on an interim basis in January 2018 following the sacking of
Steve Tandy. In April 2018, it was announced that Clarke would take the job on a permanent basis and had signed a three-year contract. For the first time in eight seasons, the side came into the campaign with a new captain, with
Justin Tipuric replacing
Alun Wyn Jones in the role. This was
Wayne Pivac's final season in charge of the
Scarlets, as it was announced in July 2018 that he would succeed
Warren Gatland as head coach. The agreement meant Pivac would take up the role following the
2019 World Cup. ==Table==