14-06-2023, 03:38 PM
(14-06-2023, 02:15 PM)RhysJR Wrote:
Meanwhile, EPCR have announced a new format for the Heineken Champions Cup. There will be four pool of six with each team playing four pool games against the four teams not from their league either home OR away (i.e. in an imaginary group, Leinster would play Bristol, Saracens, Toulon and Racing 92 but not Ulster). The top four from each group qualify for a single-legged round of 16, and the rest should be obvious.
The Challenge Cup sees 18 teams compete in three groups of six, with two "invited clubs" (likely South African teams like Cheetahs like last year, or possibly Rugby Europe Super Cup sides) joining the other teams from the URC, Premiership and TOP14. The fifth place sides from the Champions Cup pools drop down to the Challenge Cup knockouts.
A slightly more convential format, with a Swiss-style format almost being compelety ditched. Not 100% fantastic though that one team does not play every other team in their pool, and there will obviously some losers/winners of playing different sides home and away. The pool stage draw is next Wednesday, with the finals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next May.
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They can't just keep things simple can they. Think playing all 5 group opponents then starting knock-outs with quarter finals would be better. Yes, that's means a 2/3 split on home and away fixtures but if it's good enough for the Six Nations it's good enough here.