The organisers of the new European Rugby Champions Cup have outlined a new streamlined format to decide the 20th and final team to qualify for next year’s competition to avoid clashing with domestic competitions in England and France and the Guinness Pro12.
The 20th place for the inaugural competition was decided between the seventh-placed teams in the English Premiership and the French Top 14, with Wasps coming through a home and away play-off against Stade Francais to qualify.
The initial plan to decide next year’s play-off qualifier again involved the seventh-placed sides from England and France, but with the eighth- and ninth-placed teams from the Pro12, or in case those clubs had already qualified, the highest ranked clubs not already qualified.
With end of season competitions taking place in all three tournaments the EPCR have streamlined the qualification process by taking out one of the Pro12 sides.
From next year the eighth-ranked side or highest ranked club not already qualified from the Pro12 will play the seventh-ranked side from the English Premiership in a one-off game on Saturday May 23rd, a week after the end of the Pro12 season. Home advantage for that game will be decided by coin toss.
The winner of the game will then have home advantage against the seventh-ranked club from France’s Top 14, with the game being played on Saturday May 30th, the same weekend as the Pro12 Final.
Under the previous plan the two sides from the Pro12 would travel away to play the French and England sides in play-off semi-finals.
In explaining the change in format, EPCR director general Jacques Pineau said: “With this revised Champions Cup play-off format, we have respected the wishes of the three leagues. “The Board of EPCR has agreed an alteration to the initial format in the tournament heads of agreement, and we are confident that the play-offs will enhance what promises to be an exciting season of European professional club rugby.”
