Future Heineken Format

[Neill_M]

Plans to overhaul the format of the Heineken Champions Cup – including a return to pool-stage qualification – will be rubber-stamped by the tournament's board of directors ahead of Saturday’s final between Leinster and La Rochelle in Dublin, Telegraph Sport can reveal.

The move comes following widespread criticism from players, coaches and supporters that the current format involving two 12-team conferences was too complicated and the lack of clarity in the narrative was undermining the status and credibility of the competition.

It is understood that the new format will include 24 teams competing in four pools of six, and with the opening two rounds taking place in December. Each pool will comprise two clubs from each of the three competing leagues – the Premiership, United Rugby Championship and Top 14, drawn on a ranking basis.

Clubs from the same league in each pool will not play against each other, resulting in four pool matches, with the third and fourth rounds to take place next January. The top four clubs from each pool will then qualify for the round of 16, in straight knockout matches to be staged in April next year.

The four clubs who do not qualify will drop down into a revamped Challenge Cup tournament, which will feature a qualifying stage of three pools of eight clubs, with the top four clubs from each pool qualifying for the round of 16.

The revamp of the second-tier tournament is an attempt to ensure it mirrors the Champions Cup in terms of the knockout stages as part of a bid to improve its status within the European game.
Number of teams could be reduced to 18


It is understood that the revised format will only be in place for next season because of the disruption caused to the domestic fixture list by the World Cup in France in September and November.

Discussions are continuing about how to make further tweaks to the format, with a proposal to reduce the number of clubs in the Championship Cup to 18 for the start of the 2024-25 season currently under strong consideration.

One of the key points yet to be agreed is how many clubs each league would provide if it was reduced from 24 clubs. The Premiership, which is expected to be reduced to a 10-club league by then, are being challenged to justify an equal three-way split given that the URC currently has 16 clubs while there are 14 clubs in France’s top flight.

There is a strong desire within European Professional Club Rugby to drive meritocracy ahead of regional representation in the rebranded Champions Cup. It is hoped that once the format is agreed for the 2024-25 season, it will remain in place for at least five years to allow the competition to cement its place and develop within a settled fixture schedule.

The drive for change comes after stakeholders were concerned that the move away from the previous qualifying format of five pools of four clubs, with six games played on a home and away basis, two seasons ago has had a detrimental impact on financial revenues Finals could be staged in America


The format was first changed in the 2020/21 season as a response to the impact of the Covid pandemic but retained for this year.

EPCR chairman Dom McKay said on Thursday the organisation is also weighing up whether to take future Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals to the United States of America.

With Tottenham hosting next year, they have received bids from 23 potential host venues across 12 countries for 2025 and 2026 and could bring a showpiece match across the Atlantic as a tie-in with the 2031 World Cup.

[solidarity]

Looks like a clear improvement on the daft system in place now but why still have unnecessary complications. What on earth was wrong with the old original system?

Finals in America? Only for those who can afford the jaunt.

The most telling phrase is, 'a detrimental impact on financial revenues'. As usual, it's all about the money

[jean valjean]

Be interesting to watch how the premiership try to justify equal league representation when they drop to 10 teams. If they go to 18 teams then 4 from the premiership and 7 each from the top 14 and URC would be fair.

[solidarity]

If they go to 18 teams then 4 from the premiership and 7 each from the top 14 and URC would be fair.

Wouldn't bet your mortgage on that happening. What has 'fair' ever had to do with it?

[Bobbievee]

Most premiership teams can't afford European travel and accommodation

[jean valjean]

If only 4 games in the group then how the home games are chosen will be crucial.

[kingofthehill]

More changes the following year as well.


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[CIMANFOREVER]

The original wasn't broke- they really have made a mess pandering to the English and French.

[Lurgan Lad]

The original wasn't broke- they really have made a mess pandering to the English and French.

Totally agree, the only change I would have is I wouldn't separate teams based on the league they play in, what's wrong with e.g. Glasgow and Edinburgh being in the same group, would increase the variety of teams you can play and adds an extra bit of interest

[BR]

Cheetahs and the black lions (from Georgia; not Co. cavan) are the invites to the Parker Pen 23/24

[Neill_M]

Cheetahs will play their "home" games v European sides in Amsterdam. Will play Oyonnax, Pau, Zebre and Cell C Sharks in Pool 1.

Black Lion in Pool 3 playing Gloucester, Clermont, Scarlets and Castres.

[justinr73]

Amsterdam would be a decent away trip!

Got a mate who is a Glos fan - wonder if he has Georgia on his mind.

[mid ulster maestro]

Amsterdam. Disney Land for perverts.

[justinr73]

I must have gone to the wrong bit.

[Hans Indaruck]

I must have gone to the wrong bit.

If you remember going to Amsterdam you weren’t really there!!