2006/07 HEC dates.

browner · Post by **browner** » Wed May 24, 2006 9:38 pm

2005/06 Pools were drawn on the 13th June, fixtures on the 5th July.

Keep a sharp eye on these dates in the coming months if you want to book early.

Red Hand Supporter · Post by **Red Hand Supporter** » Wed May 24, 2006 11:28 pm

Can't wait to find out who'll be in our pool

pete2604 · Post by **pete2604** » Thu May 25, 2006 9:32 am

saw on the bbc website they have released the qualifiers for the HEC as well

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 013746.stm

cables · Post by **cables** » Thu May 25, 2006 10:58 am

The bit I didn't get in that article is:

"The Heineken Cup has reintroduced seeding to the group stages for its 24 teams in next season's competition."

Sloppy journalism I feel.

Anyway, here is the qualifying information:

Qualified teams:

England:
Gloucester Rugby
Leicester Tigers
London Irish
London Wasps
Northampton Saints
Sale Sharks
France:
Agen
Biarritz Olympique
Bourgoin
Perpignan
Stade Francais Paris
Toulouse
Ireland:
Leinster
Munster
Ulster
Italy:
Benetton Treviso
Rugby Calvisano
Scotland:
Edinburgh Gunners
Wales:
Cardiff Blues
Llanelli Scarlets
Ospreys

Other qualifiers:

Castres Olympique or ASM Clermont Auvergne
Border Reivers or Glasgow Warriors
Newport Gwent Dragons or Overmach Parma

Freddie Benson · Post by **Freddie Benson** » Thu May 25, 2006 11:00 am

If Carlsberg did the draw..........

we'd get Dragons, Borders or Glasgow and Calvisano
(for qualification purposes)

or for fantastic away trips
Toulouse, Irish and Calvisano

Cap'n Grumpy · Post by **Cap'n Grumpy** » Thu May 25, 2006 11:01 am

cables

It wasn't just the fact that they mentioned "reintroduction", they headlined it!

Cap'n Grumpy · Post by **Cap'n Grumpy** » Thu May 25, 2006 2:03 pm

Am I missing something here (and cables)?

Mairs in tonight's Tele is also talking about the reintroduction of seeding in next year's Heiny, (one seed per country only).

cables · Post by **cables** » Thu May 25, 2006 2:59 pm

I don't think you ere missing anything Cap'n.

This time last year, Munster were declared No. 1 Irish team by the IRFU. For the ERC pool draws the 1st seeded team from each of the 6 countries were placed in the 6 pools and the rest drawn but with the stipulation that no 2 teams from the same Union (except for the country with 7 qualifiers) would be in the same pool.

The change for next year lies outside the ERC in the Celtic Unions and in the CL. That change is that seeding for each celtic country is to be by CL position of the teams from that country. I see this 'change' as being outside the ERC and I remain confused as to how ERC are re-introducing seeding.

BR · Post by BR » Thu May 25, 2006 5:32 pm

Agreed, sloppy journalism. Given that, can anyone confirm the Italian places? I wasn't aware their semifinals had been played.

daveirl · Post by **daveirl** » Fri May 26, 2006 2:45 pm

BR wrote:Agreed, sloppy journalism. Given that, can anyone confirm the Italian places? I wasn't aware their semifinals had been played.

I don't know that makes no sense to me. On this page - http://knplogic.com/sport/rugby.html - they say that Parma are in the final which would make them the other Italian side, not Calvisano?

Sea_point · Post by **Sea_point** » Fri May 26, 2006 4:12 pm

In the Super 10 the top four sides play semi-finals and then on to the final for the championship. For the purposes of the HEC the third placed team (Parma) regardless of the championship semi and final results gets the HEC playoff spot I believe...

Super 10 Final Classification

daveirl wrote:
BR wrote:Agreed, sloppy journalism. Given that, can anyone confirm the Italian places? I wasn't aware their semifinals had been played.
I don't know that makes no sense to me. On this page - http://knplogic.com/sport/rugby.html - they say that Parma are in the final which would make them the other Italian side, not Calvisano?

BR · Post by BR » Fri May 26, 2006 4:16 pm

daveirl wrote:
BR wrote:Agreed, sloppy journalism. Given that, can anyone confirm the Italian places? I wasn't aware their semifinals had been played.
I don't know that makes no sense to me. On this page - http://knplogic.com/sport/rugby.html - they say that Parma are in the final which would make them the other Italian side, not Calvisano?

No Calvisano v Treviso in the final! - I'm getting this (with thanks to Babelfish and an italian speaking colleague)

http://www.legarugby.it/articolo.asp?ID=1255

babelfish wrote: Monza (ME) - All ready to the stage "Brianteo" of Monza, where sbato evening to the 20,30 it will come assigned badge 2006 of Super Findomestic 10. For the Ghial Calvisano draft of the sixth end from season 2000/1, the consecutive quarter on five disputed against the Benetton Treviso. The encounter will be transmitted in directed exclusive on SKY Sport 2 to leave from hours 20.10. Arbitrator of match Mr. Carl Damascus (Tower of the Greek), coadiuvato from the Judges of line Vancini (Milan) Carra (Modena), fourth man will be Commone (Naples), while the TMO (video-arbitrator) will be cured from Claudius Giacomel (Venice). I hiss of beginning will be preceded from 1 minute of Hush in order honoring the passing of Renato Speziali, president of the Rugby Rome Olimpic from 1988 to the 2000 and federal Councilman from 2001 to 2005.

BR · Post by BR » Fri May 26, 2006 4:19 pm

Sea_point wrote:In the Super 10 the top four sides play semi-finals and then on to the final for the championship. For the purposes of the HEC the third placed team (Parma) regardless of the championship semi and final results gets the HEC playoff spot I believe...

Super 10 Final Classification

daveirl wrote:
BR wrote:Agreed, sloppy journalism. Given that, can anyone confirm the Italian places? I wasn't aware their semifinals had been played.
I don't know that makes no sense to me. On this page - http://knplogic.com/sport/rugby.html - they say that Parma are in the final which would make them the other Italian side, not Calvisano?

Yes but if Parma had won their semi, then they would have got straight into the HEC (although it now appears they did not).

Sea_point · Post by **Sea_point** » Fri May 26, 2006 5:47 pm

No they wouldn't have, to get the playoff place you have to finish third in the regulation season. The semifinals are for the Italian Championship. HEC places are determined by Super 10 finishing spot as far as I understood it...

It's Benneton Treviso and Calvisano in the final....

http://www.itsrugby.com/modules/site/pl ... season=372

As it happens they finished one and two in the Super 10 and qualfied directly for the HEC. The match this weekend only determines the Italian Playoff Champions just like in the GP in England (both Sale and Leicester qualified becasue of their final league positions.)

BR · Post by BR » Mon May 29, 2006 1:11 pm

Sea_point wrote:No they wouldn't have, to get the playoff place you have to finish third in the regulation season. The semifinals are for the Italian Championship. HEC places are determined by Super 10 finishing spot as far as I understood it...

It's Benneton Treviso and Calvisano in the final....

http://www.itsrugby.com/modules/site/pl ... season=372

As it happens they finished one and two in the Super 10 and qualfied directly for the HEC. The match this weekend only determines the Italian Playoff Champions just like in the GP in England (both Sale and Leicester qualified becasue of their final league positions.)

I think you are mistaken SP. Last season Calvisano were the italian seeds after beating Treviso in the final - Treviso topped the S10 league IIRC. (also the GP champions are the playoff winners not the league toppers - no difference this year, of course - but see http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/12_5448.php )

See also http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/12_5438.php