Heineken Cup 2021/22

[cormac]

Assuming it's the same format as this season I think we'll be drawn against one of Bath/Wasps and one of Castres/Toulon in the group stages.

[CiaranIrl]

I'd love another weekend in Bath. Cracking place.

[Xanthippe]

Have Pro14 Rugby confirmed that it’s the result of the ‘regular’ season that will count or are they going to try to pull a fast one and use the result of the Rainbow Cup instead

[cormac]

As Montpellier won the Challenge Cup I'm fairly certain they qualify for next season's HCC so they replace Toulon as French 8th seeds.

[neill_m]

Have Pro14 Rugby confirmed that it’s the result of the ‘regular’ season that will count or are they going to try to pull a fast one and use the result of the Rainbow Cup instead

PRO14 Rugby can confirm that no Play-off games will be required for European qualification and that rankings after Round 16 will be used to determine which teams will participate in next season’s Heineken Champions Cup once EPCR have confirmed the format.

https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/match-ne ... n-fixtures - from January when they confirmed the final fixtures for the regular season.

[Xanthippe]

Have Pro14 Rugby confirmed that it’s the result of the ‘regular’ season that will count or are they going to try to pull a fast one and use the result of the Rainbow Cup instead

PRO14 Rugby can confirm that no Play-off games will be required for European qualification and that rankings after Round 16 will be used to determine which teams will participate in next season’s Heineken Champions Cup once EPCR have confirmed the format.

https://www.pro14.rugby/latest/match-ne ... n-fixtures - from January when they confirmed the final fixtures for the regular season.

Phew!!!

[Twist]

Anyone know when the draw is taking place? I can't find it online

[joooooe]

Anyone know when the draw is taking place? I can't find it online

Is the format even decided? I thought this season's one was temporary due to fewer available weekends?

[neill_m]

Anyone know when the draw is taking place? I can't find it online

Was only done on October 28th last year, given the spare weekends for the new URC, everything points to this season's format being kept for next season.

[neill_m]

Saw Challenge Cup mentioned on URC thread, as side point interesting to see what they do with it for 21/22 with Premiership going to 13 and Saracens coming up. This year there was 14 sides in it, wonder who will be invited etc to play as 16th side to balance up the numbers - Russian / Romanian team?

[Made Of Ale]

Details up on the Leinster site: https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/key-dates- ... /?FixGuid=

Also confirmation of the seedings: https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/epcr-ranki ... /?FixGuid=

[Made Of Ale]

Big change is two-leg last 16 stage. Would have thought this would have made more sense at the semi-final stage, but it does of course mean the most amount of extra matches and revenue.

[Dexter]

So we're probably sticking to the 24 team tournament for the future, with 16 qualifying for the next round?
I've no personal issue with it, but it's ironic given the Nigel's rationale for trying to wreck the tournament a number of years ago.

[cormac]

EPCR confirm same format as last year for group stages.

https://www.epcrugby.com/2021/06/28/202 ... confirmed/

[Xanthippe]

So we’ll have Bath or Wasps and Castres or Montpellier

[wixfjord]

Not massively concerned about any of those four. Bath & Castres would possibly the easier draw, and a weekend in Bath is always nice.

[Degz]

As usual, seeding is going to be massively important, and in that sense the English/French first seed gets an advantage in getting the lowly placed Pro14 side.

Could do with a handy fixture draw, such as France (h), England (a) to start.

[cormac]

Given that 16 teams go through two wins could well be enough to reach the knock-out stage.

[Degz]

More than likely.

Is it going to be open draw for semi-finals again do we know? If so, top 4 and a home quarter (if winning the last 16 games) is the aim.

EDIT: Top 4 wouldn't even guarantee that would it, given two pools? Need to be top 2 I assume.

[ronk]

More than likely.

Is it going to be open draw for semi-finals again do we know? If so, top 4 and a home quarter (if winning the last 16 games) is the aim.

EDIT: Top 4 wouldn't even guarantee that would it, given two pools? Need to be top 2 I assume.

I hope not. The open draw is stupid to begin with. The bigger issue is that the group stages become a procession if it's so easy for the top teams to qualify and theres nothing on the table for doing a bit better. May as well chuck out the kids if you're cruising, other clubs that is.