Epcr Confirms Champions Cup Format Change
European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) has announced that new formats will be introduced for the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup for the 2020/21 season.
The EPCR Board unanimously agreed to the changes, which the organisation says alters the format on an ‘exceptional basis’ because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The changes will see 24 clubs compete in the competition, with the eight highest-ranked teams from the Gallagher Premiership, the Guinness PRO14 and the French TOP 14 taking part.
Clubs will then be divided into two pools of 12, with matches played out over eight weekends, with four rounds of matches in the pool stage followed by a knockout stage before the final takes place in Marseille on 22nd May 2021. No teams from the same country will meet in the pool phase, while a tier system will be implemented to draw groups.
The four highest-ranked clubs in each pool will qualify for the quarter-finals, while clubs finishing 5th to 8th in each 12-team pool will drop into knockout stages of the Challenge Cup.
The new format will also significantly alter the knockout stages of the competition, with quarter-finals and semi-finals taking place as two-legged ties featuring home and away matches instead of the usual one-legged games.
“With an expanded knockout stage and no repeats of domestic matches during the pool stage, this format creates brand new competitive opportunities for Europe’s elite clubs and their fans,” said EPCR Chairman, Simon Halliday.
“In this time of change, the Heineken Champions Cup with its global stars of the game, its passionate supporters and its unique match-day atmosphere undoubtedly remains the one to win.”
