Champions Cup 2024

twinytwo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121055134#Comment_121055134

They will do anything other than reverting to the old format that everyone loved and actually worked - was it perfect, no but it was better than this nonsense.

pickarooney

At this point maybe just forget it. The URC and Top14 are more interesting these days.

Dave_The_Sheep

More important too, apparently.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121055289#Comment_121055289

Nobody said the URC is more important than the CC.

That’s just a complete strawman.

What was actually said was the URC final may be more important than the CC QF or SF.

Dave_The_Sheep

Since tone is apparently hard to convey online, I'll just say it straight out so we can all lighten up.

I wasn't being entirely serious there.

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121055197#Comment_121055197

Did everyone love it? Not so sure. In Ireland we loved it because we've always treated Europe as a bigger deal than our league games, but this was never really the same elsewhere.

It's not like EPCR are doing it against everyone's will, they are trying these formats because the English and French have no interest in playing 6 pool games. And by extension, the supporters of English and French clubs are not exactly up in arms about this.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121056436#Comment_121056436

everyone loved it retrospectively when we saw what a shitshow the alternatives have been. 😜

to be fair, its often been prefaced with "while not perfect" while saying it was the best format we've had.

Blut2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121055197#Comment_121055197

6 pools of 4, each pool winner advances. Two best placed runners up advance. You play everyone in your pool home and away. It was so simple, everyone got it, and it worked. It was relatively fair and had real tension in the final round or two of pool games.

Its absolutely insane that they're still messing around with complicated formats, changing every year, that most fans don't understand fully and that rarely have any qualification tension.

If 24 is too many teams now with the English imploding just go with 5 pools of 4 with the 3 best placed runners up advancing.

MaddChris

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121055197#Comment_121055197

The thing is too, I can't really remember anyone complaining about the format pre-2020. Yes the English and French would pipe up every now and then but that was nearly always about money or scheduling, not format.

I understand they thought they needed to make changes because of covid, but why change again? Its like they don't want to admit they've got it wrong.

What I miss the most are the back-to-back home and away fixtures in December and that final round of games when the maths gets real nerdy calculating who goes through. This last-16 stuff is rubbish and has completely diluted the the pool stage drama.

And now in this new one, 12 of the 18 teams get a knock out game, what the f**k is the point of the pools anymore?

If the top clubs have any say in this, I'm very surprised they are agreeing to it with it been well known what the fans think.

Dave_The_Sheep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121056436#Comment_121056436

The last few years formats have been pretty much pilloried by English and French fans online. Not to the same degree as Irish, sure, but they absolutely don't like it either - the sizeable majority anyway.

phog

https://twitter.com/MattHardyJourno/status/1698370510201999516?t=wdru7HiHHYL7DMpYxzEvgg&s=19

“We are looking at final options for 2025 and 2026, we have nearly 30 bids from places like the United States, Middle East and around Europe, closer to the traditional markets,” Dominic McKay, chairman of the competition’s governing body the European Professional Club Rugby, told City A.M.

Whatever about around Europe I think they'll lose out on the finalists fans attending in large numbers if they move the final to the US or the Middle East

Podge_irl

Christ, please no.

Neil3030

What's the latest figures on TV revenue?

Are provinces tied into a separate deal, or what way does it work? English clubs tied the ERCC up with GP in their deal with BT, right?

Exclamation Marc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121064484#Comment_121064484

What a horrid horrid idea.

Crash

Whatever about the US, which is a terrible idea but I can at least see a development value for it, the middle east is just pure sportswashing and greed. **** EPCR if they go for that.

Eod100

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121064484#Comment_121064484

Think it's ridiculous having it in countries that don't have teams involved. Have it in Italy or SA ahead of them even if there's a slim chance of an Italian team being in the final. I get the idea of growing the game in US but the US is already hosting the RWC in 2031. If it's in Suadi Arabia it's just money talking and sportswashing. Sickening if it happens

pickarooney

Screw them for even considering it. How many sports do those arseholes have to poison?

stephen_n

Hopefully if it’s Saudi, there will be an outright boycott by all fans.

AbusesToilets

The fact that Italy still hasn't hosted is a joke to begin with.

phog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121064971#Comment_121064971

I'd go to an Italian venue for the novelty even but couldn't be bothered with the US or Middle East.

If the atmosphere around the final could be anything like how the Italians host the 6Ns it could be terrific.

Podge_irl

The Italians deserve it! Apart from anything else. It would also be a great destination final - Rome or Milan in May? Yes please.

CIARAN_BOYLE

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121064766#Comment_121064766

I think its all tied together and doled out by ercc.

There was a French article last year about how each club in the competition would get about 300K for the group stage for TV money and more for progressing further.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121064963#Comment_121064963

There's an American billionaire in Chicago willing to underwrite show piece matches in the city (in the hope of building a fanbase for rugby in his city).

Theres a financial number that the EPCR would take to move the game whether its to US or the middle east. I suspect that clubs who don't care about the competition and who will typically out in the group stage will have the decision-making power as to what that number will be.

finbarrk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120517192#Comment_120517192

I have been in this stadium a couple of times. I can't see what your issue is?

Boscoirl

EC53F686-D11E-4BA8-A431-66701842FEB7.jpeg

Ready for this years comp

Exclamation Marc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121084614#Comment_121084614

You need this one too...

CONSI

Tickets, flights and accommodation all sorted for the final weekend. If Munster were to make it all the better, but if nothing else some good rugby and London is a great city for a weekend

icdg

Round 1 - FTA games

Sat 3:15pm Toulouse v Cardiff S4C

5:30pm Munster v Bayonne RTE2

Sun 1pm Sale v Stade Francais ITV1

European Challenge Cup

Sat 8pm Dragons v Oyannax S4C

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121065178#Comment_121065178

There's enough ex-pats living in Chicago and surrounds to justify a sell-out for a final there. If they bring it to the Middle East it'll be a half empty stadium

PTH2009

Very open championship this season and hard to pick the winner

It may take Leinster a bit of time to get to grips with Nienabers style etc

I'll go with Toulouse for the title

Digifriendly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121467690#Comment_121467690

Won't Toulouse be without Romain Ntamack?

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121468195#Comment_121468195

And Dupont in the new year when he heads off to the French 7s.

irelandrover

Weird decision from Glasgow not to take the losing bonus point. Came away with nothing in the end.

phog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121473054#Comment_121473054

I wasn't watching it, I assume they kicked to the corner for a BP Try and a losing BP?

If that was the scenario then it was hardly weird, especially after getting 5 maul tries last week

Digifriendly

URC teams both beaten at home tonight.

Think French teams will make a real impression on both European competitions.

phog

5 points away from home for Bordeaux with two home games coming up puts them in a good position im their pool.

supernova5

very bad start for URC teams last night, big reality check, hope they fare better today

Burkie1203

Toulon player led off by about 10 medics with his arm in a heap.

Burkie1203

Exeter beat toulon in toulon

realhorrorshow

Very impressive result for a young Exeter team without many recognisable names.

Happyhouse22

Everybody misses the old Heineken cup, but does anyone think that this new format would be much more popular if the media (and fans) looked at the format a little differently.

The common perception is that 4 of 6 teams qualifying removes the jeopardy of the group stages, however if a teams finishes 3rd or 4th in the group they would probably need to win 3 away games in a row to win the title- seems almost impossible.

Realistically if teams want to go far in the competition they need to come first or second in their pool, perhaps if this was emphasised more and coming 3rd and 4th was seen more of a bonus consolation prize then the format would be appreciated more…

hold my beer

I thought Exeter were finished at HT. They did very well to fight their way back into it.

AdamD

How that's a Bath penalty is beyond me

Neil3030

Bulls v Sarries should be utter brutality. Raging it's on at the same time as the Munster match.

supernova5

really fear for Ulster this season, think its going to be a write off...

eagle eye

Try for the Bulls ruled out for a forward pass. The pass was clearly backwards before it drifted forwards. Have they changed the rule?

Burkie1203

Bulls hammering Sarries now

Burkie1203

Billy V red card

Dillonb3

Bulls only URC team with a win so far

eagle eye

Munster only get a draw at him to Bayonne. That's really bad, they'll struggle to qualify after that.

StormForce13

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121475230#Comment_121475230

A very questionable clear out by the Exeter forward (Vermeulen?) led to a badly dislocated shoulder, or worse, for the unfortunate Serin. But referee Busby didn't want to know. The superior Toulon pack got very little change from Busby in the scrums this afternoon, as with Connacht last weekend.