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Champions Cup 2024

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    #302
    twinytwo
    Registered Users Posts: 5,301 ✭✭✭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.



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    #303
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,472 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


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



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    #304
    Dave_The_Sheep
    Registered Users Posts: 7,384 ✭✭✭Dave_The_Sheep


    More important too, apparently.



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    #305
    aloooof
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 10,599 Mod ✭✭✭✭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.



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    #306
    Dave_The_Sheep
    Registered Users Posts: 7,384 ✭✭✭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.



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    #307
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 53,845 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭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.



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    #308
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 41,645 ✭✭✭✭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.



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    #309
    Blut2
    Registered Users Posts: 3,038 ✭✭✭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.



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    #310
    MaddChris
    Registered Users Posts: 548 ✭✭✭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.



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    #311
    Dave_The_Sheep
    Registered Users Posts: 7,384 ✭✭✭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.



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    #312
    phog
    Registered Users Posts: 24,324 ✭✭✭✭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



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    #313
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 26,993 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    Christ, please no.



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    #314
    Neil3030
    Registered Users Posts: 17,154 ✭✭✭✭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?



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    #315
    Exclamation Marc
    Registered Users Posts: 12,041 ✭✭✭✭Exclamation Marc


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

    What a horrid horrid idea.



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    #316
    Crash
    Registered Users Posts: 11,196 ✭✭✭✭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.



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    #317
    Eod100
    Registered Users Posts: 11,793 ✭✭✭✭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



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    #318
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,472 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


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



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    #319
    stephen_n
    Registered Users Posts: 12,920 ✭✭✭✭stephen_n


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



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    #320
    AbusesToilets
    Registered Users Posts: 10,490 ✭✭✭✭AbusesToilets


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



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    #321
    phog
    Registered Users Posts: 24,324 ✭✭✭✭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.



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    #322
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 26,993 Mod ✭✭✭✭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.



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    #323
    CIARAN_BOYLE
    Registered Users Posts: 14,599 ✭✭✭✭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.



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    #324
    finbarrk
    Registered Users Posts: 5,465 ✭✭✭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?



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    #325
    Boscoirl
    Registered Users Posts: 2,243 ✭✭✭Boscoirl


    EC53F686-D11E-4BA8-A431-66701842FEB7.jpeg
    CD824FA6-8461-4B5D-8798-7E954BE6B1F6.jpeg

    Ready for this years comp



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    #326
    Exclamation Marc
    Registered Users Posts: 12,041 ✭✭✭✭Exclamation Marc


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

    You need this one too...

    image.png




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    #327
    CONSI
    Registered Users Posts: 403 ✭✭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



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    #328
    icdg
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 11,724 Mod ✭✭✭✭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



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    #329
    Red Silurian
    Registered Users Posts: 9,267 ✭✭✭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



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    #330
    PTH2009
    Registered Users Posts: 38,463 ✭✭✭✭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



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    #331
    Digifriendly
    Registered Users Posts: 4,050 ✭✭✭Digifriendly


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

    Won't Toulouse be without Romain Ntamack?



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