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ERC Change Heineken Cup qualification

  • 16-06-2009 12:47PM
    #1
    dave13
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 813 ✭✭✭


    The ERC have changed the way teams qualify for the Heineken Cup And chanllenge cup. Now runners up from the H-cup will be put into the quarters for the challenge cup, bit crappy for Challenge cup teams.
    http://www.scrum.com/europeancup/rugby/story/98354.html

    Also from reading this, if it had have been in place this year, Connaught would be in the Heineken cup as Ireland would have gotten an extra team in.
    Big Changes, not sure if its for the better. Seems to be a way of keeping the bigger teams in Europe if they dont qualify for the quarter finals.

    H-cup Winner also guaranteed place in the Heineken Cup the following season.
    Where are the extra places coming from? Are they scrapping the 3rd Italian V magners team playoff?


Comments

  • #2
    Riskymove
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,900 ✭✭✭✭Riskymove


    Great news for Connaught, Munster and Leinster both capable of winning some more over coming years


  • #3
    Bounty Hunter
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 22,973 Mod ✭✭✭✭Bounty Hunter


    So if Munser/Leinster win the HC again this year Connaught would be in it the next year?


  • #4
    Riskymove
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,900 ✭✭✭✭Riskymove


    Bounty Hunter wrote: »
    So if Munser/Leinster win the HC again this year Connaught would be in it the next year?

    well technically whichever of the 4 provinces that had not qualified would get in (90% Connaught!!:pac:)


  • #5
    Diabhal Beag
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15,238 ✭✭✭✭Diabhal Beag


    Riskymove wrote: »
    well technically whichever of the 4 provinces that had not qualified would get in (90% Connaught!!:pac:)
    Ouch. Snobby Ulster fan? :pac:


  • #6
    dave13
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 813 ✭✭✭dave13


    Full Article herehttp://www.ercrugby.com/eng/174_12813.php

    So the playoff is gone, and the place for the highest finishing country between England/France. Countries have the same number of automatic qualifers, and then the Challenge Cup/H-Cup winning countries get an extra team. May be the end of Wales getting 4 teams in every year.


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  • #7
    Riskymove
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,900 ✭✭✭✭Riskymove


    Diabhal Beag wrote: »
    Ouch. Snobby Ulster fan? :pac:

    er..No

    but when's the last time Connaught did not finish lowest of the four provinces?


  • #8
    Diabhal Beag
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15,238 ✭✭✭✭Diabhal Beag


    Theres always a first time pal


  • #9
    Stealdo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 670 ✭✭✭Stealdo


    Interesting stuff - so of the 6 teams that finish 2nd in the HEC pools, 2 will go to HC quarters, 3 to the ECC and 1 gets nothing.

    At the moment in terms of guaranteed places England and France have 6 places each, Wales and Ireland have 3 each and Scotland and Italy have 2 each. That's 22, of the other 2 places 1 is available to Italy, Wales and Ireland, the other to Italy, France and England.

    The changes on the qualification front will be to take into account Italy coming in to the Magner's league. They'll only have 2 teams at that point and both will be guaranteed places. This is making an extra spot that invariably goes to the Dragons available to English/French teams.

    Good news for Connaught in a way, but if they can't qualify by finishing ahead of the dragons in the ML, then getting in because of another province winning the HEC will be a bit of a hollow one.


  • #10
    Riskymove
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,900 ✭✭✭✭Riskymove


    Diabhal Beag wrote: »
    Theres always a first time pal

    well i did allow a 10% chance :pac:


  • #11
    Riskymove
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,900 ✭✭✭✭Riskymove


    Stealdo wrote: »
    then getting in because of another province winning the HEC will be a bit of a hollow one.

    I am sure they'll be happy enough with exposure and increased money


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  • #12
    Zzippy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,166 ✭✭✭✭Zzippy


    Good news, as long as Munster/Leinster can do it again!

    And BTW lads, its Connacht, NOT Connaught! :rolleyes:


  • #13
    crisco10
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,328 ✭✭✭crisco10


    Think this will be good for us. aside from Connacht having more chance to get into the HEC, Ulster might have more to play for in their "groups of death". Get into 2nd place and that will be a play off place in the ECC quarters. sweet deal.

    Also, can see Munster/Leinster some year slipping up and coming 2nd in their group. They would be powerful HCC teams then.

    On the downside, Connacht's chances of having a good cup run in the HCC have gotten even slimmer...


  • #14
    Blisterman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,481 ✭✭✭Blisterman


    No problems with this. It will make the ECC more interesting, give Connacht a chance of getting into the Heineken cup and give mid ranked teams, like Ulster more time in Europe.


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