Leinster/Ulster CL

Diamondmaker

As a bit of an aside from the Munster domination of headlines there is still a very real matter to be sorted out by 2 other Irish teams.

Are Munster now seeded 1st in H Cup next year?

If Ulster win CL on Fri will Leinster be 3rd seed from Ireland?

Could be a tough season ahead if this is the case.

This would make for a group of Death if Leinster were in a pool as a "3rd" seed! Just goes to show the healthy state of our rugby at the minute.

mikedragon32

I don't think Munster's HC win is a factor in seeding, but couldn't be sure.

Diamondmaker

That interesting! a bit like LFC in Champions League.
Can any one confirm?

Akula

If its purely based on the CL then that would make Munster the 3rd Irish seed which would surely be a bit silly.

Downtime

mikedragon32 wrote:

I don't think Munster's HC win is a factor in seeding, but couldn't be sure.

True - it's purely based on the Celtic League positions.

carlowboy

Akula wrote:

If its purely based on the CL then that would make Munster the 3rd Irish seed which would surely be a bit silly.

Why? They knew it at the start of the season that those werre the conditions. Its a fantastic idea to seed them on domestic results.

Diamondmaker

Well God help the teams who get Munster as the 3rd seed in their group!!
Munster 3rd seed from Ireland compared to:

Warriors and Scarlets/Ospryes...I know who you dont want in your group alongside say Toulose and does that mean 'Irish are in next year!

Its all true see below from ERC:

Heineken Cup Qualification The initial 22 places for next season's Heineken Cup will be allocated as following:

England – 6 teams (Guinness Premiership ranking / Powergen Cup Winner)
France - 6 (Top 14 ranking)
Ireland - 3 (Celtic League ranking)
Wales - 3 (Celtic League ranking)
Scotland - 2 (Celtic League ranking)
Italy - 2 (Super 10 ranking)

The 23rd place will go to the most successful nation in this season's competition from England, France and Italy. As no Italian team has qualified for the knock-out stages, either England or France will be allocated a seventh team based on who is the most successful.

Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy will be in contention for the 24th spot via the Celtic League and Italy via their Super 10. That final Heineken Cup place will go to the winners of a play-off between the highest placed non-Heineken Cup qualifying team from Scotland, Ireland or Wales in the 2005 / 2006 Celtic League and the losing Italian semi-finalist which finished highest in the 2005 / 2006 Italian Championship

MarVeL

Tough on Munster as well. Sounds like that group automatically becomes the seeemingly mandatory "Group of Death!!!!"

Diamondmaker

Group of Death:

Biarritz
Leicester
Munster
Ospreys

Tee hee:D