Champions Cup 2020/2021 General Thread

bilston · 17-01-2021 1:28pm

Digifriendly wrote: »

I would put it this way. Which team shouldn't be there? Gloucester. They're bottom of the English Premiership and I don't think they would have won either of their 2 remaining pool matches.

I still have no idea how we managed to lose to Gloucester.

bilston · 17-01-2021 1:31pm

lawrencesummers wrote: »

Don’t worry, they won’t be there for long more.
The best teams in Europe are all still in with a chance of winning the competition.
The only thing that has been reduced is teams ability to gain home advantage.

its a fair point, Leinster, Exeter, Racing and Toulouse are still there...Lyon are an interesting team this year and could cause some problems, but yes the best teams are still in it.

Toulouse get my vote.

lawrencesummers · 17-01-2021 2:11pm

bilston wrote: »

I still have no idea how we managed to lose to Gloucester.

They had a higher number on the scoreboard when the ref blew the final whistle.

Digifriendly · 17-01-2021 6:12pm

lawrencesummers wrote: »

They had a higher number on the scoreboard when the ref blew the final whistle.

I think he means how Ulster blew a 10 point lead against Gloucester when the game seemed in the bag. Upside for Ulster is that they are in a cup competition they have a reasonable chance of winning.

bilston · 17-02-2021 4:11pm

When are the last 16 matches expected to take place? And have they even been confirmed?

Cookiemunster · 17-02-2021 4:18pm

bilston wrote: »

When are the last 16 matches expected to take place? And have they even been confirmed?

They're due to take place on the weekend that the first leg of the quarter finals were due to be played and then the quarter finals will take place on the weekend the second legs were due to be played.

So last 16 2/3/4 April and quarter finals 9/10/11 April.

No word on fixtures yet though.

Lost Ormond · 24-02-2021 3:09pm

https://www.ulsterrugby.com/2021/02/revised-epcr-tournament-formats-for-2020-21-season-announced/

2020/21 KNOCKOUT STAGE QUALIFIERS 

Heineken Champions Cup: Racing 92, Leinster Rugby, Wasps, Bordeaux-Bégles, Munster Rugby, Lyon, Toulouse, La Rochelle, Scarlets, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Bristol Bears, Exeter Chiefs, Edinburgh Rugby, Gloucester Rugby, RC Toulon, Sale Sharks. 

Challenge Cup: London Irish, Ospreys, Leicester Tigers, Cardiff Blues, Zebre Rugby Club, Agen, Benetton Rugby, Newcastle Falcons, Ulster Rugby, Connacht Rugby, Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, Montpellier, Dragons, Harlequins, Glasgow Warriors.  

EPCR KEY DATES 

Knockout Stage Draws: Tuesday 9 March  

Rounds of 16: 2/3/4 April 

Quarter-finals: 9/10/11 April  

Semi-finals: 30 April — 1/2 May 

Challenge Cup final: Marseille – Friday, 21 May 

Heineken Champions Cup final: Marseille – Saturday, 22 May 

Eod100 · 24-02-2021 3:18pm

Thats interesting that it will be a draw for last 16.

UAEguy2020 · 24-02-2021 3:25pm

Wonder will Ulster put all their eggs in this basket if they don’t beat Leinster in 2 weeks? Looking at the teams in it surely Ulster would have to be favorites to win it?

Cookiemunster · 24-02-2021 3:28pm

Looks to be an open draw but clubs form the same league can't meet each other. And Munster, Leinster, Wasps, Bordeaux and Racing 92 are guaranteed a home last 16 tie as they won their two matches. So I suppose they can't meet each other either.
https://www.epcrugby.com/2021/02/24/revised-epcr-tournament-formats-for-2020-21-season-announced/

Boscoirl · 24-02-2021 3:37pm

Eod100 wrote: »

Thats interesting that it will be a draw for last 16.

Biarritz to get a home draw, doesnt matter that they are not in it

Yeah_Right · 24-02-2021 3:39pm

Lost Ormond wrote: »

https://www.ulsterrugby.com/2021/02/revised-epcr-tournament-formats-for-2020-21-season-announced/

2020/21 KNOCKOUT STAGE QUALIFIERS 

Heineken Champions Cup: Racing 92, Leinster Rugby, Wasps, Bordeaux-Bégles, Munster Rugby, Lyon, Toulouse, La Rochelle, Scarlets, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Bristol Bears, Exeter Chiefs, Edinburgh Rugby, Gloucester Rugby, RC Toulon, Sale Sharks. 

Challenge Cup: London Irish, Ospreys, Leicester Tigers, Cardiff Blues, Zebre Rugby Club, Agen, Benetton Rugby, Newcastle Falcons, Ulster Rugby, Connacht Rugby, Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, Montpellier, Dragons, Harlequins, Glasgow Warriors.  

EPCR KEY DATES 

Knockout Stage Draws: Tuesday 9 March  

Rounds of 16: 2/3/4 April 

Quarter-finals: 9/10/11 April  

Semi-finals: 30 April — 1/2 May 

Challenge Cup final: Marseille – Friday, 21 May 

Heineken Champions Cup final: Marseille – Saturday, 22 May 

The best thing about this...
No Saracens

thomond2006 · 24-02-2021 4:54pm

Yeah_Right wrote: »

The best thing about this...
No Saracens

No Connacht either.

Edit: Bah, Challenge Cup doesn't count though innit.

thomond2006 · 06-03-2021 1:30am

As previously announced, the draws for the knockout stages of the 2020/21 Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup tournaments will take place in Lausanne, Switzerland on Tuesday, 9 March.

The key event which starts at 12.00 (UK and Irish time) will be streamed live on the official website and social media channels and the draws for the Round of 16 and quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup will be followed immediately by draws for the Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 and quarter-finals at approximately 12.20.

Following a recent decision by the EPCR Board in conjunction with its shareholder leagues and unions to revise the tournament formats, draws are required to map out the knockout stages of this season’s tournaments.

Regarding the draw for the Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16, clubs from the same league cannot be drawn against one another, however, clubs from the same pool can be drawn against one another.

As Racing 92, Bordeaux-Bègles, Leinster Rugby, Munster Rugby and Wasps won both pool stage matches on the pitch – that is, where results were not impacted by COVID-19 – they will each be guaranteed a home fixture in the Round of 16.

For the purposes of the Challenge Cup Round of 16 draw, once again clubs from the same league cannot be drawn against one another, however, Challenge Cup clubs and qualifiers from the Heineken Champions Cup can be drawn against one another.

As London Irish, Leicester Tigers and Ospreys won both preliminary stage matches on the pitch – where results were not impacted by COVID-19 – they will each be guaranteed a home fixture.
The draws for the quarter-finals in both tournaments will be open, allowing for the possibility of matches between clubs from the same league.

KNOCKOUT STAGE QUALIFIERS

Heineken Champions Cup – Racing 92, Leinster Rugby, Wasps, Bordeaux-Bègles, Munster Rugby, Lyon, Toulouse, La Rochelle, Scarlets, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Bristol Bears, Exeter Chiefs, Edinburgh Rugby, Gloucester Rugby, RC Toulon, Sale Sharks
NB Racing 92, Leinster, Wasps, Bordeaux-Bègles and Munster are guaranteed home matches in the Round of 16.

Challenge Cup – London Irish, Ospreys, Leicester Tigers, Cardiff Blues, Zebre Rugby Club, Agen, Benetton Rugby, Newcastle Falcons, Ulster Rugby, Connacht Rugby, Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, Montpellier, Dragons, Harlequins, Glasgow Warriors
NB London Irish, Ospreys and Leicester Tigers are guaranteed home matches in the Round of 16.

EPCR KEY DATES
Knockout Stage Draws: Tuesday, 9 March
Rounds of 16: 2/3/4 April
Quarter-finals: 9/10/11 April
Semi-finals: 30 April – 1/2 May
Challenge Cup final: Marseille – Friday, 21 May
Heineken Champions Cup final: Marseille – Saturday, 22 May

https://www.epcrugby.com/2021/03/05/heineken-champions-cup-and-challenge-cup-knockout-stage-draws/

yerrahbah · 09-03-2021 11:17am

Last 16 Draw is on today at 12 followed by 1/4 final draw

Champions Cup:

Munster and Leinster are guaranteed home draws

Opponents for both will come from

Lyon, Toulouse, La Rochelle, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Bristol Bears, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester Rugby, RC Toulon, Sale Sharks.

Challenge Cup:

Opponents for Connacht and Ulster will come from

London Irish, Leicester Tigers, Agen, Newcastle Falcons, Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, Montpellier, Harlequins.

With London Irish and Leicester Tigers guaranteed a home draw