the essential
The Top 14 completed, the draw for the groups for the next edition of the Champions Cup can now be made. Manual.
Where and when does the draw take place?
The distribution of the groups of the next Champions Cup will be made in Cardiff, the scene of the next final, this Tuesday, July 2 from 12:20, once the draw for the three groups of Challenge Cup (12:00) has been made. They will be to be followed on EPCRugby.com and EPCR TV.
What will the formula be?
Like this year, the 24 qualified teams will be divided into four groups of six, it being understood that teams from the same championship cannot meet. Each team will play four matches against four different opponents, two at home (against a Premiership and URC club for the French) and two away (same). The first four from each group will qualify for the round of 16 with a hierarchy established between first (1 to 4), second (5 to 8), third (9 to 12) and fourth (13 to 16).
Which teams are qualified?
The eight best teams from the three championships are qualified. Reigning champion, Stade Toulousain will be seeded like Northampton (England) and Glasgow (URC), Leinster completing the list thanks to the victory of Toulouse in the Top 14, these teams therefore not being able to compete during the phase preliminary. Bordeaux-Bègles, La Rochelle, Toulon, Racing 92, Castres and Clermont complete the list of French qualifiers. On the English side, the Saints will be accompanied by Bath, Sale, Saracens, Bristol, Harlequins, Exeter and Leicester while among the Celts and South Africans, Munster, the Bulls, the Stormers, Ulster, Treviso and the Sharks will also be there.
What are the subtleties of the draw?
The top four seeds will be drawn first before moving on to the second pot containing the next 20. There will be two teams from each league in each pool that will not be able to play each other. Unlike English and French clubs, Irish (3) and South African (3) clubs cannot be drawn in the same pool. If a club cannot be drawn in a pool in accordance with these principles, it will be transferred to the next available pool and the process will start again in the pool that could not be allocated to it.
Two of the eight French clubs will therefore have the chance not to face South African franchises in the group stage. Three of the other six, however, will have to resolve to move there.
What is the season schedule?
1st day: December 6, 7 and 8; 2nd day: December 13, 14 and 15; 3rd day: January 10, 11 and 12; 4th day: January 17, 18 and 19; round of 16: April 4, 5 and 6; quarter-finals: April 11, 12 and 13; semi-finals: May 3 and 4; final: Saturday May 24 at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff
