2017 -2018 Champions Cup Seeding

[Blueberry]

Anyone got the definitive structure for working out our potential seeding for the Champions Cup next year ?

[cormac]

Anyone got the definitive structure for working out our potential seeding for the Champions Cup next year ?

We'll be in Tier 2.

Here's how it stands at the moment

Tier 1: Pro12 Champs, Aviva Prem Champs, LNR Champs + two of the three runners up from the respective league finals*
Tier 2: One of the three runners-up from the league finals, Leinster, Saracens, LNR 3, one of Leicester/Ospreys/LNR 4*
Tier 3: Two of Leicester/Ospreys/LNR 4, Ulster, Bath, Montpellier.
Tier 4: Glasgow, Treviso, Harlequins, Castres, Stade Francais/Northampton

* draw to decide which of the second-ranked and fourth-ranked teams are placed in each pot takes place on the day of the draw itself.

Updated to reflect results of 19/20 May

[simonokeeffe]

In terms of top seeds its alright for us, cant get Munster tbc but we avoid Saracens
Would happily take Exeter or even Wasps, of French options La Rochelle would be good

lower pools is where it gets tricky, Ospreys or Leicester would be doable home and away

Apocalyptic options all involve Glasgow

[Blueberry]

Okay class thanks.

Could work out quite well for us.....avoiding Saracens is a major positive, well done Exeter.

Silver linings and all that.....

[cormac]

In terms of top seeds its alright for us, cant get Munster tbc but we avoid Saracens
Would happily take Exeter or even Wasps, of French options La Rochelle would be good

lower pools is where it gets tricky, Ospreys or Leicester would be doable home and away

Apocalyptic options all involve Glasgow

Would be nice to get the Italian team. Hasn't happened since 04/05.

[cormac]

Not 100% sure of this but think we can't draw Scarlets if they end up in Tier 1. Before Tier 4 is drawn I think there must be one French team and one English team in each of the five groups.

So, if La Rochelle win the Bouclier we could get a group of La Rochelle, Bath and Treviso, or Wasps/Exeter, Montpellier and Treviso.

[simonokeeffe]

Nah we wont be that lucky

For some reason I cant shake the Brian Kerr argument of you want teams that can take points off each other

[Xanthippe]

Anyone got the definitive structure for working out our potential seeding for the Champions Cup next year ?

See table below - don't have access to original table at the moment so can't make changes but the final place on the table this year will go to the winner of the playoff (i.e.Saints or Stade) and not the winner of the Challenge Cup as listed

[johng]

Not 100% sure of this but think we can't draw Scarlets if they end up in Tier 1. Before Tier 4 is drawn I think there must be one French team and one English team in each of the five groups.

So, if La Rochelle win the Bouclier we could get a group of La Rochelle, Bath and Treviso, or Wasps/Exeter, Montpellier and Treviso.

That first sentence is true. Scarlets and Munster in Tier 1 limits us to the other 3 teams from that tier which are 3 of Wasps Exeter and the 2 French finalists.

[johng]

Here is a fairly random but possible set of pools

Munster
Saracens
Racing
Glasgow

Wasps
La Rochelle
Ospreys
Stade F/Northampton

Toulon
Scarlets
Bath
Castres

Clermont
Leicester
Ulster
Treviso

Exeter
Leinster
Montpellier
Harlequins

[cormac]

Pedant alert: In the last three seasons, whichever league's runner-up has been drawn into Tier 2, then that same league's 4th-ranked team also got into Tier 2, with the other two 4th-ranked teams being placed in Tier 3.

In your scenario I'm assuming you have Scarlets as Tier 2, so therefore Ospreys would also be Tier 2 with Leicester in Tier 3. That's making the assumption the draw will be made under the same rules as the last three have been.

[nc6000]

So how likely is a weekend in La Rochelle?

[simonokeeffe]

I like that JohnG gave Munster almost the hardest pool possible with several teams bent on revenge

[cormac]

So how likely is a weekend in La Rochelle?

Need them to win this weekend to have any chance of getting them in our group for next season. If they lose their semi-final they'll be in Tier 2 with us.

[riocard911]

I like that JohnG gave Munster almost the hardest pool possible with several teams bent on revenge

Mise freisin!

[Xanthippe]

Latest version of seedings chart with teams now in place

[Dexter]

Latest version of seedings chart with teams now in place

It's mad that the back-to-back winners of the tournament are in tier 2!!

[simonokeeffe]

Hey they were the ones that wanted league based seedings

[Made Of Ale]

[
It's mad that the back-to-back winners of the tournament are in tier 2!!

Not hard to imagine that the three teams that have won 8 of the last 9 cups will be in Tier 2 (along with Clermont, maybe). It's what the fans want.

[nc6000]

So has Franno got this completely wrong? I would have thought that if Toulon lose this weekend then it isn't possible to get either Saracens or Toulon in our pool, nevermind both of them as all three of us would probably be in tier 2.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/l ... 54106.html