European Champions Cup [Most Improved]

[blockhead]

Hartley, Nathan Hughes and Marler cited.

Hughes-2weeks, Marler-3weeks, Harlety-case dismissed.

[BlueBlue]

Just so you know, EPCR are doing a great job.

http://www.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbych ... n2rW6hl9Pa

[rooster]

Just so you know, EPCR are doing a great job.

http://www.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbych ... n2rW6hl9Pa

Higher tax rate there, then again when you struggle to get sponsors you don't make any taxable income

[Sionnach]

Just so you know, EPCR are doing a great job.

http://www.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbych ... n2rW6hl9Pa

Lausanne is exempt from Swiss anticorruption laws. Also headquarters of the IOC.

More details of why sports federations often house themselves in Lausanne:
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/23/spor ... ruits.html

[simonokeeffe]

Full article behind paywall but Torygraph says TV3 &CH4 will be showing live games, at least one each per round, next season

[Oldschool]

You'd wonder how much this move is costing and why it wasn't done in the first place, when HQ was moved from Dublin to Switzerland.
You'd wonder abiut exchange rate costs too.
You'd also wonder about the lease and associated costs.
Have the EPCR made a profit ever and how much.
I think the "much improved " should be removed from the thread headibg too.

[cormac]

Full article behind paywall but Torygraph says TV3 &CH4 will be showing live games, at least one each per round, next season

Hopefully not the same match.

[simonokeeffe]

Full article behind paywall but Torygraph says TV3 &CH4 will be showing live games, at least one each per round, next season

Hopefully not the same match.

they are just evil enough to do that

one good thing about Ulster not qualifying probably means we wont get their crappy games

[nc6000]

I think it's safe to assume that any big games will only be live on the pay channels.

[Made Of Ale]

one good thing about Ulster not qualifying probably means we wont get their crappy games

Your comment prompted me to check the qualification rules. I think this could easily turn into a bit of a mess:
http://www.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbych ... /index.php

For the Pro14, the top three in each conference qualify automatically, and the last place is decided by a play-off between the fourth place teams in each conference. Fine so far.

But, South African teams aren't counted, so presuming The Cheetahs finish in the top three in Conference A, fourth place (currently Cardiff) would go through automatically.

So, the play-off would be between the fifth place team in Conference A (currently Connacht) and the fourth place in Conference B (Ulster/Edinburgh). I suppose...

But, there's also the qualification route via the Challenge Cup - essentially the best performing team not already qualified. So you could have Connacht or Cardiff qualifying directly from that. Or they could be involved in the play-off between the losing semi-finalists that is specifically mentioned in the qualification rules.

So that means that the Pro14 play-off could be between sixth place in Conference A (currently Ospreys) and Ulster/Edinburgh.
Or, Cardiff/ Connacht could be eligible for two play-offs (Pro14 and Challenge Cup semi-finalists).

I presume the EPCR have thought of all this and have a well-thought out plan in place for all eventualities. Or else they'll just say fourth place in Conference B goes straight through. SUFTUM!

[simonokeeffe]

Theres some reason posited too why EPCR dont want SA teams in there too or am I misremembering a post?

Ideally all 4 get in but Leinster and Munster will be kept by BT for themselves

[neill_m]

Theres some reason posited too why EPCR dont want SA teams in there too or am I misremembering a post?

Ideally all 4 get in but Leinster and Munster will be kept by BT for themselves

Last I read, there will be talks in the summer with the aim of the South Africans being eligible to qualify from 2018/19 and entering it from 2019/20.

[neill_m]

one good thing about Ulster not qualifying probably means we wont get their crappy games

Your comment prompted me to check the qualification rules. I think this could easily turn into a bit of a mess:
http://www.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbych ... /index.php

For the Pro14, the top three in each conference qualify automatically, and the last place is decided by a play-off between the fourth place teams in each conference. Fine so far.

But, South African teams aren't counted, so presuming The Cheetahs finish in the top three in Conference A, fourth place (currently Cardiff) would go through automatically.

So, the play-off would be between the fifth place team in Conference A (currently Connacht) and the fourth place in Conference B (Ulster/Edinburgh). I suppose...

But, there's also the qualification route via the Challenge Cup - essentially the best performing team not already qualified. So you could have Connacht or Cardiff qualifying directly from that. Or they could be involved in the play-off between the losing semi-finalists that is specifically mentioned in the qualification rules.

So that means that the Pro14 play-off could be between sixth place in Conference A (currently Ospreys) and Ulster/Edinburgh.
Or, Cardiff/ Connacht could be eligible for two play-offs (Pro14 and Challenge Cup semi-finalists).

I presume the EPCR have thought of all this and have a well-thought out plan in place for all eventualities. Or else they'll just say fourth place in Conference B goes straight through. SUFTUM!

I asked the Pro 14 when their playoff would be and got the usual wall of silence.

The 20th Euro place will go to:

i) Champions Cup winner, if not already qualified - Clermont/La Rochelle currently outside the Euro spots via the T14
ii) Challenge Cup winner, if not already qualified - Brive, Stade and Connacht currently outside the Euro spots
iii) Challenge Cup losing finalist, if not already qualified - Brive, Stade and Connacht currently outside the Euro spots
iv) Play-off match between the losing Challenge Cup semi-finalists, if not already qualified - Brive, Stade and Connacht currently outside the Euro spots
v) Highest ranked non-qualified club by virtue of league position from the same league as the Champions Cup winner

[simonokeeffe]

Theres some reason posited too why EPCR dont want SA teams in there too or am I misremembering a post?

Ideally all 4 get in but Leinster and Munster will be kept by BT for themselves

Last I read, there will be talks in the summer with the aim of the South Africans being eligible to qualify from 2018/19 and entering it from 2019/20.

Thanks. Youd think sponsors, sorry tournament partners, would be foaming at the mouth over getting SA in too. TV companies too

Only downside is away games would be a pain in the ass and thered have to be sympathetic fixture scheduling. Can see French sides sending espoirs and English clubs blaming it for anything that goes wrong in their season

[Peg Leg]

Theres some reason posited too why EPCR dont want SA teams in there too or am I misremembering a post?

Ideally all 4 get in but Leinster and Munster will be kept by BT for themselves

Last I read, there will be talks in the summer with the aim of the South Africans being eligible to qualify from 2018/19 and entering it from 2019/20.

Thanks. Youd think sponsors, sorry tournament partners, would be foaming at the mouth over getting SA in too. TV companies too

Only downside is away games would be a pain in the ass and thered have to be sympathetic fixture scheduling. Can see French sides sending espoirs and English clubs blaming it for anything that goes wrong in their season

T14 and middlingship blame pro14 shocker

[kermischocolate]

I presume the EPCR have thought of all this and have a well-thought out plan in place for all eventualities. Or else they'll just say fourth place in Conference B goes straight through. SUFTUM!

Hahahahahahahahahaha

[Lar]

Full article behind paywall but Torygraph says TV3 &CH4 will be showing live games, at least one each per round, next season

In the group stages they might get some 'ordinary' games but apparently they are guaranteed at least one live match per knock out round also. That means one of the quarters and one of the semis both of which would presumably be tasty enough. BT apparently happy to do it in order to increase the profile and visibility of the competition overall (seeing as EPCR are so cr@p at promoting it and lousy at getting major sponsors).

[Dave Cahill]

I wonder will Channel 4 have to geolock their coverage as there is a seperate Irish rights holder

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I wonder will Channel 4 have to geolock their coverage as there is a seperate Irish rights holder

They've done that before with TV shows so I'd imagine they will.

[simonokeeffe]

I wonder will Channel 4 have to geolock their coverage as there is a seperate Irish rights holder

They've done that before with TV shows so I'd imagine they will.

Hope not

Thankfully they dont have as many regional variations as BBC 1 or 2