Tournament Revamp?

[Leonormous Boozer]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2026/01/28/prem-rugby-shake-up-champions-cup/

I can't read this behind a pay wall but apparently 16 teams is the new suggestion.

Prem Rugby isn't my favourite organisation after their mutiny lead to the current debacle but this would fix a lot amd make the tournament interesting from day one if done amy way properly.

If anyone has access to the article, a synopsis would be lovely.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If anyone has access to the article

https://archive.ph/kLGlP

Telegraph Sport understands that, among others, one potential solution being discussed within English rugby is to reduce the Champions Cup to 16 teams and play the entire competition on consecutive weekends, perhaps after the Six Nations – a home-and-away last 16, quarters, semis and final – or before Christmas to create greater momentum and gravitas.

Premier Sports the main sticking point, as it'd reduce the number of games in their deal - though that's up in 2027 and I doubt they'd be able to iron out the creases on a new tournament structure by next season so seems unlikely to matter in the long run

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Ahh, not so great. It'd be fantastic entertainment for those weeks but important pool fixtures in December was peak club rugby viewing.

Also leaves half the clubs in Europe with a three week game in their season which is no bueno.

 

[Quel Carreleur]

reduce the Champions Cup to 16 teams
...
a home-and-away last 16

WTAF?

PRL/EPCR must be the only organisations that can float an idea of a 16 team tournament, and still manage to f*** it all up.

Rather than writing it all out again, I'll just back to the post I made on this a couple of weeks ago

Post in thread 'PRL - the Insistence on Suicide'

Jan 5, 2026

My structural suggestion hasn't changed too much in 20-odd years since coming up with it.
Of course, it requires coins to see each other as collaborators, not antagonists.

Europe: (NB, Africa is a different continent to Europe)
3 tournies, each of 4 pools of 4
4 Prem
5 URC
6 T14
+ Winner of the next level down.

3rd tier is the remaining Prem, URC & T14 + the likes of Georgia, Romania, Spain and Portugal.

I'd go with QF, SF & Final, but each tournie has a Cup and a Plate phase (no dropping down).
I'd play all pool matches in 1 block, December and January


England:
Prem of 10...

• Quel Carreleur

 

[higgik]

WTAF?

PRL/EPCR must be the only organisations that can float an idea of a 16 team tournament, and still manage to f*** it all up.

Rather than writing it all out again, I'll just back to the post I made on this a couple of weeks ago

Post in thread 'PRL - the Insistence on Suicide'

Jan 5, 2026

My structural suggestion hasn't changed too much in 20-odd years since coming up with it.
Of course, it requires coins to see each other as collaborators, not antagonists.

Europe: (NB, Africa is a different continent to Europe)
3 tournies, each of 4 pools of 4
4 Prem
5 URC
6 T14
+ Winner of the next level down.

3rd tier is the remaining Prem, URC & T14 + the likes of Georgia, Romania, Spain and Portugal.

I'd go with QF, SF & Final, but each tournie has a Cup and a Plate phase (no dropping down).
I'd play all pool matches in 1 block, December and January


England:
Prem of 10...

• Quel Carreleur

This is really great, especially the blocking of tournaments, meaning there is a cohesive meaning to different parts of the year.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

South African sides rumoured to be considering pulling out. Allegedly doesn't make financial sense and they don't have the resources to fight on two fronts (presume the format being structured unfairly against them for the semi-finals doesn't help but it hasn't been relevant yet).

I'd be in the minority in being sad to see them go, Stormers v Toulouse is a better fixture than Ospreys v Toulouse. Won't be missed in England or France though and I see the reasoning.

European rugbyis quite misaligned so I won't hold my breath for a tournament that becomes interesting before the late stages.

A 16 team tournament with home and away 4 team group stages (and most importantly back to back rounds 3 and 4) and straight to the semis would be my suggestion and the same running for the challenge cup. There'd still be dead rubbers, impossible to have a round robin without them, but there'd also be matches with huge jeopardy from December which is what the tournament lost with the reformatting.

 

[big ginger 8]

South African sides rumoured to be considering pulling out. Allegedly doesn't make financial sense and they don't have the resources to fight on two fronts (presume the format being structured unfairly against them for the semi-finals doesn't help but it hasn't been relevant yet).

I'd be in the minority in being sad to see them go, Stormers v Toulouse is a better fixture than Ospreys v Toulouse. Won't be missed in England or France though and I see the reasoning.

European rugbyis quite misaligned so I won't hold my breath for a tournament that becomes interesting before the late stages.

A 16 team tournament with home and away 4 team group stages (and most importantly back to back rounds 3 and 4) and straight to the semis would be my suggestion and the same running for the challenge cup. There'd still be dead rubbers, impossible to have a round robin without them, but there'd also be matches with huge jeopardy from December which is what the tournament lost with the reformatting.

Olyy right now.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

 

[TRF_Olyy]

A 16 team tournament with home and away 4 team group stages (and most importantly back to back rounds 3 and 4) and straight to the semis would be my suggestion and the same running for the challenge cup. There'd still be dead rubbers, impossible to have a round robin without them, but there'd also be matches with huge jeopardy from December which is what the tournament lost with the reformatting.

I like this a lot, too - though I imagine the higher powers would want (at least) quarters too

5 sides from each league, previous year's winner gets the extra spot

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I like this a lot, too - though I imagine the higher powers would want (at least) quarters too

5 sides from each league, previous year's winner gets the extra spot

Yeah I'd go for quarters too and that reduces the number of dead rubbers. This leaves it at 8 rounds though so can be fit into the current calendar.

 

[Quel Carreleur]

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I’d be delighted to see the back of the SA teams for all kinds of reasons.

 

[Deleted member 91904]

I’d be delighted to see the back of the SA teams for all kinds of reasons.

What are these reasons?

 

[higgik]

View attachment 25931

This season structure would work for SA teams, as well as all the others, as the south north trips could be minimised.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Any formal news on the new format or is it only rumours at the moment?

 

[Quel Carreleur]

What are these reasons?

Look at the "A" in SA and the "E" in EPCR

This season structure would work for SA teams, as well as all the others, as the south north trips could be minimised.

It would, but it would still be pretending that the southern tip of Africa is in Europe - which it simply isn't, and is unlikely to be for another several million years

 

[Deleted member 91904]

Look at the "A" in SA and the "E" in EPCR


It would, but it would still be pretending that the southern tip of Africa is in Europe - which it simply isn't, and is unlikely to be for another several million years

They may have reasons other than the inexactitude of names

 

[Quel Carreleur]

Yes, but most of those reasons are around the geographical difference between Africa and Europe - not the semantics of names
There are 30-odd European countries that should be added ahead of any non-European countries.

South Africa only left Super rugby because they were annoyed that NZ and Aus didn't just give SA everything they wanted.
They then joined the URC because Ireland, Wales and Scotland wanted SA's TV money
That doesn't make them European, or mean that they have a "natural" home in Europe.

IMO they add nothing whatsoever to European rugby, but do detract from the quality and integrity of the competition. They are an unwelcome guest who came to stay for a weekend, and brought a bottle of wine. Here we are, a month later, and their still camping in our living room, and haven't cooked a meal or done the washing up etc.

Obviously, I'm talking for myself here, not VT

 

[Deleted member 91904]

Yes, but most of those reasons are around the geographical difference between Africa and Europe - not the semantics of names
There are 30-odd European countries that should be added ahead of any non-European countries.

South Africa only left Super rugby because they were annoyed that NZ and Aus didn't just give SA everything they wanted.
They then joined the URC because Ireland, Wales and Scotland wanted SA's TV money
That doesn't make them European, or mean that they have a "natural" home in Europe.

IMO they add nothing whatsoever to European rugby, but do detract from the quality and integrity of the competition. They are an unwelcome guest who came to stay for a weekend, and brought a bottle of wine. Here we are, a month later, and their still camping in our living room, and haven't cooked a meal or done the washing up etc.

Obviously, I'm talking for myself here, not VT

If South African teams in URC is worth the money then South African teams in ERCC probably is similar.

You can't fight geography New Zealand and Australia can never offer South Africa a better time zone. UTC+13 and UTC+11 are a slog when you're not living in them.

 

[higgik]

If South African teams in URC is worth the money then South African teams in ERCC probably is similar.

You can't fight geography New Zealand and Australia can never offer South Africa a better time zone. UTC+13 and UTC+11 are a slog when you're not living in them.

Exactly, and why SRP could do with linking with Japan Top League.
The money is there and could benefit both Aus and NZ, with the extra money.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Yes, but most of those reasons are around the geographical difference between Africa and Europe - not the semantics of names
There are 30-odd European countries that should be added ahead of any non-European countries.

South Africa only left Super rugby because they were annoyed that NZ and Aus didn't just give SA everything they wanted.
They then joined the URC because Ireland, Wales and Scotland wanted SA's TV money
That doesn't make them European, or mean that they have a "natural" home in Europe.

IMO they add nothing whatsoever to European rugby, but do detract from the quality and integrity of the competition. They are an unwelcome guest who came to stay for a weekend, and brought a bottle of wine. Here we are, a month later, and their still camping in our living room, and haven't cooked a meal or done the washing up etc.

Obviously, I'm talking for myself here, not VT

Yeah you are!

Europe being the key one, teams not taking it seriously, weakened teams due to distance, cost and let’s not forget the poor old fans.

Plus to keep things interesting I’d prefer to see fewer cross border, let alone inter continental, comps. But I know I’m living in cloud cuckoo land on that one.

 

[Deleted member 91904]

teams not taking it seriously

PREM Rugby issue not URC & Top 14 from what I hear

 

[Quel Carreleur]

PREM Rugby issue not URC & Top 14 from what I hear

You hear wrong, and see wrong if you've watched matches or looked at teams selected

 

[Saintjay]

PREM Rugby issue not URC & Top 14 from what I hear

The URC probably made the choice to add SA teams. The Prem should be able to tell them to **** right off.

 

[Demfad]

The URC probably made the choice to add SA teams. The Prem should be able to tell them to **** right off.

The Champions Cup is a mixture of the top 8 URC/Top14/Prem teams. There is nothing that gives either the Top14 or Prem a veto on what teams can compete in URC and qualify for the Champions Cup I.e. the clubs do not have to be affiliated within the 6 nations.

 

[Demfad]

You hear wrong, and see wrong if you've watched matches or looked at teams selected

The issue is Prem and Top14. Both of these startegically send weakened teams. Not all are guilty eg Nothampton or LaRochelle. The reformatting of the Heineken cup was to allow the Eng/French teams to qualify for the knock outs making half assed efforts.

 

[Saintjay]

The Champions Cup is a mixture of the top 8 URC/Top14/Prem teams. There is nothing that gives either the Top14 or Prem a veto on what teams can compete in URC and qualify for the Champions Cup I.e. the clubs do not have to be affiliated within the 6 nations.

Correct we don't have the power to veto it, but we do have the power to say we don't want to be part of it. Exactly like the SA clubs.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Both of these startegically send weakened teams.

Leinster fan saying this is insane

 

[Quel Carreleur]

The issue is Prem, URC and Top14. All of these startegically send weakened teams. Not all are guilty eg Nothampton or LaRochelle.

FTFY

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The URC had nothing to do with the decision of SA clubs joining Europe, that was an EPCR decision. The longstanding URC unions preferred qualification based on country too but PRL and LNR kicked up a fuss over that so it was changed to league ranking.

It definitely wasn't some unilateral URC decision imposed on the rest of the comp, that's not how the relationship works. EPCR saw the increased profit and quality in the URC and wanted a piece, couldn't create a competition that got SA fans on board like the URC and might get lucky that the SA clubs want to bail.