New format Challenge Cup?

[Bullitt]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/...mat-rugby-union

 

[munstermuffin]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teh Mite @ Oct 7 2009, 08:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/...mat-rugby-union[/b]

Don't know I don't like it!!

Like if you had 4 good teams in 1 group and whoever win's it (although been probably 1 of best teams) may loose out :ranting:

Like imagine in H'Cup -> Likes of group 1 battle to qualify and finshed as 6th best yet if you get bad french & italian team and beat other team you laughing.

It does make competition higher but like don't see it working

 

[An Tarbh]

Well it certainly brings more life to the pool stages, all depends on whether having the 1 qualifier will see more French sides taking an interest or cutting their losses and sticking with the status quo.

If we'd had this in last year it wouldn't have been an unfair system as you'd still have Sale being one of the runners-up from a Pool of Death.

On paper we'd have had a much more interesting set of quarter finals to what we got, regardless of how good some of the knockout matches were.

What we could have had
London Irish v Brive
Northampton v Sale
Saracens v Biarritz
Worcester v Wasps

What we got
London Irish v Bourgoin
Northampton v Connacht
Saracens v Newcastle
Worcester v Brive

I certainly know which set of matches I'd rather watch.

 

[mohamed_ali12]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Oct 7 2009, 09:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Well it certainly brings more life to the pool stages, all depends on whether having the 1 qualifier will see more French sides taking an interest or cutting their losses and sticking with the status quo.

If we'd had this in last year it wouldn't have been an unfair system as you'd still have Sale being one of the runners-up from a Pool of Death.

On paper we'd have had a much more interesting set of quarter finals to what we got, regardless of how good some of the knockout matches were.

What we could have had
London Irish v Brive
Northampton v Sale
Saracens v Biarritz
Worcester v Wasps

What we got
London Irish v Bourgoin
Northampton v Connacht
Saracens v Newcastle
Worcester v Brive

I certainly know which set of matches I'd rather watch.[/b]

Agreed, like Tarbh said teams would start getting much more interested and the standard of competition would go up. Presumably the sponsorship means more prize money too so lots of incentives for clubs to take it seriously. Should be an interesting competition from now on

 

[munstermuffin]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ali12 @ Oct 7 2009, 10:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Oct 7 2009, 09:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well it certainly brings more life to the pool stages, all depends on whether having the 1 qualifier will see more French sides taking an interest or cutting their losses and sticking with the status quo.

If we'd had this in last year it wouldn't have been an unfair system as you'd still have Sale being one of the runners-up from a Pool of Death.

On paper we'd have had a much more interesting set of quarter finals to what we got, regardless of how good some of the knockout matches were.

What we could have had
London Irish v Brive
Northampton v Sale
Saracens v Biarritz
Worcester v Wasps

What we got
London Irish v Bourgoin
Northampton v Connacht
Saracens v Newcastle
Worcester v Brive

I certainly know which set of matches I'd rather watch.[/b]

Agreed, like Tarbh said teams would start getting much more interested and the standard of competition would go up. Presumably the sponsorship means more prize money too so lots of incentives for clubs to take it seriously. Should be an interesting competition from now on
[/b][/quote]

What happens the winner then?

Like before the winner was promoted to H'Cup autamatic. But if a H'Cup team wins does the country benefit with extra spot or what.
Heard something like France and Eng can only have a max of 7teams each in H'Cup.

 

[An Tarbh]

The Challenge Cup winner will still be guaranteed HEC action the following season. Now though, this place will not come at the expense of its country's allocation. The only exception to this will happen when England or France has the winners of both the Heineken and Challenge in the same season. Both countries can only have 7 places max in the HEC so in that event , the HEC and ECC winners remain in the Heineken Cup while a spot is given to the top club in the ERC rankings from another country that has not already qualified for the Heineken Cup.

So presumably now we'll always have 7 teams from both England and France in the HEC from next season on, it should also see the removal of the playoff between the highest non qualifed ML side and 3rd place side in the Super 10.

If both Leicester and Northampton had won their finals last season then Bourgoin would have been in the HEC this year probably at the expense of the Dragons.

 

[munstermuffin]

Thanks for that An Tarbh but will more changes occur if Italian Franchises enter the ML like both Italian franchises will be guaranteed H'Cup spots annually but will there be Italian teams in Challenge cup

 

[munstermuffin]

Lads was talking about this and heard a story that connacht can get into H'Cup next year if Munster/Leinster/Ulster win H'Cup.
Surely that can't be true?

Connacht in H'Cup :wall:

 

[DonBilly]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (munstermuffin @ Oct 8 2009, 10:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Lads was talking about this and heard a story that connacht can get into H'Cup next year if Munster/Leinster/Ulster win H'Cup.
Surely that can't be true?

Connacht in H'Cup :wall:[/b]

Well if they win the Challenge Cup they will qualify to the HEC next season.

 

[danit]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (munstermuffin @ Oct 8 2009, 01:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Thanks for that An Tarbh but will more changes occur if Italian Franchises enter the ML like both Italian franchises will be guaranteed H'Cup spots annually but will there be Italian teams in Challenge cup[/b]

italian sides in CC will be "traditional clubs" selected from the domestic league, no changes are requested