It seems the restructuring of European Rugby isn't over after all. After being shown distain from the French clubs, and Bernard Jackman branded it "pointless", the Challenge Cup will now be relevant.
@BHHooker If the Challenge Cup winner hasn't already qualified, they go into Champions Cup play-off in place of 7th placed league finishers.
— Simon Thomas (@simonrug) January 26, 2015
Previously, the Pro12 would have had automatic qualifiers for the Champions Cup - the top four from each country and the next best three. In practise, this means that the top six in the Pro12 would qualify and the best placed Italian team. The Pro 12 would also receive a spot for a playoff team that decides the final Champions Cup team.
That in effect is the seventh place team in the Pro12, and they would face of in a playoff with the English seventh placed finisher and the Top 14 eight place.
Re. discussion about Challenge Cup winners taking a playoff spot from "their" league, here's the current rules: pic.twitter.com/SrwTHa7d1K
— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) January 26, 2015
However, now the rules are being changed mid season. The winner of the Challenge Cup will now take precedence over the seventh place finisher to go into the playoff.
In one sense, it's good that the tournament finally has a hint of credibility. On the other, changing the rules mid-season again negates any credibility that it would have earned.
This could have big consequences for Connacht. They are leading a three way battle with Scarlets and Edinburgh for sixth place in the Pro12 and automatic Champions Cup qualification, but now the fall back of coming seventh has potentially been taken away.
Photo Credit Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
