The format for the European Cup has changed this year, again. Since the change away from four team pools, there's been a lot of confusion as to how the fixtures are drawn and how the subsequent knockout stage is decided. Here is a run through of the new Champions Cup format and any information you need to know on how the competition will work.
How many teams are in the Champions Cup?
There are 24 teams in this year's Investec Champions Cup. The tournament is comprised of the top 8 teams from each of the 3 leagues (the URC, the Top 14 and the Premiership). They are split up in to 4 groups of 6.
🔊 THE SOUND OF EUROPE
That music can only mean one thing……
The Champions Cup is back! pic.twitter.com/3k8V0o2SFN— RugbyInsideLine (@RugbyInsideLine) December 4, 2023
How are the groups drawn?
The number 1 seed in each of the 4 groups are La Rochelle (last year's winners), Toulouse (Top 14 Champions), Saracens (Premiership Champions), Munster (URC Champions. The rest of the group are allocated randomly but no team from the same URC Shield and a maximum of two clubs from the same league.
How do the fixtures work?
Each team will play four pool matches (two home, two away). Clubs will play a different team in each match and there are no matches between clubs from the same league.
Battle of the wingers... 👀
Mack Hansen 🆚 Damian Penaud
Some 𝐇𝐔𝐆𝐄 head to heads could be coming in Round 1️⃣, which are you most excited to see? 🔥#InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/zAlMT0oVFJ— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) November 30, 2023
How many teams qualify from the pool stage?
Four of the six teams from each pool will qualify to the round of 16 of the Champions Cup. The teams which finish 5th in their pool qualify for the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup.
Teams will play two pool stage games this weekend and next weekend, and two more in January.
What are the tiebreakers for Champions Cup seeding?
According to the Champions Cup website, if two or more clubs in the same pool are equal on match points, ranking will be determined via these tiebreakers, in the order listed below:
- the best aggregate points difference from the pool stage
- tries scored in the pool stage
- the club with the fewest number of players suspended for disciplinary incidents in the pool stage
- Drawing lots
Knock-out stage
Much like in previous seasons the draw for the knockout stage of the Champions Cup will be predicated upon ranking across the tournament with the 16th best team playing the number 1 ranked etc. The round of 16 remains a stand alone knock out match with no change to the rest of the knock out stage.
The finals are to be played in the magnificent Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the weekend of 24th/25th May.
