European Cups 2019/2020

First topic message reminder :

The draws have just taken place, and look like this:

Challenge Cup:
************
Pool1: Castres, Worcester, Dragons, Enisei
Pool2: Scarlets, Toulon, London Irish, Bayonne
Pool3: Wasps, Edinburgh, Bordeaux, Agen
Pool4: Stade Francais, Bristol, Zebre, Brive
Pool5: Cardiff, Tigers, Pau, Calvisano

Champion's Cup:
*************
Pool1: Leinster, Lyon, Northampton, Benetton
Pool2: Exeter, Glasgow, La Rochelle, Sale
Pool3: Clermont, Ulster, Harlequins, Bath
Pool4: Saracens, Munster, Racing 92, Ospreys
Pool5: Toulouse, Gloucester, Connacht, Montpellier

Discuss... finals in Marseille.

TightHEAD wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:How, its the group of death and a Welsh team has yet to win the HC/Champions Cup.

Can't help but feel you are judging me on past posts/accusations by other posters.

All the mods agree with this and think we are fairly judging you on past and present form TightHEAD.

Yet we have a liar about to be made PM, I can't help but feel I'm being treated unfairly, bullied and victimised.

TightHEAD

It’s simple, same for anyone who has been warned by any moderator on here, prove to us we are wrong by not trolling other posters.

How can I when having an opinion is classed as trolling?

The difference is between posting a post that you think may antagonise and posting one that you know will not.

It is so simple. Stop being trivial and let this thread carry on as intended.

Still don't see what was wrong with the original post to be honest.

Seeing as the Ospreys are in the group of death and the only team in the champions cup from Wales I think its safe to say the winning team will not come from Wales.

Rugby will always be the winner as long as we can talk openly about it without fear.

Bath are going to smash their group, this is our year. BLUE BLACK WHITE

I think TightHEAD should be banned indefinitely for unforgivable grovelling. This is a family friendly site and it's before the watershed.

We are happy to play Bath record of 4 wins no defeats
Against Quins 3 wins 1 defeat
Against Clermont 2 wins 2 defeats

So no one to fear, well maybe away to Clermont a little bit tricky
5 wins is enough though

As I said nice places to go to as well

geoff999rugby wrote:We are happy to play Bath record of 4 wins no defeats
Against Quins 3 wins 1 defeat
Against Clermont 2 wins 2 defeats

So no one to fear, well maybe away to Clermont a little bit tricky
5 wins is enough though

As I said nice places to go to as well

Away in Clermont is a class fixture to get. Well jealous of that one, always a good trip, amazing atmosphere.

Away to Clermont is definitely on my bucket list as well!

Mind you, The Racing away trip probxbly runs it close now

Clermont away is a fantastic trip, as is Toulon.

Anyone been to Bordeaux or Agen for games? Considering those, dates depending...

Never been to a game in Bordeaux, but it is a great city to visit.

Spen a coiple of days there and get down to the St Emilion vineyards if you get the chance.

Let me guess is there a semi final in Dublin?

TightHEAD wrote:Let me guess is there a semi final in Dublin?

In what sport? When? Which Dublin? Why do you ask?

Probably, as Leinster should go through again.

How do the semi-final locations get decided?
Is it the top 2 sides have a neutral location in their countries?

propdavid_london wrote:How do the semi-final locations get decided?
Is it the top 2 sides have a neutral location in their countries?

Yes

Tighthead trying to imply bias but needless to say that is nonsense

propdavid_london wrote:How do the semi-final locations get decided?
Is it the top 2 sides have a neutral location in their countries?

At a stadium acceptable to EPCR in the designated home team’s country. That can include the team’s home stadium. So if Leicester, Wasps, Leinster, Munster, Edinburgh or Racing 92 were to get a home semi-final, they could use Welfoed Rd, Ricoh Arena, RDS, Thomond Park, Murrayfield, La Defense Arena as their home ground if it met relevant EPCR criteria.

Pot Hale wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:How do the semi-final locations get decided?
Is it the top 2 sides have a neutral location in their countries?

At a stadium acceptable to EPCR in the designated home team’s country.  That can include the team’s home stadium. So if Leicester, Wasps, Leinster, Munster, Edinburgh or Racing 92 were to get a home semi-final, they could use Welfoed Rd, Ricoh Arena, RDS, Thomond Park, Murrayfield, La Defense Arena as their home ground if it met relevant EPCR criteria.

Will Sarries not look to play their semi at their newly agreed soccer stadium in London if it's available.

Thanks Guys,
Probably stadiums need to have a minimum capacity.

Brendan wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:How do the semi-final locations get decided?
Is it the top 2 sides have a neutral location in their countries?

At a stadium acceptable to EPCR in the designated home team’s country.  That can include the team’s home stadium. So if Leicester, Wasps, Leinster, Munster, Edinburgh or Racing 92 were to get a home semi-final, they could use Welfoed Rd, Ricoh Arena, RDS, Thomond Park, Murrayfield, La Defense Arena as their home ground if it met relevant EPCR criteria.

Will Sarries not look to play their semi at their newly agreed soccer stadium in London if it's available.

If the new ground - presumably you are referring to West Ham/Olympic stadium - is their new home ground then no
You cannot use your home ground - you select another ground in your country.
RDS, Thomond, Welford Road are not big enough

geoff999rugby wrote:

Brendan wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:How do the semi-final locations get decided?
Is it the top 2 sides have a neutral location in their countries?

At a stadium acceptable to EPCR in the designated home team’s country.  That can include the team’s home stadium. So if Leicester, Wasps, Leinster, Munster, Edinburgh or Racing 92 were to get a home semi-final, they could use Welfoed Rd, Ricoh Arena, RDS, Thomond Park, Murrayfield, La Defense Arena as their home ground if it met relevant EPCR criteria.

Will Sarries not look to play their semi at their newly agreed soccer stadium in London if it's available.

If the new ground - presumably you are referring to West Ham/Olympic stadium - is their new home ground then no
You cannot use your home ground  - you select another ground in your country.
RDS, Thomond, Welford Road are not big enough

I couldn't remember which Stadium it was but yes the soccer stadium.

geoff999rugby wrote:

Brendan wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:How do the semi-final locations get decided?
Is it the top 2 sides have a neutral location in their countries?

At a stadium acceptable to EPCR in the designated home team’s country.  That can include the team’s home stadium. So if Leicester, Wasps, Leinster, Munster, Edinburgh or Racing 92 were to get a home semi-final, they could use Welfoed Rd, Ricoh Arena, RDS, Thomond Park, Murrayfield, La Defense Arena as their home ground if it met relevant EPCR criteria.

Will Sarries not look to play their semi at their newly agreed soccer stadium in London if it's available.

If the new ground - presumably you are referring to West Ham/Olympic stadium - is their new home ground then no
You cannot use your home ground  - you select another ground in your country.
RDS, Thomond, Welford Road are not big enough

On the contrary, Geoff, home ground can be used.   EPCR decided that before this year's knockout stages.  Stadium capacity is one of the criteria they use in deciding on a proposed stadium's suitability along with the teams involved, and their ability to fill it at the best cost/profit.  

Consider the Saracens v Munster semifinal last season - 32,000 capacity but only 16,000 could turn up on the day due to bank holiday/Easter break, short-time frame, train strike, etc.  

EPCR have to hire the stadium, pay the operating costs, promotion, etc and set the ticket prices to extract the best profit whilst ensuring they get a full house.   A high-premium ticket (fans won't have to incur travel/ovrnight costs), packed to the rafters, cheaper to hire/operate a home stadium, might be more attractive to EPCR than hoping to sell enough of a more expensive to hire/operate a bigger capacity one and that's more costly for fans in travel/expenses.

Yes and No

You are quite right there has been a change in policy this year - I forgot that
However the phrase used was 'consider the possibility of a home ground being used'
My take on that would be they will allow it only if no alternative is available
They seemed to have been spooked about the possibility of Edinburgh playing Glasgow.
Under the previous rules Murrayfield would have been banned which would have created a real issue.