Champions Cup 2024 / 25 - Round of 16

[pagliaccio_euforico]

Heard it here first, Leinster to join the new top 15.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Le Instere

I'm so ready.

 

[higgik]

Yeah exactly. Especially with the Prem down to 10 teams why not stick to the 20 teams in the Champions cup
5 Prem
7 from Top 14
8 from URC

and just have the quarters. Then if the prem grows to like 14 look at making some adjustments or something.

Make the Challenge cup 24 teams by adding the top 4 teams from the Super league or something

Also play 4 groups of 5 h or a in groups to give 4 matches, then knock outs.
Play at end of season in one block of 8 weeks, with semis and finals at host venue.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

One group of 24 made up of 6 tiers of four teams with 5 matches into a QF would be better than the current format and keeps it at 8 games max. Still shite but better, similar to the current UCL. Swap a league weekend for the current round of 16 in the schedule.

More early sesson European games to get fans engaged and less interruptions to the leagues in the playoff runs.

Plenty of time to organise away travel to all games also.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

They need to use rugby 08s world league as a blueprint for the future. It's the only way.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

Next year Europe is just a qualification for a club World Cup right? I swear I read that some where.

My dream:

Champions cup is 8 teams. Two from each plus last years winner and winner of challenge cup.
2 groups of 4. Double round robin then semi finals. 8 games maximum.

Same for challenge cup but 7th slot goes to league of last years winner and 8th goes to super cup.

Everyone else gets to play friendlies with super rugby so I don't have to watch them.

 

[higgik]

One group of 24 made up of 6 tiers of four teams with 5 matches into a QF would be better than the current format and keeps it at 8 games max. Still shite but better, similar to the current UCL. Swap a league weekend for the current round of 16 in the schedule.

More early sesson European games to get fans engaged and less interruptions to the leagues in the playoff runs.

Plenty of time to organise away travel to all games also.

A bit like the UEFA Champions League structure.
So how about 18 teams in one group, with 2 tiers of seeds.
Play 2 teams from each tier home or away, 4 matches
Knockouts: top 4 into 1/4 finals, next 8 into play offs
All single matches, with a Final 4 week, so semis and finals on consecutive weekends.
This gives 4 weeks of group games in one block.
Then 2 weeks before 6N to get to Final 4.
Final 4 after regular domestic season including play offs.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

A bit like the UEFA Champions League structure.
So how about 18 teams in one group, with 2 tiers of seeds.
Play 2 teams from each tier home or away, 4 matches
Knockouts: top 4 into 1/4 finals, next 8 into play offs
All single matches, with a Final 4 week, so semis and finals on consecutive weekends.
This gives 4 weeks of group games in one block.
Then 2 weeks before 6N to get to Final 4.
Final 4 after regular domestic season including play offs.

I like that more but don't see a reduction in teams anytime soon, not the current trend in sport.

 

[higgik]

I like that more but don't see a reduction in teams anytime soon, not the current trend in sport.

And that is the problem, the current administrators think more is better financially, whereas restrict supply demand goes up.

 

[higgik]

I like that more but don't see a reduction in teams anytime soon, not the current trend in sport.

I could see
7 URC
6 T14
5 Prem
Based on this year's entry
A seeds
Leinster, Toulouse, Toulon, Munster, Bordeaux, Glasgow, Northampton, Castres, La Rochelle
B seeds
Ulster, Saracens, Sale, Quins, Benetton, Bulls, Sharks, Clermont, Leicester

Each team plays 2 teams from own group of seeds, not in same league, and two teams from the other group, home or away.
There will then be some great match ups in the group phase as well, e.g Leinster v Toulouse.
Every match counts as placings for knockout is important, getting top 4 to get a bye, knockouts pre determined as higher seeds play lower ranked teams.