Would that not be 7th is a guarnteed playoff space? What if both Scottish and Italian teams happened to be below 7th?

2010-11

Teams placed 1st-5th (Munster, Leinster, Ulster, Ospreys, Scarlets), 8th (Edinburgh) and 10th (Treviso) qualify automatically.

6th and 7th teams (Cardiff and Dragons) through to playoffs for last place.

Connacht, despite finishing 9th, don't even get a playoff.

2011-12

1-6 (Leinster, Ospreys, Munster, Glasgow, Scarlets and Ulster) and 10th (Treviso) qualify.

7 and 8 - Cardiff and Connacht - through to the playoffs; again 9th place (Dragons) are denied even a playoff place.

2012-13

Top 7 qualify; next 2 through to playoffs, the only one of the three years of a 12 team league where the table alone determines qualification.

So, in summary:

5th guarantees automatic qualification; 8th a playoff spot.

This means we could finish as high as 6th and be forced into a playoff (assuming all Italian and Scottish teams below us), though given the strength of Glasgow this is unlikely for the foreseeable.

This also massively de-powers the Amlin Cup. You'd need to win one two or three playoffs to get in (not clear in the release).

In addition, what happens if the HEC winner isn't qualifyied? Not at all clear whether they go through a playoff or rob a place off a higher placed team in their league.

No mention of auto qualification for previous winners, which I assume means it won't be exist.

Thinking more on the qualification: Last years final table had us at 8, Glasglow at 3 and Treviso at 7. So, all 7 qualify, there's one for each nation, we go to the Playoffs.

But what if Treviso slipped to 8th and we moved up to 7th? They'd qualify as an Italian team, and we'd be in exactly the same position: 1st runner up from the rabo for the playoffs.

So essentially, we will need to be 6th or higher to guarntee a place in the HC, or 7th with one scottish and italian team ahead of us.

Decadence wrote: 7 positions for the Rabo with 1 guaranteed for each country is not great for our qualification hopes. However, we should get an opportunity through the playoffs. Why is it exclusively English\French in year one though? And why should they get home advantage from year two? Sounds like a poor compromise to me.

I'm guessing the year one thing might be something to do with fitting in two rounds into the calendar at this stage, though I would've thought it would just be the two domestic playoff weekends.

EDIT: Challenge Cup winner is potentially in the playoffs, so they have to start after the finals weekend, hence the single round in year one.

No mention of what happens to a non-qualified H Cup winner. I presume they qualify automatically at the expense of the lowest ranked qualifier from their league, who get bumped down to the playoffs.
From that format it doesn't look great for Connacht to get in next season given the start we've had, but for subsequent seasons 9th behind Treviso would still be good for a playoff.
Bit of a balls that we would always be away in the playoff, but on the plus side, a weekend in France in May!

7 positions for the Rabo with 1 guaranteed for each country is not great for our qualification hopes. However, we should get an opportunity through the playoffs. Why is it exclusively English\French in year one though? And why should they get home advantage from year two? Sounds like a poor compromise to me.

On Wednesday and Thursday (23 and 24 October 2013) we facilitated a meeting of representatives of the six national rugby unions in Dublin.
Progress has been made on a number of issues relating to the future of European club rugby competition.
The meeting concluded with consensus among those present on two key principles of competition format and distribution of revenues, and with
agreement to meet again very shortly.
Competitions Format
There is consensus that there should continue to be two professional European club rugby tournaments, with each tournament consisting of 20 clubs. A third tier European tournament should also be considered.
The Primary Competition would be made up of 20 clubs, with six each from PRL and the LNR, and seven from the Pro12 tournament. The clubs would come through meritocratic qualification from their respective leagues. In the case of the Pro12, there will be at least one club guaranteed from each country.
In year one, the 20th place would be allocated through a play-off match between the 7th placed PRL and LNR clubs. For the following years, the 20th club would qualify through play-offs between the 7th placed PRL and LNR clubs and the two next non-qualified Pro12 clubs. The winner of the secondary competition would qualify to participate in the play-offs, if not already qualified by right.
The English and French clubs would have home advantage in the play-offs against the Pro12 clubs.
The Secondary Competition would consist of up to 20 clubs made up of the remaining 18 PRL, LNR and Pro12 clubs. Two places could be allocated to clubs qualifying from a third competition.
Distribution of Revenues
There is also consensus that distributable revenues generated through the competitions would be divided one third, one third, one third per league with the stipulation that monies to be received by the Pro12 countries would not be less than the current levels.
Next Steps
At our suggestion, all parties agreed to meet with us again within the next 10 days to discuss the implementation of these principles together with important operational and management issues.

So, 6, 6 and 7 from each of the leagues, playoffs between the 7th English and French, and 8th and 9th Rabo, team to secure the 20th place. Split to be divided equally between the three leagues, with the Rabo to get not less than it has before.

Looking this way, we'll at least have the playoffs to look forward to. Really it means that you'd have to be top 6 to qualify, with each nation having at least one person there.

I had a slightly different reading of it from walesonline.

I think WRU are offering central contracts until the Euro situation is resolved so as to stop an exodus of players, such as Warburton and Halfpenney whose contracts are up. When a resolution has been found, they will revert those central contarcts back to the regions. It has a neutral financial effect for the regions (as they will get less WRU money to cover the central contracts) but it benefits the players by rpoviding certainty

...could be wrong though>

Its a governance thing for the regions. They are relatively privately owned but are heavily subsidised by wru. They want wru to give them the money so that they control the players registration. In that scenario the wru would continue to have to negotiate player release agreements which costs wru more money per player. RFU do this and I think pay 170k pa per player .wru want central contracts and more control over regions in return for money.

Yeah, reading between the lines it looks like they might not be taking part in the ERC meeting, but might be taking part in the mediation process.

Excuse the ignorance, but I thought that central contracts would be welcomed by the regions? Frees up money and maybe secures players that the region would not be able to? I'd imagine that the WRU would look for player management like the IRFU, is that the problem?

Still madness, tho. negotiation via the press has to stop.

Apparently he is in Dublin though. The central contract offer is designed to scare RRW not support them. Unfortunately IRFU are caught in crossfire that is welsh rugby civil war. Regions want more money from wru but also want more autonomy. Central contracts are a big no no for them.
For wru to offer them after RRW statement yesterday shows that lewis is fighting on 2 fronts and determined to bring both to a conclusion.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24647172

So the WRU are going to offer central contracts to key players? I'd assume it'd be a quid pro quo for the regions throwing their weight behind the HC? Bad sign that the CEO of RRW didn't attend yesterday.

Doesn't change much if the substitution is made by league... We won't see that often Treviso or Edimburgh winning in Europe

Can't see the winners of European comps not being left in if not qualified try league finish. That weakens the amlin and the alleged purpose of 20 team Heineken cup is to strengthen it. IMO if the 6/6/8 rumour is accurate the winners in Europe will replace the bottom qualified team of their league if not already qualified as happens in Wendy ball .

I'm hearing that sky have met BT also but big outstanding issue is shares in new company or governance.

Rumours.
8 Rabo teams. 6 EPL. 6 French.
No automatic entry for last years winners.
No automatic entry for Amlin winner

Honnestly It would be the best option for Connacht if based on pure meritocracy (table and no protection by nationality)