rossie wrote: There is an interesting debate going on over on munsterfans on the seedings and resulting group format. Based on information available there connacht have a very good chance of top seeding in challenge cup if they secure 8th in pro12.

Using that info and basing it on current league position connacht will be competing with the 8th team from aviva and top14 for final 2 top seeded spots. They may even be guarenteed it if playoff winners league loses top seed spot.
Sample groups would be

Grp 1. Grp 2. Grp 3. Grp 4. Grp 5.
Bordeaux/begles. edinburgh. stade. connacht. gloucester.
Lond irish. Brive. Blues. Newcastle. Grenoble.
Ng dragons. Worcester. Wasps. Perpignon. Zebre.
Qualifier 1. Oyannax qual 2 Biarritz. Bayonne.

I used the teams listed in leagues atm not taking relegation etc into equation and gave exeter the qualifier win.
Interesting groups.

Twp trips to France, looks like Pinky and I could be busy if it works out like that

Its not keeping the spacing from how i typed it but its supposed to be 5 columns of 4 teams under group number.

There is an interesting debate going on over on munsterfans on the seedings and resulting group format. Based on information available there connacht have a very good chance of top seeding in challenge cup if they secure 8th in pro12.

Using that info and basing it on current league position connacht will be competing with the 8th team from aviva and top14 for final 2 top seeded spots. They may even be guarenteed it if playoff winners league loses top seed spot.
Sample groups would be

Grp 1. Grp 2. Grp 3. Grp 4. Grp 5.
Bordeaux/begles. edinburgh. stade. connacht. gloucester.
Lond irish. Brive. Blues. Newcastle. Grenoble.
Ng dragons. Worcester. Wasps. Perpignon. Zebre.
Qualifier 1. Oyannax qual 2 Biarritz. Bayonne.

I used the teams listed in leagues atm not taking relegation etc into equation and gave exeter the qualifier win.
Interesting groups.

salmson wrote:

mary hinge wrote: Am I not right in thinking Rossie that winners of next season's Amlin automatically qualify for following season's Heineken?
Besides, we ought to be looking to win silverware. Think of the buzz and the extra coverage. Don't want us taking the Arsene Wenger approach where success is finishing Top4!

Qualification is league only. Even the ERCC Champions aren't granted a place I believe.

Yes this is correct. It is one of the flaws of

Edit: the second tier winnners get into the playoffs if they don't qualify through the league: if the winner of the second tier competition, the European Rugby Challenge Cup, has not qualified for the Champions Cup by league position, they will receive one of the play-off positions given to their respective league.

No mention of what happens if the winner of the Big Cup doesn't make it.

This is correct. It is one of the flaws of the new system along with the seeding system.its as if stade francais and the other french teams havent just made a mockery of the amlin by playing their b teams in the quarters.
Its something i believe that they will have to address after the first year.

Thanks Salmson.

mary hinge wrote: Am I not right in thinking Rossie that winners of next season's Amlin automatically qualify for following season's Heineken?
Besides, we ought to be looking to win silverware. Think of the buzz and the extra coverage. Don't want us taking the Arsene Wenger approach where success is finishing Top4!

Qualification is league only. Even the ERCC Champions aren't granted a place I believe.

Edit: the second tier winnners get into the playoffs if they don't qualify through the league: if the winner of the second tier competition, the European Rugby Challenge Cup, has not qualified for the Champions Cup by league position, they will receive one of the play-off positions given to their respective league.

No mention of what happens if the winner of the Big Cup doesn't make it.

Am I not right in thinking Rossie that winners of next season's Amlin automatically qualify for following season's Heineken?
Besides, we ought to be looking to win silverware. Think of the buzz and the extra coverage. Don't want us taking the Arsene Wenger approach where success is finishing Top4!

mary hinge wrote: Connacht have never won a trophy. And let's face it, we're unlikely to ever win the Rabo. Next year's Amlin is winnable. That should be our main focus for next season. That and being competitive in the Interpros!

While i dont disagree about the challenge cup i think that to focus on it would be ignoring where pro rugby is heading. It is unfortunately following the football model and the next demand imo will be to ringfence the majority of money for top competition aka ercc.
Imo connacht have 4-8years to establish themselves in top6 of rabo or as credible playoff contenders on the road to ensure they make top table on a regular basis. Unfortunately winning challenge cup doesnt guarentee that atm.

Connacht have never won a trophy. And let's face it, we're unlikely to ever win the Rabo. Next year's Amlin is winnable. That should be our main focus for next season. That and being competitive in the Interpros!

So makes it important to get as much from the last few games as we can. You'd think 8th should be good enough for a Challenge Cup top seed in that case, but 7th would ensure it.

The seedings for hec has been clarified. 3 league winners seeded plus 2 of 3 rups drawn from hat. 2nd seeds rup not in 1st seeds plus 3rd place teams and draw from 3rd place teams. 3rd seeds rest of 3rd place teams + draw from 4th etc.
I presume it will continue in same fashion for challenge cup.
Irish teams cant be in same group.

Borders no.2 wrote: How is this competition going to be seeded I wonder, would finishing 7th or 8th in the league be very beneficial in securing a better seeding? I think I heard somewhere that previous European ranking points wouldn't be considered but the whole thing has been such a circus I've tuned out of it a bit.

Winners of the three leagues are seeded and the rest is open draw apparently. Hopefully someone knocks them on the head and says that is stupid.

How is this competition going to be seeded I wonder, would finishing 7th or 8th in the league be very beneficial in securing a better seeding? I think I heard somewhere that previous European ranking points wouldn't be considered but the whole thing has been such a circus I've tuned out of it a bit.

With our dreams over and us cant finish 6th,we better look forward to Rugby Challenge Cup. (and where we're going on holidays next season).

With no play-offs this year, and we dont have relegation, the pro12 is more easy to figure out with only 3 games left.

Edinburgh 10points behind scarlets
Connacht
Cardiff
Dragons
zebre 8points behind treviso

with only 2 games left in top14, 9 teams can still play in the RCC. biarritz are down, and 5 others are fighting relegation.
the 9 teams are:

5th toulouse 62 points... away to ononnax, home to grenoble
6th castres 62 points... home to montpellier, away to bayonne
7th bordeaux 59 points... away to stade, home to biarritz
8th stade francais 59 points... home to bordeaux, away to toulon
9th brive 56 points... away to biarritz, home to ononnax
10th grenoble 51 points... home to bayonne, away to toulouse
11th perpignan 50 points... home to toulon, away to clermont
12th bayonne 48 points... away to grenoble, home to castre
13th oyonnax 48 points... home to toulouse, away to brive

from D2, lyon are all but crowned champions, with 3 games to go, with la rochelle, agen, narbonne, pau and tarbes fighting for playoffs spots.


2 teams in the aviva premiership are confirmed to be playing in the RCC, which are london irish and Newcastle.
3 teams are fighting for the 7th spot, to be in the platoff vs a french team.
7th exeter 40 points.. home vs sale, home vs quins, away to newcastle
8th wasps 39 points... home vs gloucester, home vs newcastle, away to northanpton
9th gloucester 37 points... away to wasps,home vs london irish, away vs worcester

its will be bristol vs london welsh will have the championship playoffs but still early.