ummm, wrote: Massive kick in the teeth for the organisers where the only challenge cup team to bother turning up for the launch was us.

Aye, no Zebre, Edinburgh, Dragons or Blues was poor form

Poor JHW musta felt tad awkward on his own ha

ummm, wrote: Massive kick in the teeth for the organisers where the only challenge cup team to bother turning up for the launch was us.

"Organisers". That's one word for 'em...

Massive kick in the teeth for the organisers where the only challenge cup team to bother turning up for the launch was us.

Here's a better picture. YouTube and google+ are to be digital partners. Apparently it's 70 cm high and 13.5 kg weight.

Ercc launch going on atm. Photo of new trophies attached. French tv deal was signed yesterday and dates and times for rounds 3 and 4 will be released by end of week.

salmson wrote: I would think Moseley and Worcester can't be too happy either. No chance of them renaming themselves as the "Ricoh Dons"?

A lot of people won't be happy, not least their fans.
They'll be sent to Coventry (oh, wait).

rossie wrote: Didn't know where to put this so it lands here. Wasps are moving to Coventry from next season. They are finalising the purchase of a 90% stake in the ricoh arena and will play there next season. They have already dropped London from their name this season. They are owned by an irish man and will maintain their training base near London to bypass objections to the move from Northampton and tigers. It's 91 miles from Wycombe.

I would think Moseley and Worcester can't be too happy either. No chance of them renaming themselves as the "Ricoh Dons"?

Didn't know where to put this so it lands here. Wasps are moving to Coventry from next season. They are finalising the purchase of a 90% stake in the ricoh arena and will play there next season. They have already dropped London from their name this season. They are owned by an irish man and will maintain their training base near London to bypass objections to the move from Northampton and tigers. It's 91 miles from Wycombe.

Whole prob is that they never thought that they would win the whole standoff and therefore had to plans whatsoever in place to run the competitions.

Now its just a scramble to get everything sorted in time and constant changes will be the norm as they basically make it up as they go along.

I just wish that they would sort everything out first and then tell us. This new cup is turning out to be a farce with no sponsers yet to be announced.

The Heineken Cup wasn't broken, so why fix it?

pinky wrote: Tbilisi Caucasians only lost by 4 away to Rovigo in the "Qualifying Competition" (which basically consists of two two-legged playoffs), so you'd have to fancy them at home in the return leg.
It's impressive enough for an invitational side that can't have been put together more than a few weeks ago.
Might make an interesting trip for Cardiff fans.

www.epcrugby.com/eng/news/28936.php

I'd love to get the Caucasians. I went to Tbilisi earlier this month for the soccer qualifier - and it was the best International away trip I've ever been on - and I've been on a good few. The people, were friendly, the food's lovely, the wine's fantastic, the weather was beautiful, it's easy to get about, it's extremely safe day and night, the scenery's amazing and it's all amazingly cheap. OK, OK you want to know, yep, beer's a euro a pint. The one surprising thing (to me) is how much they really love their rugby. I only met one soccer fan on the whole 4 day trip - but loads of rugby ones. if Tbilisi was a bit easier to get to everyone would be raving about it.

Anyway ""By modifying the Champions Cup play-off format, we've respected the wishes of the three leagues," said EPCR director general Jacques Pineau.

It isn't so much about ercc qualification as reaching achievable targets that had recognisable reward attached. If the rumours are accurate then connacht have 2 to 3 years max to justify the extra investment or face cuts. I felt originally that the new system of playoffs ( where 2 pro12 teams qualified) was a great opportunity for connacht as the playoffs were very achievable and gave connacht a show piece opportunity at the end of the season. 7th isn't impossible but it's a long way off anywhere connacht have gotten close to in the past.
And yes four dogs the Italian teams are embarrassingly bad this season.

A 2nd version has existed after that I'm nearly sure.

connachta wrote: OK but think the semi would have been between 7th and 8th of the Guiness pro 12, and then final against anglo-french winner, in the former version

No, the two Pro12 teams were definitely going to be away:

- First date: Seventh club of Top 14 versus eighth or ninth from PRO12 and the seventh club of Premiership Rugby versus eighth or ninth from PRO12. The matches will be played at the home venues of the Top 14 and Premiership Rugby clubs.
- Second date: The two winners from the first matches. The venue will be selected by a draw.

www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3970_9258987,00.html

Really this should all have been ironed out before the start of the season but happy to know where we stand at this stage. For all the hype about the new competition (and I think it will be better for some of the changes made), behind the scenes this looks like the FAI running the league of Ireland.

At least we know what we need to do which wasn't the case for most of last season. Top 6 will be tough but that has to be our aim. 7th is doable but it'd be the highest we have ever finished so still a tall order. Really if you are outside the Top 7 you don't deserve to be in the top competition.