EPCR bosses react to SA team's Euro Cup status

SPOTLIGHT: With South African teams moving a step closer to European Champions and Challenge Cup inclusion, EPCR is currently finalising their formats for the 2022/23 season and beyond.

According to the European Professional Club Rugby  (EPCR) statement, the organisers are currently finalising details of a new shareholder agreement including new and improved tournament formats.

Ahead of the announcement of that agreement at a future date, 2021/22 will see some modifications to the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup formats, and in order to assist with its stakeholders’ forward planning, EPCR is pleased to announce the key dates for next season’s tournaments.

Played over nine weekends, the 2021/22 Champions Cup and Challenge Cup will kick off next December with the last of four pool stage rounds scheduled for the weekend of  January 21/22/23,  2022.

The knockout stages will start on the weekend of April 8/9/10, 2022 with a Round of 16 which will be played over two legs on a home and away basis, followed by quarter-finals and semi-finals.

While the Marseille finals will go ahead on the weekend of May 27/28, 2022.

“As we put the finishing touches to a brand new shareholder agreement which promises to be positive for everyone involved in our tournaments, we are continuing to refine and develop the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, and next season will see a return to a full series of massively exciting and competitive matches across Europe,” said EPCR Chief Executive, Vincent Gaillard.

As previously referenced, 24 clubs – including eight representatives from each of the Premiership, TOP 14 and PRO14 - will compete in the 2021/22 Champions Cup. All qualified clubs and their rankings will be officially confirmed once this season’s domestic competitions are concluded.

Discussions to finalise all details of the formats for next season, and future seasons, within the framework of the new shareholder agreement, are ongoing, and these discussions include the future participation of South African clubs in EPCR’s tournaments as referenced in the United Rugby Championship’s announcement.

2021/22 EPCR weekends

Round 1 –  December 10/11/12

Round 2 –  December 17/18/19

Round 3 –  January 14/15/16, 2022 14/15/16

Round 4 – January 21/22/23, 2022

Round of 16 (1st leg) – April 8/9/10, 2022

Round of 16 (2nd leg) –  April 15/16/17,  2022

Quarter-finals – May 6/7/8, 2022

Semi-finals –  May 13/14/15,  2022

Challenge Cup final – May 27, 2022; Stade Vélodrome, Marseille

Champions Cup final – Saturday, May 28, 2022; Stade Vélodrome, Marseille