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No sooner had Union Bordeaux Bègles captain Maxime Lucu thrust the Investec Champions Cup into the Cardiff sky, than plans were announced that meant that what was once the pinnacle of the northern hemisphere season would be downgraded again.
No sooner had Union Bordeaux Bègles captain Maxime Lucu thrust the Investec Champions Cup into the Cardiff sky, than plans were announced that meant that what was once the pinnacle of the northern hemisphere season would be downgraded again.
Bordeaux’s 28-20 victory over Northampton Saints in the final at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium was the latest enthralling affair that was in the balance till late on. Add in the drama provided in the semifinals, and it is clear that cross-border matches can thrill and entertain in a unique way.
The announcement a few days later that every four years the quarterfinalists will roll into the World Club Cup (more on how that would work here) to face seven Super Rugby Pacific teams and an invited Japan side, is the latest blow the tournament has taken.
A major change came in 2014 when after pressure from the English Premiership and French Top 14, control of the tournament passed from European Rugby Cup to European Professional Rugby Cup (EPRC).
The controlling body was founded and headquartered in Switzerland, but the format continued as before.
That was until Covid when EPRC handed back a weekend to the leagues. One of the pool stage weekends moved into the Round of 16 to become a two-legged affair, but eventually that proved too unwieldy, and another weekend was lost.
Recently we’ve had a rejigged group phase where teams play different teams home and away rather than three other teams in their pool. As such, it isn’t always straightforward to work out who needs what to progress.
It is a real shame as no matter who oversaw it, and no matter its name, the tournament was one of the real successes of the professional age.
A vital step between league and test rugby, which caught the public’s imagination, filled stadia, and created new heroes and moments.
To that end here are three ideas we’d like to see to help it return towards its former position.
STARTING HOT
This will come as little surprise, but people in western Europe have a lot on their minds in December, and even hardcore fans have difficulty getting excited about a tournament’s launch.
This season’s first matches took place on Friday 6 December, barely a week after the November internationals had ended. It meant many teams were shorn of their best players.
Traditionally, the tournament started in October, and it fitted smoothly into the early part of the calendar between the launch of domestic matches, and internationals.
The fact that the northern hemisphere’s main three leagues – Top 14, Gallagher Premiership, and United Rugby Championship (URC) - are starting in late September, means EPRC’s tournaments have been squeezed.
Time therefore for EPRC to fight its corner and insist on an October start.
WEILD THE AXE
Twenty four teams began this season, eight each from the Top 14, URC, and Gallagher Premiership.
It is over half of the Top 14 and URC teams, and four-fifths of the Premiership’s 10 sides. As such it hardly fits the idea of it being an elite competition.
It means the quality of the Challenge Cup is underwhelming and come the knockout rounds needs to be propped up by teams dropping down from the Champions Cup, just as this season’s winners Bath did.
Let’s go back to 20 teams – seven each from the Top 14 and URC, and six from Premiership – with those four teams going into the Challenge Cup to take that field up to 20 as well.
More jeopardy means closer matches and fewer teams progressing after a solitary win and three defeats.
SPREADING THE GOSPEL
Since 2016 the Top 14 has played its semifinals at one venue, and my word it has proved popular.
Bordeaux, Marseille, Lyon, and Lille are four of the cities used, where the stadium sells out twice over two days and the city is overtaken by fans ready to enjoy themselves.
Imagine something similar for the Champions Cup. In fact, why not have the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup semis played at the one venue? One on Friday, two on Saturday, and one on Sunday?
It would give smaller, less recognised cities or countries the chance to be involved in elite club rugby in a way that they normally aren’t.
How about Munich, Lisbon, or Madrid? It would take rugby to new venues, give locals the chance to see what the fuss is all about, draw new fans, generate new lines of revue, and take sponsors into new territories.
Barcelona hosted the 2016 Top 14 Final (due to a clash with Euro 2016) and set a club attendance record, while the only thing that let down Bilboa hosting the Champions and Challenge Cup Finals in 2018 was the show that Leinster and Racing 92 put on.
It would increase the competitive integrity and stops this year’s scenario when Leinster and Bordeaux could get away with playing in their home city by dint of using a different stadium.
Just give it a few weeks until the final to let fans whose teams win make travel arrangements and recover.