Champions Cup organisers defend format but consider changes next season
‘The format is delivering,’ European rugby chief insists
TL;DR
- Organizers of the Champions Cup are considering moving the tournament's start date back to October.
- The proposed change aims to add impetus to the pool stages and allow clubs to have their best players available.
- Coaches and clubs generally support commencing the tournament before the November Test window.
- The current tournament structure is in place until 2030, but a change is being recognized as potentially beneficial.
- European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) reports that television audiences have doubled and stadium attendances have risen by 50% in the past six years.
- EPCR's chief executive, Jacques Raynaud, defends the 24-team, four-pool structure, citing few dead-rubber games and increasing fan engagement.
- Raynaud acknowledges that an earlier start would be beneficial, as would a larger gap between the last 16 and quarter-finals.
- A return to an October start is a desire, but specifics regarding scheduling (e.g., blocks of weekends) are still being fine-tuned.