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5 teams handed home ties as Champions Cup restart details confirmed

(Photo by Ryan Hiscott/INPHO via EPCR)

EPCR have announced revised tournament formats for the 2020/21 Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup tournaments, explaining that both competitions will resume with rounds of 16 matches on the weekend of April 2. The draw for the rounds of 16 and quarter-final matches in both tournaments will be decided by draws on March 9. 

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The eight highest-ranked clubs in Pool A and the eight highest-ranked clubs in Pool B at the time of the suspension of the Champions Cup in January have qualified for the round of 16 and in the draw, clubs from the same league cannot be drawn against one another but clubs from either pool can be drawn against one another.

A further agreed key principle of the draw will ensure that clubs that have won both pool stage matches on the pitch – where results were not impacted by Covid-19 – will play at home in the round of 16. Therefore, Racing 92, Leinster, Wasps, Bordeaux and Munster will each be guaranteed a home fixture.

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The clubs which are not drawn against either Racing 92, Leinster, Wasps, Bordeaux-Bègles or Munster will have their opponents, and whether they will be playing at home or away, determined as part of the draw.

In the Challenge Cup, clubs that have won both preliminary stage matches on the pitch will play at home in the round of 16. Therefore, London Irish, Ospreys and Leicester Tigers will each be guaranteed a home fixture.

KNOCKOUT STAGE QUALIFIERS
Heineken Champions Cup: Racing 92, Leinster, Wasps, Bordeaux, Munster, Lyon, Toulouse, La Rochelle, Scarlets, Clermont, Bristol, Exeter, Edinburgh, Gloucester, Toulon, Sale
Challenge Cup: London Irish, Ospreys, Leicester, Cardiff, Zebre, Agen, Benetton, Newcastle, Ulster, Connacht, Northampton, Bath, Montpellier, Dragons, Harlequins, Glasgow

EPCR KEY DATES
Knockout Stage Draws: Tuesday, March 9
Rounds of 16: April 2/3/4
Quarter-finals: April  9/10/11
Semi-finals: April 30-May 1/2
Challenge Cup final: Marseille – Friday, May 21
Heineken Champions Cup final: Marseille – Saturday, May 22

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SK 25 minutes ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

The way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.

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