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Investec Champions Cup

EPCR abandons plan for Marseille to host 2020 European finals, rejigs future finals schedule

By Online Editors

09 Jul 2020

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

This season’s Heineken Champions and Challenge Cup finals will not be played in Marseille after EPCR officials finally admitted defeat in trying to stick to their original plan to host the European showpieces in the French port city. The finals had initially been scheduled for last May.

Despite the suspension of the European campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic outbreak, tournament officials had insisted during the layoff that the plan was to still host these games in Marseille. However, EPCR have now changed tack, explaining that the 2019/20 finals will be held at yet to be decided venues while also adjusting the finals schedule for future years.

To ensure Marseille is not completely abandoned, officials have now stated that the 2020/21 finals will be held in the French city and the originally planned use of the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London will be pushed back twelve months to instead host the 2021/22 finals.

Wasps and New Zealand’s Lima Sopoaga guests on The Lockdown, the RugbyPass pandemic interview series

A statement released on Thursday read: “Due to the many uncertainties created by the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been decided that the 2020 Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals will not now be held in Marseille as planned and the matches will be played at a new venue or venues.

“With tens of thousands of fans scheduled to travel to the south of France, the board of EPCR and the local organising committee have agreed that insufficient safeguards are currently in place during the public health crisis to stage two high-profile matches at the 67,000-capacity Stade Velodrome.

Missed tonight's #HeinekenChampionsCupRewind Special with five of the best refs around? ?

Don't worry, you can rewatch it any time at the top of our main channel ? pic.twitter.com/zkN4jRiu8t

— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) July 8, 2020

“As a consequence, EPCR is currently working with its shareholder leagues and unions to secure an alternative venue or venues for the two finals which will be played on the weekend of October 16/17/18 and details will be announced as soon as practicable.

“As part of this adjustment to its future planning, EPCR is pleased to announce that Marseille will now host the 2021 Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals at the Stade Velodrome on the weekend of May 21/22, and that the matches at the 62,000-capacity Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London will be rescheduled for 2022.

“Tickets for this season’s finals will be valid for the 2021 weekend with no change to category or seating, and all ticket holders will be contacted by email within the next 48 hours with details of how to avail of a full refund if required.

“As previously communicated, the quarter-finals of both 2019/20 tournaments will be played on the weekend of September 18/19/20 with the semi-finals scheduled for the weekend of September 25/26/27. Exact dates, venues, kick-off times and TV coverage will be announced as soon as possible.

“As is now customary during the pandemic, the matches will be subject to government guidelines with the health and welfare of players, club staff, match officials, supporters and the wider rugby community to the fore.”

2020 EPCR dates
Quarter-finals: weekend of September 18/19/20
Semi-finals: weekend of September 25/26/27
Heineken Champions Cup final: weekend of October 16/17/18 (venue TBC)
Challenge Cup final: weekend of October 16/17/18 (venue TBC)
Start of 2020/21 season: weekend of December 11/12/13

Heck of a lot of ability in this XV https://t.co/LkligKBuLd

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 8, 2020

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Comments on RugbyPass

Derek Murray 12 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Nice read. Those damn spoilt Kiwis. Can pop over the Tasman to God's country with little effort and win rugby games routinely.

One thing, why are we policing the chasing lanes? Why encourage high ball kicking? Sometimes a chasing player may do something brilliant but it's mostly an easy way to move the ball and I'd prefer it was discouraged.

72 Go to comments

AV 13 minutes ago

Records show All Blacks' greatest rugby adversary is now Ireland

And Sexton's behavior with referee Peyper?

5 Go to comments

AV 15 minutes ago

Records show All Blacks' greatest rugby adversary is now Ireland

"Records show All Blacks' greatest rugby adversary is now Ireland" ... and I focus on the "is now". You conveniently take it over the period since 2016 to compare the SA-NZ to IRE-NZ, knowing that for the period 2016-2018 SA was coached by Allister Coetzee and experienced their worst performances vs NZ EVER! Just do your little comparison of the period post Coetzee to now and you will see a very different picture. Let's forget about the quarter-funeral RWC matches, Ireland is playing awesome rugby and are deservedly No1, and yes, NZ is very keen to knock them over again (especially in their back-yard), but the real rivalry remains NZ-SA. BY the way, I reckon NZ is going to pull it off this weekend.

5 Go to comments

AF 17 minutes ago

The joy, spirit and obstacles of the rugby pilgrim

For once a nice rugby article instead of hostile bs

2 Go to comments

MP 23 minutes ago

Rob Kearney’s All Blacks verdict: ‘They're scared of Ireland now...’

Daft spud.

2 Go to comments

Nickers 40 minutes ago

Records show All Blacks' greatest rugby adversary is now Ireland

Were you shocked by Sexton trying to rip Barrett's head off when he scored that final try in that return game?

Sexton once again the beneficiary of incredible double standards. Some of the rules simply didn't apply to him. The referee even watched that replay about 5 times in slow motion to see if he grounded the ball. If an NZ player had made that tackle it would have been a yellow card.

Ireland led by Sexton were the biggest bunch of whingers to ever play the game. NZ's dislike of Ireland was not caused by losing to them, it was caused by the Irish players, commentators and media being such giant crybabies.

I genuinely think Ireland are the best team in the world, and I think they will beat the ABs on Friday, but they are by some distance the team I like the least, and I know many people, not just from NZ, who feel the same.

5 Go to comments

RedWarrior 1 hour ago

Records show All Blacks' greatest rugby adversary is now Ireland

The New Zealand performance in the return fixture in 2016 was filthy. A lot of Irish supporters were pretty shocked by it, viewed it as de facto cheating just to avoid another defeat.

Also shocked by the abuse to Ireland, captain, vice-captain and spectators after the full time whistle in Paris defeat, last match.

Sledging is sledging, but that happens during the game and targetting spectators should be completely out of bounds.

The Irish public used to enjoy these matches, even in defeat. Now they are necessary but unpleasant, because NZ apparently cannot accept or respect successful challengers.

5 Go to comments

Longshanks 1 hour ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Thanks for the analysis Nick, thought provoking as usual. Couple of queries though, in the pic where you've circled Williams bind , I'm pretty sure it shows Stuart's knee on the ground, surely that's a NZ penalty? Also having had the chance to watch it again the All Black scrum seeems to improve after halftime, but before either England or the All Blacks replace their props. Not sure if that was the result of Tuipolutu coming on or some halftime tips. Either way this is only Williams second international season, so he'll be better for the experience.

72 Go to comments

fl 1 hour ago

Exclusive: Eddie Jones was England's fallback option

if the clock could be turned back, Jones should still have been given the top job, to be assisted by Farrell, Borthwick, Catt, & Rowntree, and after 2019 he should have been replaced by Farrell.

2 Go to comments

fl 1 hour ago

Exclusive: Eddie Jones was England's fallback option

that's bizarre.

As Eddie Jones showed us in 2022 and 2023, great coaches don't stay great forever. Mallet was a properly world class coach in 1998, and never hit the same heights after that.

2 Go to comments

KI 1 hour ago

Former Bok boss Allister Coetzee replaced by legend as head of Namibia

Still not the best coaching team hopefully it will be better Union must arrange more games for namibia if they want to be competitive in rugby...I am from Namibia and there is alot of politics in rugby as well..

2 Go to comments

AD 1 hour ago

Wallace Sititi: 'I think I've found my rhythm'

You're right about Papalii, but he doesn't have much experience in closing stages and gets caught out alot. Cane is better there.

Sotutu isn't a scratch on Ardie, and Sititi is already in.

So that only leaves you not liking Ardie. He's the current world player of the year. Let that sink in. And then let it sink in that you need a blend with experience that players like him possess, you cannot pick flat out teams based on the best 'potential' skills, you need the experience. Papalii yes, which is coming anyway considering cane is off soon, but Ardie, you can't drop him. Sotutu doesn't trump him or Sititi I think.

I think maybe you're right for the next world Cup though...but we have to blend into that team over many more games

6 Go to comments

Flankly 1 hour ago

Clive Woodward thunders into Eddie Jones debate ignited by Danny Care

SCW really dislikes Eddie, doesn't he?

His words in 2019 before the RWC final that he now says should have resulted in Eddie's firing:

"Was Saturday’s sensational World Cup semi-final win over New Zealand England’s greatest ever performance? Yes, unquestionably, would be my answer."

So let's fire the coach one game later? Duh!

2 Go to comments

Flankly 1 hour ago

Ireland vow not to take All Blacks lightly despite 'good track record'

Ireland have every right to back themselves for a win. But the key variable has little to do with recent record etc.

The reality is that Ireland are a settled team with tons of continuity, an established style, and a good depth chart, whereas NZ are fundamentally rebuilding. The questions are all about what Razor is doing and how far along he is in that program.

NZ are very close to really clicking. Against England all of the chatter is about how England could have closed out a win, but failed to do so. This has obscured the observation that NZ were by far the more creative and effective in attack, beyond the 3-1 try differential and disallowed tries. They gave away a lot of unnecessary penalties, and made many simple errors (including knock-ons and loose kicks). Those things are very fixable, and when they do so we are once again going to be staring at a formidable NZ team.

Last week we heard the England fans talking confidently about their chances against NZ, but England did not end up looking like the better team on the field or the scoreboard. The England defense was impressive enough, but still could not stop the tries.

Ireland certainly has a better chance, of course, but NZ is improving fast, and I would not be surprised at a convincing All Black win this week. It may turn on whether NZ can cut out the simple mistakes.

1 Go to comments

Flankly 2 hours ago

Records show All Blacks' greatest rugby adversary is now Ireland

Fair to say that NZ have come to respect Ireland, as have all teams. But it's a bit click-baitey to say that the game is the premier show-down for NZ.

SA has beaten NZ four times in a row, including in the RWC final.

5 Go to comments

NB 2 hours ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Would URC care if the Welsh regions go? I doubt it so it's not leverage for the Prem.

72 Go to comments

NB 2 hours ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?