5 Ways to improve European Rugby
Yesterday's draw took place. The May issue of the EPCR magazine looks at ways the organization could improve the Champions and Challenge Cup.
The qualifying competition for 2015-16 has been expanded. Clubs from Italy, Russia, Spain and Portugal were split into two three-team pools at the start of this year. The winners of the pools will play off against Rovigo and Wolves for a place in next season's Challenge Cup. There are also calls for an all-European league featuring teams from Georgia, Romania, Spanish, Portugal, Russian, Germany and so on. If rugby is to grow, let's integrate emerging nations into big competitions. Qualification for the Champions Cup should be pure meritocracy. Top six from the Premiership and the Top 14, along with the top seven from Pro12, should qualify for Champions.
The Champions Cup seedings are not ideal. Clermont, Saracens and Munster were in Pool One this season. Pool 5 houses Toulon, Bath, Wasps and Leinster, who have won the tournament nine times between them. The 2015 World Cup pools shows how seeding can skew a tournament. The draw was made in late 2012. It was a ludicrous three years before the event. There should be a rankings system that combines league position and performances in the last two European seasons.
