The Official Heineken Champions Cup Thread

[Akkerman]

The 25th anniversary season of the Heineken Champions Cup will resume with what promises to be a monumental clash between the No 1-ranked Leinster Rugby and holders, Saracens, at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 19 September live on BT Sport who will be broadcasting all four quarter-finals.

Immediately after the Leinster-Saracens confrontation, ASM Clermont Auvergne and Racing 92 will go head-to-head at Stade Marcel-Michelin where Clermont have only lost once in five top flight quarter-final matches, however, that defeat was at the hands of the Parisians in 2018.

Then on Sunday, 20 September, four-time winners, Toulouse, will be up against Ulster Rugby at the 33,000-capacity Le Stadium live and free-to-air on Channel 4 and Virgin Media followed by the meeting of No 2-ranked, Exeter Chiefs, and Northampton Saints at Sandy Park.

Eight former winners of EPCR’s tournaments – Clermont, Leicester Tigers, Leinster, Northampton Saints, RC Toulon, Saracens, Toulouse and Ulster – with as many as 24 titles between them, remain in contention for European silverware and the eagerly-anticipated quarter-finals weekend will kick off on Friday, 18 September with the Challenge Cup clash of No 2-ranked Bristol Bears and the Dragons at Ashton Gate live on BT Sport.

The following day, Bordeaux-Bègles are at home against Edinburgh Rugby and No 1-ranked, RC Toulon, take on Scarlets at Stade Chaban-Delmas at Stade Mayol respectively, with the Toulon-Scarlets tie also broadcast live in Wales on S4C.

The last of the Challenge Cup quarter-finals on Sunday, 20 September pits Leicester Tigers against Castres Olympique at Welford Road with live coverage again on BT Sport.

All matches will be subject to government guidelines and/or restrictions with EPCR prioritising the health and welfare of players, club staff, match officials, media, supporters and the wider rugby community.

HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP quarter-finals
(All kick-offs local time)

Saturday 19 September
QF 1: Leinster Rugby v Saracens, Aviva Stadium (15.00) BT Sport / beIN SPORTS
QF 2: ASM Clermont Auvergne v Racing 92, Stade Marcel-Michelin (18.30) beIN SPORTS / BT Sport

Sunday 20 September
QF 3: Toulouse v Ulster Rugby, Le Stadium (13.30) France 2 / beIN SPORTS / BT Sport / Channel 4 / Virgin Media
QF 4: Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints, Sandy Park (17.30) BT Sport / beIN SPORTS

Semi-final 1 – winner of QF 1, Leinster Rugby v Saracens, will play the winner of QF 2, ASM Clermont Auvergne v Racing 92
Semi-final 2 – winner of QF 3, Toulouse v Ulster Rugby, will play the winner of QF 4, Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints
(Matches to be played on 25/26/27 September)

2020 Heineken Champions Cup final: weekend 16/17/18 October (venue TBC)

[.OverThere]

Saturday 19 September
QF 1: Leinster Rugby v Saracens,
QF 2: ASM Clermont Auvergne v Racing 92,
Sunday 20 September
QF 3: Toulouse v Ulster Rugby,
QF 4: Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints,

[Sidney Parade]

saracens have very little else to focus on

[stemoc]

if saracens somehow win the ERC this year, will they still remain in the top league in premiership?

[ASMO]

if saracens somehow win the ERC this year, will they still remain in the top league in premiership?

Nope

[Zig]

So will the cheating fucks have all their improperly acquired playing roster from last season?

And will they have to quarantine for 2 weeks prior to the QF in Dublin?
(The UK is unlikely to be on the green list of countries that won't have to quarantine)

Is it possible they'll forfeit?

[ASMO]

So will the cheating fucks have all their improperly acquired playing roster from last season?

And will they have to quarantine for 2 weeks prior to the QF in Dublin?
(The UK is unlikely to be on the green list of countries that won't have to quarantine)

Is it possible they'll forfeit?

Not a chance, would you?

[.OverThere]

So will the cheating fucks have all their improperly acquired playing roster from last season?

And will they have to quarantine for 2 weeks prior to the QF in Dublin?
(The UK is unlikely to be on the green list of countries that won't have to quarantine)

Is it possible they'll forfeit?

There are exclusions on that list, namely truckdrivers, pilots, ministers? (or so one claimed?)
Are they necessary workers?

If the Irish govt decide that they must quarantine, than as the spivs are running the show, Leinster are gone.

[Slick]

So will the cheating fucks have all their improperly acquired playing roster from last season?

And will they have to quarantine for 2 weeks prior to the QF in Dublin?
(The UK is unlikely to be on the green list of countries that won't have to quarantine)

Is it possible they'll forfeit?

There are exclusions on that list, namely truckdrivers, pilots, ministers? (or so one claimed?)
Are they necessary workers?

If the Irish govt decide that they must quarantine, than as the spivs are running the show, Leinster are gone.

What about property developers?

[Zig]

If the Irish govt decide that they must quarantine, than as the spivs are running the show, Leinster are gone.

How is it Leinster's problem if Saracens don't show up for the game?

[.OverThere]

If the Irish govt decide that they must quarantine, than as the spivs are running the show, Leinster are gone.

How is it Leinster's problem if Saracens don't show up for the game?

Gnomes of Switzerland.

[Zig]

If the Irish govt decide that they must quarantine, than as the spivs are running the show, Leinster are gone.

How is it Leinster's problem if Saracens don't show up for the game?

Gnomes of Switzerland.

I've never seen a gnome in court before. They'd better have a pot of gold if they want to go that way.

[EnergiseR]

James Ryan out 10-12 weeks. Step on up Baird

[Zig]

James Ryan out 10-12 weeks. Step on up Baird

He's a big loss but this is a great opportunity for Baird if selected.

[EnergiseR]

Adam Byrne out as well for a while