'Rugby needs good news': EPCR boss delivers update on whether South African clubs like the Bulls can play Champions Cup
EPCR chairman Simon Halliday expects South African clubs such as the Bulls, who will soon be participating in an expanded Guinness PRO16, to be allowed to qualify for the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup tournaments once the three main European leagues and the six unions finally sign off on a new participation agreement in 2022.
The current tournament participation agreement came into existence in 2014 when EPCR was set-up to replace the old ERC administrative body that ran the two European tournaments. That deal, which Halliday told RugbyPass in 2019 was commercially a disappointment, is set to expire and negotiations on its replacement have been ongoing.
Central to this is whether South Africans teams like the Duane Vermeulen-captained Bulls, who will be taking part in a PRO16 league governed by Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales, could qualify for the Champions Cup. That wasn’t permitted when the Cheetahs and Southern Kings were part of the old PRO14.
However, with the powerhouse franchises of the Bulls, who have been recruiting players such as Munster’s Arno Botha, the Stormers, Lions and Sharks having left Super Rugby and agreed to join an expanded PRO16 for the 2021/22 season, ex-England international Halliday believes these South African clubs will become a fabric of the revised Champions Cup and Challenge Cup competitions.
Outlining the current state of play regarding the South African franchises and Champions Cup qualification, EPCR boss Halliday told The Rugby Pod: “The agreement was set-up in 2014 which was the year before I became chairman.
New Episode and we have European Rugby's top man Simon Halliday on to find out about this season's @ChampionsCup. Also:
– Ealing Trailblazers
– Eddie's England squad,
– Big rumour mill
– Animal-themed riddleiTunes – https://t.co/4DlgMkHbdU
Pod – https://t.co/8MYwnK01mE pic.twitter.com/TnStIuz923— The Rugby Pod (@TheRugbyPod) January 19, 2021
“It expires effectively in 2022 so we were always going to be debating what the future looked like from two years out and we have been doing that. We have had an independent review. They have come up with a load of recommendations which the board have unanimously backed and we’re now working out how that feeds into a new agreement and it’s very exciting.
“We are right at the end of that process. We’re not done yet because six unions, three leagues, you know there is always going to be some questions and ticking of boxes, alterations etc. That’s fine but the great news is that all three leagues are unanimous about the way forward, that the European Cups are embedded in their future and that is a really powerful statement.
“Obviously, we [EPCR] only take from the leagues the teams that they present so that is the answer on South Africa. We know South Africa have an intention to become part of the PRO16 and we’re fully expecting if that happens for that to come our way. We’d be pretty naive if we didn’t think that.
“When you think about that sort of development, plus frankly the growing strength of all the clubs around all the leagues, it’s only going to get bigger and better. We are duty-bound to drive an agreement that fully realises that.
“At the same time, you respect the fact that these are the top players in the world we are talking about so you need to create a tournament that will fit within the whole calendar and that is where the three leagues have also done a lot of work.
“So I am pretty confident that we are only a short time away from being able to deliver some really good news. Rugby needs some good news so I’m hopeful for that – but it’s never done until it is signed so we’re still working very hard on it.”
'You can’t be angry at the coach if he doesn’t pick you. If he didn’t ever give you a chance you might have an opinion about it'@AriGold_Botha on Munster exit, life BTS at Jake White's @BlueBullsRugby & his dream of being a Bok again – w/ @heagneyl 👨💻 https://t.co/4egoJMwvAJ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 17, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments