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'It’s not true' - Spain and Portugal address Challenge Cup rumours
Rumours have been floating of a possible inclusion of a Spanish and/or Portuguese team in the upcoming new season of the EPCR Challenge Cup, after the Georgian Black Lion had debuted in 2023.
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The Portuguese Rugby Union have officially denied receiving any invitation to take part of the EPCR Challenge Cup, while the Spanish have confirmed of ongoing talks for a future inclusion.
For now, only the Black Lion will proceed to play in the 2024/2025 season, but Spain is eyeing their prospects, especially for the year that the Champions and Challenge Cup are heading for Bilbao, in 2026.
After a very positive first experience for the Georgian setup – they defeated the URC side Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets – they are poised to join the competition for a second season, and in the future, they might not be the only Rugby Europe team joining the EPCR competitions.
Carlos Amado da Silva, President of the Federação Portuguesa de Rugby, answered RugbyPass’ queries about a potential integration in the Challenge Cup,
“We have not been invited to play in the EPCR Challenge Cup. It’s not true that we have received any type of invitation. We are deeply focused on creating a solid project in the Lusitanos franchise, and the only competition we are playing this season will be the Rugby Europe Super Cup.”
The Lusitanos have finished in 2nd place in the debut season of the Rugby Europe Super Cup in 2022, and will likely undergo some changes with the integration of Simon Mannix as the new head coach of the Lobos.
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Gabriel Sáez, Vice-President of the Real Federación Española de Rugby (RFER), has also clarified their stance for the future,
“Well, we had conversations with EPCR about the future, wide, interesting and promising. Spain is a country of 47 million inhabitants, visited by 100 million more each year, packed with some of the best sports stadiums and infrastructure. We are always ready to host new events and tournaments, and we are deeply passionate about rugby. We are a sleeping giant so to be part of an EPCR competition in the future is a goal, and something they themselves desire.
“The talks we had were very intense and interesting, and it went beyond what some might think. We want to help expand the EPCR brand, incorporate in the future a Spanish male’s team, and we are also going to do a study to see if it is possible to also have a Women’s side when the EPCR launches their new competition. There’s also talks of doing more events, in line with the Bilbao final.
“The next steps the RFER will proceed to make is to keep growing and giving body to our strategy plan, by having an increase ticket sale, professionalization of the RFER structure, enhance of our high-performance program, to keep up with what is demanded by unions like ours.”
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In an interview given to the French radio station Sud Radio Rugby, Jacques Raynaud, EPCR General Director, had mentioned the interest to have another Rugby Europe Super Cup team to join the Challenge Cup, but downplayed the imminence of such a project because of a lack of fully professional setups beyond Black Lion.
See the HSBC SVNS champions crowned in Madrid, 31 May-2 June. Tickets from €10 available to purchase HERE.
Comments on RugbyPass
Playoffs featuring 4 or 6 teams would mean the other teams playing meaningless games for longer and a further drop of interest in Australia. But yes a 12 team competition with 8 teams making finals is ridiculous.
5 Go to commentsJoe's picks will be more interesting than Razors. The dumping of Dave Rennie for Jones has to be one of the worst exec decisions of all time. Joe and Dave have similar styles and personalities, the players should like that. Predicting some success for Aus this year. Well more than last year!
2 Go to commentsHey Ben, Thanks for your opinion article. As a die hard rugby tragic and loyal supporter of the game can I say your article seems a touch negative so I would like to offer a slightly different spin on it. I am assuming that the sole purpose of the Super Rugby competition is not just to be a training camp for the International teams but an independent event and competition in its own right with sponsors, media companies and teams that need a financial return. Now, from this rugby fans perspective, I am enjoying the last few weeks of the competition and enjoying the fact that most teams can still make the play offs and nobody wants the wooden spoon. Most rugby followers would agree to it being a travesty if the Crusaders or the Waratahs now made it to the final but history tells us it is very unlikely with the importance of home ground advantage. Playing each team once and a four team final would give the competition integrity and a level playing field for all teams but I would be surprised if it could satisfy the financial demands of the TV rights. Maybe a six team finals series might be a possible compromise.
5 Go to commentsAll good choices John, even the Tah players ha ha. Others that might be worth a look would be ; Cale, Tom Lynagh, Uru, Keunzle, Anstee and maybe Rory Scott because we need a backup to McReight and he has improved a lot from last year and Tim Ryan.
2 Go to commentsWe only have 12 teams - and probably should only have 10. If we cut it down to 10, had a single round robin format, and only had semi-finals and a grand final, the final game would be on the first weekend of May. Meanwhile the AFL (similar to the NRL) runs until the last weekend of September and starts almost a full month after Super Rugby. At least the players would get plenty of rest!
5 Go to commentsAs article says re Japanese Final. Todd Blackadder up against his old mentor/ coach at Canterbury and the Crusaders , Robbie Deans. Both legends in this part of the world. Richie Mo’unga, ( another legend), playing brilliantly for Toddy’s team.Great to hear.
1 Go to commentsNo doubt Razor will want to kick the 2024 campaign off with a decisive selection of the top match fit players to insure his selection as the appointed coach has maximum impact. We the supporters and critics will settle for nothing less because historically it is what we have become ingrained and accustomed to. With that in mind and the distinct fall from grace of his beloved crusaders we will expect him to stamp his mark in the same way he left his old post.
9 Go to commentsI would've expected a better turn around in response to the changes within the team and its management. Lacking in my opinion is the skill sets that once was and now seemingly vacant within the squads regular front runners. Furthermore there seems to be no set game plan, the accuracy that once was is no more, the quality off the bench were poor matchups and frankly I feel a lot has to do with the coaching. Never thought i’d be critising the sadas to this degree.
5 Go to commentsAverage AB captain by recent standards. Speaks to the wider issue
9 Go to commentsWholesome lad, but no longer test level. At all
9 Go to commentsThis game was always going to be close, Canada have such a dominant pack and the Black Ferns have come unstuck in that area against teams like France and England in the past.
2 Go to commentsA distinct discomfort with the officiating they were probably selected from the local IRA narcos branch along with the commentators bloody fly tippers.
1 Go to commentsWow, never thought I would read that
2 Go to commentsExcellent match. Great to see Keenan and Ryan back for Leinster. Super result for Ulster. Season is turning around.
1 Go to comments“We need eight or nine new players, who are hard-wearing and durable and experienced Premiership performers”. So why are they scouting a retired fullback who himself admits that his “body is broken”?
1 Go to commentsBrumbies hand, knocked a Crusaders hand. Therefore, knock on in goal. Crusaders, goal line drop out should’ve been awarded. most likely after that 24 each at full time, so extra time would’ve been the right an entertaining outcome. Act Jim
1 Go to commentsSpeell cehck
1 Go to commentsColeman is gaawwwwnnn.
1 Go to commentsnext SA head coach?
3 Go to commentsGreat try by van Poortvliet.
1 Go to comments