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#Post#: 154482--------------------------------------------------
Champions Cup revamp includes scrapping pool stage for ‘box
office’ knockouts
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: May 20, 2026, 1:29 am
---------------------------------------------------------
English proposal understood to be viewed favourably in France
although it would reduce number of European weekends from eight
to five
Daniel Schofield
Deputy Rugby Union Correspondent
Daniel Schofield
Daniel joined The Telegraph in 2014 after working as a sports
reporter at The Times. See more
Published 19 May 2026 2:51pm BST
Related Topics
European Rugby Champions Cup, European Rugby Challenge Cup
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Leicester are hammered by Bordeaux
Leicester qualified for the knockout stage, where they were
subsequently hammered by Bordeaux, after just one win in their
pool Credit: Romain Perrocheau/Getty Images
A radical English-led proposal to overhaul the Champions Cup by
scrapping the pool stages and placing 16 teams into a knockout
competition is gaining momentum, Telegraph Sport understands.
Under the plan, a streamlined Champions Cup would begin with a
two-legged round of 16 leading into quarter-finals played over
three successive weekends followed by semi-finals and a final
both played at a neutral venue. “It would make every game box
office,” a source said.
Under the current format, 24 teams qualify for the Champions Cup
in which they are split into four pools of six. While the
knockout stages of this year’s competition, which culminates in
Saturday’s final between Bordeaux Bègles and Leinster, has
produced some outstanding matches, the pool stages have
frequently featured weakened XVs and blowout victories. With
only eight teams being eliminated in the pool stages, Leicester
Tigers and the Bulls managed to qualify for the round of 16
after just one win apiece.
Executives from European Professional Club Rugby, the
competition organisers, have previously insisted the current
format is locked in until 2030, but there is a near universal
desire to reform what is seen as a bloated, underwhelming pool
stage. “The competition needs to become elite again,” an insider
said. “Everyone can see this set-up is not working.”
The English proposal would be controversial because it would
reduce the number of European rugby weekends from eight to five.
Thus clubs would stand to lose a considerable source of
match-day income.
However, this could be counterbalanced by making the competition
more premium and thus more commercially attractive to
broadcasters and sponsors. Insiders also believe playing the
competition in two blocks, both coming after the Six Nations,
would ensure there is a stronger narrative thread for supporters
to follow than the current iteration which is split over five
different blocks over six months. This would also benefit
building the narratives around domestic leagues, which would
only be interrupted by the international breaks until the
spring.
Bath v Saracens in Champions Cup
Saracens and Bath met in one of five different blocks split over
six months, a format many believe makes the competition hard to
follow Credit: David Rogers/Getty Images
It is understood that the English proposal has been viewed
favourably by factions in France, but there is a long path
towards it being agreed. There is a desire to beef up the
second-tier Challenge Cup so that too becomes a compelling
competition rather than a consolation prize. “When you are
dealing with 42 different opinions and agendas it is never going
to be a straightforward task,” a source said in reference to the
number of teams in the Champions and Challenge Cups. “It is why
we need to start discussions now because it takes so long for
anything to be agreed in rugby.”
The Champions Cup has gone through multiple format changes since
the glory days of the old Heineken Cup and all stakeholders are
conscious they cannot afford to keep tinkering. “Everyone wants
the Champions Cup to thrive,” a source said. “It is important to
the clubs, to the players and to the leagues but we need to take
it back to it being the best of the best.”
EPCR acknowledges discussions are ongoing regarding new
tournament formats and insists it is proactively leading the
discussions. But any proposed changes must be unanimously agreed
by its board, which includes chief executives from the domestic
leagues. EPCR does not believe any changes would come into
effect before 2030.
One sticking point is the number of clubs that qualify from each
league, which torpedoed previous attempts at reform. At present,
eight clubs qualify from Prem Rugby, the Top 14 and United Rugby
Championship, which disproportionately favours English teams.
Under the English proposal, the top five clubs from each league
would automatically qualify with the remaining place going to
the league who produced the European champions. This in turn
would increase greater jeopardy in the the race to qualify
domestically, comparable to the Champions League in football.
A World Club Cup, pitting the last 16 qualifiers against teams
from Super Rugby Pacific, has also been agreed for 2028,
although there are indications that this may be pushed back a
year. The future of South African franchises is also unclear
after South Africa Rugby Union president Mark Alexander
indicated that the union was reviewing its participation in the
competition.
Recommended
#Post#: 154484--------------------------------------------------
Re: Champions Cup revamp includes scrapping pool stage for ‘box
office’ knockouts
DIR By: Rocker
Date: May 20, 2026, 1:43 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Some of that sounds sensible. But too much revenue lost. I like
leaving it until after the 6 nations. Even better leave it till
after the domestic season has finished, qualify with this year's
team not last year's. But I think 16 teams top 5 from each
league + winners last year, 4 groups of 4, home and away x3,
then semis, then final 6 weekends. 18 for Prem. Add in 4 weeks
for the AI's and 6 for the 6N gives you 34 weeks. With 18 weeks
off for non internationals and not playing during AIs or 6N.
#Post#: 154489--------------------------------------------------
Re: Champions Cup revamp includes scrapping pool stage for ‘box
office’ knockouts
DIR By: T-Bone
Date: May 20, 2026, 2:14 am
---------------------------------------------------------
They do need to change it as the current format is useless. 8/10
premiership teams is also ridiculous. None of us, sale or glos
deserve to feature next year. Not sure this proposal is the way
forward though. I'm sure there are good reasons which I've
forgotten but why can't they go back to the original format?
#Post#: 154490--------------------------------------------------
Re: Champions Cup revamp includes scrapping pool stage for ‘box
office’ knockouts
DIR By: Brown Bottle
Date: May 20, 2026, 2:37 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: T-Bone link ---
>
> They do need to change it as the current format is useless.
8/10 premiership teams is also ridiculous. None of us, sale or
glos deserve to feature next year. Not sure this proposal is the
way forward though. I'm sure there are good reasons which I've
forgotten but why can't they go back to the original format?
>
--- End Quote ---
Too long. This proposal cuts it from 8 weeks to 5 weeks, which
is good. Even a streamlined 16 team "old format" takes 9 weeks.
#Post#: 154491--------------------------------------------------
Re: Champions Cup revamp includes scrapping pool stage for ‘box
office’ knockouts
DIR By: Fearless Fred
Date: May 20, 2026, 2:40 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I've posted on this a number of times before. Here's my
suggestion:
Champions Cup should be drawn from the top 50% of each domestic
comp (5 from England, 7 from France, and 7 from URC. Add in the
last seasons Champions Cup winner (if not already qualled) or
Challenge Cup winner (if not already qualled) or the next
qualifier from the Champ Cup winners' domestic league in the
draw to make a 20 team comp. 5 pools of 4, playing home & away.
Pool winners and top 3 go into knockout.
Challenge Cup works in a mirror format with the other 19
Prem/URC/T14 teams and 1 or 2 (as required) invitees from the
next level down. Get rid of teams dropping down from Champions
Cup to Challenge Cup after the pool stages. After that's been
going a few years, if you want to tweak the format, do it by
introducing "Shield" comps for those that don't make it past the
Pool stage in each comp. (Pool placed 9-16 in the Champs Cup go
into the Champions Shield knockout, and the same in the
Challenge Cup.
#Post#: 154492--------------------------------------------------
Re: Champions Cup revamp includes scrapping pool stage for ‘box
office’ knockouts
DIR By: Banstead Quin
Date: May 20, 2026, 2:43 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Am I the only one thinking that as it's an English plan, it
probably won't happen anyway? If England & France agree it (or
something similar) its more likely to happen as we bring the
most fans/money to the game in Europe. Persuade the Boks, who
definitely bring more than the Celts and Italians, as well as
some headline sponsors, then as three, could run their own
competition without the Celtic/Italian groups.
Leinster and Munster do have big fan bases but if Leinster had
to play knock out games in other places other than Dublin, they
wouldn't get to many finals, in my opinion.
I always feel there's an element of Turkeys & Christmas when it
comes to European/6 Nations rugby.
#Post#: 154499--------------------------------------------------
Re: Champions Cup revamp includes scrapping pool stage for ‘box
office’ knockouts
DIR By: Camquin
Date: May 20, 2026, 4:39 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Losing the pool games loses 2 homes games and saves two long
away trips.
For the top 16, you gain half a home game from the round of 16
being over two legs.
I do not think any club would care about the lost gate, but
would care about losing TV revenue.
One idea would be to move the entire European cup into May with
no domestic matches.
Then the Challenge Cup could be played midweek, which while a
lot harder on the die-hard fans, though Soccer fans manage to
travel to European games midweek, is when the broadcasters are
looking for content.
#Post#: 154501--------------------------------------------------
Re: Champions Cup revamp includes scrapping pool stage for ‘box
office’ knockouts
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: May 20, 2026, 4:45 am
---------------------------------------------------------
On the point of teams like us qualifying in 8th place being
silly, we would not be contesting next years competition with
this years team. Hopefully.
#Post#: 154510--------------------------------------------------
Re: Champions Cup revamp includes scrapping pool stage for ‘box
office’ knockouts
DIR By: never sleep
Date: May 20, 2026, 5:33 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: deadlyfrom5yardsout link ---
>
> On the point of teams like us qualifying in 8th place being
silly, we would not be contesting next years competition with
this years team. Hopefully.
>
--- End Quote ---
That is usually the crux of the issue.
It would somehow be better if the European Cup followed on from
the National competitions (e.g. the Prem).
#Post#: 154513--------------------------------------------------
Re: Champions Cup revamp includes scrapping pool stage for ‘box
office’ knockouts
DIR By: Yareet
Date: May 20, 2026, 5:46 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Rocker link ---
>
> Some of that sounds sensible. But too much revenue lost. I
like leaving it until after the 6 nations. Even better leave it
till after the domestic season has finished, qualify with this
year's team not last year's. But I think 16 teams top 5 from
each league + winners last year, 4 groups of 4, home and away
x3, then semis, then final 6 weekends. 18 for Prem. Add in 4
weeks for the AI's and 6 for the 6N gives you 34 weeks. With 18
weeks off for non internationals and not playing during AIs or
6N.
>
--- End Quote ---
Just to pick this apart a little:
Playing 3 other teams home and away is 6 weekends
Semi and final is another 2
Prem is 18 rounds plus playoffs so 20 in total
6N with one fallow week is 6 weeks, AIs are 4 (plus a training
camp before each is another 2)
That's 38 weeks (40 if you include the training camps).
My understanding is the agreement is a 10-week standdown in the
summer. That would work for non-Test players but anybody touring
is still not back for the start of the Prem.
The non-Test players would also still probably play in the PRC
so not necessarily get that time off. The alternative is that
they come back after 4-7 weeks off having not played at all.
And all of that is very England/Prem-focused. It wouldn't work
at all for France or the URC with their bigger leagues.
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