Europe 20/21 announced

[hookender]

Happy with those two if they are who we have

[DGP Wasp]

And for the sake of clarity 🙄

POOL A (with opponents in brackets)
Bordeaux-Bègles (Dragons, Northampton Saints)
Leinster Rugby (Montpellier, Northampton Saints)
Wasps (Dragons, Montpellier)
Bath Rugby (La Rochelle, Scarlets)
Edinburgh Rugby (La Rochelle, Sale Sharks)
RC Toulon (Sale Sharks, Scarlets)
La Rochelle (Bath Rugby, Edinburgh Rugby)
Sale Sharks (Edinburgh Rugby, RC Toulon)
Scarlets (Bath Rugby, RC Toulon)
Dragons (Bordeaux-Bègles, Wasps)
Montpellier (Leinster Rugby, Wasps)
Northampton Saints (Bordeaux-Bègles, Leinster Rugby)

POOL B (with opponents in brackets)
Exeter Chiefs (Glasgow Warriors, Toulouse)
Lyon (Glasgow Warriors, Gloucester Rugby)
Ulster Rugby (Gloucester Rugby, Toulouse)
Bristol Bears (ASM Clermont Auvergne, Connacht Rugby)
Munster Rugby (ASM Clermont Auvergne, Harlequins)
Racing 92 (Connacht Rugby, Harlequins)
ASM Clermont Auvergne (Bristol Bears, Munster Rugby)
Connacht Rugby (Bristol Bears, Racing 92)
Harlequins (Munster Rugby, Racing 92)
Glasgow Warriors (Exeter Chiefs, Lyon)
Gloucester Rugby (Lyon, Ulster)
Toulouse (Exeter Chiefs, Ulster Rugby)

Round 1 – 11/12/13 December 2020
Round 2 – 18/19/20 December 2020
Round 3 – 15/16/17 January 2021
Round 4 – 22/23/24 January 2021

So we're up against Bordeaux and Leinster as top seeds in the pool. (But we play neither of them!)

[Heathen]

Just realised that it’s a joke structure to the pools - Wasps play MHR and Dragons. MHR play Wasps and Leinster. Etc...............

[Trevs Big Tackle]

POOL A (with opponents in brackets)
Bordeaux-Bègles (Dragons, Northampton Saints)
Leinster Rugby (Montpellier, Northampton Saints)
Wasps (Dragons, Montpellier)
Bath Rugby (La Rochelle, Scarlets)
Edinburgh Rugby (La Rochelle, Sale Sharks)
RC Toulon (Sale Sharks, Scarlets)
La Rochelle (Bath Rugby, Edinburgh Rugby)
Sale Sharks (Edinburgh Rugby, RC Toulon)
Scarlets (Bath Rugby, RC Toulon)
Dragons (Bordeaux-Bègles, Wasps)
Montpellier (Leinster Rugby, Wasps)
Northampton Saints (Bordeaux-Bègles, Leinster Rugby)

POOL B (with opponents in brackets)
Exeter Chiefs (Glasgow Warriors, Toulouse)
Lyon (Glasgow Warriors, Gloucester Rugby)
Ulster Rugby (Gloucester Rugby, Toulouse)
Bristol Bears (ASM Clermont Auvergne, Connacht Rugby)
Munster Rugby (ASM Clermont Auvergne, Harlequins)
Racing 92 (Connacht Rugby, Harlequins)
ASM Clermont Auvergne (Bristol Bears, Munster Rugby)
Connacht Rugby (Bristol Bears, Racing 92)
Harlequins (Munster Rugby, Racing 92)
Glasgow Warriors (Exeter Chiefs, Lyon)
Gloucester Rugby (Lyon, Ulster)
Toulouse (Exeter Chiefs, Ulster Rugby)

Wait, what?

*Checks tournament rules*

WHAT?!

[DGP Wasp]

Montpellier site saying they have Wasps and Leinster! That is impossible as we and Leinster are Tier 1.

No, that's exactly right. As tier 1 we have earned the right to play our poll games against tier 4 opponents. Montpellier, as tier 4 have to slug it out with 2 tier 1 teams in Wasps and Leinster. Dragons play Wasps and Bordeaux, Northampton play Bordeaux and Leinster.

I am tolerating this format only because it was born out of necessity, in some haste and seemingly very late at night when all the brandy had run out.

[Heathen]

France could be a problem as they are going into national lockdown on Friday until at least the end of November.

[Bloke in North Dorset]

Montpellier site saying they have Wasps and Leinster! That is impossible as we and Leinster are Tier 1.

No, that's exactly right. As tier 1 we have earned the right to play our poll games against tier 4 opponents. Montpellier, as tier 4 have to slug it out with 2 tier 1 teams in Wasps and Leinster. Dragons play Wasps and Bordeaux, Northampton play Bordeaux and Leinster.

I am tolerating this format only because it was born out of necessity, in some haste and seemingly very late at night when all the brandy had run out.

So basically it is a way to ensure that the top teams go through, unless there's an upset, whilst ensuring the lower level teams eg 7&8 in our league get some additional games and revenue, even if its only TV revenue and not fans?