Confirmed: SA sides in Europe from next season

[DGP Wasp]

If they're starting with 2 competitions @ 24 teams with top 2 from the Champions' Cup going through to round of 16 and 3rd placed teams joining winners from the Challenge Cup, then surely they can find room for a "Shield" competition between the 2nd and 3rd placed teams in the Challenge Cup? Keep everyone interested.

[MarleyWasp]

Rugby Inside Line has just raised an interesting point. In 2017 Heidelberger RK were prevented from taking part in the Challenge Cup as their owner also owned Stade Francis. Altrad's proposed takeover of Gloucester was blocked because he also owned Montpellier. The Sharks are owned by Marco Masotti, who is part of the consortium that own Saracens.

I therefore think in the interests of fairness and integrity Saracens should therefore be banned from EPCR tournaments for good.

[hookender]

If they're starting with 2 competitions @ 24 teams with top 2 from the Champions' Cup going through to round of 16 and 3rd placed teams joining winners from the Challenge Cup, then surely they can find room for a "Shield" competition between the 2nd and 3rd placed teams in the Challenge Cup? Keep everyone interested.

Conversely,how about making European cups more competitive by not including ,say,bottom 4 of each league?  Would ensure that domestic competitions have more to play for at end.

[Heathen]

Rugby Inside Line has just raised an interesting point. In 2017 Heidelberger RK were prevented from taking part in the Challenge Cup as their owner also owned Stade Francis. Altrad's proposed takeover of Gloucester was blocked because he also owned Montpellier. The Sharks are owned by Marco Masotti, who is part of the consortium that own Saracens.

I therefore think in the interests of fairness and integrity Saracens should therefore be banned from EPCR tournaments for good.

These proposals are laughable. There has been zero consideration of player welfare and expense to the clubs. Another vanity move by EPCR.

[Neils]

Rugby Inside Line has just raised an interesting point. In 2017 Heidelberger RK were prevented from taking part in the Challenge Cup as their owner also owned Stade Francis. Altrad's proposed takeover of Gloucester was blocked because he also owned Montpellier. The Sharks are owned by Marco Masotti, who is part of the consortium that own Saracens.

I therefore think in the interests of fairness and integrity Saracens should therefore be banned from EPCR tournaments for good.

These proposals are laughable. There has been zero consideration of player welfare and expense to the clubs. Another vanity move by EPCR.

Exactly especially when combined with the increase in league size coming. More games across the board.

[hookender]

Rugby Inside Line has just raised an interesting point. In 2017 Heidelberger RK were prevented from taking part in the Challenge Cup as their owner also owned Stade Francis. Altrad's proposed takeover of Gloucester was blocked because he also owned Montpellier. The Sharks are owned by Marco Masotti, who is part of the consortium that own Saracens.

I therefore think in the interests of fairness and integrity Saracens should therefore be banned from EPCR tournaments for good.

These proposals are laughable. There has been zero consideration of player welfare and expense to the clubs. Another vanity move by EPCR.

I’m would be surprised if the french or Premiership teams would have agreed to this without some assurance about recompense for extra inconvenience.