Champions Cup & Challenge Cup suspended
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Topic: Champions Cup & Challenge Cup suspended
Posted By: Steve@Mose
Subject: Champions Cup & Challenge Cup suspended
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2021 at 17:51
| http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55617958" rel="nofollow - Heineken Champions Cup and European Challenge Cup suspended temporarily |
Replies:
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2021 at 19:50
They need to bring forward 2 rounds of Premiership games to fill the next 2 weeks, otherwise they won't be able to complete the ECC as all weekends are taken up to the end of the season (assuming Lions tour is not delayed/cancelled) ------------- RAID ON |
Steve@Mose wrote:Posted By: French Connection
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2021 at 09:46
| No surprise at all. Here in France, Leicester Tigers have been very, very heavily criticized for bringing the 'English variant' over here when they played Bayonne in the Challenge Cup. There's now a serious outbreak in Bayonne and the south west. The FFR were furious and complained that the English clubs had much lower testing and isolation protocols that they did, hence the problem. No idea about the truth of that however. Whatever, I think everyone needs to simply accept that this season is over at many levels. |
Posted By: marigold
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2021 at 10:51
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Strange decision by PRL today to now NOT bring 2 fixtures forward for the now vacant Saturday's and instead to give the clubs two weeks off. A number of the clubs have already had time off recently due to covid cases plus this will add pressure at the end of the season. Not sure the broadcasters will be happy as some big gaps to fill. Not sure I am happy as watching matches on Friday night , Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon had become the highlights of the weekend. Am I missing something? |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2021 at 11:05
Rugby? Not utilising these 2 weeks for EPL raises the question of how they will fit in the Champions Cup at a later date - unless the Lions tour is cancelled/postponed ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: WEvans
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2021 at 13:40
| In my opinion very sensible to have a two week break when people can stay at home in the current Covid situation rather than have rugby teams, broadcasters and all the associated support people travelling up and down the country. |
Posted By: corporalcarrot
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2021 at 14:00
------------- Dont kick it. Pick it up and GO FORWARD. |
Posted By: Count Ford
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2021 at 18:28
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I think a few weeks break in all sports should realistically be happening. On one hand you have every single public health official telling us we are in crisis mode, people should act as if they have the virus and restrict their movements, yet on the other hand you can turn on your TV and see sportspeople jumping on top of each other during celebrations, taking training trips to Dubai and travelling cross country in buses. Don't get me wrong..I love watching rugby and plenty of other sports on TV, but I can't see how it can be justified given current circumstances. Admittedly young healthy athletes are in a low risk category, but they all will be going home to partners/parents/children etc. |
Posted By: Bigmal
Date Posted: 13 Jan 2021 at 14:28
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It certainly is a difficult situation and IMHO there is little chance of ALL competitions ( Prem/Euro/6 N/ Lions) being started let alone completed. The Lions should really be cancelled now as there are no obvious benefits other than providing income for SA. The 6 N should be looked at carefully to see how the risks could be minimised - certainly there is some merit in the suggestion that games could be restricted to the most suitable venues . Obviously this could be perceived as unfair but the primary objectives must be to keep everyone safe, restrict the spread of the virus, maintain rugby's profile on the international stage and provide much needed income for the participants albeit tv revenue is the only realistic source. The Euro competitions need to be streamlined with the primary objective being to both minimise exposure to and spread of the virus as well as keeping the finals competitive. The British, Irish and French sides could participate in home based knockout competitions with the aim being to produce 4 semi finalists for each competition. Any decision regarding the finals will have to wait until the end of March at the earliest but I cant see Mhazelnutille hosting with spectators - and I have tickets! The Prem should continue with agreement being reached amongst the clubs that certain rounds should be between second string squads. No relegation makes sense as does taking the opportunity to review the structure at this level. Any action has to be taken with the wider interests of the public and players being put foremost whilst accepting that the survival of the game NOT bragging rights is vital. I am sure there will be other views but something needs to be done.
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Posted By: WEvans
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2021 at 14:38
I take your point about the value of televised sport CC. Maybe re-running classic games or past competitions would go some way to providing this. I'd love to see some of the old Five Nations games in full again (no offence to Italy!).
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Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2021 at 17:00
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55664542" rel="nofollow - Heineken Champions Cup and European Challenge Cup pool matches will not be rearranged
And no matches brought forward to fill the gaps in the broadcast schedules.
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Posted By: Fly Half
Date Posted: 15 Jan 2021 at 10:28
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Another big financial hit for the clubs but probably the correct decision. |
Posted By: Bigmal
Date Posted: 30 Jan 2021 at 12:06
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Recent news about Euro 2021 ( Football) scheduled for June doesn't bode well for Euro Rugby finals in May. These competitions have now been postponed twice so I don't see a third switch unless Mhazelnutille are willing to host in (say) October which may not be feasible for all sorts of reasons. Really the organisers need to make a decision - flights and accommodation have been booked and the fans scheduled to go deserve some consideration. One thing is for sure White Hart Lane in 2022 doesn't have quite the same attraction even if they van pour a pint of gnat's p*** in 0.24 seconds
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Posted By: Deva Delinquent
Date Posted: 30 Jan 2021 at 12:25
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I really can't see the finals going ahead in front of fans this year, we're miles off from coming out of restrictions in our day-to-day lives, so travelling abroad in May is looking extremely doubtful. I wish I'd taken the refund when it was offered last year now.
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Posted By: Monkey Boy
Date Posted: 30 Jan 2021 at 21:22
| There won’t be any spectators in a rugby ground until 2022 |
Posted By: Bigmal
Date Posted: 10 Feb 2021 at 09:36
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I'm coming round to the same conclusion MB - holidays with social distancing may well be possible later in the year but Horses of spectators from different places is a Public Health nightmare.
Obviously the organisers of the Euro competitions are being super optimistic by continuing with the competition but IMHO the only possible way for the finals to be played with spectators is to restrict the nos to those who have already purchased tickets and spread them round the Velodrome This presupposes ,of course, that the fans can get out and back without quarantine. I will have had my second jab by April but I dont think that will matter |
Posted By: kingsheathlad
Date Posted: 10 Feb 2021 at 10:18
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I think some will not have had their first jab by May.
------------- Cauliflower ear. |
Posted By: French Connection
Date Posted: 10 Feb 2021 at 10:21
| They certainly won't here in France. They are lamentably slow - only done just over 2 million now....and that will almost certainly put an end to any thought of the finals being in France. Not many here think that we'll be anywhere near back to normal by then. |
Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2021 at 14:42
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56184748" rel="nofollow - Heineken Champions Cup and European Challenge Cup changes format
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Posted By: Bigmal
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2021 at 14:43
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I'm having trouble understanding what is the strategy here - the chances of fans being allowed to travel have to be slim especially as Mhazelnutille has problems with C 19. I know it is 3 months away but I can't see everyone being vaccinated by then either. Not much thought being given to the fans?
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Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2021 at 20:06
It's all about completing the competition to satisfy BT. I don't think they have got as far as thinking past the next 2 rounds - so I doubt fans have even been considered. ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: PiffPaff
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2021 at 07:57
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It has got nothing to do with BT. EPCR sold TV Rights to multiple companies, BT is just one of them. Its about EPCR getting their cut pure and simple. FYI, TV Deals are with BT (for UK), Sky Italia (Italy), beIN Sports (Aus and NZ) and S4C have a deal to provide Welsh language coverage of games involving Welsh sides. There are also some Live streaming agreements in place. You'd think TV Companies run the game given some of the comments on here. BT were not happy with the ringfencing in the Prem and told PRL so. PRL have agreed to an unspecified tweak to their agreement as the ink wasn't quite dry on their new 3 year £110 Million deal. ------------- Crouch, Bind, Tweet! |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2021 at 18:12
You contradict yourself in the first 2 sentences. Organisers have already stated that they are trying to satisfy the broadcasters - presumably to avoid having to give partial refunds to them. ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: PiffPaff
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2021 at 06:37
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Really? The first two sentences contradict your wild assumption that a TV Broadcaster told a governing body/competition to complete its competition in the middle of a pandemic to satisfy them. Why didn't BT tell PRL to carry on the season in March 2020 when Lockdown 1.0 happened? Player welfare should trump any other reason to complete a fixture. EPCR feel that they can successful complete a modified competition safely. Yes it helps if that means they don't have to give TV money back but to suggest a Broadcaster calls the shots on running a competition is wrong. ------------- Crouch, Bind, Tweet! |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2021 at 14:05
Never said they did - just said the TVs rights were a consideration on the decision made by the organisers - there is a big difference! ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2021 at 16:51
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56335911" rel="nofollow - Heineken Champions Cup draw: Exeter host Lyon in last 16
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Posted By: Bigmal
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2021 at 17:41
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Not a surprise that no mention made of the likelihood (or not) of spectators being able to attend the finals ! Many have tickets bought a couple of years ago as well as flight/hotels bookings. If the plan is to just show the games on TV fine -just let us know!
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Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2021 at 20:36
Really, the virus is still prevalent throughout Europe and all you can think about is wether you can attend a rugby match! ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: No 7
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2021 at 21:26
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Big Jake 20 hands
------------- Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. |
Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2021 at 08:28
This is a rugby thread R999, some people come here for a bit of light relief from the virus, the effects of which few if any of us fail to appreciate. Those who want to remain permanently dialled in to Covid-19 should perhaps head elsewhere. I also invested a couple of hundred euros in tickets to the 2020 finals w/e, which was then put off by12 months, and now with little more than 2 months to go there's been no news about whether the w/e goes ahead as planned in 2021. I think the customer service from ERC Rugby is a bit sub-standard, and I don't see why I shouldn't air my thoughts on a rugby forum without being talked down to by a fellow poster...
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Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2021 at 10:52
So you can have your say, but people cannot disagree? ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2021 at 13:04
feel free to disagree, but when this strays into dismissing/belittling then I'm less keen on it; you suggested it wasn't legitimate for another poster to talk about whether a match they had bought tickets to would go ahead... taken to its extreme, your argument would lead to the whole of Rolling Maul being put on hold for the duration of the pandemic because the various topics discussed were trivial in comparison to a global pandemic that has killed 125k Brits + 2.5m others...
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Posted By: Bigmal
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2021 at 17:26
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Thanks for your accurate comments Islander - you understood exactly where I am coming from. At the professional level the game has decided to keep things going despite Covid 19 in order to survive. I had tickets for Prem games and have been reimbursed as no fans were allowed. I don't think Mhazelnutille will proceed with spectators but it will be broadcast to the public. IMHO the organisers should have dealt with the implications for fans with tickets before now. |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2021 at 19:55
Having waited over 10 months for refund of tickets, air fares from not being able to go to Rome last March, I appreciate you would like a refund. It appears Europeans like to drag their feet when it comes to handing money back! ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2021 at 07:41
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Fair play to EPC rugby, who actually responded to an email sent last night at 6.20am today, as below. Doesn't tell us much, and I still think they could have been more pro-active in communicating with ticket-holders, but nevertheless at least reassures that they're 'on it': Thank you for your email and we hope that this reply finds you well.
Discussions are still ongoing between EPCR and local authorities in Mhazelnutille regarding this season’s finals. The conditions around those will be determined by local, regional and national guidelines and EPCR will be making a further communication shortly, bearing in mind the logistical elements faced by fans as you outline below.
Some answers to Frequently Asked Questions concerning the finals can be found here: https://www.epcrugby.com/finals/" rel="nofollow - https://www.epcrugby.com/finals/
Thank you for your support of European club rugby. Best wishes, EPCR Communications team |
Posted By: Bigmal
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2021 at 08:16
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Well done Islander- as you say it would have made sense to have let us know that the position was at least under consideration.
Still dont see it being allowed though. Fortunately flights were cheap and hotel on flexible booking. Pity as I dont see myself visiting Mhazelnutille otherwise. I wonder where they'll go in 2023?
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Posted By: Bigmal
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2021 at 16:19
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Announcement that France " opening up" so will that change things?
Not much time between the 17/05 and the 20/05 when lots of people scheduled to fly. Watch this space as they say !
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Posted By: Bigmal
Date Posted: 19 Mar 2021 at 20:30
| Decision to be made and announced prior to 2/04 - given current situation I suspect that a refund the most likely course but I could be wrong. |
Posted By: Deva Delinquent
Date Posted: 20 Mar 2021 at 06:30
The way the email they sent out yesterday is worded, it sounds like they're looking at changing the venue again - like last year - with a view to holding it in the south of France the following year. I take it with the decision not being made until April they are still trying to negotiate this delay with everyone involved, because they've already chosen the next venue (Tottenham Hotspur's ground if I remember correctly). If that's the case, they offered refunds or the option to keep your tickets for the postponed finals the following year.
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Posted By: Bigmal
Date Posted: 20 Mar 2021 at 20:04
| Could be right but at least we should know soon. |
Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2021 at 17:12
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56591683" rel="nofollow - M'rseille final pushed back to 2022
No details yet on where the 2021 finals will be played.
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Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2021 at 22:59
I would imagine they are waiting to see 1) who the finalists are (or at least the semi-finalists) so the venue involves as little travel as possible 2) announcements of possible crowd limits in various countries? ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: Bigmal
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2021 at 10:57
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I think you are right about finalists dictating venue so there may be limited attendance?
I got the note about Mhazelnutille yesterday and flights are actually available as are refunds. No doubt the hotels will sell out but will France be clear in a years time? |
Posted By: Deva Delinquent
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2021 at 11:00
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Also from the announcement "In addition, this season's Champions Cup semi-finals will be played at the venues of the home clubs." I'd imagine something like that for the Challenge Cup.
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