The Stormers faithful at Cape Town Stadium. Photo: Gallo Images.
SA teams blocked from hosting Champions Cup semi-final games
South African sides in Champions Cup and Challenge Cup forced to play in Europe if they secure home semi-finals in those competitions.
The Stormers faithful at Cape Town Stadium. Photo: Gallo Images.
The South African sides in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup will be forced to play in Europe if they were to secure home semi-finals in those competitions.
According to reputable Irish publication The42.ie, EPCR (European Professional Club Rugby) organisers have confirmed that the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers can earn home round-of-16 and quarter-final games in the Champions Cup.
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However, if any of the SA teams advance to the last four and earn a ‘home’ fixture in the semi-finals, that game would take place in Europe instead of on South African soil. And the same principle applies to the Lions in the Challenge Cup.
There is, however, a possibility that this specific rule could be relax should two South African sides come up against each other in the semi-finals of either of the two competition.
“This position may be reviewed if two SA teams happen to meet in a semi-final,” an EPCR official confirmed.
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It is a different matter altogether for the Cheetahs, who were only allowed enter into the Challenge Cup on condition that all their matches be played in Europe. The Cheetahs are already based in Italy for their Challenge Cup campaign and will continue their play there should they progresses to the play-offs.
EPCR did admit that this position could be reviewed if the Cheetahs are drawn against the Lions in the knock-out stages of the Challenge Cup.
STATE OF SA TEAMS IN CHAMPIONS CUP AND CHALLENGE CUP:
As it stands, the Sharks are the only to have booked a spot in the playoffs of the Champions Cup having won all three of their games in the tournament. They play against Harlequins in London on Saturday, 21 January.
The Bulls and Stormers are on the brink of playoff qualification, with two wins each from three games played. The Bulls will take on Lyon in France on Saturday and the Stormers will host French outfit Clermont in Cape Town on the same day.
In the Challenge Cup, the Lions sit in third position in group B, while the Cheetahs are languishing in seventh spot.
The Lions will face the Dragons in Newport on Sunday afternoon and the Cheetahs will host Pau at their European based in Parma also on Sunday.
Of the five SA teams, only the Stormers will play in South Africa this weekend.
