Connacht can now qualify for the Heineken Cup through a new “back door” system which gives the country of the tournament winners an extra place.
This means that if Leinster, Munster, or Ulster were to win the Heineken Cup next season, Connacht would be guaranteed a spot the following season.
The changes are just one of several to be introduced to the European competitions next season which also sees the best of the Heineken Cup teams that do not qualify for the quarter-finals joining the Challenge Cup for the knock-out changes. As a result only pool winners of the Challenge Cup go through to the quarter-finals.
For Connacht to qualify, they must overcome their group opponents, No 1 seeds Worcester Warriors, French side Montpellier, and newcomers Madrid to finish as pool winners. The five pool winners will meet the third, fourth, and fifth ranked Heineken Cup pool runners-up in the quarter-finals.
The ERC organisers claim the changes are to “ enhance both the quality and profile of the European Challenge Cup knock-out matches”, but they will certainly make it harder for teams, like Connacht, seeded in the second group to get through. Connacht have qualified in the past four years on two occasions - both as the one of three best runners-up. Now there is no room for losses.
Although the focus of Connacht’s seasonal ambitions to qualify for the Heineken Cup has switched from the European campaign to the Magners League in recent years, this too has been changed. The 24th play-off between the Italian/Celtic League will no longer be required, with an extra place instead going to the country which wins the Heineken Cup. Thus, had these changes been introduced last year - or indeed the year before - Connacht would have taken their place in the Heinekn Cup by virtue of Munster and Leinster’s victory.
Connacht branch CEO Gerry Kelly says Connacht must take the positives from these changes.
“Obviously we are disappointed that the Challenge Cup format has changed. Last year with London Irish in our group, we targetted winning that runner-up spot, but it now makes it more difficult because you must win the pool,” he says.
With smaller resources and squads than others in the competition, Connacht took the opportunity to rest players for the away fixture against London Irish to ensure they overcame French side Dax. Now, however, they will enjoy no such luxury.
“It was always good to have that carrot of a quarter-final by either finishing first or second in the pool. However it will certainly change the focus by having to go out and win every game.”
Kelly says the changes have limited Connacht’s options - not just in the Challenge Cup but also in the Magners League.
“We had the opportunity to gain Heineken Cup entry in the Magners League by finishing above one of the three Irish provnces, or above the last-placed Welsh side, which was usually the Newport Dragons. Now that will no longer apply, we must focus on finishing above one of the Irish provinces. That of course will certainly add extra bite to the the internal interprovincial matches.”
Connacht, however, will gladly accept a place in the Heineken Cup by virtue of one of the three Irish provinces winning the tournament.
“Up until now the French and the English always got that extra spot, so we will take the positives out of the changes.”
Teams will continue to qualify through their domestic tournaments with each nation having the following number of automatic places:England and France – six each; Wales and Ireland – three each; and Scotland and Italy – two each.
The 23rd and 24th Heineken Cup places will go to the nation(s ) of the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup winners, with England and France capped on a maximum of seven teams each.
The 2009/2010 European Challenge Cup groups are:
Pool One: Bourgoin, Leeds Carnegie, Overmach Parma, Bucuresti Oaks.
Pool Two: Worcester Warriors, Connacht, Montpellier, Olympus Madrid.
Pool Three: Saracens, Castres Olympique, Toulon, Rovigo.
Pool Four: London Wasps, Calvisano, Bayonne, Racing-Metro 92.
Pool Five: Newcastle Falcons, Montauban, Petrarca, Albi.
