Euro bosses reveal reasons for 2019 delay
NEWS: European Professional Club Rugby revealed why the opening round of the 2019-20 Champions and Challenge Cups will be delayed.
The first matches of both the top and second-tier European competitions usually take place in mid-October but have been moved a month later to accommodate next year’s World Cup in Japan, which concludes on November 2.
Marseille’s Vélodrome was announced in October as the host for the finals of the two tournaments in May 2020.
“In order to assist with its stakeholders’ forward planning, the EPCR is pleased to announce the key dates for the 2019/20 Champions Cup and Challenge Cup season,” a statement said.
“As the World Cup takes centre stage next year, EPCR’s tournaments will get underway later than usual with the kick-off scheduled for mid-November – just under a fortnight after the World Cup Final in Yokohama on 2 November 2019.”
The tournaments will then revert to their customary weekends in December 2019 and January 2020 – with the quarterfinals and semifinals set for early April and early May respectively.
EPCR weekends – 2019/20 season
Round 1: 15/16/17 November 2019
Round 2: 22/23/24 November 2019
Round 3: 6/7/8 December 2019
Round 4: 13/14/15 December 2019
Round 5: 10/11/12 January 2020
Round 6: 17/18/19 January 2020
Quarter-finals: 3/4/5 April 2020
Semi-finals: 1/2/3 May 2020
2020 finals – Stade de Marseille
Challenge Cup Final – Friday, May 22
Champions Cup Final – Saturday, May 23
