Get Newsletter

Road to Europe: The one obstacle that could trip up URC candidates

SPOTLIGHT: In the ballyhoo over the United Rugby Championship play-off race, one significant fact appears to have escaped the attention of pundits.

ADVERTISEMENT

A top eight finish won’t necessary earn all eight a place at Europe’s top table next season.

The Sharks’ appearance in the Challenge Cup Final later this month could have major implications for teams that are chasing qualification for next season’s Champions Cup.

With each of the three leagues – the French Top 14, the URC and the English Premiership – being given eight spots in the 24-team competition, the only exception would be that the winner of the Challenge Cup gains automatic entry into next season’s Champions’ Cup.

Consequently, the league that the winner belongs to, would then lose a spot in the Champions Cup to make way for the winner of the Challenge Cup.

If the Sharks beat Gloucester in the Challenge Cup Final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 24, they will take one of the URC positions at the top table.

That leaves only seven remaining URC places.

ADVERTISEMENT

The same would apply to the Premiership if Gloucester wins.

As the URC league season heads down the home stretch, the permutations become even more intriguing.

(Continue below …)

Video Spacer

The top four teams – Glasgow Warriors, Leinster, Munster and the Bulls – have already booked their play-off spots and therefore their places in the Champions Cup.

They are only jockeying for home-ground advantage in the play-offs.

ADVERTISEMENT

That leaves four, perhaps only three places remaining – a top-seven finish to secure your place in the Champions Cup.

That may be a problem for a team like the Lions, who are on the outside cusp of the permutations and desperate to get a top-eight place.

The Stormers are on 50 points, with Ulster (49), Edinburgh (48), Benetton (48), Connacht (44), Lions (44) and Ospreys (40) all still with mathematical chances of making the top eight.

But of those, the Stormers probably have the simplest of fixtures, facing Connacht away and the Lions at home in their final two fixtures.

Ulster have a tough task, with two Irish derbies – against Leinster (home) and Munster (away).

Edinburgh face Munster (home) and Benetton (away).

The Italian side’s biggest test will come at Loftus Versfeld this weekend against the Bulls before they host Sean Everitt’s team in their final fixture.

Connacht’s task is just as immense with Stormers and Leinster in their final fixtures.

The Lions game this weekend against log leaders Glasgow Warriors will be crucial to them having a chance in the final weekend.

The Ospreys may well look out of the running, but are likely to have a firm advantage over the Dragons and Cardiff in their two Welsh derbies and could get full points from them and sneak in via the back door.

Either way, the fight for places will be intense and the Sharks, while out of the top eight picture, will be keenly watched by the teams in the URC as they fight for their only remaining hope of qualifying for the Champions Cup next season.

The remaining fixtures the play-off contenders follow below

United Rugby Championship

P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Glasgow
16
12
4
0
60
2
Leinster
16
12
4
0
59
3
Munster
16
11
4
1
58
4
Bulls
16
11
5
0
56
5
Stormers
16
10
6
0
50
6
Ulster
16
10
6
0
49
7
Edinburgh
16
11
5
0
48
8
Benetton
16
10
5
1
48
9
Connacht
16
9
7
0
44
10
Lions
16
8
8
0
44
11
Ospreys
16
8
8
0
40
12
Sharks
16
4
12
0
25
13
Cardiff Rugby
16
3
12
1
25
14
Scarlets
16
3
13
0
17
15
Gwent Dragons
16
3
13
0
16
16
Zebre
16
1
14
1
15

Stormers

Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Connacht
12 - 16
Full-time
Stormers
All Stats and Data
Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Stormers
29 - 24
Full-time
Lions
All Stats and Data

Ulster

Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Ulster
23 - 21
Full-time
Leinster
All Stats and Data
Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Munster
29 - 24
Full-time
Ulster
All Stats and Data

Edinburgh

Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Edinburgh
26 - 29
Full-time
Munster
All Stats and Data
Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Benetton
31 - 6
Full-time
Edinburgh
All Stats and Data

Benetton

Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Bulls
56 - 35
Full-time
Benetton
All Stats and Data
Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Benetton
31 - 6
Full-time
Edinburgh
All Stats and Data

Connacht

Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Connacht
12 - 16
Full-time
Stormers
All Stats and Data
Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Leinster
33 - 7
Full-time
Connacht
All Stats and Data

Lions

Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Lions
44 - 21
Full-time
Glasgow
All Stats and Data
Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Stormers
29 - 24
Full-time
Lions
All Stats and Data

Ospreys

Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Ospreys
26 - 13
Full-time
Gwent Dragons
All Stats and Data
Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Cardiff Rugby
29 - 33
Full-time
Ospreys
All Stats and Data

 

Join free

Former rugby player is truly an NFL superstar | Walk the Talk | Jordan Mailata

Toyota Verblitz vs Saitama Wildknights | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 33 | Dupont's Toulouse Too Good

Gloucester-Hartpury vs Trailfinders Women | PWR 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Two Sides | Episode One

Edinburgh vs Brython | Celtic Challenge 2024/25 | Match Highlights

Yokohama Canon Eagles vs Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Global Schools Challenge | Day 2 Replay

Write A Comment