Prem will keep its eight clubs in Europe

THE Gallagher Premiership will continue to supply eight clubs to the Heineken Champions Cup next season despite two of their number folding during the current campaign.

Five English clubs made it through to this weekend’s round of 16 with Exeter and Saracens in action today, at home to Montpellier and the Ospreys respectively.

The dates for next season’s tournament were announced last week. There will again be four pool weekends and a round of 16, but no indication was given of the number of sides that will be taking part.

It has been 24 in recent seasons when the pandemic forced a change in format. The old system of five groups of four was replaced by two tables of 12 which sees one side play two of the others in its pool home and away.

The system has been criticised because twothirds of the sides will make the knock-out stage and it is possible for one to go through without winning a match.

A return to the old pool system is expected with 24 teams again taking part although, with just four weekends given over to group matches next season, which is affected by the World Cup in France, it would have to be eight groups of three with the top two going through.

There had been suggestions that the Premiership’s number would be cut because of the wide discrepancy in percentages with the other two leagues that supply teams.

The United Rugby Championship is 16 strong, meaning only half their sides can qualify, while the French league has 14 clubs (57 per cent). Having eight out of 11 means 73 per cent of the Premiership’s contingent qualifies.

There is a move to reOWEN the Premiership to 10 clubs the season after next and it may be that the Champions Cup then reverts to 20 teams and the old system of five groups of four with six group rounds.

The Premiership size issue is part of a wider review of the game in England at both professional and community level.

Clubs in the latter have been given briefings on the new tackle law which the Rugby Football Union has said it wants to introduce from Level 3 downwards next season.

Clubs were hoping for a debate on a matter some feel will see players retire in their numbers, but were told that from July 1 the maximum height of a tackle across the entire community game, male, female and all age grades, is set to be at the bottom of the sternum.

It will be illegal for the ball carrier to significantly lower their height going into contact, except at a pick and go. The min

minimum sanction for attackers and defenders who get it wrong will be a penalty.

Officials who attended the briefings complained about what they saw as a fait accompli with the science behind the decision not open to scrutiny.

Fears were expressed at the impact it would have on player participation and that a number of lower level teams would not be able to field sides.

It was accepted that penalties and cards would spike as players got used to the new height. The RFU’s contention was that the move would encourage more schoolchildren to play. The RFU’s council will meet on April 21 for a final vote. The outcome is regarded as a formality by the clubs, although the change may be delayed in the bottom leagues if it is decided to hold festivals to help players adjust to the new tackling technique required.

THE 2023-24 Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup will kick off in December with two consecutive weekends of pool action, and the next pool stage rounds will take place over consecutive weekends in January 2024.

The Round of 16 matches are on the weekend of April 5/6/7 followed the week after by the quarter-finals. The semi-finals and finals take place in May, with a host city and venue to be announced.

Round 1 – Dec 8/9/10

Round 2 – Dec 15/16/17

Round 3 – Jan 12/13/14

Round 4 – Jan 19/20/21

Round of 16 – April 5/6/7

Quarters – April 12/13/14

Semis – May 3/4/5

Challenge Cup final – Friday May 24

Champions Cup final – Saturday May 25