The Premier European Club Rugby Competitions
Izvor: KiWi
With all the advent of specialist rugby in 1995, the game changed around the globe. In the Southern Hemisphere, SANZAR was formed and the Super 14 and Tri-Nations competitions have been started.
In Europe, the ERC (European Rugby Cup) was set up. This was primarily based in Dublin and it runs two qualified competitions, the Heineken Cup and the European Challenge Cup. They run these in collaboration using the premier competitions in every single country to ensure that there is not a clash amongst games in the many competitions.
The ERC has an ambition: 'to lead club rugby to unparalleled levels of popularity and profile... making a distinctive and important contribution towards the development and progression of rugby union.' Their motto is 'ERC - Driving European Club Rugby Competition'
So it may be seen that the ERC was set up with lofty ideals and visions. The truth that the two competitions are nevertheless running (as of 2013) shows that they're performing something correct even though it could possibly be debated as to regardless of whether they're reaching their ambition as stated. These two rugby competitions continue below the ERC even as you will discover rumblings and discontent inside member nations regarding the format and who qualifies for each and every competition, normally for reasons to complete with self-interest by the nations involved.
What are these two competitions that the ERC run in European rugby?
The Heineken Cup will be the premier club rugby competition in Europe. It really is played for by teams in the six IRB nations that contest the 6 Nations Championship: England, France, Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy. Every single nation may possibly use a various way of deciding which teams play inside the Heineken Cup but you will find 24 teams in total. The number from each country may possibly differ based on outcomes in many other competitions. They currently play in six pools of four teams. The pool winners as well as the subsequent greatest 2 runners-up qualify for the play-offs.
The format has changed over the years, each together with the iPad competition quantity of teams and number of pools. As an example, in the 1st year there had been only 12 teams.
There is certainly speak of further alterations soon after the 2013/14 season.
The other competition would be the European Challenge Cup. It has been known, for sponsorship factors, as the Parker pen Shield, the Parker Pen Challenge Cup and is presently (2013) referred to as the Amlin Cup. It truly is the 2nd tier rugby competition in Europe and teams that usually do not qualify for the Heineken Cup play in it. You will find also teams from Romania, Spain and Portugal participating.
Over the years in addition, it has had numerous formats and numbers of teams. Presently (2013) it has 20 teams playing in 5 pools of 4 teams. The pool winners as well as the subsequent greatest 3 runners-up qualify for the play-offs, exactly where they are joined by 3 teams 'parachuting' in from the Heineken Cup competition. These are the following finest 3 teams that did not qualify for the Heineken Cup play-offs.
The ERC runs these two competitions in Europe and they're rather complicated to run due to the variety of teams and nations involved. It could possibly be mentioned that politics inside the sport have a main bearing around the way things are accomplished. Possessing said that it does imply that there is a great deal of top quality skilled club rugby becoming played in Europe.
