Ulster Rugby v Wasps

WELCOME MESSAGE FROM EPCR

EPCR WELCOME

After a busy 12 months with top-class action on the pitch and several exciting developments off it, it is a pleasure to welcome you to a brand new season of European professional club rugby.

More than one million spectators passed through the turnstiles last season in the European Rugby Champions Cup, culminating in Saracens retaining their crown with victory over ASM Clermont Auvergne at BT Murrayfield and Owen Farrell winning the inaugural Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy as the EPCR European Player of the Year. Last season brought many outstanding rugby experiences in the Champions Cup across the continent. This season, our commitment to expanding the footprint of European rugby is reflected in the landmark decision to award this season’s final to the state-of-the-art San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, the first time that the event will be staged outside of the ‘six nations’. All clubs have qualified on merit through the Aviva Premiership, Guinness PRO12 and TOP 14 and there are significant improvements made to the qualification formats this season. The best seven European clubs from what is now the PRO14 will progress to the Champions Cup irrespective of their nationality. To be clear, this will not involve the South African clubs admitted to the Guinness PRO14 this season. However, we welcome their arrival in Northern Hemisphere rugby, as do all rugby followers. In another major change we have made, the winner of the Challenge Cup will qualify directly for the Champions Cup from this season onwards, should they not have already booked

their place via their league position. We know this will be welcomed by all. EPCR commits to maintain its focus on excellence both on and off the field in what is an ever-evolving rugby landscape both regionally and globally. We are delighted to be joined once again by Official Partners Heineken and Turkish Airlines, Official Supporter, Tissot, and Official Supplier, Gilbert. Moreover, we look forward to another season of top quality coverage from our broadcast partners BT Sport, Sky Sports, beIN SPORTS and France Télévisions, taking the premium tournaments of European club rugby to homes across the world. As well as their coverage, you can stay close to the heart of the competitions through ChampionsCupRugby.com and official social media channels, where you can play our exciting new Fantasy Rugby game as well as winning some superb prizes by selecting your Try of the Round after each matchweek during the pool stage. We invite you to tune in to another season of outstanding rugby across Europe and wish you a wonderful time culminating in a visit to our most ambitious rugby venue yet, Bilbao. Enjoy the start of the European season.

Simon Halliday EPCR Chairman