Ulster Rugby vs Saracens

EPCR WELCOME

WELCOME MESSAGE FROM EPCR

On behalf of tournament organiser, EPCR, I am delighted to welcome you to this evening’s Round 2 match in the European Rugby Champions Cup.

Following a compelling inaugural season for both the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup, European professional club rugby now returns to centre stage as we start what promises to be an exciting journey to the 2016 Lyon finals which will be played at the state-of-the-art Grand Stade de Lyon next May. With tickets already selling fast via epcrugby.com for both the Challenge Cup and Champions Cup showpiece matches, we would encourage fans who want to experience a unique weekend festival of elite rugby in one of France’s finest cities to book their seats as soon as possible. As you are aware, EPCR’s tournaments are built on the rich heritage of 20 years of outstanding European competition and as we look forward together to a bright future, I particularly want to acknowledge the commitment of fans across Europe – your support is greatly appreciated. Once again, the clubs competing in the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup have qualified on merit from their respective domestic leagues – the PRO12, the Aviva Premiership and the Top 14 – or via a play-off. At the conclusion of this season, there will be no play-offs for the 20th place in the Champions Cup with the winner of the Challenge Cup qualifying automatically for the 2016/17 tournament. In addition, the Challenge Cup Qualifying Competition provides important opportunities for

emerging and more established clubs alike. Clubs from Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Romania and Spain, along with three representatives from Italy, are competing this season, and two will eventually qualify for the 2016/17 Challenge Cup. With EPCR’s Executive fully operational from its base in Neuchatel, Switzerland, the organisation’s commercial programme continues to gain further momentum. Turkish Airlines have recently been announced as an Official Partner of the tournaments, and Tissot are now the Official Timekeeper and Watch of the tournaments. These key new agreements with world-renowned brands complement the long-standing relationship with Official Partner, Heineken, while Canterbury supply match officials kit and Gilbert provide match balls. With first-class broadcast coverage from our TV and radio partners – BT Sport, Sky Sports, beIN Sports, France Televisions, BBC 5Live, Newstalk and RTE – we are prepared for the 2015/16 European season. Finally, I would like to wish this evening’s teams and their supporters every success in the coming months. Yours in rugby, Simon Halliday // Chairman EPCR