The UAFC

Wasps in financial problems - don't think they'll make it actually, they're struggling to find an investor.

Aironi will replaced by the new Italian franchise, whoever they may be.

We are guaranteed 2nd seeds for next season, if we win the HEC, guaranteed 1st seeds.

What if we get to the final and lose, still 2nd seeds?

To be in the 1st Tier, a club has to be the most recent winner or, as a first rule of thumb, have a minimum of 20 ranking points.

For a team (continuously in the HC) this minimum would equate to an average of 5 points each year. Drop below 5 in any year and progression above QF in another year would be required to compensate.

As some indication as to how tough it is, a team reaching the QF every year as a Pool runner-up but not progressing further would never make better than Tier 2. To achieve Tier 1 solely from the Amlin would require a team (on average) to be a Finalist every year of the 4 years taken into consideration.

How impressive would it not be to have 3 Irish teams in there.

That's not great grammar isn't it not

Thought it time to resurrect this old thread (in the absence of an old friend)

Ulster sitting at 10th in Europe (and a Club of the Week Award) .... interestingly ABOVE Saints (12th), Castres (14th) and Weegies (16th)

Are we favourites to top our Heiny pool?

Cap'n Grumpy wrote:Thought it time to resurrect this old thread (in the absence of an old friend)

Ulster sitting at 10th in Europe (and a Club of the Week Award) .... interestingly ABOVE Saints (12th), Castres (14th) and Weegies (16th)

Are we favourites to top our Heiny pool?

Not with Paddy Power anyway
Northampton 6/5
Ulster 6/4
Castres 5/1
Glasgow Warriors 11/1
Or Sky Bet
Northampton 5/4
Ulster 6/4
Castres 4/1
Glasgow 12/1

Ah sure that's the English for ya

In any real rugby fan's book I'd say we would be favourites, but only just.

ruckover wrote:Ah sure that's the English for ya

In any real rugby fan's book I'd say we would be favourites, but only just.

Strange though they have Ulster and Saints on 18/1 to win

bet victor have us 28/1 EW PAY 14/1 to reach the final ,nice wee wager. who says we cant

Saints or Ulster at this moment in time I think the Saints might have the stronger pack (but only if the ref is blind -- allows them to "bore' in the scrum and "come in at the side" on their maul .Ulster might be more mobile in the loose and edge it in the backs.

One a dirty wet day and a dirty( rough house ) match the Saints edge it

Up to 6th this week thanks in part to Bayonne overturning their illustrious neighbours in the Basque derby. Saints up to 7th.

Connacht deservedly team of the week.

5th this week. Behind Leinster and the French Big 3. Looking down on the cream of English rugby.

big mervyn wrote:5th this week. Behind Leinster and the French Big 3. Looking down on the cream of English rugby.

There is a cream?

Big french 3 being Clermont, Toulouse and Toulon?

Russ wrote:

big mervyn wrote:5th this week. Behind Leinster and the French Big 3. Looking down on the cream of English rugby.

There is a cream?

Big french 3 being Clermont, Toulouse and Toulon?

Indeed but in reverse. Toulon are 2nd and Toulouse 3rd. Clermont are just a smidgeon above Ulster. Could overtake them next week if all goes well on Friday.