Sooper Dooper qualification.

[justinr73]

I think it's an attempt to make the Challenge Cup worth bothering with.

[Neill_M]

I think it's an attempt to make the Challenge Cup worth bothering with.

Agreed, when there was no pathway into the H Cup via the Challenge Cup, it was effective as a broken pencil.

Now teams are starting to take it more seriously again with the H Cup spot available.

[big mervyn]

I think it's an attempt to make the Challenge Cup worth bothering with.

Agreed, when there was no pathway into the H Cup via the Challenge Cup, it was effective as a broken pencil.

Now teams are starting to take it more seriously again with the H Cup spot available.

Don't have a problem with the winners getting a slot but the losing PP semifinalists battling it out is frankly, ludicrous.

[BR]

I think it's an attempt to make the Challenge Cup worth bothering with.

Agreed, when there was no pathway into the H Cup via the Challenge Cup, it was effective as a broken pencil.

Now teams are starting to take it more seriously again with the H Cup spot available.

Don't have a problem with the winners getting a slot but the losing PP semifinalists battling it out is frankly, ludicrous.

Makes the Parker Knoll much more attractive.

I think most PP winners have qualified for HEC via normal means anyway. This is attractive to those mid-table sides who may not win, but it's worth having a go in order to provide a safety net.

It makes a hell of a lot more sense than the Pro14.

[Neill_M]

I think it's an attempt to make the Challenge Cup worth bothering with.

Agreed, when there was no pathway into the H Cup via the Challenge Cup, it was effective as a broken pencil.

Now teams are starting to take it more seriously again with the H Cup spot available.

Don't have a problem with the winners getting a slot but the losing PP semifinalists battling it out is frankly, ludicrous.

Makes the Parker Knoll much more attractive.

I think most PP winners have qualified for HEC via normal means anyway. This is attractive to those mid-table sides who may not win, but it's worth having a go in order to provide a safety net.

It makes a hell of a lot more sense than the Pro14.

If/when the South African sides are given the green light to enter the H Cup/Challenge Cup, the Pro 14 system will simplify with top 3 in each conference + a PO between the 4th placed sides.

Suspect the Cheetahs may have surprised a few people in making the end of season Playoffs in year 1 which has made things more complicated!

[BR]

I think it's an attempt to make the Challenge Cup worth bothering with.

Agreed, when there was no pathway into the H Cup via the Challenge Cup, it was effective as a broken pencil.

Now teams are starting to take it more seriously again with the H Cup spot available.

Don't have a problem with the winners getting a slot but the losing PP semifinalists battling it out is frankly, ludicrous.

Makes the Parker Knoll much more attractive.

I think most PP winners have qualified for HEC via normal means anyway. This is attractive to those mid-table sides who may not win, but it's worth having a go in order to provide a safety net.

It makes a hell of a lot more sense than the Pro14.

If/when the South African sides are given the green light to enter the H Cup/Challenge Cup, the Pro 14 system will simplify with top 3 in each conference + a PO between the 4th placed sides.

Suspect the Cheetahs may have surprised a few people in making the end of season Playoffs in year 1 which has made things more complicated!

Was there ever any suggestion that if the Cheetahs finished 2nd that they would not get a home playoff?

If it had been in the balance, 1 week turnaround for travel would be tricky. Ask Cardiff.

[Neill_M]

Was there ever any suggestion that if the Cheetahs finished 2nd that they would not get a home playoff?

If it had been in the balance, 1 week turnaround for travel would be tricky. Ask Cardiff.

Not I am aware of. The new boys had the same playoff rights as everyone else - just not eligible for the European competitions yet. Agree that any side would have had to turn themselves around quickly enough.

In Cardiff's case for their regular season game v Cheetahs, they only planned to leave London on the Wednesday arriving there on the Thursday for a Saturday game in Bloemfontein. They did suffer roughly 1 day's worth of delays which meant they only got there on the Friday night.

[big mervyn]

It's all a right horlix. I'm a bit old school and like things to be meritocratic wherever possible. Wishful thinking I know

[Dave]

Where is the Parker Pen final next season?

[BR]

It's all a right horlix. I'm a bit old school and like things to be meritocratic wherever possible. Wishful thinking I know

I just like them to be vaguely intuitive.

[Neill_M]

Where is the Parker Pen final next season?

Same as the H Cup - Newcastle upon Tyne.

[jean valjean]

So if Leinster win the souper douper cup we qualify automatically without a play off.

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/41909.php#.Wui9j3PTU0M

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[Neill_M]

So if Leinster win the souper douper cup we qualify automatically without a play off.

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/41909.php#.Wui9j3PTU0M

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And Gloucester and Pau secure Top 6 finishes in their leagues this weekend, which will require multiple results to happen.

Putting it simply, it’s a long shot.

[jean valjean]

So if Leinster win the souper douper cup we qualify automatically without a play off.

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/41909.php#.Wui9j3PTU0M

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

And Gloucester and Pau secure Top 6 finishes in their leagues this weekend, which will require multiple results to happen.

Putting it simply, it’s a long shot.

Nope. The article says if Leinster win then Ulster qualify without a playoff. Bit of confusion around tonight.

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[Neill_M]

So if Leinster win the souper douper cup we qualify automatically without a play off.

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/41909.php#.Wui9j3PTU0M

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

And Gloucester and Pau secure Top 6 finishes in their leagues this weekend, which will require multiple results to happen.

Putting it simply, it’s a long shot.

Nope. The article says if Leinster win then Ulster qualify without a playoff. Bit of confusion around tonight.

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Check our Mr Mulligan’s twitter feed @r_mulligan1 - that will explain it all

Putting it simply, the Challenge SF sides all have to make the H Cup in 18/19 via their leagues for the spot to pass down to the league of the winner of the H Cup this year.