[ad_1]
Exeter Chiefs, who claimed their first European top-flight title in such magnificent style last month, will begin their defense of the Heineken Champions Cup with a first-round clash against the Glasgow Warriors on Sunday 13 December.
The Group B contest at Sandy Park, which will be broadcast live on BT Sport, is one of a series of high-quality matches on the 2020/21 Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup calendars that have been announced by the organizers of the EPCR tournament.
Click HERE to watch the 2020/21 Heineken Champions Cup matches
Click HERE to watch the 2020/21 Challenge Cup matches
Television coverage in the UK and Ireland of this season’s expanded Heineken Champions Cup continues to be led by BT Sport, which will re-broadcast each match live. The 24-club competition, with nine previous winners with 19 titles between them, will also be available for free with one key match per round on Channel 4 and Virgin Media.
The open opening match pitting recent Challenge Cup winners Bristol Bears against seasoned European champions ASM Clermont Auvergne at Ashton Gate in Group B on Saturday 12 December is sure to be a highlight of the Round. 1.
On the same day, Guinness PRO14 champions Leinster Rugby begin their quest for a record fifth title against Montpellier at GGL Stadium in Group B, while Wasps, who were defeated by Exeter Chiefs in the Gallagher Premiership final, they face the Dragons at Rodney Parade in Group A when the Wales region returns to the tournament for the first time in 10 years.
The journey to the 2021 finals weekend in Marseille begins on Friday, December 11 when the former winners, Northampton Saints, host the number one representative of the TOP 14, Bordeaux-Bègles, at Franklin’s Gardens in Group A, followed by Group B meeting of Ulster Rugby and four-time champion Toulouse at Kingspan Stadium.
The modified Challenge Cup, which begins with 14 clubs, also kicks off on Friday, December 11 with the newly promoted Newcastle Falcons, facing Cardiff Blues at Kingston Park, Leicester Tigers against Brive at Mattioli Woods Welford Road and Stade Francais Paris as host. Benetton Rugby at the Stade Jean-Bouin.
Notes
- A total of 38 clubs from six countries have qualified by merit for the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup of Europe’s three leading professional championships: Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Guinness PRO14 and TOP 14.
- The Heineken Champions Cup consists of two groups of 12 clubs and the group stage is played in four rounds. The four highest-ranked clubs in each group will qualify for the quarter-finals, which will be played in two games at home and away.
- Clubs ranked 5-8 in Group A and 5-8 in Group B will qualify for the Round of 16 of the Challenge Cup.
- Fourteen clubs will compete in four rounds in the preliminary stage of the Challenge Cup with the eight highest ranked clubs, as well as eight clubs from the Heineken Champions Cup, qualifying for the knockout stages.
- There is no limit to the number of players that clubs can nominate in their tournament rosters at first registration, and there is no limit to the number of non-European players in a roster on match day.
- The finals of the Challenge Cup 2021 and the Heineken Champions Cup will be played in Marseille next May.
- The 2020/21 season is the 25thth anniversary of Heineken’s association with European professional club rugby.
Weekends of the 2020/21 season
Round 1 – 12/11/13 December 2020
Round 2 – 18/19/20 December 2020
Round 3 – January 15/16/17, 2021
Round 4 – 22/23/24 January 2021
Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals, first leg – 2/3/4 April 2021
Challenge Cup Round of 16 – April 2/3/4, 2021
Heineken Champions Cup Quarterfinals, second leg – 10/09/11 April 2021
Challenge Cup Quarterfinals – 10/09/11 April 2021
Semifinals – April 30 – May 1/2, 2021
Marseille Finals 2021
Challenge Cup Final – Friday May 21, Stade Vélodrome
Heineken Champions Cup Final – Saturday May 22, Stade Vélodrome
[ad_2]