2015–16 European Rugby Champions–Challenge Cup play-offs explained

2015–16 European Rugby Champions–Challenge Cup play-offs
Event:European Rugby Champions Cup Qualification Play-off
Date:23 and 30 May 2015
Previous:2014–15

The 2015–16 European Rugby Champions Cup-Challenge Cup play-off was the second play-off for entry into the top-level competition of European Club rugby union, the European Rugby Champions Cup.

Format

Following the two-team play-off in 2014–15, an expanded, four-team format was due to be used. However, on 24 September 2014, it was announced this would instead be a three-team play-off, with the highest placed non-qualifying team taking part.[1]

To accommodate the longer season in the French Top 14, the format was announced as follows:

Gloucester became the first team to qualify for the play-off, taking the place allocated to the Premiership, when they beat Edinburgh 19–13 in the Challenge Cup final on 1 May 2015. This result meant that the 7th place team in the 2014–15 Premiership will no longer take part in the play-off, and will compete in the Challenge Cup. Connacht qualified next, when the finished seventh in the 2014–15 Pro12 with 50 points, narrowly edging Edinburgh who had 48 points. Bordeaux Bègles qualified for the play-off on 23 May 2015.

Connacht played Gloucester away at Gloucester's Kingsholm Stadium on Sunday 24 May 2015,[3] with the venue having been decided earlier by a coin toss.[4] It was decided that, in the event of a Gloucester win, the second play-off match would be played at Sixways Stadium in Worcester, to avoid a clash of fixtures with a Madness concert.

Teams

LeagueTeamCoachStadium
PremiershipGloucester David HumphreysKingsholm Stadium
Pro12Connacht Pat LamGalway Sportsgrounds
Top 14Bordeaux Bègles Raphaël IbañezStade André Moga

Matches

Match 1

FB 15
RW 14 Jonny May
OC 13 Bill Meakes
IC 12 Billy Twelvetrees (c)
LW 11
FH 10 James Hook
SH 9 Greig Laidlaw
N8 8
OF 7
BF 6 Jacob Rowan
RL 5 Tom Palmer
LL 4 Tom Savage
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
LK 19
FL 20
SH 21
FH 22 Billy Burns
FB 23
Coach:
David Humphreys
FB 15
RW 14
OC 13 Robbie Henshaw
IC 12 Bundee Aki
LW 11 Matt Healy
FH 10 Jack Carty
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7
BF 6 John Muldoon (c)
RL 5 Aly Muldowney
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
LK 19
FL 20
SH 21
FH 22
CE 23
Coach:
Pat Lam

Match 2

FB 15 Rob Cook
RW 14 Charlie Sharples
OC 13
IC 12 Billy Twelvetrees (c)
LW 11 Henry Purdy
FH 10 James Hook
SH 9 Greig Laidlaw
N8 8 Ross Moriarty
OF 7
BF 6
RL 5 Tom Palmer
LL 4 Tom Savage
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
LK 19
N8 20
SH 21 Callum Braley
FH 22 Billy Burns
FB 23
Coach:
David Humphreys
FB 15
RW 14 Metuisela Talebula
OC 13 Félix Le Bourhis
IC 12 Julien Rey
LW 11 Blair Connor
FH 10 Pierre Bernard
SH 9
N8 8 Peter Saili
OF 7
BF 6 Louis-Benoît Madaule (c)
RL 5
LL 4 Jandré Marais
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
LK 19
N8 20
SH 21
CE 22 Jayden Spence
FB 23
Coach:
Raphaël Ibañez

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR). epcrugby.com. 14 September 2017.
  2. Web site: European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR). epcrugby.com. 14 September 2017.
  3. Web site: Connacht lose but make Champions Cup play-off. RTÉ. 16 May 2015. 17 May 2015. Connacht will now play Gloucester away at Kingsholm next Sunday, with the winner of that tie playing the French Top 14 seventh-placed side for a spot in next year's Champions Cup..
  4. Web site: Gloucester's Champions Cup play-off home advantage to be settled by Twickenham coin toss. Gloucester Citizen. Mike Brown. 2 May 2015. 17 May 2015. The coin toss will take place during coverage of the Champions Cup final between Clermont Auvergne and Toulon at Twickenham. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150506110224/http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Gloucester-s-Champions-Cup-play-home-advantage/story-26430513-detail/story.html . 6 May 2015 .