Exclusive2020-21 European Rugby Cups: "New format in response to the health crisis" (François Vergnol, EPCR)

"This is a new competition format (for the 2020-21 European Rugby Cups), in response to the health crisis we are going through, which has turned our calendar upside down and restricted our schedule. We have taken advantage of this logistical obligation to change our formats, to make improvements that we have been thinking about for several years, while keeping what already works (extension of the direct knockout phase, no matches between teams in the same league in the group stage and an increase in the number of participants)," said François Vergnol, marketing and sales director at EPCR, to News Tank Football on 02/09/2020.

On the same day, the body unveiled the new format of the European Rugby Cups (Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup) for the 2020-21 season (see details below), two competitions that will be played only by Top 14, Gallagher Premiership Rugby and Guinness Pro14 clubs. "The big news is the introduction of a completely new two-legged format for the Champions Cup quarterfinals. While the decision to play with 24 teams (split into two groups of 12 in the Champions…