Sport

Revamp of European rugby aims to tackle commercial reality of the game

Expanding the competition may mean more meaningless fixtures but it will score with the increasing demands of broadcasters, sponsors and investors

The revamped Champions Cup competition will see four pools of six with four teams progressing from each instead of two pools of 12 teams with eight going through. Picture: Inpho

Announcing the reformatting of the European Professional Club Rugby (EPRC) last week, chairman Dominic McKay said the aim was to “ensure we have a structure that creates real sporting jeopardy in as many matches as possible”.

In an admission that the current format was failing to engage, the revamped competition means that instead of two pools of 12 teams, with eight progressing from each, there will now be four pools of six with the four ...