7 / 62
5
EPCR WELCOME
Although the European club season got underway
with the opening two rounds of matches, everything
was put into perspective by the terrible events in Paris
last month. Once again, we extend our sincerest
sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives
during the attacks.
As you are aware, it was decided to postpone five
Champions Cup games and one Challenge Cup
game in the wake of the atrocities, however, following
close co-operation between the Ligue Nationale de
Rugby, Premiership Rugby, PRO12 Rugby and all the
clubs involved, EPCR has been able to reschedule
the matches for the weekend of 8/9/10 January 2016.
For now, the pool stages of both the Champions Cup
and Challenge Cup tournaments are set to gain more
momentum as we focus on the key Round 3 and 4
back-to-back fixtures which will have a major bearing
on which clubs are able to continue the journey
towards the 2016 Lyon finals at the state-of-the-art
Grand Stade de Lyon next May.
With tickets already selling fast via
epcrugby.comfor
the two finals, we would encourage fans who want to
experience a unique weekend festival of elite rugby
in one of France’s finest cities to book their seats as
soon as possible.
EPCR’s tournaments are built on the rich heritage of
20 years of outstanding European competition and as
we look forward to more great occasions this season,
I particularly want to acknowledge the commitment
of fans across Europe – your support is greatly
appreciated.
Once again, the clubs competing in the Champions
Cup and the Challenge Cup have qualified on merit
from their respective domestic leagues – the PRO12,
the Aviva Premiership Rugby and the TOP 14 – or via
a play-off.
At the conclusion of this season, there will be no play-
offs for the 20th place in the Champions Cup with the
winner of the Challenge Cup qualifying automatically
for the 2016/17 tournament.
In addition, the Challenge Cup Qualifying
Competition continues to provide important
opportunities for emerging and more established
clubs alike. Clubs from Belgium, Germany, Portugal,
Romania and Spain, along with three representatives
from Italy, are competing this season, and two will
eventually qualify for the 2016/17 Challenge Cup.
With EPCR’s Executive fully operational from its
base in Neuchatel, Switzerland, the organisation’s
commercial programme continues to gain further
momentum. Turkish Airlines have recently been
announced as an Official Partner of the tournaments,
and Tissot are now the Official Timekeeper and
Watch of the tournaments.
These key new agreements with world-renowned
brands complement the long-standing relationship
with Official Partner, Heineken, while Canterbury
supply match officials kit and Gilbert provide match
balls.
With first-class broadcast coverage from our TV and
radio partners – BT Sport, Sky Sports, beIN Sports,
France Televisions, Sky Italia, BBC 5Live, Newstalk
and RTE – the tournaments are in a strong position.
Finally, I would like to wish this evening’s teams and
their supporters every success in these vital back-to-
back fixtures.
Yours in rugby,
Simon Halliday
//
Chairman
EPCR
WELCOME MESSAGE
FROM EPCR
On behalf of tournament organiser, EPCR,
I am delighted to welcome you to this
evening’s Round 3 match in the European
Rugby Champions Cup.