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EPCR WELCOME
Following a compelling inaugural season for both
the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup,
European professional club rugby now returns to
centre stage as we start what promises to be an
exciting journey to the 2016 Lyon finals which will
be played at the state-of-the-art Grand Stade de
Lyon next May.
With tickets already selling fast via
epcrugby.comfor both the Challenge Cup and Champions Cup
showpiece matches, 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.
As you are aware, EPCR’s tournaments are built
on the rich heritage of 20 years of outstanding
European competition and as we look forward
together to a bright future, 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 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 provides 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, BBC 5Live, Newstalk
and RTE – we are prepared for the 2015/16
European season.
Finally, I would like to wish this evening’s teams
and their supporters every success in the coming
months.
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 2 match in the European Rugby Champions Cup.