2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup
2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup | |
---|---|
Tournament details | |
Countries | England France Ireland Scotland South Africa Wales |
Tournament format(s) | Modified round-robin and knockout |
Date | 8 December 2023 – 25 May 2024 |
Tournament statistics | |
Matches played | 63 |
Attendance | 1,160,390 (18,419 per match) |
Highest attendance | 82,300 – Leinster v Northampton Saints 4 May 2024 |
Lowest attendance | 6,024 – Connacht v Bordeaux 8 December 2023 |
Tries scored | 468 (7.43 per match) |
Top point scorer(s) | Marcus Smith (Harlequins) 85 points |
Top try scorer(s) | James Lowe (Leinster) Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux) Matthis Lebel (Toulouse) 6 tries |
Final | |
Venue | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London |
Attendance | 61,531 |
Champions | Toulouse (6th title) |
Runners-up | Leinster |
The 2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup is the tenth season of the European Rugby Champions Cup, the annual club rugby union competition run by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) for teams from the top five nations in European rugby and South Africa. It was the 29th season of pan-European professional club rugby competition.
This was the second time the tournament features the top teams from South Africa, following the second United Rugby Championship season.
The tournament commenced in May 2024. The final was held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Tottenham, England on 25 May 2024, and won by Toulouse for the sixth time, defeating Leinster 31–22.[1]
Teams
Twenty-four clubs from the three major European domestic and regional leagues qualified to compete in the 2023–24 edition of the Champions Cup.
The distribution of teams is:
- England: eight clubs
- The top eight clubs from Premiership Rugby[a]
- France: eight clubs
- The top eight clubs from the Top 14
- Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa, Wales: eight clubs
- The top side in each of the four regional shields from the United Rugby Championship (one Irish, one Welsh, one South African and one either Scottish or Italian), along with the remaining top four ranked clubs regardless of nation, within the league, that didn't win their respective shield. If the club that wins the championship has not qualified by the methods above then that club, the four shield winners and the remaining top three ranked clubs regardless of nation, within the league, that didn't win their respective shield will qualify.
Premiership | Top 14 | United Rugby Championship | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
England | France | Ireland | South Africa | Scotland | Wales |
Team details
Below is the list of coaches, captain and stadiums with their method of qualification for each team.
Note: Placing shown in brackets, denotes standing at the end of the regular season for their respective leagues, with their end of season positioning shown through CH for Champions, RU for Runner-up, SF for losing Semi-finalist, and QF for losing Quarter-finalist.
- Notes
- ^ a b c London Irish originally qualified as one of the top 8 Premiership teams, after finishing 5th in the 2022–23 season. However, the club was officially suspended from all professional competitions on 6 June 2023, due to financial insolvency.[2] As a consequence, their spot in the Champions Cup was awarded to Bristol Bears, the highest ranked team outside the top 8.[3]
Pool stage
Teams are awarded four points for a win, two for a draw, one bonus point for scoring four tries in a game, and one bonus point for losing by less than eight points.
The draw for the pool stage took place on 21 June 2023.[4] Unlike the previous season, the format consisted of four pools with six teams in each. The rules of the draw stipulated that the 2022–23 champions of the three European domestic leagues (Saracens, Toulouse and Munster) and the 2022–23 Champions Cup winners (La Rochelle) would each be drawn into separate pools. The remaining 20 teams were then drawn at random, with the only condition being that no more than two teams from the same domestic league could be placed into each pool.
Pool A
2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup Pool A | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | |
Bordeaux (4) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 172 | 83 | +89 | 26 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 17 |
Bulls (6) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 132 | 102 | +30 | 16 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
Lyon (11) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 121 | 123 | –2 | 18 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 12 |
Saracens (13) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 125 | 142 | –17 | 17 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
Connacht (11CC) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 88 | 140 | –52 | 13 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
Bristol Bears | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 80 | 128 | –48 | 11 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
Green background (rows 1 to 2) indicates qualification places for a home Champions Cup round of 16. Blue background (rows 3 to 4) indicates other teams qualified for the Champions Cup round of 16. Yellow background (row 5) indicates qualification place for the Challenge Cup round of 16. Plain background (row 6) indicates elimination from 2023–24 European competition. Starting table — source: European Professional Club Rugby |
Pool B
2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup Pool B | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | |
Toulouse (1) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 69 | +109 | 26 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
Harlequins (5) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 151 | 109 | +42 | 22 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
Bath (9) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 124 | 102 | +22 | 18 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
Racing 92 (16) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 116 | 117 | –1 | 17 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
Ulster (12CC) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 88 | 147 | –59 | 12 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
Cardiff | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 80 | 193 | –113 | 11 | 28 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Green background (rows 1 to 2) indicates qualification places for a home Champions Cup round of 16. Blue background (rows 3 to 4) indicates other teams qualified for the Champions Cup round of 16. Yellow background (row 5) indicates qualification place for the Challenge Cup round of 16. Plain background (row 6) indicates elimination from 2023–24 European competition. Starting table — source: European Professional Club Rugby |
Pool C
2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup Pool C | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | |
Northampton Saints (3) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 137 | 75 | +62 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
Exeter Chiefs (8) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 87 | 99 | –12 | 13 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
Glasgow Warriors (12) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 77 | 63 | +14 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
Munster (14) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 93 | 93 | 0 | 13 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
Bayonne (9CC) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 82 | 107 | –25 | 11 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
Toulon | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 60 | 99 | –39 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Green background (rows 1 to 2) indicates qualification places for a home Champions Cup round of 16. Blue background (rows 3 to 4) indicates other teams qualified for the Champions Cup round of 16. Yellow background (row 5) indicates qualification place for the Challenge Cup round of 16. Plain background (row 6) indicates elimination from 2023–24 European competition. Starting table — source: European Professional Club Rugby |
Pool D
2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup Pool D | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
P | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | |
Leinster (2) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 123 | 53 | +70 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
Stormers (7) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 102 | 99 | +3 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
La Rochelle (10) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 111 | 73 | +38 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
Leicester Tigers (15) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 84 | 122 | –38 | 10 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
Sale Sharks (10CC) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 103 | 110 | –7 | 13 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Stade Français | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 56 | 122 | –66 | 8 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Green background (rows 1 to 2) indicates qualification places for a home Champions Cup round of 16. Blue background (rows 3 to 4) indicates other teams qualified for the Champions Cup round of 16. Yellow background (row 5) indicates qualification place for the Challenge Cup round of 16. Plain background (row 6) indicates elimination from 2023–24 European competition. Starting table — source: European Professional Club Rugby |
Knockout stage
The knockout stage will begin with the round of 16, starting on 5 April 2024, and concludes with the final on 25 May 2024.
Like in 2022/23 the round of 16 will consist of a single leg match, consisting of the top four ranked teams from each Pool respectively. All clubs will thereafter be ranked in descending order based firstly on their ranking in their pool and subsequently on the number of match points they have accumulated, to create an overall ranking from 1 to 16. The pool winners will be ranked 1 to 4, the second-placed clubs will be ranked 5 to 8, the third-placed clubs will be ranked 9 to 12, and the fourth-placed clubs will be ranked 13 to 16.
Whilst the round of 16 follows a pre-determined format, the quarter-finals will see home advantage given to the higher ranked team based on a pre-determined match-up. The semi-finals are to be played at a neutral venue, with the higher ranked team having home country advantage.
Seeding
Rank | Team | Pts | Diff | TF |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pool leaders | ||||
1 | Toulouse | 20 | +109 | 26 |
2 | Leinster | 19 | +70 | 17 |
3 | Northampton Saints | 18 | +62 | 18 |
4 | Bordeaux | 17 | +89 | 26 |
Pool runners-up | ||||
5 | Harlequins | 15 | +42 | 22 |
6 | Bulls | 15 | +30 | 16 |
7 | Stormers | 14 | +3 | 12 |
8 | Exeter Chiefs | 13 | –12 | 13 |
Pool third place | ||||
9 | Bath | 15 | +22 | 18 |
10 | La Rochelle | 12 | +38 | 13 |
11 | Lyon | 12 | –2 | 18 |
12 | Glasgow Warriors | 10 | +14 | 12 |
Pool fourth place | ||||
13 | Saracens | 10 | –17 | 17 |
14 | Munster | 9 | 0 | 13 |
15 | Leicester Tigers | 9 | –38 | 10 |
16 | Racing 92 | 8 | –1 | 17 |
Bracket
Round of 16 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Toulouse | 31 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Racing 92 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Toulouse | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Exeter Chiefs | 26 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Exeter Chiefs | 21 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Bath | 15 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Toulouse | 38 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Harlequins | 26 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Bordeaux | 45 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | Saracens | 12 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Bordeaux | 41 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Harlequins | 42 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Harlequins | 28 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Glasgow Warriors | 24 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Toulouse (a.e.t.) | 31 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Leinster | 22 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Leinster | 36 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | Leicester Tigers | 22 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Leinster | 40 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | La Rochelle | 13 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Stormers | 21 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | La Rochelle | 22 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Leinster | 20 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Northampton Saints | 17 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Northampton Saints | 24 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Munster | 14 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Northampton Saints | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Bulls | 22 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Bulls | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Lyon | 19 |
Round of 16
5 April 2024 20:00 |
Harlequins (5) | 28–24 | (12) Glasgow Warriors |
Try: Esterhuizen 22' c M. Smith 33' c Murley 40+1' c Riley 75' c Con: M. Smith (4/4) 24', 34', 40+2', 77' | Report | Try: Cummings 2' c Matthews 49' c Horne 52' c Con: Horne (3/3) 3', 50', 53' Pen: Horne (1/1) 59' |
Twickenham Stoop, London Attendance: 12,852 Referee: Tual Trainini (France) |
6 April 2024 13:30 |
Bulls (6) | 59–19 | (11) Lyon |
Try: De Klerk (2) 12' c, 77' m Papier (2) 20' c, 53' c Coetzee 27' c Vermaak 33' c Le Roux 48' m Kriel 67' c C. Smith 71' c Con: Goosen (5/6) 13', 21', 28', 34', 54' C. Smith (2/3) 69', 72' | Report | Try: Page-Relo 30' c Penalty try 46' Abrahams 55' m Con: Jackson (1/2) 31' |
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Attendance: 7,516 Referee: Luke Pearce (England) |
6 April 2024 16:00 |
Stormers (7) | 21–22 | (10) La Rochelle |
Try: Jantjies 27' c Hartzenberg 79' m Con: Libbok (1/2) 29' Pen: Libbok (3/3) 3', 22', 45' | Report | Try: Penverne 49' c Alldritt 61' c Sclavi 68' m Con: Hastoy (2/3) 49', 62' Pen: Hastoy (1/1) 54' |
Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 27,660 Referee: Matthew Carley (England) |
6 April 2024 15:00 |
Exeter Chiefs (8) | 21–15 | (9) Bath |
Try: Vintcent 23' c Fisilau 55' c Roots 65' c Con: Slade (3/3) 23', 56', 66' | Report | Try: du Toit 20' m Hill 27' c Con: Spencer (1/2) 28' Pen: Spencer (1/1) 48' |
Sandy Park, Exeter Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Luc Ramos (France) |
6 April 2024 18:30 |
Bordeaux (4) | 45–12 | (13) Saracens |
Try: Garcia (2) 36' c, 48' c Depoortère (2) 60' c, 66' c Bielle-Biarrey (2) 63' c, 75' c Con: Lucu (4/4) 37', 48', 62', 64' Garcia (2/2) 67', 76' Pen: Lucu (1/1) 29' | Report | Try: Lewington 71' m Willis 78' c Con: Goode (1/2) 80' |
Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux Attendance: 28,097 Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland) |
6 April 2024 20:00 |
Leinster (2) | 36–22 | (15) Leicester Tigers |
Try: Gibson-Park (3) 12' c, 23' m, 29' c Henshaw 49' c Conan 71' c Con: R. Byrne (3/4) 13', 30', 50' H. Byrne (1/1) 72' Pen: R. Byrne (1/1) 9' | Report | Try: Pollard 4' c Cronin 45' m Clare 75' c Con: Pollard (2/3) 5', 76' Pen: Pollard (1/1) 28' |
Aviva Stadium, Dublin Attendance: 40,775 Referee: Pierre Brousset (France) |
7 April 2024 12:30 |
Northampton Saints (3) | 24–14 | (14) Munster |
Try: Ramm 9' c Freeman 35' c Hendy (2) 60' m, 72' Con: Smith (2/4) 10', 36' | Report | Try: O'Brien 14' c Haley 27' c Con: Crowley (2/2) 15', 28' |
Franklin's Gardens, Northampton Attendance: 15,153 Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland) |
7 April 2024 16:00 |
Toulouse (1) | 31–7 | (16) Racing 92 |
Try: Mauvaka 5' m Lebel 33' m Costes 55' c Ahki 68' c Roumat 80' c Con: Kinghorn (3/5) 56', 69', 80+2' | Report | Try: Ben Arous 74' c Con: Tedder (1/1) 75' |
Stade Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse Attendance: 18,504 Referee: Karl Dickson (England) |
Quarter-finals
13 April 2024 16:00 |
Bordeaux (4) | 41–42 | (5) Harlequins |
Try: Lucu 19' m Buros 24' c Depoortère 42' c Bielle-Biarrey 59' c Tambwe (2) 64' c, 75' m Con: Lucu (4/6) 25', 43', 60', 65' Pen: Lucu (1/1) 52' | Report | Try: Porter (2) 2' c, 29' c Penalty try 8' W. Evans 40' c Dombrandt 56' c Green 71' c Con: Smith (5/5) 3', 30', 42', 58', 73' |
Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux Attendance: 28,056 Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy) |
13 April 2024 17:30 |
Leinster (2) | 40–13 | (10) La Rochelle |
Try: Lowe (2) 16', 60' Gibson-Park 37' Baird 42' Sheehan 56' Con: Byrne (3/4) 18', 38', 43' Pen: Byrne (3/3) 7', 27', 31' | Report | Try: Penverne 40' Con: Hastoy 40' Pen: Hastoy (2/2) 19', 28' |
Aviva Stadium, Dublin Attendance: 50,055 Referee: Karl Dickson (England) |
13 April 2024 20:00 |
Northampton Saints (3) | 59–22 | (6) Bulls |
Try: Ramm 10’ Lawes 15’ Sleightholme 20’ Mitchell (2) 24’, 67' Coles 40’ Ramm 47' Dingwall 50' Augustus 72' Con: Smith (7/9) 11', 16', 21', 25', 41', 51', 68' | Report | Try: Hanekom 13' Van der Merwe 31' De Klerk 35' Con: Smith (2/3) 14', 36' Pen: Smith (2/3) 17' |
Franklin's Gardens, Northampton Attendance: 12,972 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France) |
14 April 2024 16:00 |
Toulouse (1) | 64–26 | (8) Exeter Chiefs |
Try: Ntamack 7' Willis 31' Kinghorn (2) 47', 55' Ahki (2) 50', 74' Dupont 57' Cruz Mallía (2) 66', 78' Con: Kinghorn (5/5) 8', 32', 48', 52', 56' Ramos (3/4) 58', 68', 75' Pen: Kinghorn 20' | Report | Try: Roots 16' Wimbush 61' Con: Slade (2/2) 17', 62' Pen: Slade (4/4) 5', 12', 28', 43' |
Stade Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse Attendance: 18,678 Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland) |
Semi-finals
4 May 2024 17:30 |
Leinster (2) | 20–17 | (3) Northampton Saints |
Try: Lowe (3) 10' c, 14' m, 43' m Con: R. Byrne (1/3) 11' Pen: R. Byrne (1/1) 29' | Report | Try: Hendy 58' c Seabrook 74' c Con: Smith (2/2) 59', 74' Pen: Smith (1/1) 39' |
Croke Park, Dublin Attendance: 82,300 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France) |
5 May 2024 16:00 |
Toulouse (1) | 38–26 | (5) Harlequins |
Try: Lebel 3' m Mauvaka 17' c Flament 26' m Dupont (2) 32' c, 36' c Cruz Mallía 67' c Con: Kinghorn (3/5) 20', 34', 37' Ramos (1/1) 69' | Report | Try: Smith 13' c Evans 23' m Murley 45' c Green 52' c Con: Smith 14', 46', 53' |
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse Attendance: 32,494 Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland) |
Final
25 May 2024 14:45 BST (UTC+01) |
Leinster | 22–31 (a.e.t.) | Toulouse |
Try: Van der Flier 93' Con: Frawley (1/1) 97' Pen: Byrne (4/5) 18', 43', 46', 65' Frawley (1/1) 77' | Report | Try: Lebel 82' Con: Ramos (1/1) 84' Pen: Kinghorn (4/5) 4', 7', 36', 57' Ramos (4/5) 70', 88', 92', 95' |
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London Attendance: 61,531 Referee: Matthew Carley (England) |
Leading scorers
Note: Flags to the left of player names indicate national team as has been defined under World Rugby eligibility rules, or primary nationality for players who have not yet earned international senior caps. Players may hold one or more non-WR nationalities.
Most points
Source:[5]
|
Most tries
Source:[5]
|
See also
References
- ^ "Leinster lose out once again as Toulouse win sixth Champions Cup". RTE Sport. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ "London Irish file for administration after being suspended from Gallagher Premiership and all leagues by RFU". Sky Sports. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "Bristol Bears to replace London Irish in Champions Cup, EPCR confirm". BBC Sport. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "Heavyweight clashes to savour for 2023/24 season as EPCR pool draws completed". EPCR. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Tournament Statistics". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 6 May 2024.