Is the Champions Cup losing its luster? The elite club rugby competition is on the cusp of a major overhaul, with Prem Rugby spearheading a bold plan to shrink the field and elevate the tournament. For too long, the 24-team format has been criticized for diluting the quality, allowing teams to advance to the knockout stages with minimal success. Now, a growing consensus among rugby executives is that this needs to change, and fast!
But here's where it gets controversial... The current head of European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), Jacques Raynaud, recently expressed satisfaction with the competition's status quo, citing fan engagement and fantastic rugby. He even stated the format was locked in until 2030, a sentiment that reportedly landed like a lead balloon with the leagues that run the top club competitions in England (Prem Rugby), Wales, Scotland, Ireland (United Rugby Championship or URC), and France (Ligue Nationale de Rugby or LNR).
Sources from these leagues felt Raynaud's comments were "detached from reality." They argue that a format where a mere one victory can propel a team into the business end of the competition simply isn't elite enough. The current 24-team structure, with its four pools of six teams and a round of 16, was the only format that managed to get unanimous agreement from all the major leagues, but it's widely acknowledged that it's not the ideal solution.
And this is the part most people miss... Prem Rugby, backed by the Top 14 and URC, is now pushing for a 16-team Champions Cup starting from the 2027-28 season. The goal is to create a more "premium" competition with fewer, but arguably stronger, participants. Some even envision the tournament being played in one concentrated block at the end of the season, similar to the upcoming Club World Cup, which will feature a mix of European, South African, Super Rugby, and Japanese teams.
EPCR, while maintaining they are not obstructing progress and have previously proposed alternative formats, acknowledges that changes are needed. They're keen to start the competition earlier, in October, to avoid clashes with the November international Tests. Raynaud himself hinted at this, mentioning a desire to "start earlier" and potentially "separating the round of 16 and quarter-finals."
However, fitting any new format into the existing calendar presents a significant challenge. Prem Rugby is even willing to reduce its number of qualifying teams, recognizing that having eight out of ten of their clubs in the top competition is excessive. This comes as they plan to expand their own league to 12 teams by 2029, with the new entrants likely needing time to establish themselves at the highest European level.
What do you think? Is a 16-team Champions Cup the right move to restore its elite status, or are we sacrificing the breadth of competition? Should the tournament be played in a single block, or does the current structure offer more opportunities for emerging clubs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below – we'd love to hear your perspective on this evolving landscape of European rugby!
