The Premier European Club Rugby Competitions

With all the advent of expert rugby in 1995, the game changed all over the world. Inside the Southern Hemisphere, SANZAR was formed plus the Super 14 and Tri-Nations competitions were started.

In Europe, the ERC (European Rugby Cup) was set up. This was based in Dublin and it runs 2 professional competitions, the Heineken Cup and the European Challenge Cup. They run these in collaboration together with the premier competitions in each country so that there is not a clash among games from the numerous competitions.

The ERC has an ambition: 'to lead club rugby to unparalleled levels of reputation and profile... making a distinctive and important contribution for the improvement and progression of rugby union.' Their motto is 'ERC - Driving European Club Rugby Competition'

So it could be observed that the ERC was set up with lofty ideals and visions. The fact that the two competitions are nonetheless running (as of 2013) shows that they're carrying out one thing appropriate while it may be debated as to no matter whether they may be reaching their ambition as stated. These two rugby competitions continue below the ERC even as you can find rumblings and discontent within member nations in regards to the format and who qualifies for every single competitors, typically for reasons to do with self-interest by the countries involved.

What are these two competitions that the ERC run in European rugby?

The Heineken Cup is the premier club rugby competition in Europe. It truly is played for by teams from the six IRB nations that contest the 6 Nations Championship: England, France, Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy. Each country might use a distinctive way of deciding which teams play in the Heineken Cup but you'll find 24 teams in total. The number from every single nation may perhaps vary depending on final results in several other competitions. They presently play in 6 pools of four teams. The pool winners along with the subsequent most effective two runners-up qualify for the play-offs.

The format has changed over the years, each together with the win an iPad variety of teams and number of pools. As an example, in the 1st year there have been only 12 teams.

There's speak of further adjustments soon after the 2013/14 season.

The other competition could be the European Challenge Cup. It has been recognized, for sponsorship motives, as the Parker pen Shield, the Parker Pen Challenge Cup and is presently (2013) known as the Amlin Cup. It is the 2nd tier rugby competitors in Europe and teams that usually do not qualify for the Heineken Cup play in it. You'll find also teams from Romania, Spain and Portugal participating.

More than the years in addition, it has had a variety of formats and numbers of teams. Presently (2013) it has 20 teams playing in five pools of 4 teams. The pool winners plus the subsequent ideal 3 runners-up qualify for the play-offs, where they may be joined by three teams 'parachuting' in in the Heineken Cup competition. These are the following best three teams that didn't qualify for the Heineken Cup play-offs.

The ERC runs these two competitions in Europe and they are rather complicated to run due to the number of teams and nations involved. It could possibly be stated that politics within the sport possess a significant bearing on the way points are carried out. Having mentioned that it does imply that there's a lot of high-quality specialist club rugby being played in Europe.