How are English teams decided for next year's Heineken Cup?

[Kermit power]

Does anyone know the various permutations for qualification on this?

For example, am I right in thinking that the winner of the ERC gets an HC place next season? If yes, and that winner turns out to be Bath or Sale, both of whom will presumably qualified for the HC on the basis of their GP finishing positions, what happens to the HC place? Would it go to the losing finalist - either Wuss or Newcastle, neither of whom will qualify through GP finish - or would the qualification from the GP just move one club further down the list?

Also, does the defending champion automatically qualify? OK, a Sarries vs Irish final is pretty unlikely, but it could happen! The ERC website seems to be totally unhelpful on the issue...

[Slaav]

Kermit power said:

Does anyone know the various permutations for qualification on this?

For example, am I right in thinking that the winner of the ERC gets an HC place next season? If yes, and that winner turns out to be Bath or Sale, both of whom will presumably qualified for the HC on the basis of their GP finishing positions, what happens to the HC place? Would it go to the losing finalist - either Wuss or Newcastle, neither of whom will qualify through GP finish - or would the qualification from the GP just move one club further down the list?

Also, does the defending champion automatically qualify? OK, a Sarries vs Irish final is pretty unlikely, but it could happen! The ERC website seems to be totally unhelpful on the issue...

This may help... although not crystal clear to me!

http://www.rugbynetwork.net/boards/read/s96.htm?98...

HTH

[stimmers]

If Sarries or LI win the HC, then England get 7 teams in the HC, otherwise we get 6. (Although aparently there is some confusion if Munster win the HC).

so if Wuss win the ECC they'll take one of those 6 places (let's face it, it's going to be 6) leaving 5 for the rest of the GP to fight over.

Incidentally, if an English team had won the EDF they'd also earn a place without boosting our allotment; meaning that only the top 4 from the GP would qualify by right

[BigMansZetec]

stimmers said:

If Sarries or LI win the HC, then England get 7 teams in the HC, otherwise we get 6. (Although aparently there is some confusion if Munster win the HC).

If London Irish just get to the final (don't need to win), that's enough to ensure England will get a seventh team in the HC next year, because that means a French team can't win the tournament.