Champions Cup Round 1: All You Need to Know

Third time lucky...

After Covid-19 caused upheaval in the last two pool stages of the Heineken Champions Cup, here's hoping we get a clean run through this time around.

The current format is a continuation of the revamped competition we've had over the last two seasons, with 24 teams - eight from each of the big three leagues - split across two large groups of 12, with each side assigned two opponents from the pool, who they'll each play home and away across four rounds.

The top eight from each advance to the round of 16 which will be played following the Six Nations, the key difference this season being that the last 16 will be one knockout game, rather than the two-legged affair which seemed to be a welcome addition in last season's competition.

The other big difference is the addition of the South African franchises. And while they are no longer a mystery to the URC sides, they're a novelty to the French and English.

The Irish interest is three teams rather than four, Connacht dropping down to the Challenge Cup after they failed to qualify last season.

Leinster find themselves in Pool A, and while they will once again be among the favourites for the competition, there is very little margin for error if they want home advantage in the knockout stages. They face Racing 92 in their first and last games of the pool, with two games against a strong Gloucester sandwiched in between.

Munster and Ulster are both in Pool B and while both have tough assignments, they'll still fancy their chances of making it to the last 16 at least.

Munster will put themselves in a strong position to qualify if they can open up with a win against Toulouse on Sunday, before travelling to Northampton Saints next week, while Ulster are away to Sale Sharks