What Wales' rugby regions are still playing for amid three-way fight and new European qualification rules

With another batch of Welsh derbies on the horizon, the battle is really hotting up for Champions Cup qualification.

There’s a new system in place this season for European entry. After a number of years of pure meritocracy, a geographical element has been reintroduced following the birth of the United Rugby Championship. You can read more on the background to that move here.

Essentially, it's because the four South African sides in the URC are now eligible for Europe. There was concern in some quarters that this could see certain countries missing out on having representatives in the Champions Cup, with the Bulls, Stormers, Sharks and Lions potentially hoovering up qualifying spots.

So, it was decided that, for two years, a sort of fail-safe system would be put in place. Organisers opted to base European qualification on four geographic pools, with the top-ranked Irish, Welsh, South African and Scottish/Italian teams progressing, joined by the next best four on the ladder.

Wales team stun Irish in Dublin

The IRFU were against the idea, but were outvoted, with the Welsh and Scottish Unions wanting to avoid the possibility of four Irish and four South African teams monopolising the eight Champions Cup places from the URC.

With hindsight, it’s just as well, as Wales would be in serious danger of missing out altogether if it was straight meritocracy, with the top eight qualifying, given all four regions are in the bottom half of the 16-strong league. Under the new system, they are guaranteed having at least one side on board. As a result, it means there’s still plenty to play for this season, with the race now on to see who will fly the flag for Wales in the elite Euro event next term.

At present, the ninth-placed