2017–18 European Rugby Champions–Challenge Cup play-offs

The 2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup-Challenge Cup play-off was the third play-off for entry into the top level competition of European Club rugby union, the European Rugby Champions Cup.

2017–18 European Rugby Champions–Challenge Cup play-offs
EventEuropean Rugby Champions Cup Qualification Play-off
Date19–28 May 2017

Format

Following a break to ease fixture congestion caused by the 2015 Rugby World Cup, the three-team play-off held in 2015–16 was expanded, and a four-team format was announced.[1][2]

The play-off comprised 3 matches, contested by one team from the Premiership, one from the Top 14, and two from the Pro14.

The two Pro12 teams each played one of the Premiership or Top 14 sides in a single-leg semi-final, held at the home ground of the non-Pro12 side. The winners of these matches then contested a play-off final, with the winner of this match competing in the 2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup. The three losing teams all competed in the 2017–18 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Teams

Four teams will compete in the play-off, having qualified as either the highest team from each league that hasn't already qualified for the Champions Cup, or as the winner of the 2016–17 European Rugby Challenge Cup.[3]

The following teams have qualified for the play-off:

League Team Coach Stadium
Aviva Premiership Northampton Saints Jim Mallinder Franklin's Gardens
Guinness Pro12 Cardiff Blues Danny Wilson Cardiff Arms Park
Connacht Pat Lam Galway Sportsgrounds
Top 14 Stade Français Gonzalo Quesada Stade Jean-Bouin

Matches

A draw was held on 15 March 2017 to determine the two semi-final matches.[2]

Semi-finals
19 May 2017
18:00 CEST
Stade Français 46–21 Cardiff Blues
Try: Nayacalevu 32' c
Melikidze 43' c
De Giovanni 51' c
Macalou (2) 60' m, 68' c
Panis 71' m
Daguin 76' m
Con: Steyn (4/6) 33', 44', 52', 69'
Plisson (0/1)
Pen: Steyn (1/1) 10'
 Report Try: Cook (2) 21' c, 63' c
N. Williams 24' c
Con: Anscombe (3/3) 22', 25', 64'
Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris
Attendance: 4,767
Referee: Greg Garner (RFU)
FB15 Jérémy Sinzelle
RW14 Waisea Nayacalevu 61'
OC13 Jonathan Danty
IC12 Meyer Bosman
LW11 Sekou Macalou
FH10 Morné Steyn
SH9 Julien Dupuy 63'
N88 Sergio Parisse (c)
OF7 Matthieu Ugena 34'
BF6 Antoine Burban
RL5 Paul Gabrillagues 72'
LL4 Willem Alberts 66'
TP3 Paul Alo-Emile 25'
HK2 Rémi Bonfils 67'
LP1 Heinke van der Merwe 50'
Replacements:
HK16 Laurent Panis 67'
PR17 Rabah Slimani 50'
PR18 Giorgi Melikidze 25'
LK19 Mathieu De Giovanni 34'
FL20 Raphaël Lakafia 66'
SH21 Clément Daguin 63'
FH22 Jules Plisson 61'
FL23 Jono Ross 72'
Coach:
Gonzalo Quesada
FB15 Matthew Morgan
RW14 Alex Cuthbert
OC13 Rey Lee-Lo 7'
IC12 Willis Halaholo 66'
LW11 Rhun Williams 4'
FH10 Gareth Anscombe
SH9 Lloyd Williams
N88 Nick Williams
OF7 Ellis Jenkins (c)
BF6 Josh Navidi
RL5 Macauley Cook
LL4 Jarrad Hoeata
TP3 Taufaʻao Filise 61'
HK2 Matthew Rees 61'
LP1 Rhys Gill 57'
Replacements:
HK16 Kirby Myhill 61' 72'
PR17 Corey Domachowski 57'
PR18 Anton Peikrishvili 61'
LK19 Seb Davies 72'
FL20 Sion Bennett 66'
SH21 Tomos Williams 52'
FH22 Steven Shingler 7' 52'
CE23 Garyn Smith 4'
Coach:
Danny Wilson
20 May 2017
16:00 BST
Northampton Saints 21–15 Connacht
Try: Mallinder 1' c
Groom 56' m
Con: Mallinder (1/2) 2'
Pen: Mallinder (3/3) 15', 23', 70'
 Report Try: Adeolokun 4' c
Heffernan 61' m
Con: Ronaldson (1/2) 4'
Pen: Ronaldson (1/1) 28'
FB15 Ahsee Tuala 78'
RW14 Ben Foden
OC13 Nafi Tuitavake
IC12 Luther Burrell 23'
LW11 George North
FH10 Harry Mallinder
SH9 Nic Groom 67'
N88 Louis Picamoles
OF7 Teimana Harrison 58'
BF6 Jamie Gibson 78' to 80'
RL5 Christian Day 64'
LL4 Courtney Lawes
TP3 Kieran Brookes 62'
HK2 Dylan Hartley (c) 59'
LP1 Alex Waller 62'
Replacements:
HK16 Mike Haywood 78'
PR17 Campese Ma'afu 62'
PR18 Gareth Denman 62'
LK19 Api Ratuniyarawa 64'
FL20 Tom Wood 58'
SH21 Lee Dickson 67'
FH22 Sam Olver
CE23 Rory Hutchinson 23'
Coach:
Jim Mallinder
FB15 Tiernan O'Halloran
RW14 Niyi Adeolokun
OC13 Danie Poolman
IC12 Craig Ronaldson
LW11 Cian Kelleher 3'
FH10 Jack Carty
SH9 Kieran Marmion 66'
N88 John Muldoon (c)
OF7 Jake Heenan 56'
BF6 Seán O'Brien
RL5 James Cannon 51'
LL4 Quinn Roux
TP3 Finlay Bealham 68'
HK2 Dave Heffernan
LP1 Denis Buckley
Replacements:
HK16 Shane Delahunt
PR17 JP Cooney
PR18 Conor Carey 68'
LK19 Ultan Dillane 51'
FL20 Naulia Dawai 56'
SH21 Caolin Blade
SH22 John Cooney 66'
WG23 Matt Healy 3'
Coach:
Pat Lam

Play-off final

The draw for the semi-finals was also used to decide that the winner of the second semi-final would have home advantage in the play-off final.[2]

26 May 2017
19:45 BST
Northampton Saints 23–22 Stade Français
Try: Foden 45' c
Tuala 71' c
Con: Mallinder (2/2) 45', 73'
Pen: Mallinder (3/5) 19', 29', 38'
 Report Try: Nayacalevu 3' c
Sinzelle 22' m
Camara 34' c
Con: Plisson (2/3) 4', 35'
Pen: Plisson (1/1) 10'
Franklin's Gardens, Northampton
Attendance: 10,273
Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)
FB15 Ahsee Tuala 75'
RW14 Ben Foden
OC13 Nafi Tuitavake 53'
IC12 Luther Burrell
LW11 George North
FH10 Harry Mallinder
SH9 Nic Groom 66'
N88 Louis Picamoles 53'
OF7 Tom Wood (c) 63'
BF6 Teimana Harrison
RL5 Christian Day 60'
LL4 Courtney Lawes
TP3 Kieran Brookes 60'
HK2 Dylan Hartley 66'
LP1 Alex Waller 66'
Replacements:
HK16 Mike Haywood 66'
PR17 Campese Ma'afu 66'
PR18 Gareth Denman 60'
LK19 Api Ratuniyarawa 60'
FL20 Jamie Gibson 53'
SH21 Lee Dickson 66'
FH22 Sam Olver 75'
CE23 Rory Hutchinson 62' to 72' 53'
Coach:
Jim Mallinder
FB15 Djibril Camara 65'
RW14 Waisea Nayacalevu
OC13 Geoffrey Doumayrou
IC12 Jonathan Danty 22'
LW11 Jérémy Sinzelle
FH10 Jules Plisson
SH9 Will Genia 76'
N88 Jono Ross
OF7 Raphaël Lakafia
BF6 Antoine Burban 44'
RL5 Paul Gabrillagues (c) 60'
LL4 Willem Alberts
TP3 Paul Alo-Emile
HK2 Rémi Bonfils 42' to 52' 74'
LP1 Zurab Zhvania 51'
Replacements:
HK16 Craig Burden 44' 53'
PR17 Rabah Slimani 51'
PR18 Giorgi Melikidze 74'
LK19 Mathieu De Giovanni 60'
N820 Sergio Parisse 53'
SH21 Clément Daguin 76'
FH22 Morné Steyn 65'
CE23 Meyer Bosman 22'
Coach:
Gonzalo Quesada

See also

References
  1. "Revised play-off format agreed for 2015/16 Champions Cup". epcrugby.com.
  2. "Champions Cup play-offs". epcrugby.com.
  3. "Champions Cup qualification 2017/18 and play-offs". epcrugby.com.
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