2020-21 Champions Cup: The contenders, TV details, kick-off times and more Gerry Thornley explains the tournament’s new format on the eve of the first round
Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 18:00
Against the most disconcerting backdrop the sport has ever known, the Heineken Champions Cup is back with a new, one-off, complex format which is both shortened and expanded at the same time.
The first of four rounds kicks off this weekend, with the second next weekend followed by the last two in January. And that’s it for the group stages, with 24 teams whittled down to eight.
On the positive side, reverting to an expanded cast of 24, as opposed to 20 or even the oft-mooted 16, adds plenty of variety. There will be no match-ups between teams from the same leagues and two-legged, home and away quarter-finals should be very interesting as well as novel.
fourth at the masters and the us pga, third at the us open and 11th at the open. but all of those finishes, he was never really in contention to win it this one, he s been right up there from the start. he was 10 under. but he had a nightmare on the par 5 8th with a double bogey 7. so a bit to do for rahm but there s still a way to go gav. i tell you something, rory mcilroy has made the leaderboard after a bit ofa has made the leaderboard after a bit of a slow start from the first round? of a slow start from the first round 7 absolutely. he looked dead and buried after the first round at augusta. just to remind you, his opening round was his worst ever at the masters, but he had a great second round to bring him to 3 under and he s having a great third round so far. five birdies already with a brilliant chip in from a bunker on the 12th hole brought him to 8 under, but he s just gone into the water on 15. but he managed to save par there. he just can t afford many mistakes