Northampton Saints - News : Go Bath, go! Heineken Cup qualification update

13 April 2006, 4:25 pm

Go Bath, go! Heineken Cup qualification update

Now that London Wasps have won the Powergen Cup and there are four English teams left in the European Challenge Cup, Heineken Cup quailifcation is a little clearer with just one anomaly surrounding the Biarritz v Bath game.

That anomaly is that if Bath wins that semi-final in San Sebastian, then seven English clubs go into the Heineken Cup next season, and France get six places. If Biarritz win, the reverse applies. That game is basically a competition between England and France to see who gets furthest in this year's competition and who gets the right to have seven teams in 2006/07. Hence: "Go Bath, go!"

If six teams go through, then it will be the top four of the GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP, the winner of the Powergen Cup and the winner of the European Challenge Cup. If either of the latter two double up, then qualification falls to the next teams in GP 5th and 6th in the league.

Now, we already know that Wasps have won the Powergen Cup and are likely to remain in the top four of the league, so GP fifth has already becomes a qualification spot.

Similarly, if London Irish wins the Challenge Cup and remains in a top four place, GP sixth will become a qualification spot.

If Bath get through to the final of the Heineken Cup, they will be the seventh team to go through - win or lose.

Hopefully this has helped or maybe confused you more. The situation will become a lot clearer after the HC and ECC semi-final weekends.