What, did you think rugby union would just bugger off back to the shadows now that South Africa has hoisted the World Cup? Please. Rugby season is just getting started.
This weekend marks the opening of the European Rugby Cup, a/k/a the Heineken Cup, European rugby’s answer to the UEFA Champions League. The top 24 teams from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales will meet for six weekends of pool stage action starting tomorrow through January. Then the six pool winners and two wild cards will meet in the quarterfinals in April, with a champion to be crowned in May.
I’d like to be able to tell you more about this competition, but really, I know bugger all about club rugby in Europe. So I’ll just point you to the ERC web site and the 2007-08 Heineken Cup page on Wikipedia. Oh, Setanta Sports is showing some H Cup matches, including a few live ones, so check their schedule for details.
Does anybody out there know if the H Cup will incorporate the ELVs into this competition? Post a comment if you happen to know. Thanks. (UPDATE: Our pal Simon says no ELVs this year. More booting the ball into touch for field position 40 times a game. Pinch me.)
5 responses so far ↓
1 Simon // Nov 9, 2007 at 8:59 am
No ELV’s is this year’s H CUP.
2 Dave // Nov 9, 2007 at 9:01 am
Thanks, Simon.
3 Simon // Nov 9, 2007 at 11:11 am
GPA call a strike
http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2007/1109/gpa.html
4 matt // Nov 12, 2007 at 3:06 pm
If you want to see the ELV’s you’ll have to go to second tier Austrailian/SA rugby. From what I’ve heard, there is still plenty of tacticaL kicking, however there are less penalties and more ball in hand running. Alas, it’s a quicker game however it still has the kicking which you (apparently) despise.
5 Dave // Nov 12, 2007 at 8:10 pm
I wouldn’t necessarily say “despise,” but watching players kick the ball into touch for field position 80 times a game does get annoying in a hurry.