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We're bound to meet either Glos or Toulon I reckon.

What a prospect! Rendez-vous with one, or both, of the Robinsons??

(Always assuming of course we get past Newcastle first)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:01:24:20:04:24 by Blues Boy.

We'll size them up this weekend.

Are the semi's to be staged in neutral venues?
Also it would be good to meet up with either Robinsons again.

Quote:

Dim Cais
Are the semi's to be staged in neutral venues?
Also it would be good to meet up with either Robinsons again.

Your guess is as good as mine, I've not found much information beyond the Newcastle game.

Quote:

BlueButtyBoy

Quote:

Dim Cais
Are the semi's to be staged in neutral venues?
Also it would be good to meet up with either Robinsons again.

Your guess is as good as mine, I've not found much information beyond the Newcastle game.

Semi Final to be played at Amlin home teams ground.
as below.
Quarter-finalists
1 ACC 1 (Top ranked ACC Pool winner)
2 ACC 2 (Second ranked ACC Pool winner)
3 ACC 3 (Third ranked ACC Pool winner)
4 ACC 4 (Fourth ranked ACC Pool winner)
5 Heineken Cup 1
6 Heineken Cup 2
7 Heineken Cup 3
8 ACC 5 (Fifth Ranked ACC Pool winner)

Quarter-final Pairings
1 (ACC 1) v 8 (ACC 5)
2 (ACC 2) v 7 (Heineken Cup 3)
3 (ACC 3) v 6 (Heineken Cup 2)
4 (ACC 4) v 5 (Heineken Cup 1)

Clubs in the same Pool
(ii) if Clubs are equal on points and the Clubs are in the same Pool, then qualification /
ranking will be based on the two matches played between the Clubs concerned:
(a) the Club which has earned the most number of match points from the two
matches (four points for a win, two points for a draw and bonus points).
(b) the Club which has scored the most tries in the two matches.
(c) the Club with the best aggregate points difference from the two matches.

Clubs from different Pools
(iii) if still unresolved, or the teams have not played each other previously in the Pool
stage, qualification/ranking will be based on:
(a) the number of tries scored in all Pool matches.
(b) aggregate points difference from all Pool matches.
(c) the Club with the fewest number of players sent off and / or suspended in all Pool
matches.
(d) toss of a coin.

Amlin Challenge Cup Semi-final Pairings
Winner of ECC 1 v ECC 5 quarter-final v winner of first quarter-final drawn
Winner of second quarter-final drawn v winner of third quarter-final drawn

Amlin Challenge Cup teams to have home advantage, otherwise home advantage
decided by draw.

Well i'm looking forward to a trip to the N/E. Long way but hopefully worth it!

Dare 2B Different - Dare2bBlue

Thanks shrek.

"Amlin Challenge Cup teams to have home advantage, otherwise home advantage decided by draw."

That explains that.

Quote:

Dim Cais
Thanks shrek.
"Amlin Challenge Cup teams to have home advantage, otherwise home advantage decided by draw."

That explains that.

More info on link

[www.ercrugby.com]

Do we know what date it's on yet?

Quote:

Jules 22
Do we know what date it's on yet?

Take your pick;

"The quarter-finals to be played 8/9/10/11 April, 2010".

Quote:

Dim Cais
Are the semi's to be staged in neutral venues?
Also it would be good to meet up with either Robinsons again.

Jamie isn't registered in the Toulon Euro squad so we won't be meeting up with him I'm afraid.

Quote:

Spikey Mikey

Quote:

Dim Cais
Are the semi's to be staged in neutral venues?
Also it would be good to meet up with either Robinsons again.

Jamie isn't registered in the Toulon Euro squad so we won't be meeting up with him I'm afraid.

Squad can be changed after the initial knock out stages. So may be brought in for the April games.

Quote:

shrekogre

Quote:

Spikey Mikey

Quote:

Dim Cais
Are the semi's to be staged in neutral venues?
Also it would be good to meet up with either Robinsons again.

Jamie isn't registered in the Toulon Euro squad so we won't be meeting up with him I'm afraid.

Squad can be changed after the initial knock out stages. So may be brought in for the April games.

iii) after the completion of the Pool stages, clubs involved in the knock-out stages
may nominate three additional players. One of these players must be qualified
to play in a front row position and the other two players can play in any position.
These additional players must be fully and properly registered by 25 March, 2010.
Clubs must ensure that these players have not been nominated in a match squad
with another club for the Heineken Cup or Amlin Challenge Cup tournaments
during the current season.

I wouldn't mind betting this is the first time that Cardiff(either in amateur or pro times) have played Newcastle (or even Gosforth in their previous incarnation). Anyone know different?

Is Newcatle a good awy trip lol?

Rich, last time you came up to kingston Park was in 1998 for an Anglo-Welsh friendly and you lost.
That was the year we won the Premiership.

BBB, you won't be able to size up the Falcons in Cardiff as we will not be sending our first XV - more like our 2nd XV. We wrote off the tinpot trophy long ago.

Look forward to you all coming north.

Haven't seen Cardiff in the flesh since I was a lad and got down to the Arms Park from Barry

Quote:

Horus
BBB, you won't be able to size up the Falcons in Cardiff as we will not be sending our first XV - more like our 2nd XV. We wrote off the tinpot trophy long ago.
Look forward to you all coming north.

Haven't seen Cardiff in the flesh since I was a lad and got down to the Arms Park from Barry

Don't mention that word on here, it'll all kick off again!

Wrote it off as it is to beneath you or not your first priority?

Re Newcastle, I went to the Quins game and asked my budies if we had played Newcastle as I had memories of Sir John Hall and Rob Andrew @ Cap, but no one else could recall either. Think it was in the Rebel year where the big boys of English rugby backed down to their union due to presure from ours. So the season went....Some good games against god teams...some games against pale imitations teams, then loads of good CRFC players up sticks to England next season. Is that about right?

J

C'mon you Blues - one dream - one region - one headache

Yes, Cardiff, the Cardiff RFC, played Newcastle in the Anglo Welsh season. Peed down with rain the whole time, they played like they've been playing most of this season, and lost. There were two of us, got into the clubhouse before the game and after a while were asked by two women who had just arrived to vacate "their" seats, which we did not. Then after the game no Cardiff supporters were allowed into the clubhouse, were told to drink in the beer tent pitched outside. Only time I remember one of the Cardiff money men, can't remember which one, putting a few quid into the pot for all the away supporters who had gotten into the clubhouse, to have a good drink. As an away visit, was made to feel as welcome as a dose of clap.

Quote:

Horus
BBB, you won't be able to size up the Falcons in Cardiff as we will not be sending our first XV - more like our 2nd XV. We wrote off the tinpot trophy long ago.

It will be our 2nd XV also, as 13 of our players are lording it up in the Welsh squad.
Anyway it's not even a tin pot this season. More like a tin can.

Something which hasn't been mentioned specifically on this thread is the rule which says a maximum of two 'foreign' players will be allowed in any match squad in the Amlin.

If this is correct, then this should curtail any overconfidence of going all the way and winning the competition.

Quote:

Blues Boy
Something which hasn't been mentioned specifically on this thread is the rule which says a maximum of two 'foreign' players will be allowed in any match squad in the Amlin.
If this is correct, then this should curtail any overconfidence of going all the way and winning the competition.

Hang on a minute, Saracens had loads of foreigners in their squad who played against Toulon recently.

Not sure what happened there, then, but try this Linky for confirmation.

You're right Blues Boy.

"(v) each club is permitted a maximum of two “foreign” players in any one match squad."

Saracens squad v Toulon;

Goode
Penney
Ratuvou
Barritt
Wyles
Hougaard
Marshall
Gill
Brits
Nieto
Borthwick
Ryder
Melck
Saull
Joubert

Replacements: Cato for Goode (60), Powell for Wyles (61), de Kock for Marshall (59), Aguero for Gill (41), Ongaro for Brits (65), Mercey for Nieto (51), Vyvyan for Ryder (51), Barrell for Joubert (68).

There must be more than 2 foreigners in this bunch???

How very odd. Either the rule has been changed and/or the website not updated, or else a lot of teams have been playing lots of ineligable players.

Anyone else know more about this?

It's a riddle and an enigma lost in a labyrinth. Gawd knows!

Thanks Horus and others re the past match(es).

The 2 foreigner rule is around non-EC nationals of course not non Welsh qualified. Can't recall now which of our kiwis have resident status and therefore won't be counted as non-EC citizens but (without checking) I can't believe the Amlin ruls are different than the Heineken rules - and so idf it hasn't really been an issue for us in HC it won't be in AC.

Have they decided where the final will be held yet?

C'MON THE BLUES!

We were there that day and it was exactly as you said. We wrote and complained that day to Rob Andrews and he said the clubhouse had been booked for another function that day so I guess the rugby wasnt as important They would not let the coach park in their huge carpark so he had to park mies away near the airport.

Embarrassment from former(youthful) Cardiff supporter about delay in getting back to you all.

BBB the reference to the t-p trophy was just that Falcons could'nt, with our mini squad size, fight/compete on 3 fronts. So in practice we went for the Premiership first, then the Euro/Amlin cup & mentally scrubbed the A-W tinpot thingy. You probably noticed null points in our column to date.

Orange, it was the Rebel year and Falcons had friendlies agin Cardiff and the Swans.

Ophelia - you came up against the bad ole days- sorry. Then it was a beer tent+ fascists everywhere.Now you will be welcome with open arms (& that goes for blokes too).
Its not so much "there will be a welvcome in the valleys",{we don't have many] as "there will be a welcome in the hilltops"at Newcassle.

Dim Cais & Rich - officially we have only one foreigner in our squad; a black Saffa, Bobo. For reasons which elude me, our Kiwis don't count, above all, the world best tight head, & our skipper, Carl Hayman.

I hope not to have stirred things re the old Arms Park. Having been to almost all major rugby stadia since, it was, by a country mile, IMO, the very best of the best. But then, the best rugby I ever saw was the Wales team with JPR etc. etc. V England at Twickers. Sorry to be sentimental.

[www.ercrugby.com]

Sunday the 11th at 3pm. Not as nice a Saturday but better than 90% of other times (Later or earlier on Sunday or on Friday/Thursday nights)

Quote:

Dim Cais
You're right Blues Boy.
"(v) each club is permitted a maximum of two “foreign” players in any one match squad."

Saracens squad v Toulon;

Goode
Penney
Ratuvou
Barritt
Wyles
Hougaard
Marshall
Gill
Brits
Nieto
Borthwick
Ryder
Melck
Saull
Joubert

Replacements: Cato for Goode (60), Powell for Wyles (61), de Kock for Marshall (59), Aguero for Gill (41), Ongaro for Brits (65), Mercey for Nieto (51), Vyvyan for Ryder (51), Barrell for Joubert (68).

There must be more than 2 foreigners in this bunch???

For the purpose of the HEC and ECC tournaments 'foreigners' is defined as players that do not hold a EU passport, or are from countries that do not have Trade agreements with the EU (eg Kolpak trade agreement - like in Cricket).

Hence in the Cardiff Blues squad we can play Molitika, Filise, Rush, Tito, Blair, SNK, Laulala etc in the same team. Some have EU passports (like Blair) others are covered by the trade agreement (Molitika, Filise) etc.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:01:26:18:19:38 by jenksta.

Quote:

For the purpose of the HEC and ECC tournaments 'foreigners' is defined as players that do not hold a EU passport, or are from countries that do not have Trade agreements with the EU (eg Kolpak trade agreement - like in Cricket).

Hence in the Cardiff Blues squad we can play Molitika, Filise, Rush, Tito, Blair, SNK, Laulala etc in the same team. Some have EU passports (like Blair) others are covered by the trade agreement (Molitika, Filise) etc.

Well i'm glad thats cleared up
Lets just hope we carry on the momentum of the Quins game eh!

Dare 2B Different - Dare2bBlue

So "foreign" is not quite the appropriate word to use as it just causes confusion. At least we're ok though.