2017–18_European_Rugby_Champions–Challenge_Cup_play-offs
2017–18 European Rugby Champions–Challenge Cup play-offs
Football match
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.
| Event | European Rugby Champions Cup Qualification Play-off |
|---|---|
| Date | 19–28 May 2017 |
← 2015–16 2018–19 → | |
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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
Four teams competed in the play-off, having qualified as either the highest team from each league that did not already qualify for the Champions Cup, or as the winner of the 2016–17 European Rugby Challenge Cup.[3]
The following teams had 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 |
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) |
- Cardiff Blues were demoted to the 2017–18 European Rugby Challenge Cup
| 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' |
| Franklin's Gardens, Northampton Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR) |
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- Connacht drop to the 2017–18 European Rugby Challenge Cup
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) |
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- Northampton Saints qualified for the 2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup. Stade Français played in the 2017–18 European Rugby Challenge Cup.
- "Champions Cup play-offs". epcrugby.com.
- "Champions Cup qualification 2017/18 and play-offs". epcrugby.com.