Bristol Bears will meet Welsh side Dragons at Ashton Gate in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup across the weekend of September 18-20, after European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) confirmed the revised dates in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bristol were originally due to take on the Pro 14 club on April 5, but following lockdown in mid-March the tie and the entire competition has been placed on hold as professional rugby, across the world, finds a way to navigate the financial challenges of staging matches behind-closed doors.
EPCR have now confirmed that the quarter-finals will be staged on 18/19/20 September with the semi-finals taking place on 25/26/27 and the final on Friday, October 16.
Bristol topped a pool featuring Brive, Zebre and Stade Francais, with five wins from six matches. There is no confirmation as to whether the next round matches and beyond will be played behind closed doors or with spectators.
Marseille’s Stade Velodrome remains the intended venue for the final with all professional sport in France having been postponed until September, and travel restrictions across the world, although clearly the rationale is that by October, regulations will have been eased.
EPCR have also confirmed they are considering temporary amendments to qualification for next season’s continent competitions with as many as eight Premiership teams entering a restricted Champions Cup.
A statement read: “As previously communicated, new Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup tournament formats for the 2020/21 season are being considered as a consequence of widespread fixture disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“A 24-club Heineken Champions Cup with eight representatives from each of Europe’s leading league competitions is one of the options under discussion.
“Any changes would apply to next season’s tournaments, which are scheduled to start on the weekend of 11/12/13 December, only on an exceptional basis. An official announcement regarding formats will be made once all discussions are concluded.”
Bristol have been back in training for the last three weeks on the anticipation that domestic rugby will resume on August 15, although the Premiership is yet to confirm specific fixture dates.
However, with the European schedule now mapped out it raises the expectations that the Bears will soon know when they play their remaining nine opponents as they remain firmly in the title mix.
Director of rugby Pat Lam will also be able to call upon new signings Semi Radradra, Kyle Sinckler, Mitch Eadie and Chris Cook, all who are expected to begin work with their new team on July 1.
Rugby League convert Siva Naulago won’t be available until the completion of the 2019/20 Super League season which could be as late as December, although given the Fijian-born winger is employed by the Army a compromise could be reached. Saracens loanees Ben Earls and Max Malins are scheduled to arrive in August.
