Rugby Union Today: Prem TOTM and new European format

David Skippers

A general view of the Heineken Champions Cup ahead of the match at Kingsholm, Gloucester.

Another busy day in the rugby union game as we reveal our Premiership Team of the Month for August after four rounds were played following the restart.

What’s on the site

Exeter and Bath lead the way in our ‘Team of the Month’ following fine performances in the Premiership in August. The Chiefs top the table after four successive victories and, as a result, unsurprisingly have five players in the XV, while their fellow West Country outfit are next best with four.

Elsewhere, the EPCR have revealed a radical new format for the 2020/21 Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. In Europe’s top-tier tournament, it has been expanded to 24 teams with two groups of 12.

Finally, ‘Video of the Week’ looks at the Barrett brothers, who are all key components in the All Blacks squad. With Jordie, Scott and Beauden impressing at both franchise level and for the national team, we discuss whether they are the most talented rugby siblings.

What’s in the news

England head coach Eddie Jones has set an ambitious target of getting over 20 players into the British and Irish Lions squad for next year. The Red Rose hold the record of 20, which was ‘achieved’ in 2005 when Clive Woodward sent a bloated 44-man group down to New Zealand, but Jones believes that they can do even better when the Lions take on South Africa in 2021.

Continuing the England theme and the RFU reckon 20,000 fans could attend their game with the Barbarians on October 25. They have asked the government’s permission to host what would be a record number of supporters at a UK sports event since lockdown.

Meanwhile, All Blacks legend Tana Umaga has signed a new one-year deal at the Blues, which will keep him at the franchise until at least the end of 2021.

What’s on social media

On the topic of fans in stadiums, Clermont Auvergne have remarkably been allowed to host 10,000 spectators for Sunday’s clash against Toulouse. That is despite the rising number of coronavirus cases in France.

What’s on TV

Super Rugby AU continues and it’s the Rebels v Force kicking things off on Saturday on Sky Sports. There’s more Premiership action over the weekend on BT Sport while Premier Sports will televise the PRO14 semi-finals between Leinster and Munster and Edinburgh and Ulster on Friday and Saturday.

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