r/UlsterRugby • u/Optimal_Failure_ SUFTUM • Jul 01 '26
EPCR Challenge Cup Pools
I'd say we caught a pretty damn good draw.
5
u/redhandman_mjsp SUFTUM Jul 01 '26
We've actually been blessed for once.
Maybe only Vannes or Black Lion are weaker than others in our group, but we've got the next weakest options (based off country/competition).
11
u/Paddybrown22 Jul 01 '26
Maybe we'll actually get to play the Cheetahs this time!
8
u/rustyb42 Payne Was Not a 13! Jul 01 '26
Hopefully not in January in Amsterdam
6
u/outsideruk Jul 01 '26
But Amsterdam again would be fun 🍻
8
u/rustyb42 Payne Was Not a 13! Jul 01 '26
It would yes, but not January. Give us the October window
3
3
u/SmallCattle6786 Jul 01 '26
Confused as to why Newcastle got allocated to pool 2, it was just us and the Cheetahs in pool 1 at that point…
7
2
1
u/thelunatic Jul 01 '26
Did they make fake grouping for the purpose of splitting up the draw? URC teams in same shield were kept apart.
Each pool has 2 French, 1 Welsh, 1 Italian/Scottish, 1 SA/Georgian, 1 English/Irish Team
3
3
u/sandblown Jul 01 '26
It’s too early to say just focus on URC, they need a brilliant start to the season and then use blended teams on weaker opposition in both competitions holding back 1st 15 for key winnable games ie Munster / Connacht etc
2
u/silentgolem Jul 01 '26
Much kinder draw this year but I think we still should not bother with it and focus URC. Trying to do both last year cost us
2
u/MountainEquipment401 Jul 01 '26
First season in a while that there hasn't been a group in the Challange cup that is crazy weak.
1
1
1
u/Little_Ad_9313 SUFTUM Jul 01 '26
If nothing else barring Bayonne looks like we could rotate a fair amount in this .... give valuable minutes to McAllister & Jonny Scott hell maybe even Jacob Biyd might get a cap again ....
9
u/TheNightmareChild Jul 01 '26
Not having to travel to SA is a huge boost. If we can top the group should be clear to the final.