2014–15 European Rugby Champions–Challenge Cup play-offs explained

The 2014–15 European Rugby Champions Cup-Challenge Cup play-off was the first play-off for entry into the top-level competition of European Club rugby union, the European Rugby Champions Cup.

In March 2014, following the announcement of new European club competitions, the European Rugby Champions Cup and the European Rugby Challenge Cup, it was announced that the final place in the Champions Cup competition would be awarded by a play-off.

For the 2014–15 season, this was a two-legged play-off between the seventh placed teams from the 2013–14 Aviva Premiership season, and the 2013–14 Top 14 season. Following the completion of both legs, the team with the highest aggregate score took the twentieth berth in the 2014–15 European Rugby Champions Cup, the new top-tier competition, while the loser will play in the second tier 2014–15 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Teams

League	Team	Coach	Stadium
Aviva Premiership	Wasps	Dai Young	Adams Park
Top 14	Stade Français	Gonzalo Quesada	Stade Jean-Bouin

Legs

On 29 April 2014, it was announced that the play off would take place over two legs, with each side hosting one leg.^{[1] [2]} The draw to decide which team would hold home-advantage for each leg took place on 6 May 2014^[3]

First leg

FB 15 Andrea Masi RW 14 William Helu OC 13 Elliot Daly IC 12 Chris Bell (c) LW 11 Tom Varndell FH 10 Andy Goode SH 9 Joe Simpson N8 8 OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Joe Launchbury TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 N8 20 SH 21 Brett Sheehan FH 22 Joe Carlisle CE 23 Charlie Hayter Coach: Dai Young

FB 15 Hugo Bonneval RW 14 Julien Arias OC 13 Waisea Nayacalevu IC 12 Meyer Bosman LW 11 FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 David Lyons OF 7 BF 6 Antoine Burban RL 5 Pascal Papé (c) LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 FL 20 SH 21 FH 22 WG 23 Coach: Gonzalo Quesada

Touch judges: Dudley Phillips (IRFU) Michael Black (IRFU) Television match official: Simon McDowell (IRFU)

Second leg

FB 15 RW 14 Julien Arias OC 13 Waisea Nayacalevu IC 12 Jonathan Danty LW 11 FH 10 Jules Plisson SH 9 N8 8 Sergio Parisse OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 Pascal Papé (c) LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 N8 20 FH 21 SH 22 CE 23 Coach:

FB 15 Andrea Masi RW 14 William Helu OC 13 Elliot Daly IC 12 Chris Bell (c) LW 11 Tom Varndell FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Joe Launchbury TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 PR 18 LK 19 N8 20 SH 21 FH 22 CE 23 Coach:

Touch judges: Ian Davies (WRU) Sean Brickell (WRU) Television match official: Derek Bevan (WRU)

Result

Wasps won the playoff 50 - 35 on aggregate and qualified for the 2014–15 European Rugby Champions Cup. Stade Français competed in the 2014–15 European Rugby Challenge Cup.

See also

• 2014–15 European Rugby Champions Cup
• 2014–15 European Rugby Challenge Cup

Notes and References

1. Web site: Anglo-french play-off dates announced. afp.com. 14 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20140430050339/http://www.afp.com/en/node/2338991. 2014-04-30. dead.
2. Web site: Premiership Rugby. www.facebook.com. 14 September 2017.
3. Web site: Play-off details announced. premiershiprugby.com. 14 September 2017.