ERC answers your tournament questions...

The questions below were posted on the ercrugby.com fans forum, click here to read the forum

18/12/02

Paddy asked

"If a team finishes 3rd in its group but has a better record than the other teams finishing 2nd (apart from the second team in its own group) Will they qualify for the quarter-finals?"

ERC says

The eight teams they qualify for the quarter-finals will be made up from the six pool winners plus the two best runners up.

Team who finish in third place in the Pool can not qualify for the quarter-finals.

Bob Depledge asked

"Do any of you Tigers fans out there know who from Rowntree, Garforth or Back who has made the most Heineken Cup appearances?"

ERC says...

Graham Rowntree has made 40 appearances for Leicester Tigers in the Heineken Cup, Darren Garforth has 36, and Neil back has 33.

16/12/02

Paddy asked...

'Does anyone know how 3 teams are ranked if they all end up with the same number of points?'

ERC says...

With the possibility of up to three teams in the same Pool finishing with identical match points, qualification / ranking will be determined by the results of only the six matches played between the clubs concerned as follows:

a) the club with the greater number of match points (two for a win, one for a draw) from those matches

b) the club who has scored the most tries in those matches

c) the club with the best aggregate points difference from those matches

If still unresolved then the criteria will be:

a) total number of tries scored in the Pool stage

b) aggregate points difference from the Pool stage

c) fewest number of players sent off / and or suspended in Pool stage

d) toss of a coin

**nb This rule applies to the Heineknen Cup only.

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Mark Westcott asked...

'If two teams in the same group finish with level points is it still the aggregate points of the two games between the two clubs that determines who wins the group?'

ERC says...

If two teams in the same pool finish level on match points ranking/qualification will be based on the two matches played between the two clubs.

The criteria is as follows...

a) The club with the most match points from those two games

b) The club which has scored the most tries ion those two games

c) The club with he best points difference from those two games

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