The two competitions signed off in style with a thrilling EPCR Finals weekend at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, and there is a sense that a terrific 2022/23 campaign can be a catalyst for yet more growth.

McKay highlighted the fresh approach implemented by EPCR as it looks to continually expand and develop, as well as talks over a new format to be implemented for next season.

“We launched a new strategy earlier this year and that strategy is about growth,” he said.

“We’ve got 23 bids to host our finals in 2025/26, from across Europe, America, South Africa, so it shows the competition is in great health and there’s a real drive to try new things and different things.

“We’ve been looking at our format for the past number of months for both the Heineken Champions Cup and also the EPCR Challenge Cup.

“We want the format to be easy to understand, clearly readable – for players and spectators – and to have the best moments of jeopardy.

“We trying to make the format as strong as it can be for as long as possible. That includes looking at things like the number of teams in the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup, the number of weekends and the way in which we structure the competitions across the season.

“The most important thing is that the competitions are doing this from a position of great strength. It’s a good time to be making sensible changes.”

McKay also offered an update on EPCR’s plans for a blossoming women’s game, as well as developmental talks over a potential World Club Cup.

“We are hugely excited about playing a role in supporting the growth, development and profile-raising of the women’s game,” he said. “It is a critical component of our strategy.

“We want to do that in a way that links in with the unions, clubs and leagues. We’re actively engaged in those conversations at the moment.

“We would love to host a women’s Champions Cup final at some point. That is our aspiration. It should be sooner rather than later because the women’s game is having such great growth right now.”

“In respect to the World Club Cup, we’re in active discussions with our stakeholders here in Europe and also in the Southern Hemisphere.

“It’s very much an active topic at the moment. We believe in it as a concept, we want to do it, but want to do it in the right way. That’s part of the reason we’re taking our time.”

EPCR Chairman Dominic McKay has set his sights on further development of the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup heading into the new season.