Less than eight weeks after Exeter Chiefs became the 12th name on the famous trophy, the tournament kicks off on Friday evening at Franklin’s Gardens where Northampton Saints host Bordeaux-Bègles, and there will be little margin for error during the 59 matches leading to next May’s Marseille finals for an expanded field of 24 clubs.

EPCR Chairman, Simon Halliday, said: “The knockout rounds of the last Heineken Champions Cup season provided arguably the highest quality rugby anywhere in 2020 so far, and whilst our new tournament format owes much to pragmatism and expediency, it guarantees us some thrilling action in the December and January rounds.

“Europe’s heavyweight clubs must be at the top of their game to extend their stay into the spring and they’ll be entertaining fans worldwide with unprecedented global access to the matches on a range of traditional and OTT providers.”

Over 38 million fans watched the 2019/20 season in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France alone, up 53% on the previous season. The addition of epcrugby.tv to the coverage produced by BT Sport, Channel 4, Virgin Media, S4C, beIN SPORTS, France Télévisions and Sky Italia means that the Heineken Champions Cup is now available all season in territories where no rights agreement is in place courtesy of a direct-to-consumer online service.

“We have been able to enjoy high-level sport during the pandemic thanks to the exceptional work of the broadcasters,” Halliday added. “Notwithstanding that, we are still looking forward to the return of fans as soon as it is deemed safe by local authorities where our matches are played. The fans bring much of the colour, passion and diversity that are the lifeblood of the tournament.

“That said, the safety of all concerned, including the players, is our responsibility too. We believe we have some of the world’s best match officials operating in our tournaments and by adhering to the laws, they will be making their own contribution to player welfare. We also know that an already congested fixture calendar is a challenge for everyone and we have allowed clubs to register an unlimited number of players in their tournament squads.”

The European Rugby Challenge Cup also has a modified format for the 2020/21 season with 14 clubs playing four matches each in a preliminary stage following which, the top eight clubs will qualify for an expanded knockout stage where they will be joined by the clubs finishing between fifth and eighth in each Heineken Champions Cup pool.

There are some mouthwatering clashes to look forward to in the early rounds, including two reruns of the second European Cup final as the champions of 1997, Brive, take on Leicester Tigers. That match will be streamed live and free for fans via epcrugby.com, where Agen’s opener against London Irish will also be available.

Worldwide audiences will have the greatest ever access to the Heineken Champions Cup when the most compelling tournament in club rugby returns with a new and exciting format this weekend.