Rankings + Quarter-final arrangements

4.7 The pool winners, runners-up and the two best third placed teams will qualify for the knockout stage. The pool winners will be decided by reference to the following criteria:  

4.7.1 The three pool winners shall be ranked 1-3 in each case based on the number of Competition Points earned in the pool stage. The three runners-up and two best third placed teams shall be ranked 4-8 in each case based on the number of Competition Points earned in the pool stage. 

4.7.2 If two or more Clubs in the same pool end the pool stage equal on Competition Points, then the order in which they have finished will be determined by:  

i. the greater number of matches won by the Club and 

ii. if the number of matches won is equal, the Club with the greater points difference (points scored for, less points scored against) and 

iii. if the points difference is equal, the Club with greater number of tries scored and 

iv. if the total number of tries scored is equal, the Club with the fewer number of red cards and 

v. if the number of red cards is the same, the Tournament Organisers shall toss a coin. 

The knock-out Stage:  

4.8 The knock-out stage shall be divided into four quarter-final Matches, two semi-final Matches and a final Match. 

4.9 The quarter-final Matches shall comprise of the top two Clubs from each pool and the two highest ranking third place Clubs across all the pools, in all cases as ranked in accordance with the principles set out in 4.7 above. The winning Club of each pool and the highest ranked second place Club across all pools will play at home as follows:  

• Quarter-final 1: Seed 1 vs. Seed 8

• Quarter-final 2: Seed 2 vs. Seed 7

• Quarter-final 3: Seed 3 vs. Seed 6

• Quarter-final 4: Seed 4 vs. Seed 5

The Tournament Organiser may adjust the quarter-final draw above in order to ensure teams from the same pool do not play each other. 

4.10  The semi-final Matches shall comprise the winners of each quarter-final who shall play each other as follows and the first Club listed in each of the semi-final matches shall be the Home Club:  

• Semi-final 1: Quarter-final 1 vs. Quarter-final 4

• Semi-final 2: Quarter-final 2 vs. Quarter-final 3

The Tournament Organiser may adjust the semi-final draw above in order to ensure teams from the same pool do not play each other. 

4.11 The winners of the two semi-final Matches will proceed to the cup final.  The cup final will be played at a venue determined by the Tournament Organiser in accordance with Regulation 5.4. 

4.12 In the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final, if after 40 minutes of play each way the scores are level, there shall be a five minute break (where the teams and players shall remain on the pitch) and then a period of extra time shall begin between the teams of 10 minutes each way, with a 1 minute interval. If the scores remain equal after this period of extra time then the winner will be the team which has scored the most tries in the game (including extra time). If the scores are level and the number of tries scored is equal, then there shall be a place kick competition (as set out in Appendix 1) to determine the winner.

LINK to full 2019/20 regs